Murder On The Orient Express
A holiday. And usually on this day, I try to complete my Christmas list.
Was already at the mall by 10AM. And it now opens at 11AM. Duh?! So, went to
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to have brunch while waiting for the mall to open.
As soon as it opened, bought a discounted movie ticket for
Murder on the Orient Express for 2:20PM screening. Would then have time to tick-off items on my Christmas list.
Stradivarius -- check, check
Kamiseta -- check, check, check
The Landmark -- check, check, check, check, check, check
Left all my purchases at
The Landmark's package counter.
Based on the novel of Agatha Christie, a lavish train ride to Europe brought thirteen strangers stranded on the train suspect to a murder. Hercules Poirot must solve the mystery before the murderer strikes again. Definitely star-studded.
After the movie, had
meryenda of
dinuguan, puto and
halo-halo at
Razon's in
Food Choices. Bought items (on sale) at
True Value, picked-up my items at The Landmark before proceeding home.
Refresher
It would be Day 1 and Day 2 for my refresher course in driving; but this time, it will be for an automatic transmission car.
Since I learned from
Socialite's using manual transmission, obviously, I would take again the refresher course at Socialite's. Went to their Cartimar branch.
Notes:
* Due to the law, do not use hazard when driving in emergency because those following you would not know if you are changing lanes. Instead, warn by sounding automobile horn, lower down windows and do hand signals
* In intersection, flash twice to indicate that you pass first, flash once to indicate the other car to pass first.
* In manual, clutch controls. In automatic, it is the brake.
* When turning right, extend car up to the middle of the car (street corner aligned in the middle of the car); then, full turn of the steering wheel.
* When entering car, turn on car, lock doors, fix car seat, put on seatbelt, etc. Usually, car automatically locks once it moves. But ideally, lock doors upon entering to avoid unscrupulous persons getting in your car.
* Park light is turned on when it is a bit dark.
* Full brake then change gear shift. Slowly lift brake. Without pressing gas and no brake, car moves at about 8kph.
* When stuck in traffic, put gear in Neutral, handbrake.
My
kuya advised me that our cousin, Atty. Lito, has passed away and interment is at
Loyola Memorial in Sucat, Paranaque. Asked our driver to come around 3PM so I can go. He (Atty. Lito) died due to lung cancer.
For
pagpag, went to
The Landmark before proceeding home.
Tick-Off
Decided not to watch a movie. Instead, tick-off items from my shopping list and maybe from my Christmas list.
First, canvassed affordable gift wrappers. Bought at
National Bookstore.
Next, canvassed for an airpot (the one at home has to be replaced). Bought at
Anson's in
The Landmark. Got it at 10% off.
Bought a Christmas and birthday gift at
Typo.
Then, Mongolian lunch at
Food Choices and dessert at
Baskin Robbins.
Bought vitamin E and flaxseed at
Healthy Options.
More Christmas gifts ticked-off at
Uniqlo. Will buy remaining gifts on Thursday, which is a holiday.
Attended the anticipated Mass, had dinner at
Phobac, walnuts at
Rustan's, and groceries at
The Landmark.
Passed by
Pet Express before proceeding home.
Treatment
Before I left the house for my treatment, the replacement for my "angel" arrived. Nerry has to leave because her children needs her.
Was early, thus, stayed at
Mercury Drug while waiting for the mall to open.
Went to
KARADA for my treatment. I already brought with me warm water.
After my treatment, went to
General Photo to have pictures developed. It is pictures during my birthday celebration where Nerry is included in the photo. Will serve as her souvenir. It will only take 30 minutes.
Will buy Vany, my new "angel" a flashlight and whistle for emergency. Went to
The Landmark for the whistle and
Ace Hardware for the rechargeable flashlight.
Blade for the face mask. Had Mongolian for lunch at
Food Choices. Picked-up my photos. Bought one small
bilao of
pancit luglug at
Razon's and one bucket Chickenjoy for our
merienda at home. Then, proceeded home.
Justice League
Walked my way to
Ayala Center. Did not time myself as I don't want to be sweating and tired. Already purchased a movie ticket using my
mPass via
GMovies mobile application.
Thus, as soon as arrived, had my movie ticket printed, ate lunch at
Wendy's, made reservation at
KARADA for my treatment tomorrow.
Back to my movie.
With the death of Superman, Batman, with the help of a new found ally, Wonder Woman, must recruit a team of metahumans to stand against a new threat. The team would be forming the
Justice League--Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Flash. The movie incorporated humor, with Flash at the forefront for this. Although the other characters also did their share.
After the movie, went to
Mail Station to slow mail before proceeding to Glorietta 5 for the anticipated Mass. We had dinner at
Gerry's Grill, bought groceries at
The Landmark before proceeding home.
Refresher
Don't know how to drive using automatic transmission. And I wanted to drive the new car I am planning to buy. No intention of learning using the new car. Thus, decided to take a refresher course.
Will take lessons from the driving school I learned how to drive.
