That's interesting- I was thinking the exact same thing the other day. I was having lunch, and noticed an old lady eating alone, and she looked sad and lonely. It made me feel really bad for her. Honestly, I cannot see how we can think positively about it. The truth is that a lot of old people rely on pension to get by, and many have very few visitors, and have no choice but to go about their lives alone, at least much of the time. Because of all of this, some old people eat alone at inexpensive restaurants. I notice it too, and it does make me sad.

One thing you could do to make both yourself, and the elderly feel better, is to smile, and say hello to them, whenever you happen to see them. I'm sure it would brighten up their day. You could also volunteer at a retirement home . I used to do that in High School- mainly talking to some of the residents, taking them down to lunch, taking them out in the garden... my friend and I even gave some old women manicures once, it was really cute, and they were so happy with it- and we also helped at a birthday party for one of the residents. You are only asked to do very simple things, but anything you do to help is fulfilling. One thing though, since the residents are all old, there is always a chance that you will hear about one or more of them passing away, if you do choose to volunteer. It is sad, but if you remind yourself that it is a part of life, you will get by. Being able to make old folks' life more enjoyable is really what matters.

Your pictures are beautiful, and you do have an eye for photography. I am not a photographer, but it's my hobby, and something I absolutely love to do. As for the first few photos at the top, I like how you had an object (wooden slabs?) be the focus of the photo. It is something random, and not particularly beautiful, but you gave it beauty through your photograph. I also like to take pictures of random things/objects or even an unexpected angle of a building or something as simple as a bench or staircase- photography gives beauty and meaning to the otherwise ordinary.

Just like you did with the first few photos, it is good to have focus on one particular object, and you might even want to experiment with taking shots from particular angles (you can try it out with absolutely anything you see that catches your eye or inspires you).

Your nature shots are beautiful, and make me want to be there! I also like the pictures that have the fence, and behind it, beautiful scenery. The fence adds something to the photo- it's like your personal touch.

I looked at the photos on other pages, and I can tell you, they are beautiful and very well taken. The lighting gives wonderful contrast and highlights very well- you can always use good lighting to your advantage, even if it's artificial light.

Lastly, I love the pictures of the flowers- for instance, the picture of the bunch of yellow daisies (page 3) is taken from a good angle (bottom-up), which makes the daisies appear very tall, and almost like a group of soldiers, but pretty, haha. If you can, invest in a good camera, and start taking some photography classes, even at a local community college. If you really have a passion for photography, and can imagine yourself making a living from it, then go for it. Do not listen to anyone who tells you it's impractical or whatever- do what you like. Keep a portfolio of your best works, for if you do end up applying to schools. I do not know which schools have good photography programs. You might want to research art schools in the United States (assuming you live here)- and look into living in a major city with a booming industry and appreciation for art (maybe New York). Good job! and good luck :)

I grew up in the LA area, and hey, I made it out alive. All jokes aside, you don't have to worry. Sometimes there are no earthquakes for years, as the answer below mentions, and other times, you might get one or two small earthquakes. The small ones hardly feel like the big earthquakes that you might be thinking of. It's hard to explain what an earthquake feels like...it's basically a big shaking. In LA, there hasn't been a really huge earthquake since January 1994, the Northridge quake, which was scary- it felt like our house (within 20-30 minutes to Northridge) was swaying. I was 9 years old, and it was in the middle of the night. Our whole family went downstairs and sat under the dinner table for a while. So, while it is unpredictable when an earthquake will hit, it is unlikely that something big will happen in the immediate future. And buildings are earthquake safe. If you are concerned, you can read up on earthquake safety tips as a precaution, but don't worry. I wasn't ever scared of encountering an earthquake, and if it does happen, it is usually quick and pretty small....and rare. There are some earthquake fault lines, which is of course why California is known for its earthquakes. But that shouldn't make you feel worried about moving there. Think of it this way- some states in the midwest and south are known for tornadoes and/or thunderstorms, but I don't think that deters people from living there. Nature can be unpredictable, of course, but the chances of encountering something like a major earthquake or tornado aren't THAT big... it might happen, but it's not something you should be totally worried about.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." We've all heard it before, and it may seem cliche, but there is a lot of truth in that simple saying. One cannot define beauty. The reason you are feeling down about yourself, is that you are putting beauty into a very narrow category. I understand why you feel this way. You might walk by magazines at the supermarket or newspaper stand, and see models and celebrities all glammed out on on the front cover. You might see girls at school (I know exactly how they can be) dolled up on the runway that is high school. What do these two groups have in common? Well, for starters, "perfect" hair, "perfect" clothes, "perfect" makeup; you get the picture. But why should they be the only ones considered pretty? What about you?

