Problem: Article: Don't panic--you're not asking her out on a date! Set up something very casual in a big group setting. Showing her that you want to spend more time with her is a big hint about your feelings, but the large group of friends around will make it a low-pressure situation. Start with fun, energetic activities like bowling and laser tagging, where you'll be able to talk a bit but without the pressure of a one-on-one date. Make it sound like it just occurred to you to invite her along. Say, "I just remembered, I'm going to the beach this weekend with a big group of people. You should definitely come. I thought it sounded lame before, but with you there it might actually be fun." Poke fun at the subject she's studying at school, her hometown, or her favorite TV show or sports team. Avoid self-deprecating humor, which could make you come off as unconfident, and don't tease her the whole time you're talking. Mix a couple of jokes into conversation, but listen to her sincerely for the rest of it. For example, if she works on the school paper, smile and joke, "I bet you report a lot of hard-hitting news stories around here." You can use light sarcasm by saying something like, "You watch CSI? So you're basically a detective now, right?" Playfully disagree with her with a line like, "Your favorite movie is Ghostbusters? I don't know if we can be friends now." Avoid teasing her about things like her looks, her intelligence, or her family. When you're hanging out in a larger group of friends, go out of your way to find and talk to her. This will show her that her conversation is special to you, and that she's more important to you than other girls or even your other friends. If you typically joke around with every girl you talk to, be a little more sincere around her. Avoid paying lots of attention to other girls. You might think it would make her jealous and maybe even more interested, but that probably won't be the case. At best, she'll assume you're just a flirt who's not really interested in her in particular, and at worst, she'll be hurt by the change in your feelings. Say something admiring about her looks, her intelligence, her job, or her passions. She'll feel flattered and see that you've been thinking about her and really listening to what she's talking about. Try, "You look amazing tonight," or, "That's so cool that you volunteer at a dog shelter." You could also compliment her taste in music, movies, food, or anything else. Say, "That band you recommended is amazing," or, "Good choice, the steak is the best thing on the menu." If you're at an event together, make a point of finding her before you leave, especially if you've drifted apart during the event. She'll remember that you came back to her just to say goodbye, and will realize she must be special to you for you to exert that kind of effort. Say, "I have to head out, but it was great to see you. We should definitely hang out again." If she smiles and agrees, try for a quick hug. If you don't feel ready for that, just smile and say, "Okay, see you later." If you haven't asked for her number yet, now is a great time to do it. When she agrees that you should see each other again, say, "Oh wait, I don't think I have your number. Can I get it really quick?"
Summary: Make casual plans with her. Tease her gently and make light jokes. Make a point of treating her differently than everyone else. Compliment her. Say goodbye to her before you leave.

Problem: Article: Find level ground, and before noon, place a stick or other vertical object that's about 3 feet (1m) high. It will eventually start to lengthen as the day wears on, and then touch the circle again. At that point, make another mark, and draw a line between the two marks you made. The line is west to east, with the first point being west, the second being east.
Summary: Make a sundial. Make a mark on the ground at the tip of the shadow. Measure the length of the shadow, and draw a circle around the stick using the shadow length as the radius. As the day progresses, the shadow will shorten and move away from the circle. Draw a line perpendicular to the west-east line, and this is your north-south line.

Problem: Article: Once established, the tree can withstand short periods of drought, but it always prefers to be kept moist. When it is still young, within the first one or two seasons after being planted, you should give the tree a thorough watering if you experience a drought that lasts for two weeks or more. You can prune during the late fall or on a mildly cold day in winter, while temperatures are above the freezing point. You can also prune during the late spring, after the blooms have fallen from the tree. Remove diseased wood first. Then, cut away old lower branches close to the trunk, as well as any branches that are intertwined or growing in the wrong direction. Never remove more than 1/4 of the tree at once. Ideally, you should test the soil each fall to determine if it's missing any vital nutrients. Instead of picking a general all-purpose fertilizer, add amendments that will introduce the lacking nutrients back into the soil. Many redbud trees grow well enough on their own without the use of fertilizer, but this may not be true in all cases, so it's important to check the soil on a yearly basis. Typically, you won't need to add much if any nitrogen to the soil. You may need to select a slow-release fertilizer with higher concentrations of phosphorus and potassium than of nitrogen, and only apply it once, toward the beginning of the autumn. Leaf anthracnose, botryosphaeria canker, and verticillium wilt are the three diseases that affect redbud trees most often. Wood-boring bugs have been known to attack the soft wood of these trees, and insects like the redbud leaffolder, grape leaffolder, and Japanese weevil are known to eat the leaves. A healthy tree is less likely to succumb to these threats than a damaged tree, so prevention is the best remedy. An infected tree should first be made healthy before you consider applying an appropriate pesticide or fungicide.
Summary:
Make sure the tree receives moderate amounts of water. Keep the branches pruned. Fertilize only as needed. Watch out for pests and disease.