Jun 22, 2011

The Morning After: Fashion and fried Oreos

Page 3 of 6

Leaving the restaurant, we couldn’t help but notice a large group of people gathered outside a storefront exactly two doors down from Salt. Walking closer, we heard reggae music and were drawn into the Hookah Lounge. I’ve seen hookahs before but have never actually used one. Noticing my inquisitive look, one of the employees came up and encouraged me to sit down and try it. After explaining that it was my first time, I once again received the royal treatment with a full-blown guide through the smoking process. The employee turned out to be the owner, and he explained that each hookah is made in Egypt. He used the tongs on the top of the hookah, handed me a plastic mouthpiece, and told me to inhale but to hold the smoke in my mouth and not let it into my lungs.

It sounds like a cliche, but “I did not inhale” and kept the smoke in my mouth, tasting the fruit flavor and the sweetness of the tobacco. A few seconds later I felt lightheaded from the tobacco buzz. Although I’m not a smoker and don’t like cigarettes, the tobacco in the hookah didn’t have the same smell as cigarettes. I don’t condone smoking, but with the cultural history of smoking from a hookah and the process being far more complex than just lighting up a smoke, I saw this, personally, as a leisurely experience.

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http://twitter.com/tiareTHOMAS Tiare Thomas

All this food looks so good!
http://twitter.com/tiareTHOMAS Tiare Thomas

All this food looks so good!
Anonymous

Hey, here’s a subject that people actually find value in your writing from! Be careful not to wear it out…I would advise finding what’s called, “a new subject” before long. You won’t be able to delude people forever about your actual skill.
Anonymous

Just a quick question…You actually get paid by the SA for this stuff? Or are you referring to this position as a “job” regardless? I’ve never seen such a big name-dropping column as yours.
- http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
  
  Paid. Maybe I’ll buy you coffee one day with that paycheck when you decide to come meet me.
- Anonymous
  
  They pay you enough to buy coffee for this!?
  - http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
    
    YUP. I’ll even splurge and get you a fancy cup when you can get away from your computer.
    - Anonymous
      
      Lacy, I wouldn’t want to spend 30 seconds in the same room with you, regardless of who’s buying. I think I’m more upset at the SA for failing to dissuade you from continuing to write such nonsense.
      
      It’s a sad state of affairs that this is what the journalistic climate is now like in Honolulu. I respectfully decline your invitation to coffee
      - http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
        
        Hmm.. well that was a little hostile. But maybe you ought to stop reading if you hate it so much? Or take it for what it is– and get over it?!
      - Anonymous
        
        I beg to differ, Lacy. I’m not saying anything with a hostile connotation. Honesty is the only thing that was used as a seasoning in my response.
        
        Unfortunately, I do take it for what it is…
        
        I honestly don’t “read” it anymore. I realized after the first couple columns, there was more interesting material on the back of my cereal box. I am amazed at how much disruption went through the former publication and how many more qualified writers went out the door. Now…I see persons like yourself calling themselves “writers,” when you really ought not to.
        
        You may be the sweetest girl around, Lacy. I just don’t feel as though you have any business being called a “reporter,” “columnist,” “journalist,” or anything remotely associated with it. POSSIBLY a blogger…but not a very good one.
      - http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
        
        Thanks for your criticism, will take it into consideration when I’m drinking my next cup of coffee!
      - http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
        
        Thanks for your criticism, will take it into consideration when I’m drinking my next cup of coffee!
      - Anonymous
        
        I understand my comments and jabs have probably been a thorn in your shoe for a while now. I am not trying to ruin your life.
        
        I think you understand my opinion, and hopefully use it to make yourself better at this if you continue to try. My frustrations with the SA will be addressed more directly. But, consider doing something else.
      - http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
        
        Oh trust me… you are NOT ruining my life. I find your commentary entertaining. For someone who wouldn’t spend 30 seconds in a room with me, you spend quite a bit of time putting me down. But hey- I’m here. I’m doing my thing. And if you would like to sit down with me face to face to give me your advice in how to make this blog something you’d like to read, I’d appreciate it. But it’s hard to take your online tantrums seriously… I mean anyone can hide behind a computer.
      - Anonymous
        
        When added up, this is the most time I’ve ever spent in any kind of thought in your general direction. I have only gone this far in response to your emails to me.
        
        As for finding time to waste gas to come and meet you, that will not happen. What you see as “tantrums” are my honest opinions. (In fact, you may want to look-up the word tantrum, Lacy. It doesn’t apply here.)
        
        If it’s advice you want, advice you shall receive: 1. Stop dropping names in your columns. It makes you look stupid. 2. Find subject matter that hasn’t been covered 1000 times before. 3. Don’t just act like the 20-something that you are and then write about it, thinking that it actually is subject matter
        4. Show some personality in your writing. There seems to be this monochromatic kind of redundancy that goes on with you. 5. Take a writing class. Take 2.
        
        Sorry, Lacy…but that’s as much as I can give you without charging. If all that’s not evident to you at this point, it may never be. Me telling you in person is not going to make you a better writer. I don’t know if that’s possible or if it will happen. I think a lot of the messages I’ve written to you in this discussion are more works of literature than anything that you’ve ever produced to date.
        
        One thing is for sure, your naive mentality is obvious when you do things like invite strangers to a confrontation over coffee.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_NE236NIFVRS6ZS4LL4V6UL4W34 Michael

i enjoy living vicariously through you.

go on girl….
- http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
  
  Hehe. You’re always welcome to join =P
Anonymous

I like Lacy’s blog. It’s fun to see what she’s been up to.
- http://www.honolulupulse.com Lacy Matsumoto
  
  =) thanks… appreciate the support.