Interesting gadget that you desire to find. I have never heard of anything like that. I'm guessing that anything that can receive a walkie talkie/cell phone type signal is going to need to be charged every couple of days simply because it has to be on all the time. Can you put the charger somewhere where you will see it every evening on your way to bed, and get in the habit of charging up when you go to bed every night? That's what I do with my cell phone and it works well. Maybe a cell phone in your pocket would hold a charge longer than a walkie talkie would? If the item your using has an old battery or is an older model, a new battery or a new device will probably hold a charge a lot longer, since the technology improves dramatically all the time. Perhaps you could rig up some sort of wristband or lanyard that would hold your wife's cell phone? If she has trouble with the cell phone being too hard to dial in an emergency, there are simple cell phones designed for the elderly or the technophobic that just dial a couple of preset numbers, and you could program your cell phone into that and carry your cell in your pocket all the time. Just some suggestions. Maybe someone inventive will design and market a device like you need? I hope so. Good luck.

tomylake I would not zone the upstairs area. You would probably get better airflow though if air handler was relocated to attic. I assume current arrangement is a chase from crawlspace to attic ductwork and ceiling registers for 2nd floor area. is this correct? I would proceed with return modifications for upstairs. If you are happy with current comfort for 2nd floor, then keep new air handler in crawlspace. I would address issues for heating/cooling finished basement area off main floor system separately. Zoning controls may be a possibility and/or improving supplies and return to this area. Obviously needs an evaluation by experienced dealer. I have to admit that your issues are difficult to advise and solve without an onsite inpection/assessment. I would lean on your dealer for best advice as long as you have confidence in him and he has demonstrated experience in zoning/zoning controls. IMO

I too am doing well for the most part,hair has grown back and is down over my ears now,not as thick as it was b4,but i can handle that at least i have some.My feet still bother me,that burning,walked on glass shards feeling.However my biggest problem now is my arm,from what i've read on the cancer bd.it looks like i may have Lymphadema in it.I go see the dr on monday.It's swollen and hurts like he**.I can only type for a couple of minutes or use the mouse,so my time on the computor these days is limited,and also can't do any stitching,or sewing,Bummer!! But as they say,"This too shall pass". I've kept the 47 pounds off that i lost during chemo and am now on Femera for almost 5 years,so the weight loss is a Great thing!! Keeping those prayers and good thoughts going up for all of us. Kathi

lurkish -- You mention a living mother and several sisters. I suspect you are not yet old enough to actually *require* household help. We are also just two adults, and we have only started to hire help -- two or three times a year, not weekly or even monthly. We 'kept house' quite well until this year. We still don't need an 'upstairs maid' (light chores like changing linens, dusting, vacuuming, laundry). We have wood and tile floors throughout our one-level home. Wool 'Orientals' go out to be washed. (Gosh! $3/sq ft this year!) We are a pair of former 'only children', and we don't have a 'fussy' house. We value 'neat and clean'. Now, though, I'm edging into COPD and have osteoarthritis. I can no longer do 'hands and knees', nor can I wipe laterally without shoulder pain. In our mid-seventies, we've decided it's time to draw from the money we didn't spend on cleaners for fifty years to hire some help now. We also have weekly lawn service, snow plowing and hire a window washer.