I am not too familiar with Indian food, but I do love Chicken Tikka Masala. It is one of the most common curries (yellow curry) and is generally creamy and mild. If you don't like spicy food, you could ask the waiter to recommend mild dishes, or to provide recommendations. I am not familiar with any other curry, but have tried something with lamb and tomato, which is also delicious.

I agree with the other answer- samosas are delicious, and a good appetizer to share. I also recommend the naan (flat bread). Some restaurants have different kinds, like garlic or tandori naan. At the end of the meal, a cup of tea (chai) with milk is great. Enjoy the dinner!

Flu-like symptoms do not necessarily lead to having the flu, but can feel similar. The most common symptoms are muscle aches, fatigue, and loss of appetite. The flu is more severe than a common cold, and lasts longer.

Here's a site that lists the most common symptoms of the flu:

http://www.flufacts.com/symptoms/default.aspx

That's completely normal- it happens to everyone. Our minds can store tons of information and memories, even random things like the way something tastes, sounds, and in your case, smells. We have strong senses, and at the most random of times, these senses can become aroused, especially when we're reminded of something nostalgic, or even a "first" (your first boyfriend). That's why out of the blue you got reminded of James, and it was almost like you were kissing him, instead of Anthony. It's nothing to worry about. I was dating a guy a couple years ago who always smelled of Head & Shoulders shampoo. To this day, I cannot smell that shampoo without getting reminded of him- whether I want to or not. The first guy I was serious with had a musky/cologne type of scent, and I swear, if I were with another guy that smelled similar, I would be in the same position as you. Even the way someone looks- if someone has "his eyes," I am instantly intrigued.

So, just think of this as nothing more than a normal human function. You say you love your boyfriend to death, and that he treats you wonderfully. That's another reason for you not to look too deeply into this. I think you should continue doing what you have been doing- focus on your boyfriend, and if you want, keep a cordial friendship with your ex. Just remember: the human mind works in mysterious ways.

It would help if I knew how big/what color the bumps are. It is normal to have tiny bumps (same color as lips)- these are sebaceous (oil) glands. You might have a cluster of cold sores- some people get them after having very chapped lips. It is impossible for anyone to tell you what you have, if anything at all. No matter what, the excessively dry lips has something to do with the bumps. It more than likely has nothing to do with your chapstick.

You should probably have a parent take you to the doctor. It's probably nothing to be worried about, but again, no one on this site can diagnose anything. If anything is wrong, you might be told to use some sort of ointment or cream to get rid of the bumps.

Employers do see your college GPA, which should be written on your resume under all the other information. If you're trying to get a job, it looks good to have a high GPA, but in the end, it's what you have to offer as a person that matters most. My brother didn't do all that well in college, but ended up getting a pretty decent job and has worked his way up with a lot of hard work.

GPA does matter if you're trying to get into a good graduate school or professional program (law, medicine, dentistry). Other things count too, such as exam scores, extracurricular activities, life experiences, etc., but your GPA is a major component. My sister ended up struggling to get into even one dental school due to a low undergraduate GPA. She had high exam score, lots of extracurricular and work experience, but really had a hard time proving herself because her GPA was low. In many cases, even if you have a high GPA, you have to work very hard due to high competition. But really, high GPA is the first step. It isn't worth it to slack off in college and get bad grades- it can easily catch up to you.

The baby could be putting too much pressure on her bladder, making urination extremely difficult and painful. But nobody on this site can diagnose anything at all, so she really should see a doctor. She is so far along in her pregnancy, and it is very important for her to monitor her health and the health of the baby. To convince her to go to the emergency room, tell her that any decision she makes might affect the baby- his health is the most important concern. They should be able to refer her to a temporary gynecologist. If not, she should see if there is another gynecologist in the same building as her own that could see her instead. There should be someone who is there to deal with emergencies and other concerns.

Anyway, there is a website that has a list of abnormal pregnancy symptoms- painful urination is one of them. She has to talk to a doctor, as this is something that is not a normal symptom of pregnancy.

Here is the site that outlines pregnancy symptoms:

http://www.obfocus.com/prenatal/firstpreg.htm

I wish her all the best.

