Selecting a Refrigerator

One of the other appliances we'll have to replace in our household is the refrigerator because of a lightning strike. Selecting this can be a difficult task. What style do you want, Top-Freezer, Bottom-Freezer, Side-by-Side, Built-in. As we proceed through the selection process with insurance and who we'll select a new refrigerator the information will be posted.

Stylus 770 SW

Our first replacement item from the lightning strike is the digital camera. It was on the charger at the time of the strike and was fried. We're considering the Olympus Stylus 770. We like the option to be able to use in the water up to 30 ft, and it's shock (drop) resistance. Plus we do dive and have only used one-time use camera's, this module has an under-water housing unit that is good to 150 ft. If you've had experience with this digital, underwater or above let us know. I'll attempt to locate some reviews and post the information on this blog. (PS the next electronic will be a video camera).

http://www.olympusamerica.com/cpg_section/product.asp?product=1287

Digital Camera

First item we tried to have fixed was the digital camera. It's a Nikon S1, 8.x pixels. Was a pretty good digital. Any one w/ suggestions as a replacement? We're consider the camer (can't remember the name at the moment), however it's water proof up to approx. 30 ft. I wouldn't take it scuba diving w/ us, however it should resist spills, rain, puddles etc. I'll post the brand and information we find soon.

Odds of a strike

According to the National Lighting Safety Institue one out of every 200 homes will be struck per year.

Calling Insurance

If you've had to process a claim with your homeowners insurance you know it can be a long process. After a couple days they finally assign a claim number and adjuster. Later, rather than sooner an adjuster will visit your home and evaluate the damage. Truthfully I think it's more to confirm what happened. After that you get to call three different companies to provide estimates on all repairs and replacements. In our case it was for the roof, framing in the attic (yes, the strike actually destroyed the framing), appliances, digital camera to Ritz, home security system, and so on. A couple weeks before the strike we had replaced the central air system (we went with Trane, at the time they had very good rebates and also put in a new system to kill germs in the air). All of those who have lived in Florida know this is an essential machine to have. Well, our new system didn't work the next day....Fortunately the company that installed the new system was very responsive and fixed very quickly.

The Best Excuse

When the lightning struck I was literally shook out of bed. I woke-up to myself SCREAMING, clutching my stomach. No it wasn't indigestion of some strange lightning cramp; we are expecting our first child in December. I didn't feel sick, but definitely felt the strangest sensation I had ever felt. I wasn't sure if it was adrenaline, or if I was feeling some sort of strange electrified aftershock!

My doctor said as long as we can hear a heartbeat and I can feel him move all is good in baby land. We, on the other hand, have a different perspective:

(1) This child could end-up being a delinquent, a drop-out, a republican...etc...all of which we will be able to blame on the lightning strike. Every time he gets a poor grade, or doesn't make a team, we can always say "Well it isn't because he doesn't try, or because we are bad parents, it's because as an unborn he was struck by lightning." It's the greatest excuse ever! We will never have to question our parenting skills

(2) If, however, this child ends-up brilliant or some child prodigy it will have absolutely NOTHING to do with the lightning strike waking-up unused brain cells. No sir! It will all be due to his good genetics and our brilliant child rearing.

It's a win-win situation!

The Beginning

A few weeks ago my wife and I had our home struck by lightening. What a mess!!! At 11:45 pm half the house shut down, the alarm system flipped out, and the fire department showed up. Couple days later it rained again and we realized there was a hole in the roof, appliances and certian electronics were fried. This blog will review the process of getting the house fixed, from processing an insurance claim, the buying new appliances and electronics plus more. :-)