Counting Blessings.

It's so hot today, so I came home and opened our last milk stout.
Holy cheezits I'm a light-weight.  I've taken maybe ten sips since opening it an hour ago and I can feel it.
Nevertheless, it's delicious, and nice on a hot day like this.

Anyhow.

Today, as I was taking the trash out at work, I was thinking about how grateful I am for the life I have.  Not everyone has a husband/partner who is as supportive as hubby.  He's been a wonderful help to me as I struggle through the changes happening to my body during pregnancy.  I'm extremely grateful for all of the enduring of not-so-nice me he has done, all the excitement he has for the baby, and - not the least of all - the help he's given me with my own body image issues.  He has truly helped me embrace pregnancy for what it is: a beautiful, life-changing journey.

I'd really like to convey this to everyone:
Pregnancy is beautiful.
Yeah, it sucks...sometimes a lot.  There were nights in my first trimester that I felt like death.  But nothing as profound as creating a new life should be viewed with such fear and scorn as some of society would view it.

Which brings me to my next point.
I think our medical system is fucked.  Sorry for the language, but that's the best word I have for it.
That's not to say that I'm not grateful for the option of going to the hospital when I need to.  Having doctors I can call to ask questions is pretty awesome too.  The system largely needs reform, but I don't think that gives me a right to not consider the good things it does.

I can say that I'm unhappy about a lot of things in this country.  But I can also say that I am grateful to live in a place where information is readily available to me (all I need to do is look).  A place where I have options, even if my choices are met with skepticism and downright belligerence by others.  It's pretty nice here, to be honest, even with the bad; if I were to live somewhere else, I'm sure I'd have complaints there too.

The point of all this is I've decided to try and see something good in everything.  I'm going to try and be better about optimism and actually taking the time to be appreciative of little things like running hot water for a shower, or cats who don't misbehave.

And now, because my attention span is failing me pretty effectively, have a recipe for Chicken Alfredo:

1/2 cup bone broth (chicken)
1/4 cup butter
2-3 small leaves fresh basil, ripped or chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
2 tbs. flour
3 mushrooms
1 cup shredded chicken
1/2 cup half and half (or to taste)
1/2 tsp. granulated onion
pepper and salt to taste.

In a medium saucepan combine broth and butter.  Cook until butter is melted on medium heat.  Once butter is melted, whisk in flour.  Add basil and garlic.  Let cook for a bit then add mushrooms and chicken and let this cook a bit more.  Add half and half, onion, pepper, and salt.  Cook until bubbly.  Pour over noodles or rice and enjoy.

I hope I remembered that right.  This is something I threw together without consulting an actual recipe first and it turned out pretty delicious so I thought I'd share.

I also thought that a few sips of beer would calm this baby down, but I guess I was wrong.  I'm growing a brute!