It isn't easy- you are young, and it's hard not to fall hard for someone you like, only to get crushed later. It happens to everyone at some point or other. With experience you'll figure out how to stay level-headed and try to move on too. It's really difficult not to fall for someone too fast, but you just have to remind yourself to take things slowly, and give yourself time to figure the person out. Teenage girls tend to get obsessed with the guys they like.. you are starting to figure yourself out, probably also starting to date/hang out with guys- in short, lots of things are pretty new to you. Welcome to the world of relationships, dating, and guys. It's fun, but it can also be overwhelming at times- especially for teens. My only advice to you is to try taking a step back and look at things with a calm and objective viewpoint. If you feel things are going too fast for you, slow down a little. Try not to idealize the guys you meet- they are human, and are not going to give you the perfect relationship. Do not get caught in your own little world, obsessing over a guy. It's perfectly natural to be blissful and happy when you're with a guy, but again, try to look at him as a human, rather than prince charming, and it'll be easier to keep yourself from falling too hard.

There is actually a website that is devoted entirely to this issue:

http://www.drymouth.info/consumer/default.asp

The site has a few questions at the bottom of the page to determine if you have dry mouth, which can be caused by a number of things. Even if you don't think you are dehydrated, you might actually be. Try drinking more water everyday and see if that helps.

The site mentions that people who are very anxious tend to get dry mouth, so that might be an issue. I actually remember temporarily having the same feeling when I was really nervous speaking in front of the class a few years back. I had the same feeling several years ago when I was with a guy I really liked. So try to think about anything (or more than one thing) that might be causing you to feel overly stressed, anxious, and/or depressed, and try addressing that issue(s).

In the meantime, consider using Biotene, a mouthwash for dry mouth:

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=157450&catid=1122

Biotene also has a toothpaste formulated to help with dry mouth.

Of course he's going to be nice to you and tell you he likes you, when he only wants one thing from you- guys like him use compliments as bait. Like the person below said, guys like that find no reason to continue talking to a girl afterward. He does not see you as a friend, which is why he is no longer talking to you. Imagine going into a store to get something...a pack of gum. After you buy the pack of gum, are you thinking about going back to the same store to talk to the clerk and become friends with him/her? Of course not. Sorry to say, but in his eyes, you are the pack of gum. He got what he wanted, and to him, there's no sense in establishing anything else.

Now, this is where I diverge from the others. I really do not think you should make any effort at all to talk to him. Even if you see him at school, ignore him, or at least don't go out of your way to be nice. If he wants, he can make an effort to talk to you--and by the sound of it, he's not going to, so let it go. Let that night be the end of it. Guys like him are bad news. There are plenty of people-girls and guys- who are just like that. They will flatter you and try to make you feel special when they want you, and when they don't, they easily dispose of you as though you're some object. You KNOW you aren't an object to be toyed around with- don't let him play around with your emotions either. Surround yourself with good, honest people, and get rid of people like him that bring you pain.

This question has already been answered, but I just wanted to add a couple of details. There are two reasons why Summer's Eve or other products designed to keep you smelling "fresh" can lead to infection or irritation is that it alters the pH level (as another columnist mentioned), and also gets rid of bacteria-both good and bad- making you more susceptible to infections with continued use. Using a vaginal douche (with vinegar or other solution) is known to increase the likelihood of getting a UTI (urinary tract infection), for the same reasons. The vagina is self-cleansing, so anything that interferes with its natural function should be avoided. It's not just you- no woman should use soap to clean the inside of her vagina- or the pubic area for that matter...plain old water is fine. Also, to add to one of the answers, you should trim your pubic hair, but do not shave all of it off. Pubic hair is there to protect the vagina...women who shave or wax the entire area are more prone to vaginal infections. As long as you have basic hygiene and are in good health, you're fine.

There are no actual cures for the common cold, since it's caused by a virus (and not bacteria), but there are lots of things you can do to strengthen your immune system and ward off the symptoms. First, take a large dose of vitamin C- there are pills and chewable formats. I generally take more than the recommended dosage when I have a cold. Also, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, as having a cold can dehydrate your body. Drink lots of water and juice, and if you like, have some chamomile tea (or other herb tea) with lemon and honey at night, it's very soothing- plus, honey helps strengthen the immune system. Try not to take too many cold medications- overtime they are known to become less effective. Since it is getting worse, you might want to have DayQuil or Nyquil, or some similar cold medication, but don't continuously take it for more than 2 days. The most important things to remember are to get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids (water, juice, tea with honey, chicken soup), wash your hands frequently...and it'll get better within a few days.

