the cedar every 2 to 4 years. This may remove some of the stain, but it is key to keeping the cedar in tiptop condition and helping it last longer. You should pressure wash it the same way that you did in the beginning, prior to staining.Be careful when using the pressure washer as it may damage the wood. If possible, reduce the pressure so that it is not as strong. Stain is pretty durable, but it will fade over time, especially if it is exposed to the elements. If you live in an area that receives a lot of sunlight, then it may fade even faster. If you live in an area with lots of sun, painting the cedar might be the more convenient option because you won't have to do it as often. Stains not only add color to the wood, but they also help protect it, which is why you don't need a topcoat. If the stain fades, then you need wash the wood and reapply the stain, as described earlier. Pour or spray some water onto the wood. If the water soaks into the wood in less than 5 minutes, you need to reapply the stain. Transparent and semi-transparent stains don't peel, but solid-colored stains do. This is because they contain more pigment and don't soak into the wood as well. The only way to fix peeling stain is to remove it completely and start over. You will need to use a pressure washer to remove most of the stain, and a solvent-based cleaner to remove the residue. You may have to sand the wood, but be aware that this may remove the rough finish.

Summary: Pressure wash Reapply the stain every 3 to 5 years. Reapply more stain if it is starting to fade. Remove the stain completely if it is peeling, then reapply it.

When we get a bad grade and we're not used to it, we panic. We think we've lost our smarts, our focus, our mojo. But that's just not the case most of the time. Everyone can slip up from time to time. In fact, it's the mistakes we make in life that really teach us who we are and how to do even better the next time. Don't panic because panicking will cause stress, and stress doesn't make for good grades. One recent study found that students who stressed over big exams actually did worse than those who stay calm. Your academic career is made up of lots of different tests, not just the tests you take in class or the presentations that you give. Your academic career depends on the relationships you make with your teachers; the impact that you make on other friends; and most importantly, the stuff you learn. Judging the success of your academic career by only looking at a single grade is like judging the success of a party after only a single guest has arrived. It's not an accurate guess. Make sure the teacher didn't make a mistake in counting the points or arriving at a grade. Remember, even math teachers make counting mistakes! If you do happen to find a mistake, double check that it's actually a mistake and then find a time when you can talk to your teacher. Instead of accusing them of making a mistake "You made a mistake on my test, I want my grade changed immediately!" try to be more understanding. Remember that you get more bees with honey than you do with vinegar. Try something like: "I noticed that the numbers don't add up here. Am I missing something?" You probably won't feel bad about getting a C or a D if everyone else in the class got a C, because C was the benchmark. Still, be careful about finding out other people's grades they may not want to share, or they may want to know yours in exchange. If your teacher grades "on the curve", the grade that you get will take into account the grades everyone else got. So if the highest grade on a test was a C, then a C might become an A and a D might become a B-.

Summary: Let your panic pass quickly. Remind yourself that one bad grade won't break your academic career. Just to make sure, go over the test and recalculate your points. Carefully figure out what grades other classmates received.

Avoid involving the bride in the planning details, but do check in early on to make sure that her party is what she wants, whether that's a relaxed dinner out or the stereotypical, raunchy bash. Ask her what she expects and feels comfortable with. Consult the bride, unless you're planning a surprise party. Decide whether it will be just one night or a weekend-long affair. About a month before the wedding date is a good timeframe to aim for, but work around the bride's availability. Unless she specifically delegates this job to just you, ask her who she wants to invite. Give her suggestions but defer to her judgment if she feels strongly about inviting someone or not. The amount of guests will have a big impact on the feel of the party. A smaller group will be more intimate and easier to keep together, while a larger one will feel more hectic but also potentially more exciting. It's a good idea to invite the bride's future sisters-in-law, even if they're not very close. Consider inviting the bride's and/or groom's mother, depending on their relationship to the bride and the feel of the party. Avoid inviting anyone who's not invited to the actual wedding.

Summary: Go over dos and don'ts with the bride. Set a date for the party a few months in advance. Make a guest list with the bride.

If you have figured out that one of your family members is struggling with depression, it can be seem like you had something to do with it. But it's not your fault. Depression makes it hard to for people to connect emotionally with their loved ones. To be available to this person and help them, it is important to understand that it's not personal. When you are talking to a depressed family member, you have to keep in mind that they are dealing with an actual physical problem. It can be tempting to blame their mental disorder on decisions they have made, but recognizing that it's not their fault can help you be less critical and more supportive. Keep in mind that your love and support can help them recover from depression. Your support of their recovery process is one of the most valuable things you can offer someone struggling with depression. Offering to let someone with depression talk about what they are feeling without judging them is an important part of recovery. It will help them feel less alone. You can also offer to help them find a support group, where they can talk to people who have been through what they are going through to help them feel less alone. To help your depressed family member, you need to know what they are experiencing. With depression, there are a lot of things that can be going on, so you have to ask direct questions to get to the heart of it. You can prompt your loved one to explore why they are feeling depressed to help them get to the other side of it. Ask questions like: "When did you first start to feel bad?" "Do you know what triggered these feelings?" "What makes it worse?" "What makes it better?" Demanding that your loved one change the way they feel is a pointless exercise, mostly because they don't know how to change how they feel. You will feel frustrated when they don't change, and they will feel angry toward you, perhaps even feeling more depressed than ever. This can also trigger shame in them, which makes things even worse. If you try to rescue your family member, they will not learn for themselves how to manage feelings of sadness on their own. It is unlikely that you will be able to make the depression go away, and the fact that you are sticking your finger into their lives can trigger depressed relatives to feel frustrated with you. This will also lead you to have negative interactions with your loved one, such as when fixing it doesn't work and you get angry with them. Accept them for who they are and where they are emotionally. Develop realistic expectations for your depressed loved one and maintain an attitude full of hope for them. Your loved one can get help for depression, and they can change. There is hope, and if you keep this in the forefront of your mind, you can help them have hope as well.
Summary: Recognize that their illness is not your fault. Recognize that it is a real physical illness. Offer support. Ask direct questions. Avoid telling the person to change. Avoid trying to fix the family member. Have a positive attitude.