Marguerite, I purchased all my Coleus from one mailorder nursery (in 2004 and 2005) but pretty sure they were pestfree when received...especially as I kept them all near sofa the first few days so I could admire them...LOL They spent all summer on my patio so probably picked up mealybugs (or eggs) there. I think I've found part of the answer...attached article says Coleus very susceptible but constant inspection and washing can prevent infestation and spread if caught early. Also, I just had 3-4 little mealybugs...not all over the stems as I've seen in photos (shudder!) Another thing the article recommended was growing potplants inside house a little dry and using less fertilizer. In winter I just "maintain" my plants, not try to grow them...and I never use fertilizer (although some may be in some of potting soil I buy). My house is kept between 66-68 degrees F days and cooler still at night so they sort of go into hibernation mode. So maybe I was doing the right thing inadvertently. I'd always felt fortunate not to have had pests on my tropicals indoors...I think possibly my method of brisk thorough shower and watering well and then letting pot dry out a good bit was, in addition to catering to my laziness, a good insect preventative...LOL Of course when outside they get thorough spray/watering every other day...temps in 90's all summer here. But they flourish and grow so well they don't mind the lower light, cooler temps and reduced water in winter inside. Oh, the one Coleus that got the mealybugs was 'Klondike', orange-red leaves with yellow edge. Iside house it fades to a soft copper-pink but still nice. josh Here is a link that might be useful: Mealybug Life Cycle & Prevention

MUA should really be provided mechanically, not through “drafty” walls, crawl spaces or attics. The hood you are purchasing should provide you with the volume of MUA that is required to run the system efficiently, assuming it is correctly sized with your gas range. Your log stove should have its own MUA system, but if you are relying on the hood system, it needs to be sized to accommodate both the log stove AND your gas range. The International Building Code for Residential Construction should provide all of the details you need (in the mechanical code) for this system - even if your local jurisdiction or contractors are not familiar with it.

Not an electrician: I believe the NEC prohibits using ducting as a wireway (conduit) because it is not approved for the application. There are also requirements on cables and conduit when in an air plenum, such as a ceiling used as an air plenum. Truly abandoned ducting is just metal surrounding a cable or conduit run. If the duct is greasy, then any conduit in the abandoned ducting should be sealed, and in my view incapable of supporting a fire, such as thinwall, IMC, or rigid. Flex might allow grease to intrude upon the conductors. UG cable might be OK. PVC conduit might be allowed. I have never noticed this particular case addressed in the NEC. For electrical questions, I argue that it is better to ask permission than forgiveness. See your Code Enforcement officer for advice. You may have to tear out some part of the ducting at each end for it to qualify as abandoned. I think it is a good idea, pending approval, if the duct is buried and the path needed is otherwise inaccessible without trenching under the building.

Here is an article from Wirecutter about over the counter hearing aids. https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/signs-of-hearing-loss-otc-hearing-aids-could-help/ Mine look like the Lively 2 Pro. Mine are from ReSound and cost $6k a year ago. They were fitted by an audiologist with a Masters degree at my ENT’s office. She is able to make adjustments and send them to my hearing aids over the internet. Mine are controlled through my iPhone. There is a button on mine where I can control volume, but I’ve never learned to use it, because it is so easily done from my phone. Mine are pretty much invisible. The thing behind my ear was ordered to match my hair color. the wire that goes from it to the part in my ear is very fine. The audiologist taught me where to put it so that it blends in with my ear. I can wear my hair behind my ears without the hearing aid showing. I agree with AD, your mother needs to be seen by an ENT. I blame my hearing loss on jet engines from my days as a flight attendant and from playing music too loudly. The audiologist said my hearing loss is barely at the level for hearing aids. I bought them mainly to appease DD. I say she talks too fast and does not enunciate clearly. She said I needed hearing aids. HA! @daisychain Zn3b, If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them, if I can.