I recently had a cold, and felt a lot better just by getting enough rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

It probably doesn't feel as good because you already know what to expect. Like the person below said, you can try having him use more than one finger, or tell him to go faster and see if you like that more. One tip- the whole up/down thing isn't exactly the greatest, so you can tell him to do the " come here" motion with his finger.

Putting a tampon in does not necessarily break the hymen. There is no comparison between a tampon and penis. I have been using tampons for years, and it still hurt when I had sex the first time. The first time hurts for most girls, regardless of if you've used a tampon or not. Even if you have partially torn your hymen when putting in a tampon, the penis will stretch the vaginal area out anyway, so it is bound to hurt. The best you can do is be totally ready (emotionally and physically), and be worked up enough before actually having sex, so that it will hurt less. But all of this depends on the girl- but bottom line is that using a tampon means nothing when it comes to having sex.

I highly recommend Canon digital cameras- they have good features and excellent photo quality. I recommend anything in the "Canon Power Shot SD" line. There are new models out now, Canon power shot SD 550 is a bit more advanced than the SD 500 (more background options, better zoom). By now there are much newer models. I recommend the SD 550..

Canon makes great cameras- the quality of the photos, zoom/picture taking quality and clarity of photos are some things to look for, and a lot of people I know who have a canon digital camera are very happy with it.

One line of Canon digital cameras that comes in several colors, is the Power Shot SD 1100 IS:
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=16347. Walmart does carry canon digital cameras online: http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=canon+digital+camera&Find.x=0&Find.y=0&Find=Find, there is also an option of checking if they carry that particular item in the store near you. I would recommend buying directly from the store, so you can check out the camera and talk to a sales rep. I also recommend checking if walmart offers an insurance policy, in case of lost/damaged camera, which would cover replacement. Otherwise, you'd have to send the camera in for repair, which could be very expensive.

It is a hard question to answer, because what ends up happening is entirely up to your boyfriend. There isn't too much you can do to prove to him that you aren't a liar or cheater, besides doing just that: proving it. You have to make sure that it doesn't happen again- simply telling him that you are going to be faithful is one step, but remember, actions speak louder than words. Of course, apologizing is a good thing. But you really have to make sure that you are entirely faithful and are not going to see someone else while you two are together. Now, I can understand a few things through your message- that you are not a cheater, that this was a one time thing, and that you deeply regret what you did. In order for your boyfriend to understand (in his mind, and not just through words), you just have to wait. The best way for him to trust you again is for him to see- after a while- that you have not repeated your mistakes. In the meantime, make an effort to see each other more, and try to keep the relationship alive. I think you got a case of "out of sight, out of mind." It happens sometimes. But to make sure he understands he's the only one on your mind, you have to keep the relationship strong, be honest with each other, and keep your guard around other guys you might find attractive. A night (or even several months) of fun is not worth the pain.

Yes, even a little bit of penetration is still sex. A lot of people's first time doesn't last very long.
You did mention that you don't think he cummed- there is no way for you to know unless he tells you. Even if he didn't come, pre-cum is still chock full of sperm, so you need to use a condom every single time to prevent pregnancy- better yet, if you think you are going to continue having sex from now on, consider also going on birth control.
You should monitor your period to make sure there is no possibility of pregnancy, since precum could still get you pregnant. Not to worry you, but wait a couple weeks and go get a pregnancy test- there are many planned parenthood clinics around the country that offer free testing (plannedparenthood.com).
Next time (and every other time), make sure to use a condom...CORRECTLY. It would be helpful for you to check out condom instructions (w/drawings) online, so you know exactly how to use one. Some people skip on an important step, which could lead to breakage. You can even go practice using one, even on a banana (sounds silly, but is helpful). Planned Parenthood also provides free condoms.

