Monroe Movies

 Recently, I was privileged to have the time to watch 3 of Ms. Monroe’s movies:

• The Seven Year Itch
• Some Like it Hot (extremely funny)
• How to Marry a Millionaire (my favourite of hers)

After reviewing these movies, both in private and on a bus full of seniors to the casino (which I hosted on Feb. 25 for the PRCA) I came to the conclusion that Ms. Monroe was NOT a great actress. In fact, she barely did any acting at all, and when she did “act”, it was in the dumb/ditsy blond eye-candy role.

I was under the impression that she could act, having never seen one of her movies before. But now that I have, I really don’t see what all the fuss was about. She only had a super curvy (for back then) figure, that weird, baby voice, and a rather pleasant smile. But that’s it.

So Ms. Monroe: pretty to look at, not much else.

Look, I cook!

Yesterday I bought a fabulous cookbook from Winners (after not entering the store for over 3 years) and I browsed through the entire book overnight. So today I decided to make dinner for the family. This is a huge deal because my grandmother and mother are both great, Jamaican cooks, and me as a new cook, they are very skeptical about anyone’s new cooking.

So I took the bus to Bulk Barn and the supermarket to buy the ingredients to make an Oven-Fried Chicken, and for dessert Apple Nut Muffins. To cut my hour-long search in the stores, I ended up buying little bags of: cinnamon, nutmeg, tarragon, oregano, brown and white sugar, and so many other spices that I have never heard of.

My chicken came out juicy and crispy, rivalling Colonial Sanders 11 secret herbs and spices. My muffins came out not very sweet, but when you bite into the hidden cluster of goodness (consisting of apple chunks, pieces of pecan, and a medley of baking spices) in the middle.

And the best part of all — besides the fact that my family really enjoyed dinner — was that I left the kitchen clean and neat, the same way I went in. As a disclaimer, one of my biggest peeves is when my grandmother cooks you can tell that she was cooking. (The sinks are full, every utensil has been used, and countertops are of no use to anyone else.)

Today was a great day and I am so proud of my budding culinary skills! (If you’d like the muffin recipe, let me know.)

Take a Breather

Today, Sunday of all days, I am choosing to skip church and relax at home with my sister and puppy. I feel as though I am constantly busy on some day; never a day to myself. I’m also home because I am tired of “bothering” my cousin for a ride. He lives down the street from me, walking distance, but I’m pretty sure he is dreading when I call his phone. I don’t like that. I don’t want people to screen their calls because they think I want something. I know that I am like that with many people, so now that I am on the receiving end of that, it’s not the best feeling in the world.

I take the bus everywhere, MiWay Mississauga Transit. In fact, if my sister finishes her homework (grade 3, and she’s procrastinating by playing the recorder now) we will bus it up to Costco for some muffins for her class tomorrow — might as well get some for home too after such a long journey. I really like the bus: not having to worry about driving conditions and other people; being able to sleep and wake up minutes from your destination. The only downfalls are that many smelly people come on the bus and if you miss the bus (which I try my best never to do) it’s a mighty-long wait for the next bus. I’m talking Mississauga here, so the buses run approx. every 30 mins. Boy oh boy, do you folks in Toronto have it made: their bus runs every 10 mins, and they still complain!

I have been calling insurance companies lately though to get ideas of what my premium would cost. I’ve been told that for my Mini, it would be about $3000/yr. I’ll get on that, but first I want to pay off my credit card. I guess once I have my car, I’ll be able to take a few more breathers as I won’t have to leave so early to take the bus.

Clear Communications

I, as an institutional communications major, am all for clear communications. And I don’t just mean signs and instructions that tell you what to do (becasue let’s face it, many of these aren’t clear and often add confusion), but more along the lines of communications that describe something to you to make your life easier — or at least less complicated.

I say all this because my work (ServiceOntario) is riddled with unclear communications. In fact, this is a main reason for the lines there: because my colleagues and I are constantly explaining the documents that people are required to fill in. Whether it’s filling in a (rather simple) sticker renewal form or transferring a car between spouses/children (which requires forms for exemptions, sworn statements, and plate transfers), rarely are these forms filled in according to Ministry of Transportation specifications.

So we have two lines at my work: the main line for most people; and a usually shorter line at the very front for seniors, handicapped patrons, and returning customers (people who have already stood in the main line). There are no signs stating the purpose of this shorter line (against my recommendations) and people often stand there because it is a much shorter line.

Yesterday (Mar. 2, 2012) a well-known reporter (I will call Mrs. JM) stood in the shorter line to renew her OHIP card. As I was walking the line (a practicing at my office to help people fill in the correct paperwork), I informed her that she would need to join the main line as she was not a senior, handicap, or returning customer.  This did not go over well with Mrs. JM.

(To be continued as I have to take my sister to the movies at Central Library in Mississauga.)

Hello world!

I am honoured that you have taken the time to read my blog, as I know there are countless others for the pickings. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and/or comments, as they will help to make me a stronger writer.

You can also view some of my work on my company website, http://www.SmittenByTheWritten.com, or just send me an email at y.f.thompson@gmail.com

Thanks again, and happy blogging!
Y.F.Thompson