The gift/Carlos Pueblo

 The gift/Carlos Pueblo

The gift in my mind is to give to my children whom I love so much. When they were born, I started to give them the Uniform Gift to Minor Act and then converted to them when they were at the matured age. Now, I want to give them more systematically before the end of my life. The can do whatever they think is good for their life.

I am going to resume a small contribution to Arthur for his annual individual retirement account for 2021. I am so encouraged that his investment saving return has passed his earned income this year. Of course, his earned income is still at the minimum wage level which we can't wait till the law has been changed in Texas. We save and invest to help ourselves. Recently, I hear an horrible story of a widow in Taiwan to pay 2 million U.S. dollars tax to change a piece of property in Taipei, Taiwan to her name at her husband's death. I forget the exemption amount of the inheritance tax; however, there is also a state tax involved.

On the other hand, Michelle's situation is very much different from Arthur. She has a high paying job and very successful real estate investment. She has more money than I do. What I can give her is not the money as a gift. I can offer her some sitting of her house when she is away. I can show my care of her happy life. Of course, I must take care of myself in a healthy condition to avoid her worry of me.

贈與/莊峻華

 贈與/莊峻華

幫助子女，在社會上立足，是我一生最有意義之生活，我了解之佛法哲學，按照越南釋一行老和尚之說明，就是頓悟，就是啟蒙，我們家琳兒，無需財力贈與，元兒也無甚需要，因他住在家裏，但我還是希望他之財務更好，於是我開始恢復贈與，剛才問他，明年個人退休金，準備了嗎？他說賣掉股票即可，我於是自動贈與全額，今年因武漢肺炎，關閉所有旅行，我省下之旅行支出，足以買下他的年度個人退休計劃，再加上明年返台，整治牙齒之所有費用，我一直相信是人來控制金錢，而非反是。

 美國政府鼓勵國民，工作和儲蓄，儲蓄就是退休金，退休金可以延稅，公司之401k，我們無法插足，個人退休計劃，數目一年一年贈與，沒有稅務問題，過去我尚未悟解，不敢放手，現在日逼大限，提早贈與，可已控制遺產稅，聯邦固有減免額，但累積數目可觀，我不喜歡措手不及。

我甚慶幸，子女養成節約儲蓄習慣，知道金錢得之不易，從小就不浪費，相信成長時間，也相信自己，可以財務獨立。

Year end house sitting at Austin/Carlos Pueblo

 Year end house sitting at Austin/Carlos Pueblo

We're going to Austin tomorrow for a house sitting chore for Michelle. A sitter for her pets can't complete the entire week; therefore, we are summoned. I don't mind to go to Austin, as a matter of a fact, I need to pick up my sandals forget from last trip.

After the old year, I shall start moving my RMD, requirement minimum distribution, from my pension accounts. I get them all figure out. I shall move some directly from funds to my regular account and some cashed for my annual expanse. I shall withdraw more to make gift this year because that I don't need to worry about enough fund for the rest of my life.

I am waiting for my turn to get vaccine shot for the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus. I need to make a trip back to Taiwan for my dental work. I have lost two teeth this year and old fake teeth can't cover them any longer. I estimate that will take at least a month to wait for the custom made infrastructure. The money which I shall save will finance the entire trip and the cost. I can visit my old country and friends on my way over there.

年底外出2020/莊峻華

 年底外出2020/莊峻華

下週一，需要外出奧斯汀，幫琳兒看家四天，照顧幾隻寵物，她一切均甚獨立自主，偶而需要逗腳手，台語幫忙也，剛好我可帶回一雙拖鞋。從奧斯汀回家，又可恢復生活，開始新的一年。我已經開始規劃明年活動，我將領退休金，等候武漢肺炎疫苗注射，然後安排回台灣，整治假牙。

我的規定退休金領出額，今年我將一部份轉到一般帳戶，將兩股跌價股票轉出繳稅，如此重新佈署稅前稅後帳戶，另外多領一帳戶退休基金，為年度補助費用，就是補助社會安全年金，和給琳兒之房貸。

牙齒開始脫落，還好有兩假牙撐住，需要再度整飭，我估計需要一個月時間在台灣，因此我需要等待台灣開放旅行限制，就是沒有禁閉三週之規定，我現在還可以咬動牛排。

武漢肺炎很麻煩，但我都戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，不摸眼鼻耳等，散步與人愛犬愛貓等，都注意到他們之身體安全。

Year end saving report/Carlos Pueblo

 Year end saving report/Carlos Pueblo

This is a good year for the saving report of our household members. Arthur's saving has exceeded his earned income while I get back the money which I withdraw from my retirement funds. I believe that Amy is doing very well with her saving. Of course, we all are suffering from the devaluation of two individual stocks, Exxon and Honda Motors. We can't win them all.

