Do you ever feel like someone hit the fast-forward button on life? Lately, it feels like weeks have accelerated into days. One moment it’s August and the next day it’s October. I know it tends to come with age. When we’re young, a week is huge in comparison to our life span; as we get older, the weeks become smaller and less significant. Our perception changes. I also doubt it helps that Angie and I are always eager to jump at so many projects to keep ourselves busy. I find it crazy to ponder the difference between me now versus me just one year ago, not to mention two or three.
Not only is time flying, but everything seems to change on a bigger scope than I used to perceive. From construction and city development to family, relationships, and workplace environments, it really makes my head spin at how much of my life is changing at seemingly exponential rates.
Change can be scary to many, but Angie and I have both always embraced change. We seek adventure and enjoy a nice change of pace. When we start to feel depressed or stuck in a rut, one of our favorite things to do is rearrange the house. Move the bed and dressers to a new orientation for just a different feel. Since moving out of the college dorms many moons ago, we’ve also had a tendency to move every two years to a new place. I get the feeling this upcoming year won’t be any different.
Angie and I have been creating and pursuing a lot of dreams over the past year. From certifications to skill-set development, we’ve been focused on covering ground. Angie has made numerous achievements with her students at the elementary school she works at and it is just beautiful to be in the passenger seat of her professional development. I love the excitement on her face when she comes home with a new breakthrough accomplishment in teaching her students. I live for those moments when Angie is just gleaming from ear to ear.
Over the past several weeks, Angie seemed to glow more than usual. Even our friends noticed it and she had been getting comments regularly. That is about when we realized what was happening. On Sunday, July 28th, 2019, Angie tested positive, we’re pregnant.
I remember the night vividly. It was around 9:45 pm and my hair stood on end. We cried with joy and went to Wal-Mart (it was all that was open on a Sunday night) just to run around and blow off some energy. I had to work at 6 am the next day, but it just felt like Christmas. I thought I’d never fall asleep. We had been off the pill for a year now, eager to begin our family. On one hand, it didn’t feel real, on the other hand, we couldn’t stop saying it over and over as we bounced from aisle to aisle. We’re pregnant!
I’ve always wanted to be a father. Starting a family with Angela has been my goal and focus. The career, passion projects, and personal development are all supplemental to that bigger piece of my heart. I cannot describe something more beautiful than the tender love Angie has been displaying lately for the little jelly bean in her belly. The way she walks, the way she talks, the soft and gentle smile generated from her heart; she shines brighter than the sun.
One constant that Angie and I are glad to have brought into our lives, though, is our Big, Beautiful Book. I know Angie is going to miss the cocktail life for the next several months. We planned on switching to the mocktails in the Big, Beautiful Book to continue our project and her participation in it. However, back in early July we made a trip out to Minneapolis to acquire goods for a few cocktails while visiting with some friends. We’ve decided to finish this cocktail before we move on to the non-alcoholic offerings of the book.
I swear we planned this cocktail for this month before we had any idea we were going to be pregnant. The pun and irony is pure coincidence. Still, I love it all the more that the stars aligned this way. This round is an easier production of two classics we’ve both enjoyed in the past. The negroni, carbonated, meets a white lady in perfect harmony. Enter: 2-in-1.
The 2-in-1 is one of the small handful of preparations we made, and as fans of both negronis and spins off the white lady, I have been eager for this one. Just a few weeks ago, I made a white lady riff with cherry blossom syrup, Roku gin, and Old Forester Hummingbird bitters–it was quite tasty.
Of course, now we know why the caramelized onions of the Mad World made Angie queasy. She was working on a 2-in-1 cocktail of her very own. I admit it is a bummer to be a couple of home mixologists and have one of the two unable to drink anymore. Although, I have yet to take real advantage of the guaranteed DD; I feel guilty being able to drink in her presence.
This cocktail is pretty straight forward. Build a negroni with Citadelle gin, Campari, and Antica sweet vermouth and stir until chilled and diluted. Carbonate and bottle the negroni. Then, mix a white lady with Citadelle gin, lemon juice, egg white, simple syrup, and Fee Brother’s orange bitters. Make a dad joke. Get giddy and excited about your future fatherhood. Dry shake, then shake over ice, double strain. Express an orange peel then toss the peel. Finally, try not to jump up and down while the future mother of your children takes pretty pictures of you pouring the negroni into the white lady. Sample for three.
Okay, maybe a few of those steps won’t apply to everyone. The excitement of my ‘B(r)ad jokes’ evolving into real ‘dad jokes’ is gratifying. Now the moans and groans and sighs of frustration are real fruits of accomplishment.
If you like negronis, seriously consider mixing it with a white lady. This cocktail was incredible. I loved the balance between the smooth, bitter, negroni and the soft, bright white lady. If eggwhite scares you, try aquafaba instead. Both cocktails are staples on their own, I just never imagined mixing them together.
I wish we hadn’t been so slow and inactive on our project for the past few months. Planning our future and pregnancy has taken a lot out of us. I also auditioned and will be performing with the Waterloo playhouse, which is consuming a large chunk of my nights for the next month. Nevertheless, I am happy to be making progress and posts again.
Look at my wiggly little jelly bean gif. Till next time!
