Q: If you are working with frozen fish, you might want to take it out of the freezer and let it thaw in the fridge. Do not let it thaw in the kitchen, or it may spoil. Gently massage the flesh to get rid of any watery residue or scales. Pat the fish dry, then season it with olive oil, herbs, or a marinade. Unlike beef, chicken, and other types of meat, fish soak up flavors quickly. Most fish only need to be marinated for 15 to 30 minutes; tuna can be marinated for up to 4 hours. Rinse your fish fillets or steaks, and pat them dry with paper towels. Soak them in your desired marinade and leave them in the fridge so that it does not spoil. Once they are done marinating, grill them. If you are not marinating the fish, consider brushing on some olive oil along with your desired seasoning instead. This helps the flavors penetrate into the meat better. Chill your fish in the fridge or freezer until it is stiff. Cut the fish into ½ to 1 inch (1.27 to 2.54 centimeters) thick slices using a sawing motion. Trim away any belly fat or bones. If needed, peel away the skin. If you are making salmon, consider leaving the skin on. The skin will help hold it together while it grills. It comes off easily once the fish is cooked. Cut the fillet width-wise into four smaller pieces. This will make the fish easier to handle in the frying pan. For seasoning, try coating the fish with a mixture made from a beaten egg and water. Dip the fish into cornmeal or breadcrumbs seasoned with salt and pepper just before you toss it onto the frying pan. This is great for delicate fish, such as sole. Brush some oil or melted butter onto the fish; this will keep it moist. Next, add some dried herbs, such as basil, rosemary, dill, or thyme. You can also use spice blends, salt, pepper, or even minced garlic. A squirt of lemon is great for any type of fish. If you plan on serving salmon with a sauce, stick with a simple sprinkling or salt and pepper. If you don't plan on serving the salmon with a sauce (or are keeping the sauce optional) try the following seasonings:  Sprinkle on some herbs, such as basil, dill, or thyme. These work great if you want to grill the salmon. Remember to brush on some olive oil before grilling it. Add some minced garlic. Try a seasoning blend. Look for something lemon, pepper, or herb-based, such as: garlic pepper, lemon pepper, or Italian. Brush some olive oil and lemon dress onto tuna and season it with salt and black pepper. For more flavor, sprinkle on some fresh herbs, such as rosemary or tarragon. Tuna works great with Asian marinates, such as teriyaki sauce. Marinate it for 15 minutes to 4 hours in the fridge before grilling it.
A: Allow frozen fish to thaw in the fridge before you cook it. Rinse the fish before you season it. Work quickly if you plan on grilling the fish. Consider cutting shallow slits into the side of skin-on fish before seasoning and cooking it. Consider cutting large fish, such as salmon or tuna, into steaks for grilling. Consider cutting fish fillets into smaller pieces before pan frying them. Season fish fillets with oil, herbs, and spices before baking them. Season salmon lightly or heavily, depending on how you will serve it. Season tuna with olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs before baking it.

Q: Feeling comfortable around others means feeling comfortable with yourself, too. If you feel insecure in who you are, other people will pick up on that in social interactions. Find activities that boost your self-confidence or allow you to develop self-confidence, and know that you can transfer those feelings to your social interactions. Maybe you’re an excellent water skier, ballet dancer, or model car builder. If you feel anxious or uncomfortable, tap into the feelings of confidence that other activities give you to help put yourself at ease. If you find yourself lost in negative thoughts (“I’ll be so awkward” or “I’m not going to enjoy myself”) notice that you’re engaging a negative thought, then provide a counterpoint. You can say, “I may really enjoy myself, and I give myself permission to have a good time” or “I can work on feeling awkward by practicing new skills.”  Don’t talk yourself out of going to social events just because you feel uncomfortable. Anytime you are on the fence about going, use positive self-talk to encourage you to go. Think of it as an adventure to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. Remember that you’re practicing social ‘’skills’’, not social talents. Give yourself time to adjust to more positive self-talk. You may find yourself catastrophizing (“This will be so horrible” or “I bet no one will be there, and I’ll be alone and feel so out of place”) but learn to ignore these thoughts and return your focus to more positive thoughts. Sometimes you get along great with people, and other times you may just not click. If you find yourself not clicking with someone, remember that this is an isolated circumstance, and it doesn’t mean you’re socially awkward, that you’re bad at conversation, or that people don’t like you. If you’re worried about how people will respond to you or if you’ll be judged, remind yourself not to assign heavy value to the opinion’s of others. Say to yourself, “People’s opinions of me don’t define my identity. They are entitled to their opinions as I am to my own.” If you start feeling anxious around new people, tune into your body, especially your breath. You may notice your breathing quicken or feel more restricted. Calm your mind by calming your breath. Take a deep inhale, hold it for a few seconds, then let the breath leave your body slowly. Repeat as necessary. Learn to identify your stressful triggers and use relaxation techniques to calm yourself. This is especially helpful before you approach a social situation. Techniques such as meditation and yoga can help calm you down before you meet new people.  When you notice your body tensing up before a social event or meeting, take note of the feelings and learn to relax your body. Notice the tension (perhaps in your shoulders or neck) and consciously release it. Have specific techniques you use before you go out to meet new people. If you have to attend a work function, spend a little time before the event in meditation, or go to a yoga class beforehand. Plan out your day so that you can approach the situation in the best possible mindset.
A: Build your self-confidence. Use positive self-talk. Avoid basing your worth on other people’s reactions. Use your breath. Relax.

Q: It is possible to apply for the card online, or by phone, although online is quicker.  To apply by phone, contact the Apply By Phone Team at 877-621-2639. They are open 24 hours a day. Once on the phone simply answer the questions, and be sure to have your social security number ready. To apply online, follow the remaining steps. Choose the option for the Platinum Card and click "Apply now."  If you have an existing American Express account, sign in. If you are a new customer, choose the option to create a new account. You must complete the American Express Platinum Card application in a single online session. Navigating away from the application or closing your browser will cause the application to time out for security reasons. Make sure to follow instructions carefully and not leave any required spaces blank.  Enter your name as you want it to appear on the charge card. Enter your name, your email and home addresses, your social security number and your date of birth in the designated spaces in the personal data section. Provide any additional information requested on the Platinum Card application. Fill in the employment section with your company's name, city, state and business phone number. Proceed to the financial information section.  Enter your total annual household income and choose the income source from the drop-down menu.  Check the boxes to indicate whether you have a checking account and money market/savings account. Indicate whether you would like to obtain additional American Express Platinum Cards on your account and fill out the information requested for additional cardholders. American Express may notify you of a decision within 60 seconds. You should receive notification by mail within 10 days.
A:
Choose an application method. Open the American Express website to begin your application. Fill in the required information. Verify your information and submit the application.