The personal saving has helped individual who has no earned income or low income to be survival. Foe me as an example, I don't have any earned income for almost 20 years and I am doing better and better every year. It is because of my frugal living and saving via the investment. Arthur is identical with low income yet still working and saving. Amy has never been working yet still manage her asset well. We keeps Arthur home to save for his expanse to stay alone. We get it all figure out and build his confidence in finance. I don't really care any of the common sense of living independence. The financial independence is must independent of our life.

A nation can do whatever necessary to save the national economic; however, an individual or a family can only save themselves through the financial discipline. It is easy to say than practice. There are many kinds of debts existed in the society, i.e. the national debt, the credit card debt, and the college loan debt, etc. It is because that people can't pay the money which they promise to pay back. In a result, people may become homeless. I have seen the tragedy of the homeless people. I don't think that the government can help very much. It is a shame that people can't make it in such a rich nation. I am a Democrat and I agree that we should find a way to help the weak and unfitted, yet I don't like to help those people who don't save when they can.

When my first child Michelle graduated from high school, I lost my job with a life insurance company. I managed to send her and her brother Arthur to college and finished two degrees for her and one for Arthur without any debt. Both have been working since then. He is in a minimum wage category as a clerk in a super market. We ask him to stay home. It is not for Biden to decide to forgive college loans, it is up to the national priority. If you can't pay back your loans, learn it from Trump to file the bankruptcy. Maybe one day you can be the U.S. President.

年終儲蓄投資報告/莊峻華

 年終儲蓄投資報告/莊峻華

年底基金需要分發股息，因此，我們一家三口，分別注意到非正式之，年終儲蓄投資報告，十分有趣，過去，剛進入股市，習慣觀看名人年底，新年股市預測，現在只稍過目股息，再投資新股，很多學問。

我約二十年前就失業，賦閒在家，一直找不到穩定工作，但省吃儉用，向信用卡借錢，完全是變錢技術，就是蠅頭小利，買空賣空，無中生有，基本上收支，均經精算，絕無坐吃山空之慮。美國股市，從歐巴瑪總統任上，開始漲到現在，超過十四年。

我查一下元兒儲蓄投資，我說今年投資股息，已經追平其工作收入，因為他在超市當店員，基本工資十四年，到現在都比不上一些州市規定數目，因為他之敬業，所以我們容易幫上忙，我們就近留下他，在家居住，毫無浪費。

我的儲蓄投資，全部是工作二十三年之退休金，我算是專家，因為販賣退休金，是我的業務，講多就能體會，我認為這是美國政府之德政，鼓勵國民儲蓄，我是個體戶，傭金收入，失業無法受到失業金之保護，蓋傭金係論件計酬，個體戶和大企業之稅務報表，同一格式，就是C表，可以報收入之支出，而且比照企業員工享受之退休計劃，可以延稅。   

領出退休金，就需要繳稅，美國政府希望國民財務自立，不需要政府補助。最近美國財務窘困者，議題再度浮現，國人失業，繳不出房租，學貸問題，國家赤字等，此甚為憾，蓋國民有如此優良環境，而淪落到此困境，誰能幫上忙？我深覺解決問題，最容易行者，在於家庭也，自家解決自家事，第一要件，無一國度，包括沙烏地，可以幫國民所有一切，免繳學貸，就是要取消一些政府支出，像國防預算，俄羅斯戰機騷擾阿拉斯加，美軍機無法起飛應變。

Daily exercises 2/Carlos Pueblo

 Daily exercises 2/Carlos Pueblo

Three hours morning walk or a two hours walk and an one and a half tennis in a day is my daily exercises during the winter time. I add 2 miles swimming in the summer after a long nap. This habit of the daily exercises has made my mind and body healthier at the old age. I have learned it from an old tennis body who has fought a prostate cancer for years. He insists to exercises as hard as he can until he can't.

It makes sense because that we have less time to worry about our daily unnecessary issues which have been bothering us all the time. I have a leisure walk every morning to enjoy the environment of our neighborhood. I have greeted many pet dogs on my way and many time to accompany them to walk for a distance. I have played six to seven times tennis during a week. Every week comes and goes very fast.