By the sounds of it, you are down-to-earth. A lot of popular girls who constantly get praised for being so pretty, practically fall in love with their reflection in the mirror- they don't necessarily have their doubts about being pretty. And then you get the rest of us, who sometimes question if we are pretty or not, because we don't necessarily fall into the narrow category of "beauty," that society has set up (and high school or middle school being a product of this, of course). You know what? Over the years I have realized that confidence is the most important factor, just like the first columnist said. Once you feel good about yourself, you will stop constantly having doubts about your beauty. And really, it absolutely is what is on the inside that counts. If you are confident in who you are, you can feel pretty anytime. You will realize that it's more than what's on the surface that matters.

I am sure that you are a pretty girl; you might be at an awkward age, in which case it is normal to feel that way. I felt that way too in middle school and part of high school. When I was 12, our English teacher was passing out our class photos, and she said something about how I looked nice in my picture, and this girl squinted, and said, "no," as in --no, she doesn't. Trust me, I know how cruel girls can be. And i know where they are getting their ideas. That might be part of the reason you don't feel pretty. But you know what- by feeling that way, you are giving into their distorted perception of beauty. Just understand that you are beautiful. No body can or should make you feel otherwise. Remember, as the first columnist mentioned, confidence is beautiful. And as you grow, you will come to feel at one with your true self, and care far less about what other people think, your looks included. I am sure that you have a lot to offer, on the outside and inside. Do not ever change yourself for other people, whether it is to act a certain way, or look a certain way. In the end, you are only comfortable with being YOU. I agree with the first answer- if you want to do something for yourself looks-wise, then make sure to only do it for yourself, and not just to impress everyone. But remember- if you look the world in the face, and feel comfortable with yourself, then you will feel beautiful, inside and out.

I completely agree with the answer below- many, if not most guys would find that to be an awesome quality in a girl. For one thing, it would mean not having to be dragged to chick flicks at the movies, and more importantly, it means having a girl who might actually have taste in film. I love mob flicks, dark comedies, dramas, independent/foreign films, etc., but I dread chick flicks-- and I'm a girl too. So nothing wrong with that. One of my friends ( a guy) is really into film, and we could go on and on talking about it...one common denominator: Hollywood blockbuster flicks bend the concept of love and relationships way out of proportion (you could say that about other things too), mainly to attract viewers, which means more profit. Unfortunately, as you mentioned, the same plot plays out time and again in a "no thinking required" fashion. I think most of us have enjoyed a chick flick or two here and there (mainly the funny ones, or the ones from the 80s, for example), but overall, they are dull and predictable.

If your boyfriend brings it up again, you can let him know that you happen to like mob flicks, and lots of other things, but find chick flicks to be dull and predictable. Just because lots of other girls like chick flicks doesn't mean it's weird for you not to- quite the opposite.

Most likely, you will be able to transfer money online. Once you sign on to your online banking account, there is tab at the top of the site, "transfers." Once you click on it, there is a drop down menu for "from" (account), and "to"...so you just choose which account you want to transfer from and to. Right below that, you enter in the exact amount, and that you want a one-time transfer (the first option). The good thing is that once you have entered the information, you can confirm everything before you actually go ahead with the transfer.

If you don't have an online account, I highly recommend you get one- it's easy. You can check your balance and pay bills online as well. If you would rather not transfer money online, you can always go to the bank and have them do it for you. You can also transfer money between accounts at the ATM, by choosing- transfer money, or something along those lines.

If he starts talking about his dad, how he misses him, etc., it would be a good idea to tell him that you are always there to listen and support him- and that you are very sorry for what happened. You never really get over the death of a parent, especially if it happens when you are young. Because of that, it is difficult for your boyfriend to bring it up; it simply hurts too much to talk about it. Still, it would help him to open up to you about it- it would really help him to have someone to lean on.

At the same time, it isn't really a good idea to bring it up if he isn't really ready to talk about it. He has to be willing to open up- my guess is that it's just a matter of time before he does. Again, what you can do is wait till he brings up his father, and then let him know you are always there to listen to and support him. At that point, asking something like, "would you mind if i asked what happened to him?", would not be rude, especially if you bring it up gently and politely.

As you know from the other answers, yes, pot and weed are the same thing- just slang terms for marijuana. Pot, however, is an older term, mainly used in the 90s(I still say it), and weed is not a new term, but not as old...if that makes sense. There are so many slangs for marijuana- pot, weed, grass, herb...but pot and weed are the most commonly used. The same thing applies to "joint" (rolled weed), there are other slangs for that I'm not too familiar with...

It all depends on the situation. Usually, your gut instinct is right, since your mind is trying to tell you something. There is a reason we say, "go with your gut." Still, sometimes we get scared, and our gut tells us not to do something, even though it would be okay (and probably a good thing) to take a chance.

