Across the Pacific

When did it happen that the phrase "was like" replaced the word "said" in the American vernacular?

Really, when did that happen, because it's annoying, and I would like it to stop. I'll admit here, because I've already admitted it everywhere else, that I like to eavesdrop. Put me next to a group of people and I'll probably spend more time listening to their conversation than whatever else I should be doing. If what I should be doing is listening to the person sitting with me, then this can get me in trouble. But I can't help myself.

In all of this, I keep hearing "was like". She was like. He was like. They were like. At this point, I appreciate "they were like" because at least the conjugation is correct. Don't use "was like". Use "says". Use "said". When in Japan, I soon learned that the Japanese word for kiss is kissu. The original Japanese word had been replaced by its English equivalent. One day, out of curiousity, I asked one of my fellow teachers what the original Japanese word was. She had to think about it, then didn't seem entirely sure of her answer. I don't want this same thing to happen to the word said in twenty years time.

I will stop acting old...now.

Okay...now.

Here's another question. Why do we say "a friend of mine" when talking about something a buddy said or did? Do we need "of mine"? Isn't that assumed? I remember once in Japan...