INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Your friend is often inconsiderate of your time. You're better off recognizing the problem for what it is than making excuses for this person. If you want to continue the friendship, but don't want to put up with the behavior, your best option is to say something. Maybe shedding light on the bad behavior will provoke change. You might say, "Hey, Carla. You always seem to bow out of our plans at the last minute without any explanation. That makes me feel like I'm not a priority as your friend. What's up with that?" One way to lend a helping hand to an unreliable friend is to simply ask how you can help. Your friend may already be aware of his or her unreliable behavior, but doesn't know how to change it. By showing that you care, you may be able to come up with a practical strategy to help overcome this issue. Listen to your friend and hear what he or she has to say. Your friend may have some suggestions about how you can help. Or, he or she may just be glad you are willing to show support when it's needed. Only offer suggestions if your advice is requested. Remember, you are trying to be a good friend, not fix the problem for him or her. Say something to the extent of "I see you struggle a lot to remember our plans. Is there something I can do to help you with that?" Sometimes, when we are frustrated with people, we give them a big list of all the things we don't want. This can lead to confusion and overwhelm. Instead, let your friend know exactly what you do want. Then, be sure to hold him or her accountable to meeting these expectations. For example, tell your friend "I expect for you to be on time when we make plans. And, if for some reason you will not be on time, I expect for you to let me know as soon as possible." If your friend agrees to meet this expectation, and then fails to do so, you must call him or her out on it. Say "I am on time for plans with you. I expect you to do the same, or I will let you know that I am upset about your being late." You may choose to change your expectations of the friendship. If the friend is a good friend who has suddenly seen big changes is his or her life, you may just have to move past the fact that there are going to be missed events. As friends start to have committed relationships and families, you may see a sudden spike in your best friend suddenly just not showing up and not calling to say why. This can be a sign he or she is having troubles adjusting to young children and not ready to acknowledge the huge impact kids have on life. If the friendship is solid and valuable, it is worth it to you to just accept this change. Part of being a true friend is accepting your friend for who he or she is and loving him or her anyway.

SUMMARY: Call out the behavior. Ask how you can help your friend improve. Be clear about what you want and hold your friend accountable. Modify your expectations.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Determine what size cage you'd like to make and find a bowl that is the diameter of what you need. Wash and dry the bowl. Spray the inside of it lightly with a little cooking spray so you can easily remove the sugar cage. Make sure the bowl you use can handle the high heat of the sugar syrup. Avoid using flimsy plastic or styrofoam bowls. Pour the somewhat cooled sugar syrup into a microwave-safe bowl. When the syrup is thickened to the consistency of honey, dip the tines of a fork into the syrup. Wave the fork over the bowl so that the syrup strands begin to cover the bowl and drape over the sides. Keep spinning the sugar until the cage is as thick and even as you'd like it. You'll need to be careful when handling the hot syrup, but work quickly. If the syrup in the bowl hardens too much, simply microwave it briefly so that it becomes syrupy again. At this point, you'll have a spun sugar cage nestled inside your bowl with long strands draping over the sides of the bowl. To clean up the look of your sugar cage, trip the edges of the bowl. Take a sharp chef's knife and trim along the edges of the bowl. To strengthen the sugar cage and make it easier to remove, you'll need to let the sugar cage set up for about 5 minutes. Once the cage has completely hardened, you'll need to unmold the sugar cage. Place your thumbs on the outside of the bowl and rest your other fingers on the inside so they're touching the sugar cage. Gently apply pressure so you can pull the cage up and away. If it seems like your sugar cage may break, move your hands and fingers to another point along the bowl. Applying even pressure can prevent the cage from breaking as you remove it. Set the sugar cage on top of your dessert and serve it immediately. The sugar cage will begin to absorb moisture from the air and it may fall apart if you wait too long to serve it. If the sugar cage is still too warm, it will collapse. If it begins to do this, place it back into the bowl so that it keeps its shape while it hardens.

SUMMARY: Choose a bowl. Spin the sugar syrup over the bowl. Trim the rim of the sugar cage. Remove the cage from the bowl. Use the spun sugar cage.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you feel that you may have depression, consult a medical professional first. Self-diagnosing a series illness like depression is not safe, since depression has serious side effects like angry outbursts, suicidal thoughts, and social isolation. If you are under 18 or are a dependent, ask your parents or legal guardian for help finding a doctor. If you are over 18, your regular doctor will refer you to a mental health professional. Talking to your loved ones after getting an official diagnoses will be easier. Knowing how you manifest depression will help you explain your feelings to people. Symptoms change according to the individual. Unexplained sadness, a sudden lack of interest in friends or hobbies, and a lack of energy are common among people with depression. Knowing the facts about depression will help you communicate with people. Since mental illness can still be a taboo subject for many individuals, being armed with facts will help you feel more comfortable when talking to those who may be skeptical of your feelings. These are good facts to start with: Depression is a legitimate, diagnosable disease. Twenty-one million Americans suffer from a mood disorder like depression. Depression is very common, but it is also the most treatable of all mental illnesses. Depression changes the way a person thinks and feels. Depression makes it difficult for people to think positively. Remind yourself that communicating about your depression can strengthen your support network, help unburden you, ease isolation, and help you get perspective. Trying to stay positive about communicating with people you know will make the process of communication easier.

SUMMARY:
Get diagnosed. Recognize your depressive symptoms. Research depression. Focus on the benefits of communication.