It is a holiday. Plan to tick-off more items in my Christmas list.
First stop is The Landmark. Will buy a gift for the security guard assigned to our Zamora parking lot. He is also an electrician and can repair items. Whenever our electric fan needs fixing, Edgar, the driver, brings it to him for repair.
Next stop is Stradivarius. Was able to buy gifts for my nieces.
Then, to Uniqlo where I was able to buy a gift for a nephew.
Passed by True Value to buy the talking ball for my niece's dog, Theo. Went to San Srival at Food Choices to buy the first batch of gifts for the office. Paid for them and it will be picked-up by Edgar tomorrow.
Went back to "The Landmark" to buy gifts for the two grandchildren by my cousin's side (at Greenheights Subdivision). We stayed at my aunt's house there when our house in Pasay has been gutted by fire. Also went to the The Landmark Supermarket to buy imported chocolates as Christmas gifts.
Finally, went to Conti's to order our food for Christmas Eve. Will pick it up on the 24th around 10AM.
December 8, a Tuesday, is also a holiday. I will be taking my leave on December 7. Since most of my to-do's for Christmas is almost complete, that will be a very long weekend rest for me. 😀
Took a vacation leave today (it is a holiday on Monday). Supposed to use ten of my fifteen vacation leaves per year; else, it will be forfeited.
My to-do list:
Pay next year's realty property tax of my Makati condominium unit. Usually do it on the last working day of the year; but, decided to do it today to avoid many people doing their payment, too. I was really fast!
Give my Christmas gift to Norly. Already got her address and mobile number. It took us a lot of time as we were not able to find her house easily. The problem? We are having a hard time understanding her direction over the mobile phone. She finally passed her phone to someone else who as able to give a clearer direction. One of my gifts include a personal air purifier, hoping that it would help her against #COVID19 disease (aside from face mask/ covering, physical distancing and frequent hand washing).
Give my Christmas gift to Manong. We were not able to catch him but left my gift (plus pasalubong of Jollibee Chickenjoy meal with french fries) to his relative. He, too, has the personal air purifier.
Check the food I plan to give as a Christmas gift to the office. Went to Glorietta for this. It is still not available. Was advised it will only be available on December.
The problem with taking a leave and have ordered online using the office as delivery address, you have to go to the office to pick it up. Before going to Makati City Hall, picked up two of my three orders. After paying the realty tax, went again to the office to pick up the third item of my orders.
After giving the gift to Norly, since it is already past lunch time, went to Jollibee's drive thru to buy food to-go for Edgar (the driver) and Manong.
The third of the three items I purchased is a Razer Seiren Mini microphone. This is the first test video (podcast) I made using said microphone:
Post-Holloween movie? Watched "Halloween (2018)". a reboot and sequel of the original "Halloween".
Laurie Strode (actress Jamie Lee Curtis) is still traumatized from the Halloween night 40 years ago when Michael Myers came home. Thus, she lived as a recluse in a heavily fortified house. Unfortunately, Michael breaks out of the asylum on a Halloween night. And the story goes...
Expect gore; but, at least, not just to use for scare. Still, the question is unanswered. Why is Michael after Laurie?
Just finished the two seasons of the second of the "Tales of Arcadia" trilogy--3Below: Tales of Arcadia. It is about two royal extraterrestrial siblings, Princess Aja and Prince Krel of the House of Tarron. They have to flee their home, Akiridion-5, and crash-landed on Earth. With them is their bodyguard, Varvatos Vex, and dog-like pet, Luug.
They have to assimilate with the people in Arcadia while they are trying to fix their spaceship to return and take back their home planet. The evil dictator General Val Morando hired bounty hunters to find and catch the royals. With their new human (and troll) friends, they were able to defeat Morando and his army.
Because of the positive symptomatic COVID-19 patient in our floor (learned that the quarantined unit is not on our side of the building). been searching how long would the patient be still contagious. And here's what I've got...
From https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/duration-isolation.html updated October 19, 2020:
Recommendations
Duration of isolation and precautions
For most persons with COVID-19 illness, isolation and precautions can generally be discontinued 10 days after symptom onset1 and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
A limited number of persons with severe illness may produce replication-competent virus beyond 10 days that may warrant extending duration of isolation and precautions for up to 20 days after symptom onset; consider consultation with infection control experts.
For persons who never develop symptoms, isolation and other precautions can be discontinued 10 days after the date of their first positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Role of viral diagnostic testing (PCR or antigen)2 to discontinue isolation or precautions
For persons who are severely immunocompromised, a test-based strategy could be considered in consultation with infectious diseases experts.
For all others, a test-based strategy is no longer recommended except to discontinue isolation or precautions earlier than would occur under the strategy outlined in Part 1, above.
Role of viral diagnostic testing (PCR or antigen)2 after discontinuation of isolation or precautions
For persons previously diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 who remain asymptomatic after recovery, retesting is not recommended within 3 months after the date of symptom onset for the initial COVID-19 infection.
For persons who develop new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 during the 3 months after the date of initial symptom onset, if an alternative etiology cannot be identified by a provider, then the person may warrant retesting. Consultation with infectious disease or infection control experts is recommended, especially in the event symptoms develop within 14 days after close contact with an infected person. Persons being evaluated for reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 should be isolated under recommended precautions while undergoing evaluation. If reinfection is confirmed or remains suspected they should remain under the recommended SARS-CoV-2 isolation until they meet the criteria for discontinuation of precautions – for most persons, this would be 10 days after symptom onset and resolution of fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications, and with improvement of other symptoms.
For persons who never developed symptoms, the date of first positive viral diagnostic test (PCR or antigen) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA should be used in place of the date of symptom onset.
Role of serologic testing
Serologic testing should not be used to establish the presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 infection or reinfection.
