Sure, it's hard. And yeah, sometimes I get defensive, especially when I'm convinced I'm right. (Which is more often than not. Just ask my boyfriend.) But if I've done something wrong or misunderstood someone, I don't have a problem admitting it — and trying to improve the situation.
So when a student employee didn't get paid for two weeks of work last semester — due, mostly, to a misunderstanding on my part — I admitted my failure and tried to fix the situation.
He's getting paid, albeit late. But this was part of the response I got from him after I sent him a sincere apology and told him how much our staff had enjoyed working with him, even if just for two weeks:
are you freakin' serious? you MISUNDERSTOOD? my goodness, when you don't understand what's going on or you don't hear back from someone you CHECK goddamnit ... you are BY FAR the STUPIDEST, LAZIEST woman i have EVER met!
Here's what I don't understand: what's the point of responding this way? Why be rude?
Sadly, this isn't uncommon. I've heard stories from other instructors, from journalists, from lawyers, from business owners, from waitresses — all of whom complain about rude remarks made by people who aren't happy with something, from bad customer service to a seemingly slated story in yesterday's newspaper.
While I think people should voice their opinions and dissatisfaction about the way they've been treated, let's say, there's got to be a better, more productive way than by being rude.
Every February I look forward to two things: Super Bowl and the commercials that play during the league's title game.
But lately the commercials have been disappointing to say the least.
And this year wasn't an improvement.
Sure, the game itself was thrilling. The New Orleans Saints rallied to upset the favored Indianapolis Colts, 31-17, to capture the franchise's first Super Bowl title.
But the commercials — which, let's face it, are usually the big draw during the game — wasn't that memorable.
Sure, there were a few, namely the one for hosting network CBS with David Letterman complaining about being at the "worst Super Bowl party ever." In a surprising twist, the screen widens to reveal Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno as guests to said party. Clever.
Another was a "Simpsons" ad for Coca-Cola, in which the townspeople of Springfield rally around C. Montgomery Burns after he goes broke.
So what did you think about the commercials? Seen better? Good enough? Which ones stood out? Or did the game overshadow anything that happened during the timeouts?
Yes, it's been open since last summer — when it made sense.
Now — with this chilly weather, variable winds and intermittent rain — eating gelato or frozen yogurt isn't on the top of my to-do list.
Except I crave it. And even in last night's sub-zero temperatures — OK, maybe it was about 75 degrees — I convinced the boyfriend to accompany me to Milano Freezer in Manoa Marketplace.
Outside Milano Freezer, which opened last summer.
I wasn't the only one hungry for gelato. Even an hour before closing, there was a line of customers.
Unlike other frozen yogurt places — I'm talking Yogurtland and Orange Tree — Milano Freezer also boasts gelato, the popular Italian frozen treat that has a lower fat content than ice cream. (It tends to have more sugar, though, which is good for me.)
Best part? All the gelato is made in-house. That ensures freshness and quality control. Sweet!
A dad and his two kids check out the gelato display case, which is always tempting.
Milano Freezer features gelato flavors such as amaretto, pistachio, coconut and lemon ice.
You can buy fro-yo and gelato in either 20- or 32-ounce containers, too.
And even cooler than that are the gelato sandwiches.
What I like about Milano Freezer — aside from the great customer service — is that everything here, from fro-yo to smoothies — are made with fresh ingredients every day. And the flavors change, too. Some days it offers passion fruit gelato. Other days it has latte-flavored fro-yo. You just never know.
Here are yesterday's flavors.
I'm a big fan of the chocolate gelato, which I like to top with mini M&Ms ($3.75 for a small 6-ounce cup, 75 cents for one topping).
The boyfriend tried two flavors: caramel and tirimisu, topped with Almond Roca.
I sampled the not-too-tart plain fro-yo topped with the new strawberry tapioca. A great combination!
In addition to candy toppings, Milano Freezer has a nice selection of fresh fruits and nuts. And for your die-hard mochi ball fans, they've got that, too.
The gelato here is smooth and perfectly sweet. Even the passion fruit flavor, which I had expected to be either too tart or too sweet, was nicely balanced.
I wound up getting chocolate gelato again — it was out of chocolate fro-yo — with pieces of white, chocolate and red velvet cake and fudge syrup. It was decadent — and the mini M&Ms were a little bit of an overkill. But I was happy.
It probably makes more sense to eat these tasty frozen treats when the weather isn't so chilly. But then again, when is it ever a bad time to eat great gelato?
Milano Freezer, Manoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Dr. (Also in the Westridge Shopping Center in 'Aiea) Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Phone: 988-7744. Follow on Twitter @milanofreezer or check out the blog Milano Freezer Hawaii.
Every time I hear about yet another local business closing, I wince. It hurts. I feel like a part of my past — my childhood, my memories — is disappearing.
For 27 years, this throwback coffee shop served up local-style dishes like loco mocos, oxtail saimin, ginger pork, chopped steak, katsu curry and, of course, the June Jones special (fried rice with Spam, corned beef hash, Portuguese sausage and two eggs).
I loved this place. Not just because of the local-style food. But this place opened late — 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays — and became a frequent late-night spot for my friends and me. (Plus, who didn't love that banyan tree?)
According to The Advertiser, Hungry Lion had about eight years left on its lease but fell behind and was eventually evicted by Walgreens, which bought the aging shopping center in May 2008.
Too bad.
Another local landmark closes. And there's nothing we can do about it.
I feel torn: progress and change can be good. But when it is too much?
So I'm curious: what do you miss? Here's my list:
• Kimuraya Bakery
• Kanda lunchwagon at Kewalo Basin
• Suzuki Japanese Restaurant
• Komokata Restaurant in 'Aina Haina
• Columbia Inn
• KC Drive Inn
• Manoa Bakery (and its stick donuts)
• Little Sicily Pizza in the old Makai Market
Question: Dear Ms. Dish, I got a question for ya: boxers or briefs?
Answer: OK, so I get questions like these every now and again. And while my first instinct was to ignore it, I thought, "Hmm. Maybe there's something there."
So I'm going to answer it — or at least try to start a conversation about it.
Boxers or briefs. This is one of the most over-asked questions I can think of. The first time I heard it — which was a long, long time ago — it was funny, unexpected, different. Now it's cliche.
But it's still a legitimate question. Because, apparently, there's an inherent difference between the two. And for some reason, your choice is indicative of some kind of personal philosophy on underpants and, perhaps, life.
In any event, the question remains: which do you prefer?
Briefs tend to get a bad rap. Tighty whities, as they're often called, aren't the coolest thing to be caught wearing after, oh, ninth grade. But why not? They're functional, practical, comfortable and machine-washable. What's wrong with that?
But boxers tend to be the cooler cousin, the free-spirited choice that says, "I'm not a little boy anymore." Guys tend to think women prefer boxers. The truth is, we just like to borrow them.
But there's more to men's underwear than those two choices. What about boxer-briefs (my favorite), Speedo-style bikini briefs and — of course — nothing at all.
So let's hear the straight truth: Guys, which do you prefer and why? Women, chime in. It should be an interesting conversation.
Break-ups, bad haircuts, Brangelina ... whatever's being dished at the water cooler, Catherine E. Toth — a.k.a. Cat — has something to say about it. She writes about everything from relationships to reality TV.
