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I'm a non-Muslim guy and a coworker of mine learned that her family member, across the sea in Tunisia, died. She was very upset; it was hard to watch. I was wondering if there's anything especially fitting within the Muslim culture that I, a non-Muslim, can do for her... or if there's some sort of prohibition against accepting food or a sympathy card or anything of the like during a mourning period. (Admittedly, I don't know the intricacies of the cultural etiquette when something like this happens)... or if she's even allowed to accept anything from a non-Muslim.

Any suggestions or people with knowledge of culture will be appreciated. *Bonus if there's any particular practice or custom within the culture that I can be part of in this difficult time.

So, I've made a Greek kakavia soup (similar to a French bouillabaisse soup) that called for assorted small fish and mussels. Now I've already cooked the mussels, and when they opened, I shelled them and added the mussel meat to the soup.

There's a very good chance I won't finish the entire pot in one sitting. My question is, can the soup be reheated SAFELY with the mussel meat already in the soup? I've tried to look this up but it seems that everyone says not to refrigerate them in some sort of broth or sauce... but in all the situations they seem to say not to do this IF they're still in their shell. The mussel meat, itself, is already in the broth along with everything else. Is the leftover soup salvageable, or should I dispose of whatever's leftover? Seems a pity to waste anything.

Very confusing... answers or suggestions very much appreciated.

"Jagercsik"...

This appears in Eastern Europe, but "Jager" is not really a Slavic word. It almost appears to be a German word with a Slavic suffix, but that's just my guess. Any linguists or ethnographers who might know?

Is it German? Maybe even German-Jewish?

Thanks to all

Hey guys, I'll keep it short and to the point...

A while back I began training for a half-marathon which will be on May 5th. I initially began this at a time when I'd have twelve weeks to condition myself. I made it up to the 4 or 4.5 mile point on my long runs and then, in a separate event, fell HARD on both knees. They were looked at and the doc said no damage, just some contusions and achey-ness which has healed after a two week hiatus from running. The doc has also cleared me, so I can resume training again.

At this point I have 8 weeks left til the big 13! Any advice on how to ease back into a regimen and/or a suggested accelerated training schedule would be absolutely awesome and much-appreciated.

P.S. For what it's worth, I initially had been following Hal Higdon's novice 1 schedule. Seen here:

http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51131/Half-Marat...

Thanks in advance

Hey guys. Nice to be back after a long hiatus from Yahoo Answers.

Question:

My younger sister just got married this past Saturday, and I, of course, was in the bridal party as one of the groomsmen. The night before the wedding, at the rehearsal dinner, the groom-to-be gave the father of the bride and all of his groomsmen a really nice gift... mine being a real nice pocket watch. (My sister did the same with her bridesmaids)

So... that being said, should I send a "Thank you" note to them, or is it pretty unnecessary since I gave them a pretty expensive gift? I don't want to seem like a chode, but I want to follow through in the best manner possible.

Thx to all.

I have this friend who is for all intents and purposes a very nice, intelligent individual, but it seems whenever we're together eating, watching a movie, doing anything... she's on that stupid phone. Do people realize how thoughtless that seems? It's sort of like saying, "You're not really worth my undivided attention." Not that I need attention, but I'm of the opinion when you take time out of your day to meet up with someone, it's for quality time or catching up. I'm not interested in hearing beeps, whizzes, and dings while my friend can't even look up to talk!

We're not talking about checking out the weather or a long-awaited email, we're talking just pissing and pissing around on that dumb device. Have people forgotten how to socialize completely or have face-time with someone? I guess what my real question is, how do I very gently let this person know that it's distracting, rude, and sort of inconsiderate? I don't want to come across as mean... but then again, should I really care that much if this "friend" can't pry herself away from that thing?

All thoughtful answers appreciated!

So, I've examined my life a bit and found out that I'm spending way too much money. I'm looking to cut back or at least slash my bi-weekly expenditures in half, at the very least. I have a slow cooker and I really don't use it as much as I could. I've looked online for some recipes, but they all involved money-spending or don't sound very appealing. Anybody here have some recipes they want to share? Doesn't have to be your best, family secret recipe... just something.

So...

