Just wanted to share a couple of things on this Feel Good Friday...........

We just got word that after a fifth surgery in four months, Drew Iida is on his tough road to recovery. Unfortunately because there aren't any neuro rehabilitation centers for children here in Hawaii, they're at the Phoenix Children's Hospital in Arizona. It even caught the attention of a NFL superstar - who happens to be here for the Pro Bowl - Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. He is a top class act on the field and the Iida's are grateful that he's one off the field as well as he's offered to help in various ways and even visited them a few times in Arizona.

Drew is able to move a bit and breathe on his own which are promising signs of a successful recovery.

A hugemongeous shout out does go out to Bryant Moniz for getting the national publicity out even during the turbulent Warrior Football season.

There was a segment on Hawaii News Now and an article in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Donations are still being accepted at American Savings Bank under the "Pray For Drew" account as costs for his medical care escalates. The same offer goes as the first time, get a custom t-shirt designed by me just by mentioning that you donated. No proof necessary, it's an honor system thing.

I didn't forget the two people I owe t-shirts to as I've been a bit tied up but will get them out real soon.




On another cheerful note, please help me congratulate the engagement of one of my closest friends, Alan, to his long time girlfriend Keri Ann. He finally popped the question and she reluctantly accepted.

Jus' joke. She was estactic.

They make a fine couple and complement each other perfectly. Trust me Alan, we all knew she was "da one" before you did.







Anybody else got any FGF news to share? Well, go on 'den!

Howzit! Howzit!

It's been a depressing weekend going along with a LOOOOONG week so far and it's not getting any better. It's one of those weeks you just wish it would end and start fresh next week but alas, there's two more days left.

I've always wanted to see wat kine of pupule people are out there in Da WWD! Hui so let's see how long we can run a "mo'olelo". There's only one rule (along wit some common sense ones) wea dat you can only add one sentence per post. You know, da kine camp fire kine wea you go around in a circle and create a funny/scary/lolo kine story.

Have fun but be civil and let's see if we can past 17 today.

Hea's da beginning:

"Once upon one time........ "

Yesterday morning on the way into work I was feeling pretty darn good.

It was a Feel Good Friday, the vog had passed, the clouds were gone and the air was cool and crisp. I actually woke up on time even aftah having only three hours of sleep and traffic was moving bettah than normal. I jumped in the zip lane - as I do every morning - and eventually the smooth sailing came to a stop as I rolled into a red light ahead and wat did I stop right behind?







Wassup Wit Dat!

Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, I roll up to dis. I've nevah evah seen a New York Giants stickah or emblem on any vehicle my whole life. I've seen fellow 49ers, Packers, Raiders and even da Bucs... but nevah the Giants.

Ooooooh dat just made my my FGF turn a hurricanish 180!

Since we were in da zip lane, I couldn't pass him since there's only one lane so I tailed dat truck to da end and constantly flashed my highlights to annoy da heck out of him. Once da zip lane ended and I got a chance to get next to him near town, I jumped off da bike and head butted da rear window and yelled "NINERS ARE GOING TO KICK YOUR $#@%!&* OKOLE!"

Ok, ok. So dat nevah happen but wen I did pull up next to HER near town there were only TWO people in da truck.

So wat's worse? Dat she was a Giants fan or dat they were jerks for using da zip lane illegally?

Well, it is da playoffs...............

Is it just me or does it seem like people in "respected" positions just don't appear respected more?

Could it be their looks? Cause I swear some just "look" lolo. Does their position matter? Da higher up you are, da more intellectual you should be - or not. Or could it be just that we have to lower da bar as to what we should "expect" certain people/positions to be?

If you haven't heard by now, da second in command of The United States of America had a major (imho) gaffe a couple nights ago. Now considering he's right behind the most powerful person in da world, it doesn't bode well to be in da national news dinging both reputation and stature of those associated with da Presidency..

But then again when you don't make the top 70 list of the World's Most Powerful People - according to Forbes.com - and even the creator of FaceBook is ninth, I guess there really isn't much to get excited about Vice-President Joe Biden unless we can poke fun at him. Check out these classic moments:

August 2008: He also mixed up Barack Obama’s name at his first campaign rally with the president, introducing him as: 'A man I'm proud to call my friend. A man who will be the next President of the United States — Barack America!'

September 2008: After he was named the vice presidential nominee, he addressed a crowd in Nashua, New Hampshire, questioning how he beat out Hillary Clinton: 'Hillary Clinton is as qualified or more qualified than I am to be vice president of the United States of America,' he said in New Hampshire. 'Quite frankly it might have been a better pick than me.'

September 2008: During a political rally in Missouri, he urged wheelchair-bound state senator Chuck Graham to rise and be recognised, saying: 'Stand up, Chuck, let 'em see ya.' Realizing his mistake, he said: ‘Oh, God love you… what am I talking about?’

October 2008: Speaking in Athens, Ohio about John McCain's economic strategy, he said: 'Look, John's last-minute economic plan does nothing to tackle the number-one job facing the middle class, and it happens to be, as Barack says, a three-letter word: jobs. J-O-B-S, jobs.'

