# The Omnibus Good News Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923 "2023-02-16T23:48:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/41 "2023-03-03T14:45:35Z")
I have the hots for Honest Abe now. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/42 "2023-03-03T20:16:30Z")
Movie night. mid-Dau is taking the boys to the Movies. I was invited. Thank god I don’t have to go. Yay! Me! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/43 "2023-03-03T20:56:03Z")
At times, heaven is simply defined as having the home to oneself… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/44 "2023-03-07T00:54:52Z")
I turned 40 on Saturday and I’m not mad about it. Perfect day with **Sr. Weasel** at the Detroit Institute of Arts with a fancy seafood dinner (fancy dinners are the way to my heart.) Things have been moving forward in a good way. I’m in a better place than I was at 30, especially at 20… You know, 40’s not bad. I feel like it gets a bad rap for being the threshold into middle age, but I’ve been working hard for most of my adult life to get to a wiser, more mature place… And it’s paying off. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2023, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/45 "2023-03-07T01:53:16Z")
The older I’ve gotten, the happier I’ve been. No doubt there’s a point of diminishing returns, but I’m not there yet. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/46 "2023-03-10T23:16:45Z")
Yeah, I worry there’s another side to the bell curve, but so far, so good. **Wee Weasel** turned three today. We gave him so many numbers he didn’t know what to do with himself. Number magnets, and a colorful number grid with wooden tiles 1-100. And some magnetic panels that click together three-dimensionally, which he likes us to shape into numbers. But the big star of the show today was the enormous red #3 balloon my grandparents got him. Oh my God does he love that #3. He takes it on strolls through the house, singing, “Happy Birthday, **Wee Weasel!** Happy Birthday, Mama!” Since he doesn’t eat cake, we gave him chocolate chip cookies in a #3 shaped tin. He went to town on those cookies, which is lovely, because it’s the first time he’s had chocolate chip cookies and eating anything new is a big deal. He was happy to share his cookies but wouldn’t let that #3 tin out of his sight. Nothing will ever make me as happy as numbers make my son. He literally cannot contain the excitement in his body. It’s so meaningful to see him enjoy these things. And though I’m not a real math fan, I sort of get it. Seeing the world through his eyes I’ve discovered that numbers are everywhere, they will always be there, they can always be counted on… _d&r_ ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/47 "2023-03-10T23:23:08Z")
No need to duck and run, that was beautifully written and you stuck the landing. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/48 "2023-03-11T02:02:17Z")
Yes, exactly. Bravo to the whole Weasel clan!! On Thursday morning I finished 3 days of work. Nothing went wrong, nothing. We were on-time everywhere and the clouds were few & far between. Lots of people were happy to get where they were going with no hitches. My co-workers were all cool. I _love_ it when a plan comes together & stays together. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/49 "2023-03-14T23:23:05Z")
I’m in tears. I got a long text from Sophia which began… > [@](#): > > today in my gender class i had a huge realization about the way that you raised me. … not quoting it all, but she said… > [@](#): > > i was thinking about how you raised me, how it really was a very gender neutral environment, and how it really helped me in my daily life now regarding my confidence in my identity. … and … > [@](#): > > to you i wasn’t a “girl”, but a person. a lot of parents don’t do that. they make their daughters wear dresses, act ladylike, shame them for having masculine interests or for the revealing clothes they choose to wear. you gave me the freedom to choose. and that’s how i view my femininity-all encompassing. … and she concludes: > [@](#): > > femininity is a welcoming environment, because you taught me that. you let me be myself, you let me be a kid, it’s why i think i’m really strong today. it’s why i don’t feel pushback against my own gender identity, i see myself as a woman bc my experience with womanhood has been so positive in the home i grew up in. so thank you for letting me have that freedom No. You’re not crying. _I_ am. And gladly. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/50 "2023-03-14T23:31:06Z")
The PTB(mid-Dau, chief cook) decided suppertime will now be about an hour later every evening. Bah!! Messes up my schedule. Good news: I now get an extra snack. Whoo hoo!! ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/51 "2023-03-14T23:32:14Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > No. You’re not crying. _I_ am. And gladly. That’s so sweet. I got a text from my adult daughter that moved me to tears last week. I’d share it here, but I got something in my eye… ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/52 "2023-03-14T23:41:07Z")