Before, I studied at
A1; but, I am not satisfied with what I learned. So, took a course at
Socialites. And I am satisfied. I learned the three types of hanging and I decided where I am comfortable. Was taught three types of parking. They also offer actual classroom lecture. Thus, for a refresher course (but using automatic transmission), will take it at Socialites.
After breakfast, took a tricycle to
Cartimar Shopping Center to enroll at Socialites. First lesson will be two weeks from now.
"Angel"
Decided to get a new car (before this Administration implements the excise tax). My Honda Civic is already 13 years old. Was thinking of taking the Honda HR-V but my preferred color (red) is not available. It is either Lunar Silver or Morpho Blue.
So, went to
Honda Makati to see these colors. Decided to take the Lunar Silver.
Then, stopped by the small store where I bought the Madonna and Child Christmas decor--will have the lights replaced.
My brisk walk from Rufino to
The Landmark is 9:33 min/km pace walk. Bought Christmas gift, gave it embroidered at
Made for U (picking-up the other items I already have embroidered), went back to The Landmark to leave the items in the package counter and also have lunch at its food court. For dessert, went to
Baskin Robbins. There is something wrong with the air-conditioner of
Glorietta.
I wanted to buy a rosary specifically for the car. Able to buy one at
Guadalupe. Was hoping to have it blessed after the anticipated Mass.
Just window-shopped--no plans of watching a movie.
Attended the anticipated Mass--told no one I wanted to have my new rosary blessed. After the Mass, was not sure whether to approach the priest or leave. Then, one of those who assist in the Mass approached me and asked "
Hindi ba magpapa-bless ka kay Father? Punta ka na dun." (Translation: Don't you have something to be blessed by the priest? Go approach him.) How did she know? So, my new rosary was blessed by Fr. Ike.
Had my dinner at
Phobac, bought walnuts at
Rustan's, groceries at The Landmark before proceeding home.
The Ghost Bride
Went to
Honda Makati. Was thinking of replacing my Honda Civic that has been with me for 13 years. Will have to consider where I can save on my purchase--from my company or through in-house financing of Honda.
Then, was dropped off at
Glorietta. Was thinking of watching a movie. But have to put on hold if I would be able to get a resource from the office, specifically, a DBA. If yes, would have to go to the office. Sent an SMS for the request. While waiting for the reply, had a Mongolian lunch at
Food Choices. Got the reply after I finished my lunch--no available resource. Yes! Now will watch that movie.
Bought a discounted movie for
The Ghost Bride. Then, had dessert at
Baskin Robbins. Bought a case at
Daiso Japan, eyeglass cases (on sale) at
a'postrophe for my stock.
Mayen, after being heartbroken and her family in a financial quandary, agreed to be a ghost bride when offered by a Chinese matchmaker. Unknown to her, being a ghost bride is not simply offering prayers to a man who died a bachelor, which the matchmaker makes her to believe, because her groom is a ghost who collects spirits. Not scary but at least it has a story.
Attended the anticipated Mass, we had dinner at
Luk Yuen, bought groceries at
The Landmark before proceeding home.
All Saints Day
The usual, left the house around 4AM (with Lyn and driver Edgar) to go to
Manila Memorial Park to visit my
Nanay's oldest sister, Mommy Cora, and her husband Uncle Terry. Uncle Tommy also is buried at Manila Memorial Park but I don't know where it is. What I remember is after the bridge, turn right. That's it. Thus, everytime we cross the bridge inside the Park while on the way home, just "greet" him from the car.
After a short prayer and sprinkled holy water on their tombs, left on the way to
Sgt. Mariano Cemetery. Stopped first at
McDonald's along the way for a very early breakfast.
Spent some time there, waiting for the rain to stop and for a few rays of light (so that we don't need to use a flashlight while at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery.
There's a few inches of water infront of my
Nanay's and
Tatay's tomb. Good thing we have an advance information about this; thus, was wearing rain boots. Left the flower, prayed, sprinkled holy water on their tombs and lit some candles. I am sure, after we leave, the candles will be gone/snatched. Will be back again by 2PM.
As soon as I arrived home, slept. Woke up around 11AM. Had lunch and around 2PM, left again for Sgt. Mariano Cemetery. This time, Nerry is with me. My niece Camille was supposed to join; but, she begged off.
Jessie was already there. Saw that the flowers I brought earlier for my parents were already placed on their tomb. Said prayers, sprinkled holy water on their tombs and lit some candles. Then, went to my
Tatay's parents' tomb. Put flowers, lit candles, said prayers for them and sprinkled water on their tombs, too.
For
pagpag, went to
The Landmark. Will have
merienda at the department store's food court. The reason I chose The Landmark for the
pagpag, will buy a gift for my
inaanak who happens to have her birthday today. After our
merienda, replaced the battery of my car's remote and also bought rain boots for Nerry (she was using Lyn's). Then, proceeded home.
Around 6PM, we lit some candles at home. This is for my "angels" dearly departed. Also lit a candle for
Nana and for Lily. We prayed the rosary for them.