Do not get circumcised to appeal more to women- frankly, most women do not care whether or not their partner is circumcised. This is a very important decision that most men never make. Certain religions, namely Judaism and Islam, require male infants to become circumcised, so obviously any Jewish or Muslim male is already circumcised, though not by choice. The point is that most guys who have a circumcised penis did not have a choice in the matter and were little babies (probably only several months old) when the ritual took place. Some people voluntarily have the pediatrician circumcise their baby boy for other reasons. But there is no substantial benefit to having a circumcised penis. If you ever encounter a woman who is outwardly put off by your uncircumcised penis (note: women like that are more often than not judgmental and rude with these matters), do not take it to heart. You will meet someone, who like most mature women, couldn't care less.

To add, here's a link from Yahoo answers that discusses this topic- scroll down to the third answer by "Ms. X," it has some useful information and opinions:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071025170836AAqAL1S

The answers below pretty much explained everything already, but here are are few suggestions:

-You could include a couple of pictures of you and your friend, maybe even framed...she could put that up in her dorm room or apartment.

-Think of any snacks or foods she really likes- it's definitely a good idea to bake cookies, I'm sure she'll be happy about that. You could also mail her some nutritious (but still tasty) snacks that she could take on the go, like granola bars, trail mix, etc., anything that will keep her full at least temporarily. Maybe even some microwave popcorn, for nights/weekends if she likes to occasionally watch TV or movies. I agree with the answer below, Easy Mac is a good idea. You might also consider sending her some Top Ramen.

- As for gift ideas, I think it would be a good idea to send her a journal- she might like to write in one. You could also send her some school supplies, like pens, erasers, etc. Of course most people like to enjoy free time outside school, so anything she might like, maybe a book, a few of her favorite magazines. You could also send her some beauty products, like shampoo, nail polish/makeup (if she likes).

All in all, try to think of some of her favorite hobbies- if she likes to write, you could get her a journal...if she likes art, maybe a couple of art supplies.., anything that you think would be useful. The same idea applies to food, so I'm sure she'd like some of her favorite foods and snacks, and even some nutritious snacks would be good too.

If the area has been repeatedly picked at, then the risk of scarring is higher. Superficial scarring is called hyperpigmentation, when the surrounding area (usually following popping of the pimple, or healing) is reddish/purplish. That usually clears up on it's own, provided you keep the area clean and don't touch or pick at it.

Deeper scars lead to indentation, and if it's deep enough, I think really only a dermatologist can recommend some sort of cream or even laser treatment to help clear scarring. You should immediately stop touching your face all the time and picking at new pimples or blemishes. Wash your face twice a day with face wash that's suitable for your skin type, and make sure to use moisturizer as well. Some of the reddish scars should clear up, although it'll take some time- maybe even up to a couple months, depending. I have little brownish spots from a couple of pimples I had a long time ago...not a good idea to pop/pick them. Anyway, I recommend that you make an appointment to see a dermatologist- they deal with all sorts of skin conditions and can recommend a course of therapy that can work best for you. Beforehand, they might ask about which facial products you use, and how sensitive your skin is, if at all. Based on this, and other information (such as medical history, etc.) they'll let you know exactly what your options are. It all depends on how bad the scarring is, and how often you experience breakouts. There are so many options for treating acne scars...you can discuss some of them with a dermatologist and see what should work out for you. Some google research can also help..

Never shave any part of your face- the hair will grow in more thick and spiky (think of a man with stubble). Everyone has hair on their forehead, usually it's thin, and darker for some than others. It could be hormonal...facial hair is generally more noticeable on those of mediterranian/middle eastern decent. It's probably not too noticeable, but if you would rather get rid of it, either get the area waxed or threaded.

Threading is a good option- just a long piece of thread that pulls hair out. You can try to find a salon in your area that offers that. If you live in Southern California, there's a place called Ziba Beauty that offers affordable threading...if there is any salon in your area that offers threading, it's the best option for facial hair removal. Try doing a google search: threading salons + (your city). If you would prefer to get waxed, find a clean salon that offers facial waxing. Make sure to tell them not to wax too close to the hair line. You can shop around, but definitely make sure the place is hygienic.
If you don't want to go to a salon, you can wax on your own...Veet waxing strips work well even on thick hair..Nad's is also good.

I am here to give honest advice, when I feel I have something to contribute. I try to be as empathetic and understanding as I can, as I know that the way something is said is as important as the message itself.

I usually advise on love/relationships, friendship and family issues, nutrition, and health (mental and physical). If I feel I can help out, there's not a whole lot I am unwilling to answer. Ask away!

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