That’s amazing. Really truly like the Oscar of Dad achievements. How wonderful for her. And you. Today we had a meeting with the psychologist evaluating **Wee Weasel** for autism. It went better than I could have hoped. The psychologist was both highly competent and compassionate. I was able to talk to her about my fear that the ADOS (administered by an adult) won’t capture the social issues he has with his peers, and she reassured us that it’s only part of the evaluation, and that the videos and info we sent her, and our questionnaires will all be used to inform her assessment. I got the impression that we’re all on the same page because she said, “It must be so frustrating waiting to jump all these diagnostic hurdles so you can get access to services. I’m hoping to help you with that.” Another lovely thing she said is that she was so pleased to read our write up about **Wee Weasel** because we devoted a paragraph to everything we love about him and she usually sees things from parents that don’t identify a single positive thing about their child. I’m glad our love was showing. He is an extraordinary kid. The ADOS is April 28th. We’re getting closer! ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/53 "2023-03-15T15:33:05Z")
That is wonderful news, @Spice_Weasel. I have no advice, but words of encouragement and a sense that you are on the right path. I was talking to Inna about raising Sophia (this was before the text above came in) and how my goal as a parent wasn’t to raise my child into some sort of mold, but to find out who my child is and raise them to be the best example of _that_. You and Spouse\_Weasel (assuming? you say “we” and “us” in the paragraphs) are obviously on the same journey. It’s not easy, largely because the kids are always changing faster than our expectations of them, but, long term, it is far easier to understand your child than to force them into something they’re not. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2023, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/54 "2023-03-15T21:24:33Z")
Oh, man, I love **Spouse Weasel**. I may have to retire **Sr. Weasel**. ---
**Author:** ![luvrbcs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@luvrbcs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luvrbcs)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/55 "2023-05-09T01:29:48Z")
This has been a crazy week that had its ups and downs, with the downs really scary and the ups the best things can be. To start, Tuesday, 9am went in for a heart catherization. Went well, sort of, could not put in a stent so will have to get a bypass. Big downer, you would think, but by far not the worst news that day. After the procedure, I went back to the room to recover with an inflatable cuff on your wrist that gets loosened about every 15 minutes, they used a wrist artery for the catheter. I’m lying on the bed, eyes closed and relaxing, and my wife is sitting next to me texting everyone about the news. Next thing I remember is looking up and seeing people gathered outside my door and staring at me. Hi people! And my wife was there looking scared as could be. They tell me that I flatlined for 30 seconds and had CPR by one of the nurses. WTF? I had no recollection of anything happening, it was like when you go under for a colonoscopy, you’re there, things go black, then you’re back. On hindsight, there was no light in a tunnel, bummer. But, all in all, not a bad experience. Doctors had no idea why this happened. Still don’t. Decided that it was worrisome enough that I was to stay overnight and get a pacemaker the next day. Wired up to a portable ECG and waited for a room. Got to my room about noon, after a little while I got up to look out the window, started back to the bed and halfway there felt lightheaded, made it to the bed and laid back. Again next thing I remember is looking up and someone was standing next to me. This time I flatlined for 19 seconds but no CPR, just shaken. WTF, again? After this it was decided that it can’t wait until the next day and I will be given my pacemaker that day and I was taken down at 3pm for my new toy. And just think, this all started only 6 hours ago. I am now scheduled for my bypass (CABG in medical speak) for this Wednesday, a little over a week from when it all started. So, the good news is I am still alive. I am so thankful for the nurses and their fast response, they are amazing. And, to make it better, today I got the estimate from the hospital for the upcoming CABG surgery, $218,000. My portion of it, $0. I am on Medicare with Medigap, Plan G. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/56 "2023-05-09T14:47:13Z")
Wow. I’m glad you’re alive, too! And I admire your spirit. Best of luck with recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/57 "2023-06-01T12:44:29Z")
Their Indiana school district decided they couldn’t present an LGBTQ-friendly play. [The kids raised money and did it anyway.](https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/indiana-school-play-ban-marian#toggle-gdpr) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/58 "2023-06-10T21:26:44Z")
As of yesterday I am officially CompTIA Security+ certified. Which basically means I passed a test that proves I understand the basics of cybersecurity. Really I’m just happy that I don’t have to stress out over studying for said exam anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/59 "2023-06-10T23:08:03Z")
Congratulations! I’m sure that’s a tremendous load off your back. What do you have planned now? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2023, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923/60 "2023-06-10T23:54:06Z")
Yes, that’s a major accomplishment. Those aren’t easy exams. Good luck in converting that into career success. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omnibus-good-news-thread/979923.md?page=4)