The current situation:

1. We are all meeting in the lobby of the Hotel Dante Lugano at 7 pm and will convoy to the restaurant.

2. After the dinner, we will return to my UIG's house, where there will be:

a. Brandy.
b. Coke (Light).
c. Marzipan (not so light).
d. Chocolate cake (very not so light).
e. Coffee (instant).
f. A roaring fire (already set up, needing only a match, so it should also be instant).

The cake is from Lugano's best bakery, Munger (mentioned several times in this thread). I told them I needed one for 9 people. They told me they only had them available for 6 or 12 people. Knowing that F/Ters will never pass up a freebie, I figured the 12 person cake would present no problem at all. Besides, I have two more days left in Lugano after the Meet and what you guys don't finish, I will.

The coffee presented more of a problem. I discovered that the UIG only has 6 coffee cups in her set. Okay, I don't drink the stuff but that still meant that we were two cups short. I found one more in her kitchen, made of plastic and reading "South Park" on it -- very un-UIGish.

I still needed one more. Then I remembered that Alysia had sent a Republican coffee cup to the PBI-FLL Meet as a birthday present for me. It was still in my suitcase and I got it out. The UIG is an extreme Leftist and I think she would prefer that I had another woman in her house to a Republican coffee cup but she is not here so I am safe.

I got the instant coffee. I got the sugar. I am all set. All I have to do is sit back and relax until this evening.

Wait! The milk! I forgot the milk!!! I guess it is back on with my coat and out into the cold again to get the milk for the coffee.

Now do you understand why I hate the stuff?

(Weather report: The fog has lifted, so MXP should be in full operation. It is still cold outside but the sun is shining and within an hour it should be pleasantly warm -- until sunset.)