Hi Catherine, I think I know how you feel... I live in a fairly urban part of Southern California. I have always love animals, but never thought I'd see many more wild ones once we moved to CA. But over the last month, we've seen 1 and a half clutches of house sparrows hatched in our hanging ivy plant, and just last night we had a visit from a raccoon. We had the screen door shut to let the cool air in, and he just walked right up to it. He might as well have knocked! So I grabbed a few triscuits and a bowl of water, and my husband and I just watched. I felt like St. Francis! Ruth

I lost my gentle, constant companion, my 16yo purrbaby, last week. A friend sent me this-- ROOM IN YOUR HEART Sorrow fills a barren space; you close your eyes and see my face and think of times I made you laugh, the love we shared, the bond we had, the special way I needed you - the friendship shared by just we two. The day's too quiet, the world seems older, the wind blows now a little colder. You gaze into the empty air and look for me, but I'm not there - I'm in heaven and I watch you, and I see the world around you too. I see little souls wearing fur, souls who bark and souls who purr born unwanted and unloved - I see all this and more above - I watch them suffer, I see them cry, I see them lost, I watch them die. I see unwanted thousands born - and when they die, nobody mourns. These little souls wearing fur (Some who bark and some who purr) are castaways who - unlike me - will never know love or security. A few short months they starve and roam, Or caged in shelters - nobody takes home. They're special too (furballs of pleasure), filled with love and each one, a treasure. My pain and suffering came to an end, so don't cry for me, my person, my friend. But think of the living - those souls with fur (some who bark and some who purr) - And though our bond can't be broken apart, make room for another in your home and your heart. --- Caro Schubert-James --- amethyst@nc5.infi.net alt.support.grief.pet-loss www page: Poem

Sweeby, I never saw this side of things before, so I just saw this thread. I would have jumped onthe shots issue immediately -- especially after the boy in Humble died. You just can't risk it, and I'm sure that's why your dr jumped on it. One thought I had for dealing with the insurance co is that they are talking about prescription coverage and the rabies shots are a vaccination. That could make a difference in the terms of your coverage. With regard to the 48 hrs, that would generally be constued to mean the bite or the discovery of the bite. You don't know and can't ever determine if there was a bite, nor can they disprove it. The only proof would be your son contracting rabies, at which time the only hope would be the experimental treatment that requires FDA approval -- that came too late for the boy in Humble. And the insurer has just bought national publicity in a wrongful death case. For $5000 or less -- $1400 i your case, the insurer can rest assured that they won't have a wrongful death suit that will cost more than that to simply file an answer -- never mind trying the case or dealing with the publicity. If I were advising the insurer, I'd say pay for the blinking shots even if they aren't covered, explain that you don't believe they are covered and figure out a way to make sure neither side suffers any greater loss. It's the best insurance for the insurance company and anything less would be fool hardy and calloused (which brings bigger damage awards if they lose). Maybe someone who could think finally got wind of your claim. How many of these do they think they are going to have, and how many people would want rabies shots if they didn't truly have a risk? Good grief!!! I'm glad he got started on the shots and isn't having any problems. Hope it continues that way. If you continue to have insurance issues, email me.

Laughable! I'm so glad to hear your thoughts:) . Especially about the fridge drop zone since I've never had a french door unit. Regarding your concerns which are the exact same as mine! 1. I don't know, which is one reason why we put the two 18" W x 15" D pantry cabs next to the fridge and another 18" w x 24" D by the wall ovens. Even with those I think I will need more for bulk things and less frequently used items but I'm still keen on your idea about two closets that I could build on the back Morning Room wall. It would require a hike around the peninsula, but hopefully that would be not often and still much closer than the trip I make to the basement now. Plus - it's pretty! 2. I pushed my current island to where the peninsula would be last week. I actually did it out of frustration of not being able to find a good layout! DH and I were shocked that we really like how it opens up the area in front of the basement door. It also had the unexpected benefit of making the kitchen feel bigger. Those two things coupled with the fact that I get better storage, better appliances, better prep space and better light in the kitchen are helping me to deal with the fact that I don't like how far the table is around the horn. But, I have figured out that it's actually easy to push food and dishes across the counter towards the table. Then you don't actually have to walk around carrying things. And vice versa for clean-up. Most meals it's just me and the 3 kids so we can do those on the peninsula. For dinner, we may keep the kids at the peninsula while we eat at the table so we can actually finish a conversation....ha!