The best thing to do is to think clearly, without letting your emotions get the better half of you. In any given situation, weigh your options. And most of the time, yes, go with your gut. But just focus and do what you know is right-sometimes your gut instinct points you in the right direction.

As for moving to a new place, it's almost always a good idea, since it will open you up to new experiences and people. But all in all, I say, go with your gut most of the time...but always think clearly and do what's wise.

You can find some nail growth treatments at the drugstore. I highly recommend Nailtique- it comes separately in three different formulas depending on what your nails need. Nailtique also comes in a kit, with the three formulas. Once you have used the nail growth/strengthening formula, you can move onto the basic formula to keep your nails healthy.

Sally Hansen products also work well. There is a nail growth formula that you can try.. it should be cheaper than Nailtique, but Nailtique is probably the best drugstore product for nails.

It depends on how much the package weighs and what postage method you choose (express, priority, etc.). You should expect to pay between $10-30, but it all depends.
Here's a link from USPS that has a postage calculator based on destination, package type, and weight:

http://postcalc.usps.gov/

It's normal to have discharge throughout the day- all girls/women get it in varying amounts throughout the month. Discharge is generally heavier around the time of your period, and is usually clear or slightly milky, and depending on the time of month, can be watery or even mucous-like. Normal discharge dries to a clear or pale yellow, and slight variation of consistancy is normal. The only thing to be worried about is if your discharge becomes yellowish, which can indicate a vaginal infection, or is white and clumpy with a bad odor- which is a common symptom of a yeast infection. If you notice anything completely differnet that is accompanied by redness and itching/burning, you should see a gynecologist. Otherwise, you're fine, as long as you keep good hygiene and make sure to wear cotton, breathable underwear.

Discharge is actually a result of the normal self-cleansing of the vagina. There really is no such thing as too much, as all women vary in the amount of discharge they produce, depending on stage of ovlulation, age, lifestyle, etc. Again, you're going to notice much more discharge before and after your period. At that time, it's also normal to notice a slightly brownish or pinkish tone- it's blood, either new (before period) or old. The vagina is self-cleansing, and small amounts of discharge are there for a few reasons- to prevent dryness, to protect the vagina, make sex easier (which is why women 'get wet' when sexually aroused).

I recommend using pantiliners throughout the day to keep you feeling clean and to protect your underwear. Use only a non-scented one, as scented pantiliners can be irritating. I use Carefree Bodyshape throughout the day- the regular size are wrapped and can be carried anywhere. It's normal to go through 2-3 of them in a day, depending.

Here is a useful website with information on vaginal discharge:

http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/femalehealth/discharge.html

Here's my attempt at translating from Farsi to English:

-zesht: generally means "ugly," or depending on the context, can mean wrong or inappropriate (as the person below said):

e.g: oon sag zesht-eh: that dog is ugly
oon kareh zeshti bood: that was inappropriate.

-khoobi?: means, "are you well?"

-khoobi dareh?: literal translation is "is there any good in it?" but really, it just means, "is it worth it?"

-vakhti goft: when he/she said.

-dokhtar: girl

- ye rooz ageh meetooni zang bezan, basheh?:
means, "call me one day if you can, okay?"

I wouldn't recommend piercing your own ears, especially if you haven't done so already. You would be better of going to Claire's or something- they pierce ears for free (not including the price of the earings). If you attempt to do it on your own, you'll risk a couple things: a)infection, or
b)possibly being too nervous to do a good job.
It's better to shop around and go to a professional, than to attempt to do it yourself. They are trained, and as you know, use a piercing gun, so there's little chance for them to make a mistake. Of course, make sure that the place you go to uses sterile materials and is completely sanitary. If you do decide to pierce your own ears, it would be a good idea to ask around, or even go to a tattoo/piercing place and see if they have any tips...it's better to ask a professional than to start from scratch. But anyway, I still recommend that you try going to Claire's or shop around and find a clean/licensed place that is relatively inexpensive.

I lived in Holland for a year, and while I was there, Schwarzkopf hair products were available nearly everywhere- pretty much all over western Europe, actually. I really liked Schwarzkopf Gliss Kur, liquid silk shampoo & conditioner. It made my hair very soft, shiny and manageable. It should be available throughout Europe, actually I wish it were available here in the states, too.

Here is a link for more information:

http://www.gliss.schwarzkopf.com/?id=1252

I used to have the same problem in college. I did not get enough sleep, and when I did, it was too much (mostly to catch up, or out of plain old laziness).

Your question has pretty much been answered, but there is one thing to add. Quality of sleep is often more important than quantity. If you are lying in bed tossing and turning for a couple hours, and only get five or six hours of good sleep, then the hours spent lying awake do not count. However, if you consistently get more than eight or nine hours of sound sleep- as you usually do- then you are getting too much sleep. Your body is too used to being asleep, and that can cause you to feel tired and run down all day.

