Q: While most marathons have a qualifying time, the Honolulu Marathon does not, and a great starter for first-time marathon runners. Hawaii residents have two advantages to the marathon: early registration date notifications and lower entry fees. There are separate entry fee amounts for Hawaii residents, United States residents, and international residents. Note that the entry fee is non-refundable and in US currency.  When open, online registration can be done. All incoming Japanese residents must register at http://www.honolulumarathon.jp/ . Signups start in the Spring and the entry fees increase over the year for all three categories of residents. People participating in the marathon must pick up their own packet in person at the Hawaii Convention Center during the free expo, which is the week before the marathon. There are no exceptions and others cannot pick it up for you. The marathon packets includes timing chips and race numbers.
A: Learn about the requirements. Register and pay for the entry fee. Sign up early. Know about packet pick up.

Q: The only sure way to know whether or not a cat is a stray is to find its owner.  A stray cat may not be far from its home.  Attempt to locate its owner by asking your neighbors if they have lost a cat or know anyone who has.  It may help to take a picture of the cat along with you. Posting a photo of the cat and a location where it was found on social media can also help you find the owner.  This method will allow you to reach a bigger audience in much less time than going door-to-door. In addition, you can create a “found” poster with the cat’s picture and contact number to call if anyone recognizes the cat. If you are able to safely catch the cat, take it to a veterinarian to have them scan the cat for a microchip.  If the cat is implanted with a microchip, it will have information about the owner and how to contact them. It is also possible that the owner of the stray cat doesn’t know it has been wandering.  In this situation, it can be helpful to attach a paper collar to the cat, if possible, that includes a message like, “This cat has been visiting me lately.  Please contact me if it belongs to you.”  Be sure to include your phone number or email address so the person can reach you.  If the cat wanders around during the day but returns home at night, this will let the owner know what it is doing. Don’t leave the paper collar on for an extended period of time because it could be irritating to the cat.  If you haven’t received any calls within a few days of placing it on the cat, remove it if the cat will allow you. Check with the animal shelters in your area to see if anyone has called about a missing cat recently.  If someone has, they may be able to give you the person’s contact information or contact them on their own to try and reunite the owner and cat. It is also a good idea to leave a description of the cat, where it was found, and your contact information with each shelter so they can get in touch with you if someone calls looking for a cat that matches your description. There are also online resources, like PetsLocated.com, that help reunite owners with their lost pets.  This site has a “lost” database and a “found” database and it continually cross references the two to try and match up any pets that have been reported lost and also found.  Enter the information you have about the cat on this database to help find the owner.
A: Ask around your neighborhood. Check for a microchip. Attach a paper collar. Contact local animal shelters. Report the missing cat online.

Q: Pour 1 cup (237 ml) of water into a medium saucepan. Sprinkle 2 (1 oz./28 g) envelopes of unflavored gelatin over the water and let the mixture sit for 2 to 3 minutes. Once the gelatin mixture has sat for a couple of minutes, place it on the stove and heat it on medium heat. Whisk the mixture together until they’re combined and continue heating until the gelatin dissolves, which should take about 5 minutes. Once the gelatin is dissolved, add 3 tablespoons (38 g) of sugar to the saucepan. Whisk the mixture to fully combine the ingredients. After you’ve blended the sugar into the gelatin mixture, reduce the heat to medium-low. Allow it to simmer until the sugar dissolves, which should take about 5 to 7 minutes. While the mixture is heating, stir it occasionally to help the sugar dissolve. Once the sugar dissolves, remove the pan from the heat. Add 4 to 5 drops of red food coloring to the mixture and stir well to tint it red. Next, pour 1 cup (237 ml) of cold peppermint schnapps into the pan and mix it in. Set the mixture aside for the moment. Don’t place the pan with the red layer mixture in a cold spot because you don’t want it to set up. Instead, keep it beside the stove so it will stay at room temperature.
A: Add the water and gelatin to a saucepan. Heat the mixture and whisk it together. Mix in the sugar. Lower the heat to bring the mixture to a simmer until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the red food coloring and peppermint schnapps and set aside.

Q: Do you consider your parents to be generally anxious people? Do they tend to worry about small details in day-to-day life in addition to you? Many overprotective parents have preexisting issues with anxiety that may make them extra vigilant regarding their kids. Try to understand your parents have your best interests at heart. Accept that anxiety, over which your parents likely have little control, is a major factor in how they behave towards you. If you want your parents to worry less, show them you're responsible. Making small changes to your day-to-day routine can help your parents see they do not have to worry.  If you live at home, approach your parents as soon as possible if you're asking for permission to go somewhere. Be upfront about who you'll be with and how long you'll be out. Your parents will appreciate your maturity.  Be aware that adults often follow many of the same rules they apply to you. For instance, it can be troubling to simply disappear and not let the people who care about you know where you are, even as an adult. Adults let each other know where they are going if they are in loving, healthy relationships. If you want to be treated as a mature individual, then show your parents you are trustworthy and considerate. Do your homework without prompting. Strive to eat healthier meals. Do day-to-day chores. Show your parents you are mature. This will help lessen their anxiety about the decisions you make.  If you live away from home, try to fill your parents in on your accomplishments and small indications you're capable of taking care of yourself. Did you eat a particularly healthy meal this week? Clean your apartment? Did you make the Dean's list this semester? Try to mention this during your weekly phone calls home. Remember, sometimes your parents do know best. They are older and have had more life experience. If you're confused about something, it's okay to seek out your parents advice and be open to what they have to say. If your parents see you're mature enough to seek advice when necessary, they may worry about your decisions less.
A:
Consider the role of anxiety in overprotective parents. Show your parents you're capable of making good choices. Be open to advice on occasion.