Fogglifter Cafe and the Water Cooler Curse

It is exactly 7 weeks from today that we will be headed up to the lake. And we can enjoy Fogglifter Cafe every morning and afternoon. I hope they will stay open later in the day, but I wont get my hopes up. I figured just with our family they can average 8 drinks each afternoon during that week. Maybe more, and the other people in town will stop by when they see the party. Great food, great coffee, great employees, great customers, great location!! I'm pumped.

The Franco's were the original owners of the water cooler.  You know, with the big water jugs that serves it either hot or cold?  And they were the first to go.  The water cooler then went to my Dad's  place, and he is currently in Amsterdam, on his way home.  The water cooler is now in our kitchen.  We love it.  But I'm not ready to go home yet.  I think at 3 people though it officially becomes a curse.  Or a blessing, depending on how you look at it.  We'll keep you posted.

So like I said, Dad is now gone.  He left yesterday afternoon and Melissa, Rocco and I took him ot the airport.  His driver, Fadil, was possibly the saddest of us all.  He told me several times that my dad is a "really good man."  And he is.  We will all miss him so much here. 

I maybe shouldn't broadcast this over the world wide web but I am currently an illegal alien.  Or possibly, an "undocumented worker."  Problems with my visa are keeping me from going to Malta to get it renewed.  I am hoping it comes in within 2 weeks, but it should happen within 3 for sure.  I was pretty bummed about it last week but it's not so bad.  In fact, it was a blessing since Dad was leaving it gave us a chance to see him more and play some great tennis (more to follow on that) and then have a couple dinner parties for everyone to say good bye.  He was truly loved here by many.  And another bonus is that MAYBE Jake will make it here and can get away to Malta with us for a couple days.  We will go during the week as I have to in order for the embassy to issue my new visa during business hours.  But then we can extend our stay a couple nights for the weekend if we want.  So we'll see, but for now we are just waiting to get the word that my tracking number is issued.

As for the tennis with Dad.  We played a few times this week.  The first time was with a couple other guys and we ended up getting rained out when it started pouring down.  But the other two times it was just Dad and I, which I prefer, and it was a lot of fun.  Dad showed up really late after being stuck in traffic but we got a couple sets in and had a great time (I won, 6-1, 6-3).  Then yesterday morning we went out for one final Libyan match.  We started at 9:30ish but it was HOT.  We played the longest games we've ever played and were tied 4-4, nobody going up by more than 1.  Then Dad took me down, broke serve to go 5-4 and held his serve to win 6-4.  I'll be honest, I thought I had reached the point where he couldn't hang with me very well but he's an old crafty guy who finds ways to compete.  That's not to say I am great, I'm really not, but you know.  I'm younger and have 10 foot arms.  Anyway, it was smokin hot outside and getting hotter by the second.  We only had one bottle of water that was practically boiling in the direct sunlight.  We stated the next set, Dad was fading fast, I tried to keep going and did not want to throw in the towel.  We had some awesome points but I was rolling at 4-1.  At that point Dad had to call the match.  It was just too hot.  Covered in sweat and red faced, we slowly sauntered home where the air-conditioned house was just what we needed before we passed out from heat stroke.  It reached 104 degreees and everyone keeps saying it will get worse.  I can't wait. 

It was a great way to end our Libyan matches, where both of us could say we had the edge ( I really did, shhh).  I hope to get in  a couple games in McCall this summer.  We miss you all.  Keep us in your prayers and drop us a line from time to time.  I know Mel has some pictures so she will be adding those and a blog entry soon.  Our internet has been down at home so she hasn't been able.  BYEEE