It would help if I knew how old you are. Teenagers generally need more sleep than adults. The hours of sleep you need per night depend mostly on your age and lifestyle. It will be difficult for you to get out of your current sleep cycle at first, but once you do, you will feel so much better. Just try getting up earlier than usual, and force yourself to do something active, even a walk around the neighborhood. Try going to bed on time, and waking up early- and keep that routine. You will feel a lot healthier and more energized. And to add, eat well and make sure you get proper nutrition- that can also play a role in either making you feel tired and sluggish, or energized.

According to a search, teens need between 8 1/2 to 9 1/4 hours of sleep per night:

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/site/c.huIXKjM0IxF/b.2419127/k.9C6C/Sleep_and_Teens.htm

If the stains are yellow, then they are due to aluminum in the deodorant. For some reason, aluminum can cause sweat stains to be yellowish.. Also, you might want to try switching to a gel deodorant, or, as the the person below mentioned, something that goes on clear- of course, the only way to be completely certain is to use a gel/gel solid- Dry Idea, even men's deodorant, or Secret Platinum are all clear. Or, you could switch to a more natural deodorant-all of which are clear- especially since you do not have major issues with sweating. Tom's of Maine has natural (or mostly natural) deodorants.. I use Queen Helene deodorant (also has no aluminum) which works well for me- you can find it at Whole Foods (if you're in the states) or online.

All (and I mean ALL) of this self-pity and negativity is rooted in your lack of confidence. You feel that you do not matter to yourself or the people around you because you are looking at your life through a foggy, distorted lens. In other words, if you feel like shit, then everything is going to be negative to you.

First and foremost, your friends and your girlfriend, in this case, are one and the same: people in your life. You can bundle them all up into one category since you feel you are not good enough for ANY one of them. Why would you feel that your friends have no reason to like you, or that you are not "good enough" for your girlfriend? It has less to do with who you are, than with how you feel about yourself. If you could stand tall and look the world in the eye, you would not be saying these things.

Secondly, you feel you cannot achieve your dreams or even simple goals. This is also because you lack confidence in yourself, you have said so already. Little things you do may not matter in the "here and now," but overtime, your actions add up. So don't expect an easy solution to anything. If you want something, you have to work hard for it; nothing comes easily. Now, to work hard, you have to play hard- and this requires energy and dedication. To have either one of these things, you have GOT to have some confidence. We all have our moments, but to let your insecurity get the better half of you is an entirely different story.

So, there is no solution to making yourself likable and confident..it's more of a process. You have to take little steps here and there to make you feel like YOU.

I would suggest (as some others have) really talking to some of your friends about how you feel; chances are, you are just being too hard on yourself. Try planning to do something fun over the weekends- a) to take your mind off things, and b) to realize what friends are for. You don't hate your friends, you hate how you are right now...so take it easy on them, and try to reflect more on yourself. As for your girlfriend, it does not seem that you want her to leave you, otherwise, you would have left her yourself, if an end is what you really wanted. So try to ask yourself why you feel you aren't good enough for her. Again, talk to her...communication is key. She may sense the insecurity sooner or later, and decide that enough is enough. So before it gets to that point, let her know how you feel, and what you can both do to make the relationship stronger. It all depends on you, her, and the relationship. But I think that the main thing is for you both to communicate more and see what needs to be done.

You are 25, but age is not a factor in this; there are plenty of insecure 40 year olds. You need to think about all your positive attributes, and above all, take ACTION. Stop thinking about all this negativity, and stop putting yourself down so much. Pitying yourself will not help at all. You have to honestly tell yourself that it is now the time to take it as it is. Improve upon yourself, only think positively, and be open with those around you. It can only make you feel better about yourself and the people you care about.

Actually, to add to the first answer, the Van Daan's and Mr. Dussel were pseudonyms (fake names) used by Anne in her diary. I think that she used those names in order to give a literary, and more imaginative quality to her diary, to make it seem more story-like.

The Van Pels family and Fritz Pfeffer were the actual names of the other people in hiding with the Frank family.

As the person below mentioned, you could try waxing instead of shaving. I had problems with bumps, ingrown hair, dots...women with thick hair have more of a problem with this, and shaving only makes it worse. Try waxing- overtime, your hair will grow thinner, leading to less ingrown hairs and bumps. Another thing you can try- it works very well for most women- is laser treatment. It is expensive, so if you are interested, definitely shop around. But also make sure that the technicians are trained and fully certified to do laser. Since I've started, my hair grows back very thin, ingrown hairs are minimal, and it's been 3 weeks with still no shaving.

But if laser's out of the question, definitely stick to waxing. It's well worth it

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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