Woke up with an SMS informing me that there is no work today due to Typhoon Ulysses. The typhoon would be most felt in our area around 2-3AM today. I slept through it although my nieces were wide awake.
So, started our Business Contingency Plan (BCP) protocol to inform our people and acknowledging the advise.
The whole day, been monitoring the news on the effect of the typhoon while watching my Netflix series. Switching between 3Below: Tales of Arcadia and The Good Detective.
Received yesterday another retro mechanical keyboard I ordered. This time it is Rococo's Dream keyboard. I will be using it with my mobile gadgets. Since it is for my mobile gadgets, have to buy a case for it so I can carry it around.
Was thinking of going to Glorietta. Changed my mind and decided to go to SM Mall of Asia instead. It has shops for Case Logic and for Halo. At least, I'll have more choices. Ended with a Halo computer bag that if I hide the handle, it would look like a sleeve. 😁
Because of #COVID19 , I have been buying thermometers--usually infrared thermometers--to measure our body temperature to check for fever. And I noticed, even for branded thermometers like Omron or Braun, my temperature is consistently the same at 36.5C whether I take it in the morning or in the evening. Isn't there such a thing as circadian rhythm?
Then, I stumbled on Exergen Temporal Artery Thermometer. Boy! Was I happy. I take my temperature twice daily. One in the morning and the other in the evening between 6PM to 8PM.
Initially, watched "Wizards: Tales of Arcadia". Liked it even if I do not know the "background" of the characters. Then I learned the sequence to watch the "Tales of Arcadia" series, that is:
Jim, a human, was chosen by the amulet to be the next Trollhunter upon the death of the current Trollhunter on the epic troll battle which infiltrated the human world.
As you watch through the different episodes, the characters slowly endear to you. There is tug in your heart in the last episode of Season 1.
This time, it is an action, comedy film "The Spy Who Dumped Me".
After being dumped by her boyfriend via SMS, he shows up at Audrey's place with a team of assassin. With her bestfriend Morgan, they go to Europe and find themselves in the middle of international conspiracy. There are a few laughs for being "dumb Americans".
Today is my schedule for this month’s Rapid Antigen Test.
One of the tenants in our floor is confirmed positive. But due to the new policy of the city wherein if there is a positive COVID-19 case, the whole floor of the condominium will no longer be locked down. Unfortunately, last October 29, there is positive COVID-19 patient on our floor and the Administration is not giving any information as to what unit it is. Shouldn’t they have advised the units near the quarantined unit so that they would take extra precautions?
We used to open the windows and door to the balcony during the day. But since our neighbors do the same, we decided not to do this as SARS-COV-2 is airborne. When we open the air-conditioner at night, I placed a plasma cluster air purifier near where the cold air is released by the air-conditioner.
As part of information security, operating system, applications, etc. should always be updated. Since my office computer is still using Windows 7, it has to be updated to Windows 10 already. The update was scheduled for today. Did not know that because of the update, my computer's CPU has to be replaced. Was I surprised that CPUs already comes in the size of a small DVD player. 😆
Just finished a Netflix original horror series "Bloodride". Each episode has its horror tale. Opening scene is a driver entering a bus initially empty. As he starts the bus, people appears as passengers. These people each have a story. Not scary. Have twists.
Just finished Season 2 "The Alienist: Angel of Darkness". Watched its first season earlier and have liked it. Maybe because I am into detective stories. An alienist is what we call a profiler nowadays. "The Alienist" is a period series.
Often, if there is a new season for a series, I watch the previous season although they have no connection whatsoever. And this is also what I did with "The Alienist".
The first season is about the gruesome murders of boy prostitutes in New York City. The newly -appointed police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt who is out to get rid of corruption in the police department (and who eventually became the President) was helped by a band of social outsiders consisting of Dr. Laszlo Kreisler (criminal psychologist), John Moore (newspaper illustrator), Sara Howard (headstrong secretary of Roosevelt who is determined to become the city's first lady detective), Lucius and Marcus Isaacson (forensic investigators). On the side, the disparity between the rich and the poor is depicted.
The second season have Sara open her own private detective agency. She is reunited with Laszlo, John, Lucius and Marcus as she tries to find the kidnapped infant daughter of the Spanish Consular. Their investigation leads them to murder and deceit to find a dangerous and elusive killer.
My usual activities during All Saints Day is to visit our dearly departed. Wake up very early morning to go to Manila Memorial Park to visit my aunt and uncles, light a candle, pray for their souls and bless them with Holy Water. My Nanay used to visit her sister when she was alive.
On the way to Sgt. Mariano Cemetery, we stop at McDonald's for a very early breakfast. A short visit to my Nanay, Tatay, Lolo, Lola and uncles, lighting a candle, praying for their souls and blessing them with Holy Water. Will be back with my nephew and nieces after lunch.
After lunch, we visit again our dearly departed at Sgt. Mariano Cemetery with my nephew and nieces, bringing with us flowers and candles. After, we stop at Pancake House for our pagpag.
But because of the #COVID19 pandemic, the government closed the cemeteries from October 29 to November 4. I already visited them last October 24. Because of the requirements of schedule, number of people allowed and quarantine pass, I went alone (with the driver) without my nephew and nieces.
So today, lit a blessed candle for our dearly departed and prayed for their souls at home.
I guess the timing of the cemeteries being closed is just right as Super Typhoon Rolly (international name: Goni) will make a landfall in our country. Signal number 5 has already been declared in areas in the typhoon's path. Our area has been declared signal number 4.
This video was shared in one of my Viber groups. It is taken from Xentro Mall in Albay, Bicol Region where signal 5 has been raised.
On the tail of Typhoon Rolly is Typhoon Siony (international name: Atsani). It has entered our country's area of responsibility.
