The black soldier fly larvae you can hear on occasion though I believe it is not the sound of them feeding but more the sound of them moving against each other.....I have millions of them here with all the rabbit manure and we keep a couple buckets with them in for composting and compacting kitchen scraps. To the bins of them under the rabbit pens I can add an entire grouper after the fillets have been removed and they will strip every bit of meat from it. It adds the fish to the garden, just in a round about way. I know when I can hear them that the mix is getting dryish and is time to add a cantaloupe rind or something wet.

Ohh, same boat as you, only last year. What a tough time being a parent, no? Finally resigned myself (with a little support from DH), that if I/we didn't hear from DD, it was a probably a good thing. DD was busy, had work to do, making new friends, adjusting to living with 2 roommates (DD is an only child), and everything else that comes with going away to college. Also, the college DD attends, requires all incoming freshmen to do a First Year Seminar which pairs the freshman with mentors in groups. The upperclassmen (mentors) do things like meet informally on a weekly basis to answer questions about adjustment to college life, have bi-weekly dinners with the peer group, make a point of checking in on a student who seems may be having trouble, etc. Also, a mandatory first semester class was FYS, which was all about adjusting to college life. That class is held by the professor assigned for each major. DD went in undeclared and stayed with her FYS advisor through her entire freshman year. DD's professor/advisor had his entire group of freshman and peer mentors come to dinner at his home ~ a farm he shares with his wife. Nice BBQ, bonfire, music, get to know you, casual social thing. So nice of him to do so. DD declared a major at the end of her Spring semester. Now has a different advisor. DH & I were very glad the school mandated this FYS, as we feel it was sooo important that there was some support provided to every freshman as they moved to a new chapter in life. A safety net, if you will Had we heard from DD everyday, it would have been an indicator that she wasn't acclimating, or at least not trying to do so, if DD was still so "wired" to me/us. Would say I got a few texts, not many. Calls, less than texts. First time home was only 2 weeks into the Fall semester. DD had a "mini-meltdown/pity party" about the dorm room, how hard her classes were, how much work, yada yada. Well, as I wasn't the most sympathetic audience, I had a sit down with DD and let her vent, but then I asked DD if she would like to trade places with me, or with any of her high school classmates who weren't fortunate enough to have gone away to college. I think the light bulb went off for DD. After our discussion, it seemed as tho she had gotten it, and truly appreciated having the opportunity to be away at school. By the end of the Fall semester, DD couldn't wait to go back from Christmas Break. Thankfully, it all fell into place and worked out well. If you feel your DS is not isolated, and otherwise seems to be doing well, then I would just try to wait for him to communicate. I tried to sit on my hands, so as to let DD get into her groove at school, only texted if necessary, and responded to the texts DD initiated. I knew she was adjusting okay after the first few months, and I am confident in my relationship with DD being very strong at its core. I figured if she needed me, she would call or text. I also did some baking, sent her favorite cookies along with a mid-semester care package. While recently on vacation visiting family (DD is now a sophmore), I asked about a another family member whose DD is the same age as my DD, and who is now attending her sophmore year at college away from home. I was curious how much communication went on between that student and her mom/dad/family? Well, the person to whom I was talking had taken said student to her college orientation, as her parents were both working that day. The speaker at orientation told the parents (mine wasn't the parent), that if you aren't hearing from your child, send them a text or email, or even leave a VM on their cell, that you are sending them $$, or do they need anything? See how fast they respond. LOL. So, we just tried a little experiment after this vacation conversation to see if the advice was good advice. Heard back immediately from DD. We laughed so hard about how true that orientation speaker was. So, there is something to that particular strategy. Fall break isn't too far off. My DD attends a private college, so they have a fall break next weekend, but most big universities don't have the mini break, first time home will be Thanksgiving. Just wait till you see the difference in your DS. It was amazing watching from afar, my DD change into an independent young woman. HTH.

Certainly good and valid comments about buying hvac equipment at a discount and and then finding someone to install it properly. I expect that most shops will turn a DIY'er down flat and might even be rude about it because they feel they're somehow being cheated out of their due profit. But there surely must be shops around, well qualified, willing to take $1000 for a day's work for two guys to make sure a job is done right. Too bad there's no way to start a list of them. By the way the Goodman "Warranty not valid for Internet sales" is just window dressing to keep their dealers happy. As one mail-order retailer said, "just call up and order it over the phone." The words on their web site are very specifically about Internet sales. Or buy something other than Goodman - lots of brands are available "wholesale to the public." But in any case the real problem is support. The wholesaler may be an honest Goodman (etc) dealer, you buy over the phone, find a great installer who does a perfect job, then six months later the fickle finger breaks your compressor. The "free" replacement part will incur two-way shipping costs and take a few days to arrive. Then you'll need to pay someone to change it out. But do I understand correctly that you'll pay for labor in any case, unless you pony up for a contract with your installer?

I try not to use the "I'm busy" to often. I think it makes my friends feel like they aren't important. I tend to say a certain week or month, lets catch up or do someones birthday. Lately I have felt overwhelmed and I hate it. It's graduation & party crunch time, scholarship assisting, school activities have simmered down thank goodness, but the farming has stepped up X5. Oh and we are adding a whole new wing to our house. DH is doing most of the work between farming and I'm the designer. HA, sounds glamorous but it seriously isn't! Subbing at school has been few and the caller must be frustrated at my refusal to work. I am blessed to be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor but its been a long haul, we don't know what weekend fun is. My friends have been so good, they will offer their hands to help me. You bet I'm using them at DD's graduation open house! that's what friends are for. ~~I agree we are all busy. But if my friends NEED me I'll try to be there for them someway, like they are for me.