I had a friend visit not too long ago and we were sitting, shooting the breeze etc etc. So by about 8 PM I was really feeling a coffee, and given that I didn't work the next day... I figured, "What the heck?" When I was in the kitchen, I prepared two cups-worth one for me and one for her because I was taught not to consume anything without offering some to someone else and I figured I'd just pour one for her without asking.

I brought out the coffees and said, I know it's a little late and you work fairly early, but here is one if you want it, no pressure. Well, she drank it and we talked more and she left. The next day I got a nasty text from her saying I "force-fed" her and she couldn't sleep and got no rest. I said, "I told you there was no pressure, you didn't need to drink it and I wouldn't have been offended." No response.

What do you think?

I'm making an orecchiette dish that calls for Swiss chard, spinach, lemon zest and pasta and some beans. Basically your run-of-the-mill pasta salad. The cheese the recipe calls for is ricotta salata, but I'm thinking I might have the same success with feta (of which I have plenty). Whatcha think? Okay or will ruin it?

I work with one of the most miserable, despondent people. Now I understand that not everyone can have a great day, but one would think that every now and then somebody has a day that's at least "okay". Nevertheless, I work with this dude who openly tells people that he's in a bad mood, isn't going to do his work, and sits there nursing his grudge and/or misery while literally keeping his word and doing nothing.

Long story short, I've had about enough of his ongoing, everlasting malaise. His emotional problems shouldn't be an excuse for not doing his job and making everyone else as miserable as he is. The only time I do see him perk up is when he brings someone down to his dismal level. It's kinda sad. The last straw was yesterday (Christmas, of course) where he uttered something to the effect of "...you and your heathen god". Now, I know that not everyone believes the same thing nor should they... but c'mon now.

Anyways, how in the hell do I deal with this fool. I don't want to invite drama and usually have to work in closed quarters with him. Any mature responses are definitely appreciated. Thx all.

Are you allowed (by the rules of Scottish familial etiquette) to wear a tartan if you ARE descended of a family or a clan but do NOT bear the same actual surname? Does anyone know the answer?

There is this individual with whom I work who recently and a number of times before has betrayed me (nature of the betrayal not really important). I overlooked the other times in the past because I am pretty laid back, but after this time, I definitely intend to distance myself.

We are (were?) good buddies for the most part, and I have lent small amounts of money to him in the past when he's been in dire straits. My question to you is, from now on... how do I turn him down (but very diplomatically)? I'd be more firm in any other case, but I do work with this person on a regular basis and want to try to keep the drama to a minimum.

So, how can I gradually distance myself from this person, in general?

I welcome all of you who have something valuable to say or who have been in this situation. Adult answers only, please. :D

I had this dream several years ago, and it was pretty unsettling...

In this version of reality (in the dream) the house across the street from my childhood home (I had this dream while I still lived at this address) was gone all of a sudden. Instead, there was this big hillside cemetery behind where the house would have been... like it had somehow always been there but no one realized it. This was an older cemetery with the old fashioned stones and crypts and such. At some point in the dream, and I can't remember why, I had to crawl into this space... sort of an outcropping from a washed away hillock or mound or mini cave in this graveyard and crawl in further.

In the dream, I felt that it was my dad who was encouraging me to just keep going in further, even though I didn't want to, he said just keep going. On either side of me there were these two skeletal figures, lying there with the skulls turned in the direction I had to crawl.. so that at some point, I'd have to crawl right through where they would be "looking" (if they had had the ability to look). I remember that they didn't do anything like come to life or sit up... but there was this prevailing, palpable fear that they might at any moment. And I'm ashamed to say it, but I think at some point although I can't remember it too well, there may have been cannibalism going on on the leathery, dusty parts of their remains. The dream ended there, and it really grossed me out - as you could imagine. Does anyone want to offer an honest and adult take on this?

Is the origin of the surname "Petras" Greek or is it Slovakian? Several sites list it as being either, but I was wondering if any ethnologists or people with an investigative mind would look into this for me, so I could get a more definitive anwser. To complicate matters, Greeks did settle in the Carpathian region of eastern Slovakia long, long ago. The "-as" ending seems to be very uncommon in most Slavic names.