Smorgasbord #8

Musicals, Advent, White Lady

Hello friends! This is Peregrino, a newsletter about the journey. Welcome to another edition of Smorgasbord, a self-service buffet of ideas. If you’re new here, welcome! It’s good to have you. If you haven’t subscribed, I will make it easy for you to do so.

Happy Advent! Where is time going? The last quarter of this year seems to be going at 1.5x speed. In other news,

A Catholic Pilgrim

described Peregrino as “mostly cheese, alcohol, and coffee-based quirkiness.” I wish I could put this on my welcome page. So, if you’re into those things, you’re in the right place.

I hope time is passing at an average speed for you. If not, hang in there!

---

This week, in bullet points

• This silly joke got north of one hundred likes. Spreadsheets bring people together.

• I was on a weekend-long silent retreat, doing the short version of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. It was a time of refreshment and abundant graces. I’m still processing, so stay tuned for more.

• I decided not to rush the last nine essays of “40 Before 40.” I hoped to be done by Christmas Day (when I turn 40), but life has gotten in the way. I’m sure y’all understand, but still, I wanted to be transparent about expectations.

• Diana Cantu
  and I went to see Les Miserables. My favorite part was seeing Diana’s reaction to the magic of musical theater. The performances, music, and scenography were top-notch, and we even met part of the National Tour Company’s cast! We met Delaney Guyer (Cosette), Greta Schaffer (Ensemble), Milo Maharlika (Gavroche), and Sky Vaugh Fuller (Little Cossette).

  

  "I bet you those kids are homeschooled" -Diana

---

Reading

• Ruth Gaskovski
  pointed out this article by
  Flea.
  , which shows a desire for God that I equated to our expectation during Advent for the coming of Jesus as an infant and His second coming.

• Inside of Vol. 1, Issue 1: Entering into Advent by

  Signs + Seasons
  I found this piece by
  Catie D
  on fasting with the Orthodox, which motivated me to make a resolution to re-incorporate fasting into my life. Maybe not exactly like the Orthodox do, but Orthodox adjacent, let’s call it.

• I’m still reading “A Christmas Carol,” the part where Belle breaks off the engagement with Scrooge is heartbreaking.

  James Dietz
  mentioned a musical version of this story from 1970 called Scrooge, with Alec Guinness as Jacob Marley. If you’re interested, it’s available on YouTube; enjoy.

---

Mixing

Today is the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and if you’re looking for excuses to have a cocktail, I’d recommend celebrating with The White Lady. This drink dates back to 1930 when it appeared in The Savoy Cocktail Book, and the recipe is attributed to Harry Craddock.

Ingredients

• 1.5 oz Gin*

• 3/4 oz Triple Sec**

• 3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice

• 1/4 oz Simple Syrup

• Egg white from one small egg (optional but highly recommended)

Make it

If you add an egg white, add all ingredients to your shaker and dry shake (without ice) for about ten seconds. Then add ice and shake for ten seconds or until your fingers feel numb—strain into a chilled coupe.

*I like using Plymouth Gin because it’s an affordable, clean-tasting London dry gin.

**I usually use Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao instead of Triple Sec because I like how orangy this is versus a more subtly triple sec.

---

Sobremesa

1. What’s your favorite dad joke?

2. Are you comfortable with silence?

3. Favorite Les Mis character/song?

4. How’s your Advent going?

5. Egg white in cocktails, yay or nay?