Moe and more people have joined these kinds of exercises in the subdivision now. I see more neighbors are walking in the morning and late afternoon. Our tennis groups are increasing. I am promoting tennis in my subdivision and I believe that is very easy to build up this kind of life time hobby. None of our groups members have taken lessons from the professionals, yet we are still enjoying the exercises.

People think that I am losing weight, at least I feel less pressure of my over size of my stomach. This daily exercises is always under a dry day with plenty of sunshine. I eat well after exercises and sleep well also. I feel that I am living in a paradise.

每日運動/莊峻華

 每日運動/莊峻華

每日運動，始於黎明前，先是散步開始暖身，很有耐心之走畢社區街道，後來加入網球局，散步路程減半，夏天加上游泳四個月，隨著網球局之増加，現在我一週有七局網球，每日運動五小時，很顯箸之増進體力，充實每日生活。

我的清晨散步，純是隨意輕鬆，當時夏日炙熱，提早出門，現在冬天雖冷，走上一小段路，開始暖和，清晨有不同鄰居，出門健身，攜愛犬同行，經常我可遇見鄰居，陪行幾段路，很快認識許多鄰居，隨時需要與路過鄰居打招呼，我真有歸屬之感覺。

網球局是我多年之嗜好，我幫過去之球局，一分為二，從過去之每週二局，増加到每週六局，現在更推廣一局，給初學者，已經開始陪他們雙打球局，讓他們體會網球之樂趣，我們都是七十出頭老人，史單那隊長，已經八十一歲，仍舊可以三局老人雙打。

吃過早飯，我就抱著備用手機，在沙發上睡覺，此手機就像過去收音機一般，我找到幾處網誌播放鋼琴演奏，待睡醒音樂尙在，這已經是午後，有三天，我需要準備晚上球局。平常，我在晚上八點就寢，網球局夜十點，因為一日五小時運動，睡眠充足，連我的糖尿病痼疾，均為我所忽略，當然我仍照醫生處方服藥。

我不量體重，但很明顯，腹部腰圍減少，我的食量仍大，需要許多卡洛里來維護，每日運動，我仍喜歡看書，但看書不易矣，只好觀看網誌，欣賞喜歡政論烹飪節目，米高梅準備要出售，十二月一日，釋出所有007影片在網誌，我全部溫習一遍，現在我是在南越農村生活，捕魚和釣水雞。

Neighbors help each other programs/Carlos Pueblo

 Neighbors help each other programs/Carlos Pueblo

At our subdivision, we have had several neighbors help each other programs to improve the community safety. There are the precinct constable patrol regularly, homeowner association sponsor vehicle patrol also regularly, and a volunteer patrol on foot, etc.

Recently, I am invited to join an on foot patrol program provided by a resident. The monthly requirement is two hours walk along the subdivision streets to watch any of the irregularity occurred. I think that I have already done that and practiced once while playing tennis. Three teenagers tress passed the swimming pool after sundown and one girl desired to fight with me when I reminded them the pool was closed. Our subdivision is getting better and better now due to neighbors attention.

One day, I explained the US public safety to my old college friends. I point it out that most of the American family have obtained a gun. It is the first line of defense. Some of them are good hunters as their hobby. Most of the family have pet dogs to make notice. We pay extra fee to the homeowner association to hire constable to patrol and response to a emergency call. The vehicle patrol our neighborhood is also provided by the association.

I am one of the morning walkers in the subdivision. I walk because it is my hobby and good for my health. Old neighbors complained that the neighboring apartment was one of the issue risks of our public safety. Now we don't see that kinds of report on our community news. The safety issue has been improved due to the awareness of the neighbors help each other program.

Basically, we have had good neighbors who like to live in a nice neighborhood to raise our family. We have a desire to live peacefully. To live in a good subdivision of good neighbors can be like live in a paradise.

