You are right, people are more important than any possessions but I'm sure glad you found that ring. As for the purse thief, well, they will pay for that action eventually, Grandma taught me that "what goes around, comes around" and it sure will. Thankfully, I"ve never had to deal with floods or tornados destroying my own home, although I live in an area that is prone to both of those and have had family members who have had homes destroyed. There are always items you reach for and then realize they are gone and those can't be replaced. At least everyone is safe, so I'm thankful for that, and you and your fmaily will continue to be in my prayers. Annie

Lucy: You're dating yourself. We broke thermometers in school---not often, but I remember more than once. Guess what? We played with the mercury too, then probably left it on the floor. Now, if the same thing happens, the school is evacuated and experts come in to detoxify the area. Amazing. I did check the web about that light bulb story. It's true, but the articles also said that there was an overreaction by the agency the woman called and in truth, there was/is no need for a $2000.00 clean up. It did say you cannot vaccum broken fluorescent bulbs---you're supposed to use duct tape or masking tape to try to pull up the glass chards then a wet cloth to blot/clean up and throw the cloth away. I guess in doubt, you can call in experts to clean up and pay through the nose. Funny thing is that people opposed to the new bulbs left the story at it's worst---huge cost for clean-up, but didn't disclose that it was deemed unnecessary. But just as ridiculous, the environmentalists who love these bulbs missed the point that people with means are being scared out of their mind and they're able and willing to pay huge sums of money for clean-up that is unneeded. Maybe Edison's incandescent bulb is a better choice???? The light is brighter and the bulbs are much cheaper, that's for sure. As always, the truth doesn' lay with either extreme.

Honestly, stop with the pesticides. Our school system has been saying for years that _one_ pesticide treatment on the hair followed by fine combing, laundering bedclothes and towels as normal, and disinfecting hats will do it. You don't have to sterilise the whole house. The lice can't live long off a host anyway. All those pesticides are going to make you sick. Also, if your knees are itching it's definitely not lice, as lice are site-specific having adapted to live in particular kinds of hair. So head lice are different to pubic lice, aka "crabs", for instance. Unless you have head hair growing from your knees, you can be sure they are cootie free :-)

No, I would not accept that. I would talk to your own insurance company agent and see if they advice or hire your own adjuster to negotiate a better resolution.