Please don’t call me ‘ma’am’

By • November 20, 2012 • Musings, The Daily Dish

The other night my girlfriend and I had dinner at California Pizza Kitchen.

And while our server was attentive and pleasant and engaging, I cringed when I heard one word: “ma’am.”

As in, “Would you like more chips with the spinach artichoke dip, ma’am?”

I nearly choked on the free bread.

I’m not going to lie about this, I am getting older. I’m no longer that spritely twenty-something who bounced around the newsroom with ambitious plans for happy hours and Halloween costumes. I’m a 37-year-old with back pain and big Friday night plans with a Swiffer and Netflix.

Since when did I get so… old?

When did I suddenly start caring about my blood pressure and cholesterol? When did Tumblr happen and how did I miss that? And when did I start saying, “When I was your age…”?

I’m starting to scare myself.

Turns out, women start to feel old at — get this — age 29.

That’s according to a new study reported in the Daily Mail last year. (Most guys, by comparison, don’t call themselves “old” until 58.)

Twenty-nine. I don’t even remember that age. But I do know it was about the time I turned 33 that I started to feel uncool. I didn’t recognize music on the radio or names of celebrities in magazines. I stopped watching “American Idol” and going to movies and obsessed over National Public Radio and lamented the current state of newspapers. I started dabbling with oatmeal.

Old stuff.

Stuff that women called “ma’am” do.

Do you remember when you started feeling old? And if you’re 23, you’re not allowed to answer that.

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What’s a ‘walking taco’?

By • November 17, 2012 • Food

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I hadn’t seen my girlfriend, Keri, in awhile.

So when she posted on Instagram that she was going to be at Wilson Elementary School‘s Fun Fair today, I took the chance to stop by and spend some QT with her and her sons.

Not only did I catch up with a dear friend, I also discovered my new favorite dish: a “walking taco.”

It’s such a simple concept: you get a small bag of Doritos or Fritos, cut it open the long way, then fill it with taco meat and your favorite toppings. Then grab a fork and eat. It’s just a portable, fun, ingenious way to eat a taco.

Best part is there’s no cleanup, there’s no mess, there’s nothing to wash after. Brilliant!

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So here’s how I ate it (above): I added shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, salsa and ranch dressing. You can add peppers, tomatoes, olives, chopping onions, black beans, sour cream — really, whatever you want.

I’m telling you, this is a food revolution to me.

Guess what I’ll be bringing to the next potluck I’m invited to!

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Kiwami Ramen, don’t go!

By • November 14, 2012 • Food

If you’ve been keeping up with my blogs over the past several years, you know how much I love noodle dishes, particularly ramen.

And I’ve been particularly devastated by the closing of two of my all-time favorite ramen shops: Taishoken Ramen on Keeaumoku Street and Raraya Ramen on King Street.

Since then, I haven’t found anywhere that makes a good tsukemen, or ramen where the noodles and broth come separately and you have to dip the noodles into the hot dashi.

Until Tuesday night, where I finally — finally! — made it to Kiwami Ramen in Waikiki.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “How can a self-described ramen lover NOT been to Kiwami?”

Easy. I’m lazy.

I had heard all about it from die-hard Kiwami fans — some of whom have been trying to get me to go with them for months now — and I kept putting it off. I figured I can always go.

Well, that’s not the case.

The little ramen shop in the food court on the bottom floor of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza is closing in December. And word is it’s not going to re-open.

So yet another ramen-ya — and easily my favorite of the moment — will shut its doors.

What a colossal bummer.

So I have a new plan: eat there as often as I possibly can. Like tomorrow. And you should, too.

Kiwami Ramen

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Kiwami Ramen is located on the bottom floor of the Waikiki Shopping Plaza. While it's been a long-time favorite of ramen fans and Waikiki workers, it's sadly going to close next month.

Kiwami Ramen, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, 2250 Kalakaua Ave. Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. daily. Phone: (808) 924-6744

Special thanks to Brandon Suyeoka for “forcing” me to finally eat there and to Ed Sugimoto for “sponsoring” my meal. You guys rock!

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Someone explain cheating to me

By • November 14, 2012 • Musings, The Daily Dish

Cheating is everywhere, it seems.

In the White House, on vacation, around the corner of your Orlando, Fla. mansion with your Swedish wife standing over you holding a golf club.

The latest cheating scandal splashed across websites and newspapers the past few days involves four marriages — so far: CIA director Gen. David Petraeus and his wife, Holly; Petraeus’ biographer Paula Broadwell and her husband; Jill Kelley and her husband; and Gen. John Allen and his wife.

To make it simple, here’s a quick version of the story: Kelley reported to the FBI “jealous” e-mails sent by Broadwell, who, turns out, had had an affair with Petraeus. The FBI probe also uncovered thousand of inappropriate e-mail messages from Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, and Kelley. And there you have it.

Petraeus resigned. Allen’s in trouble. I can’t imagine anyone feels pretty good about what has just gone down.

Doesn’t anyone learn? Cheating isn’t worth it. Sure, folks get away with it all the time. But I believe it all catches up to you someday.

I’ve been cheated on. Several times, in fact. And it completely sucks. You feel betrayed, your trust is shattered, you start to think it had something to do with you. Like you’re not good enough, you weren’t worth it. Oh, I’ve been there.

The subject came up recently with a few of my girlfriends, some of which had experienced cheating, too. And the question came up, “What, exactly, is cheating?”

It’s a legitimate question.

Clearly, sex is cheating. Kissing is cheating. Anything involving a cigar and a naked White House intern is cheating. But what about “inappropriate” e-mails? When does flirting cross the line?

I don’t get the whole cheating thing, how it’s exciting and fun. I think it’d be stressful and tiring. I have a husband, thanks, not to mention two dogs, a house to clean, a career to cultivate, friends to share dinners with, waves to surf, beaches to run. I don’t need an extra thing on my to-do list.

So what’s the appeal? If you’re not happy with the person you’re with, leave. If you met someone else, be honest. And if you’ve already cheated, ‘fess up and figure it out.

And if you’re going to cheat, my God, don’t send e-mails!

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#CatTravels: The ‘original’ Starbucks in Seattle

By • November 13, 2012 • #CatTravels, Videos

We went to the not-so-original Starbucks in Pike Place in Seattle and sampled the coffee. The verdict? Better than expected.

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