鄰里守望相助/莊峻華

 鄰里守望相助/莊峻華

我們搬到西村社區，已經超過八年，原先是因為愛美不喜歡舊居，茶花女街老屋，剛好建商需要建地，不到一日就售出，西村住屋82年興建，屋況較佳，而且設計規劃一流，我搬進後，就異常喜歡，許多日常生活，均以新居為中心，例如清晨散步，從荷西公園，改到社區，因社區內騎鐵馬運動者渺，無需顧慮，社區散步，可已認識許多鄰居，更加親切。

剛開始，一些鄰居均警告，社區近公寓，良莠不齊，況且艾克颶風後，路州紐奧良難民遷入，治安環境，深受影響，一些元老居民，開始搬離，當然，有有年輕家庭搬入，他們有打算送子女上私立學校，治安則有預算，先是聘僱郡警巡邏社區，郡警是指民事警察，有刑事案件，則屬市警業務，我們社區，設有專車，提供自願居民，巡邏社區，屋主協會中，有上述兩項預算，我們每戶一年需繳七百餘元，提供一些社區服務，像是活動中心之游泳池，網球場，幼童休憩園區，和路燈等，垃圾費一年也是七百餘元，我們私聘公司，一週多收垃圾一次，市政府退一些稅補償費用。

愛犬艾迪女主人喬安，見我無所事事，鼓勵我參加巡邏，我心想此事需要承擔，例如開車等，我常出外旅行，因此不理，這是一種鄰里守望相助。最近，愛全森林女主人凱西足疾，由夫婿約翰開門，他接任務幾次後，鼓勵我參加步行巡邏隊，其實我早已覺得我在步行巡邏多年，自中國武漢肺炎旅行禁閉後，更是變本加厲，路線増加，他說一個月要求，僅兩小時耳，尤如為長者折枝之易。

美國鄰居，親切禮貌，當然偶遇不愉快者，十分尷尬，但純屬極少數，而且社會崇尚和諧，我的經驗十分美好，所以漸漸溶入這單純之社區生活，只要我將日常生活費用搞定，一切都是美滿，無憂無慮。

Enjoy watching the Vietnamese rural life on the vlog/Carlos Pueblo

 Enjoy watching the Vietnamese rural life on the vlog/Carlos Pueblo

For more than a week, I have enjoyed watching the Vietnamese rural life on the vlog presented by a young lady named Van Nguyen. Even though I don't know the language, yet I still can understand and imagine her fishing and cooking skills. Her vlog has refreshed me very much of what I have learned about the country, especially in the south. 

First, she is an attractive girl with an adorable smile on her tasks of fishing, cooking , handling a flat vessel along the river and the rice paddy like we drive a vehicle on city streets. Her success is really based on her talent and hard working habit.

I was raised in a township of a sugar plantation very near the mass of Taiwanese rural land. We learn some knowledge of Vietnam at schools. Mei Kong River and Mei Nan River have flooded some south Vietnamese farm lands yearly. Now I fully understand the definition of wet rice and dry rice. South Vietnam produces the wet rice while Taiwan and the US produce the dry rice. She can catch some small fishes, snails, eels, and frogs on the rice swamp while larger ones on the rivers. I can identify some of the greens which she picks on the field and rivers for food. We are eating identical in both nations with the rice as the bread and many soups on our menu. 

Early this year, I was on a short cruise trip along the coastal Vietnam. I can't say that I am impressed because the design of a cruise trip is very limited and the Vietnamese ports are mostly containers' port far away from the cities. I don't know if I shall ever have another opportunity to enjoy a visit of this kind of simple rural life.

欣賞南越南農村生活/莊峻華

 欣賞南越南農村生活/莊峻華

網誌上有一阮氏姑娘之影視部落格，引起我注意，雖然我不懂越語，但我深能體會節目內容，大部分之節目是捕魚，然後是魚獲烹飪，與一老者分食，也有介紹附近村鎮市場，南越南農村生活，我曾短暫郵輪旅行越南，在休市賣保險，也認識一些越裔美人，稍微了解越南食物，也曾租屋給一越南家庭，也售該屋給一菲越裔美人家庭，對越南印象深刻，越南人喜好和平，克苦耐勞，曾經擊敗過幾大入侵強國。

我肯定阮姑娘，生活在南越，因為她的背景是水鄉澤國，如今我始知水稻和旱稻之別，我們台灣和美國所生產之米，應是旱稻，水稻田進出，仰賴輕舟，她能來去自如，設陷捕魚，每一節目，都介紹其方法，她皮膚白細，體材優美，面容美麗和藹，不像一般農家婦女，但又多才多藝，害羞於公眾歌唱，又不像演員。我因成長於台灣農村，經求學工作，到城市美國，於是有些比較，阮姑娘之農村生活，似甚艱困落後，但我衡量，卻是充實，如果沒有戰亂，應該是一宜居之社會。

