Better living through Skype.  Kelly and I, this very morning, determined that it is easier to Skype each other when I am upstairs in my office and she (or anyone else) is down in the kitchen.  That is our normal state of affairs when the kids are home during the day because they like to work by the fire (or maybe because it is closer to the refrigerator).  It works great.  I can turn up the volume to whatever level is required.