Scrub the outside of the shells with a scrub brush under cold, running water to remove all dirt. Discard any open or cracked shells. Let the oysters sit under water briefly, and then remove from the water while letting them drain. Use a charcoal grill or gas grill. Bring the grill to a medium high heat. Lay the oysters on the grill, flat side on the grill itself. Although there's little difference in method, how you cook your oysters will depend on whether you want to season your oysters beforehand or leave them unseasoned until right before you plop them down your gullet. If you want to season your oysters beforehand, shucking them is your best bet. If you'd prefer to season them after cooking, or perhaps not at all, you're better off leaving them in their shells while they cook. How do you shuck oysters? Wrap the top of the oyster in a towel or put on heavy-duty gloves for protection. Slide an oyster knife into the hinge (backside) of the oyster. Twist the oyster knife by turning your wrist, like you're turning on the ignition in your car with a key. Scrape the blade across the top part of the oyster shell, twisting to open the muscle. Remove the top portion of the shell and loosen the oyster foot from the bottom shell with your knife. Oysters are great raw or cooked in their own brine, but sometimes a little seasoning makes the oyster shine even more. Look for ideas that suit your own tastes. For inspiration try out some of the following: Butter and garlic Butter and soy sauce Butter, shallot, fresh parsley, cheese (Pecorino), cayenne, paprika BBQ sauce Shut the lid to the grill and allow it to remain closed for 5 or 6 minutes. Open the lid and check on the oysters. What you're looking for will differ depending on how you prepared them: Whole oysters should be checked for opening of the shell. You'll initially notice a line beginning to separate in the shell. Look for bubbling of the oyster brine inside that small separation. Throw out any oysters that haven't opened after 5-10 minutes. Oysters on the half shell need to be vetted before and during the shucking process to ensure they're safe to eat. If the oyster is already open prior to shucking, or it doesn't put up any resistance during shucking and pops right open, throw it out. Oysters on the half shell will tighten slightly when cooked; their liquid will bubble and help cook them over the course of 5-10 minutes. Serve with drawn butter, lemon, or as-is.

Summary: Prepare the oysters for grilling. Prepare the grill. Decide whether to cook the oysters whole or on the half-shell. Prepare a seasoning for oysters on the half shell (optional). Cook the oysters. Remove whole oysters or oysters on the half-shell carefully so that they retain their juices.

While it is painful to accept, your girlfriend may have moved on since your break-up. Before approaching her again, keep in mind that she may not want to get back together with you. If she rejects you, don't take it personally. Maybe there was a reason why you broke up in the first place. Calling her might feel too forward, so ease in with a text. Let her know you are thinking about her. Maybe you heard a song that reminds you of her? Or, you re-watched movie that you two had seen together. Keep it light and friendly, and ask her how she's doing. You might say something like, "Hey! I was walking in the mall and I heard our favorite song... it made me think of you. How are things?" If she doesn't text back right away, don't despair. She might just be thinking of the right thing to say. If she responds positively, consider asking her out to a social event as friends. You could invite her to a school basketball game, or to eat lunch together in the cafeteria. See her in a public setting with other friends so she feels more comfortable. Make a list of your girlfriend's favorite things and activities. Does she have a favorite musician that is playing an upcoming concert? You could find tickets and surprise her with them. Or, if she just got her driver's license, you could find a cool key chain that is relevant to one of her hobbies (like a tennis ball key chain if she plays tennis). However, you don't have to spend money to show that you care. If she told you she has a test coming up, call or text her afterwards and ask how it went. Offer support if she's feeling anxious. Simply being thoughtful and listening will show that you want to be involved in her life.

Summary: Do not expect that she still likes you. Send her a text. Ask her to spend time together as friends. Show her that you care about her.

Your new bamboo shark will eat foods such as uncooked shrimp, scallops, mussels, and pieces of fresh marine fish, squid or octopus. Cut any large food into bite-sized pieces. Do not feed your shark common feeder fish such as goldfish or guppies. These freshwater fish are not a natural food for bamboo sharks. If you wish to feed your shark live food, use silversides or sand eels. Bamboo sharks only need to be fed every two or three days. Give the shark a large portion of food a few times a week. If it loses weight, increase feeding. A juvenile shark should grow, but if an adult shark shows signs of weight gain, reduce the amount of food. When you first get your shark, it may be hesitant to eat. Providing live food such as saltwater feeder shrimp and fresh cockle (in the shell) may help entice it to eat. If it takes a few days to start eating, don't be alarmed. These sharks can survive a few weeks without eating. A clean aquarium is important to keep your shark healthy. Clean/replace the filters often, and change the water when necessary. Your protein skimmer will need to be emptied approximately every other day. Follow package instructions for replacement of carbon filters. When water becomes overly soiled (i.e. cloudy), you will need to change it. This will require large containers full of RODI filtered and salted water, and pumps to remove the old water while adding the new. Bamboo sharks can coexist with other fish if you want to make your aquarium more interesting. Be aware, however, that small fish will probably be eaten, and any crustaceans are likely to disappear very quickly. Bamboo sharks have been kept successfully with grunts, snappers, jacks, groupers, and goatfish.

Summary: Feed the shark. Keep the aquarium clean. Introduce other fish if desired.

Exercising will put you in a much better mood and help you burn off some of the extra Christmas-food calories. Go for a jog, lift weights or play a sport with some friends. If you live in a cold climate, January might be too chilly for much outdoor activity, so look into a gym membership or indoor sports leagues. If you've received any hobby-oriented Christmas gifts like paints, kitchen utensils or a new video game, put them to use. Throwing yourself into a new hobby and learning a new skill will help take your mind off of your sadness. Volunteering can help you keep your Christmas spirit alive as you help those in need. Look into helping out local soup kitchens, shelters or charities that distribute winter clothes. You'll be able to help others through the winter and take your mind off of the end of the Christmas season. While it may be depressing that Christmas is over, always try to keep up a good attitude. Remember that this Christmas isn't the last one you'll ever have, and focus on things that make you happy as much as possible. It may be especially hard to keep a positive attitude if you have to go back to work. However, think of your return to work as a blank slate and new beginning. Remind yourself that you can start back to work at a slow pace and catch up on your own time.
Summary: Exercise. Start a new hobby. Volunteer. Try to keep a positive attitude.