March 2010: Mr Biden said 'God rest her soul' in reference to the mother of Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen. Mr Cowen's mother is alive; his father had died. Realising his misstep, he corrected with: 'God bless her soul'.

March 2010: He dropped the F-bomb during the signing of the administration’s historic health reforms, apparently unaware that the microphones would catch him out when he whispered into the President’s ear immediately before the announcement, declaring: 'This is a big f****** deal!'

December 2010: During the swearing in of a Republican Senator Mark Kirk in Congress, Biden told the Capitol Hill newcomer to put that hand on the Bible and raise his left. According to the congressional rulebook, it should have been the other way round.

Timeline courtesy of www.dailymail.co.uk

So wat's his latest? In a packed room at a private fundraiser in San Francisco, he predicted the Giant's would go to the Super Bowl.

WAAAT? WASSUP WIT DAT!

Uncle, you know wea you stay? You stay in NINER country and if it wasn't for da Secret Service armed and ready, you wouldn't have made it out alive.

But catching his mistake aftah perplexed boos erupted from da crowd, VP Biden recovered by explaining he had confused the New York football Giants for the San Francisco's baseball Giants and promptly predicted a 49er victory.

You can add one more to da gaffe list now.

I guess das why I'm fine with being a blue-collar peon so wen I buss' out da pidgin or say something stupid...... it's "ok". But da smartest thing I can say without any doubt or confusion is,

GO SAN FRANCISCO................... 49ERS!

And no need pay me $10,000 a seat to hear dat - although I wouldn't stop you if you wanted to.

I kinda left Da WWD! Hui hanging many blogs ago wen I posted about a food review showdown on How Do You Grind?.

There were three establishments that Da Wife and I went to wea each had it's positives and negatives. They were (according to da pics on da "How Do You Grind?" blog) Moe's Southwest Grill, The Alley and Daiichi Ramen & Curry. I'll let you guess which came in second but da hands down winnah is.......

Now a word from our sponsors.






Wait..... I no mo' any sponsors and I pay for my own Shakanack reviews.

Wassup Wit Dat!






And da winnah is...................... Daiichi Ramen & Curry!







Dis was our first time evah at Daiichi. We dined in at da Aiea location and latah found out they had opened a second location in Pearl City (same complex as Starbucks, L&L and Pandas). Not sure if they still are offereing a 10% discount for take-out as a grand opening special but it doesn't hurt to ask. They also normally have coupons in the Val-Pak that comes in da mail.





Believe it or not, dis pic is missing anoddah main dish. I ordered a 2-set combo which came wit a "mini" udon (soba, saimin or udon in choice of broth) and two side dishes. Da Wife ordered a 1-set combo. Her udon couldn't fit in da pic.





Dis was my udon with tantan broth. Da broth is very hearty and "gritty". I cannot say for certain if the noodles are made in house or brought in but they were not over boiled and still "chewy" and solid as it should be.





Hea's a description of da tan tan broth which is cooked for 12 hours. Yup, TWELVE HOURS!





Da Wife had udon as well with shoyu base. Da wooden spoon was a nice touch I thought trying to give it da "ramen feel".





Part 1 of da two set combo I got a "mini" curry with rice. Da curry was tasty but on da watery side as Japanese curry tends to be. I prefer "thick" curry myself but for those who like the texture of curry from The Curry House will like the curry at Daiichi. Imho, I believe both use S&B curry but it is not confirmed nor will I say that it is, it just has similarities.





For part II of da two set combo I got da chicken katsu. Da breading on da chicken was put together nicely. It wasn't heavy or over-coated and you had a nice balance of chicken and breading. I'm not 100% surah if they used Panko but it tasted like it to keep it light. It was a little thin but I think they pounded it to make the chicken softer and it was.





Da Wife choose da 4pc gyoza for her one set combo. Gyoza is gyoza. Da main thing you no burn 'em.




So hea's da breakdown:

ATMOSPHERE

1/2

Tables are a little tight (hence da 1/2 shaka deduction) to fit as much customers as can but it's a very casual restaurant, not fine dining. It was a little warm inside but it could have been just da broth... or maybe cause we were right undah da a/c and couldn't feel da breeze.

SERVICE

Service was more than satisfactory. The restaurant was packed with people shuttling in and out quickly and the hostess/server made it a point to greet everyone or at least say hi. She even anticipated Da Baby's needs by bringing an empty bowl and extra spoon before we even asked. A nice touch dat I liked was that she thanked everyone before they left with genuine sincerity instead of just "saying it".

KANACK VALUE

For all da food we got and feeding 2 1/4 people for only $16 and change ($20 wit tip) I'd say dat would rank right up there as one of da bettah deals in town. I was more than stuffed - and I'm a big eater - so for an average eater, it's garans a take some to work for lunch kinda deal.

OVERALL

You want an onolicious, stuff your opu, quick and fairly cheap meal (for wat you're getting) then check out Daiichi Ramen & Curry. They have two locations: one in Aiea right across the Shell station below Aiea Bowl and the second in Pearl City. It really is a family, aftah a game or practice, no like cook at home kinda place.

It definitely isn't a first date..... maybe da third once you're broke from da first two.