Good News

[ysabetwordsmith]

Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.

What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?

Comments

[alexseanchai]

first Black Senator elected in Georgia! and it's looking good for Ossoff, too. close, but good.

Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

Oh, how exciting!

Perhaps some people have had second thoughts on their actions two or four years ago.

Re: Yay!

[jtthomas]

Even better -- looks like recent efforts to combat voter suppression are working! A lot of what's shifted is that Black folks are voting in larger numbers, and overwhelmingly for the Democratic candidates. (The turnout in Republican-trending counties was a lower percentage of the November amount than in Democratic-trending counties, too.)

Re: Yay!

[alexseanchai]

lowered Republican turnout is 45's own fault, really

and—unless the recount that Ossoff and Perdue are headed for (since Ossoff's in the lead by less than half a percent with "nearly all" votes counted and that's a low enough margin for an automatic recount) shifts the total Republican-ward by like fifteen thousand votes—we flipped the Senate!

Re: Yay!

[ysabetwordsmith]

I heard that his attempts to overturn democracy have annoyed people in Georgia.

Re: Yay!

[dewline]

I call that very good news!

Yessss!

[erulisse]

I find it poetic that he is the senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist church.

[alexseanchai]

right?

he's planning to keep preaching in order to stay in touch with his constituents, too. and FiveThirtyEight live blog sounded surprised last night that his victory speech sounded like a sermon. (I have questions, from a freedom from religion perspective, but Black liberation theology is sufficiently unlike white conservagelical prosperity gospel that I am disinclined to complain.)

Ossoff has declared victory too, with a bigger lead than last I looked.

[dewline]

Seems fair enough given the situation at the moment. We need the former as part of a antidotal regimen against the latter "gospel", to be honest.

[mdlbear]

Still (as of morning of the 6th) too close to call. There's hope, but it's a nail-biter.

[caera_ash]

One of my presents this year was a lovely friend I named Deorwine. To keep me company until I am in a situation to get and train a dog.

Pictures here if you would like to see.
https://www.deviantart.com/wildclaw101/journal/Holiday-Present-866247581

[erulisse]

How sweet!

[pronker]

I had the best Christmas present ever. Youngest visited for a day and a half and we drove around for two hours Christmas night looking at lighting decorations in town. When we got out of the car, I said, "My heart is full but my arms are empty." We are a physically demonstrative family so he knew the reference and replied, "I know, Mom."

Then when he prepared to leave the next day, I hovered around to say goodbye. We elbow dapped and then he said, "Wait a minute." He disappeared back into the room and appeared 15 minutes later, wearing "protection" to give me a safe hug goodbye. It was a clear shower curtain covering all of him and he belted it at the waist! :D

[fuzzyred]

I got lovely Christmas gifts, and got to see my family. And I have interesting ideas to try for craft projects this year, so that's good too.

[dewline]

I found two jobs I felt comfortable enough to apply for yesterday. Whether I succeed or not with either of them, at least I finished and sent the applications.

Go you!

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's good progress.

[immortalje]

My niece is currently turning into a bundle of good news after going through a roller coaster ride of emotions/events her first few months as she had decided to come 16 weeks earlier than planned last August. I think everyone in my family has their fingers crossed that it stays that way :)

Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

That's awesome. 16 weeks is pretty early.

Re: Wow!

[immortalje]

Yes it is. I remember reading about the chances and potential issues at the time and it was quite chilling if not entirely hopeless.

She's thankfully proving to be quite the fighter. I don't even know if my brother and sister in law have any further idea what happened for her water to break at that time since I know that the most likely causes had been ruled out initially.

Re: Wow!

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Yes it is. I remember reading about the chances and potential issues at the time and it was quite chilling if not entirely hopeless.<<

The barrier is pushed back a lot earlier than it used to be. People are scurrying to get uterine replicator technology developed enough to use, but it's not there yet.

*ponder* Hmm, not sure I've written characters in this context yet. I should probably do that.

>> She's thankfully proving to be quite the fighter. <<

\o/ Being female is an advantage in that case.

Since she's made it this far, I'll add that premies often outgrow childhood maladies, sometimes even very pervasive ones. A friend of mine had been that way -- and was born decades ago when the survival window was much smaller -- had numerous allergies growing up, but as an adult was quite robust. Sometimes it just takes longer to build things in the air than it does underwater.

>> I don't even know if my brother and sister in law have any further idea what happened for her water to break at that time since I know that the most likely causes had been ruled out initially.<<

If it's not a conspicuous cause like falling, the most likely remaining ones are largely obscure:
* stress
* mother's body can't sustain pregnancy for reasons that don't show up on tests
* misfire of fetal timekeeping, or more rarely the mother's, since the signal typically comes from the fetus

If the baby winds up extra-sensitive to stress, that's a clue for that cause.

If the mother has similar issues in other pregnancies, it's a clue toward her body, but sometimes you can't pinpoint a cause, only a recurring effect. Something I've seen in another friend.

If the baby turns out unable to keep time, especially if it leads to doing things early rather than late ... well, some souls are just impatient.

Work with the body/life you have.

Re: Wow!

[immortalje]

I think realising how far medicine has come in that respect has been the most awe-inspiring. And I remember being told that her being female did increase her chances.

Yes, the biggest worries are over for now and everyone is working on giving her the best help that she will outgrow all issues that might show up along the way.

I know there had been checks for some kind of infection as a cause and since it was her first pregnancy (that I know about) I guess it's just a wait and see if there are problems with further pregnancies (assuming the experience didn't scare them off). So far my niece is pretty chill most of the time and that's the most important bit. She certainly won't have to worry about support and love of any kind :)

[we_are_spc]

Condo is being repaired. Finally. They start demolition tomorrow. If all goes well, eerything (Including brand new carpet in the entire place) sould be done by the 22nd of January.

-T~

[fuzzyred]

Yay! I hope it all goes according to plan :)

[readera]

I have a virtual job interview for next week. And state unemployment office sent an email that I should see the pandemic help soon. Yay!

Also J is going to talk to his dr about writing a letter for his disability case. The lawyer thinks that will help the appeal.

[(Anonymous)]

Lots of good luck lately:

Family discussion may have actually worked toward resolving issues (instead of they usual miscommunication squabbling). This has also improved my emotional state a bit...

I'm getting a new baby cousin. (Onwards with planning my traditional baby gift.)

And the current baby of the extended family is now big enough to do adorable things that make for cute stories.

Family friend who caught the plague is finally feeling better and back at work.

May soon be able to resume an enjoyable activity I haven't been able to do since March (the digital option is now more popular, and therefore more available).

And my language-learning is going well. I can now hold a conversation in three languages.

[(Anonymous)]

I just learned about a provider of a Work, Health and Safety qualification that gives a full qualification, doesn't cost an arm and a leg and can be completed online. I might be able to get a tertiary qualification in a few months that could help me get a better job while I study my degree.
I haven't been able to do this for years because it was either out of my budget or takes place on-location during the day. This is $600, but previously you could pay that amount and not even get a full qualification in anything.