她的越南料理，使用許多調味品，我無法辨識，而且在美國，也無法取材，我喜歡越南牛肉湯麵，曾旅行法國巴黎市，住居禮夫人區兩週，天天在附近越南小餐廳吃麵，非常有趣，阮姑娘烹煮中，似乎不包括牛肉，大部分是魚獲，越南火鍋，還有春捲，許多自產蔬菜，我可以辨識大部分之魚獲，牛蛙，和鱔魚等，她的作法，只是我已經是老年人，離開食色已久矣。

她也介紹一種香蕉葉粽，從採香蕉葉，到塞米捆綁米粽水煮，都是一夥鄰居婦女，結集之大工程，她也介紹大拜拜，賓客雲集，喝啤酒唱歌，我就是看到她合唱之羞怯謹慎，而且她只飲飲料，越南人也敬酒，成人一桌，小孩和老人不在內，讓我想起台灣之婚宴喜慶，我離開這種生活已有多年，而且又遇到中國武漢肺炎，寸步難行。

Watching a Vietnamese vlog on the You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

 Watching a Vietnamese vlog on the You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

It is about a rural life of Vietnam appeared on the You Tube. After my 007 movies watching, I am attracted by a pretty Vietnamese lady vlogger on the internet. Even though I am shy away from her language, yet I am still very much interested on her programs which are involving the rural life style in the southeast Asia. I was from Taiwan. I can relate some of her activities back to my found memory of my childhood. Her programs are about the fishing, cooking of her catches, and some grocery shopping to a near village by a light boat.

I am amazed how she catches fishes, frogs, and snails, etc. She uses the boat to set up traps and line with fishing hooks along small rivers. She uses earth worms, flies, and small frog, to catch smaller and pieces of the banana to get larger ones. One way out traps can get eels. When I was a child, I did have some experience to try to catch frog without a fishing hook; therefore, I had never caught one. The frog would try to get the worm or smaller frog, yet never got hooked. She sets traps all over the rice paddy full of water.

After the catch, at the end of her vlog, she would demonstrate her cooking skill. She uses many natural spices for cooking. I have had some tasty Vietnamese cuisines in Houston and now I know the reasons. At the end, she invites her mother or mother-in-law to enjoy her meals. 

She is a talent girl. She can also make her own dresses as well.

觀看網誌直播影片/莊峻華

 觀看網誌直播影片/莊峻華

觀看電腦連線節目，是我每日主要課題，例如雅虎新聞，電子郵件，股市報導，查閱我的部落格，還有觀看網誌直播影片，幾乎佔領許多一日時間，月初，開始看007電影，現在注意一越南姑娘之捕魚，買菜，和烹飪等，十分有趣，一時，網誌湧進許多越文節目，多是在河川捕魚。

這位姑娘，身材修長苗條，皮膚白晢，卻又能幹，多才多藝，能設陷捕魚水雞，又能開船行駛河川，能越南烹飪，也能裁縫等，我也喜看她駕舟上鎮買菜。她家有很多捕魚道具，有網有竹編有進無出之藍，當然看到這文秀大姑娘，進出田間沼澤，心有不忍，但這是她的職業，也只能祝福。

我認出她的鮕呆魚，鰻魚，和水雞，她用香蕉釣大魚，這魚像鯰魚，但不若鯰難纏，水雞就是牛蛙，她是鉤釣或設陷，剝皮後炒或煮粥，鰻魚也煮粥，越南料理，許多春捲食，如今始懂。

我早年生長在台灣村鎮，看到農村生活，釣水雞知道用小青蛙為餌，不曾釣到水雞，倒聽聞引蛇出洞，這阮姑娘穿梭水鄉澤國，何以無懼於蛇蟲？我看她尚套手臂套防曬等。待捕魚獲後，她就在小亭廚房烹食，平常與其母分享，偶爾有一男孩，約是其子，家人也在外烤雞野餐，十分平和農村生活。

除清晨運動外，我也開始幫助愛美煮食，我算一下，幾乎早晚我都需要煮食，我們家烹飪，不像網誌節目中之，多彩多姿，我們只會幾樣調味品，當然不若這些網誌廚房產品，但也無妨，我們食材全部來自超市。

The strategy of taking out our pension funds/Carlos Pueblo

 The strategy of taking out our pension funds/Carlos Pueblo

There is a proposal of law to regular our 401k pension fund on the House Ways and Means committee to postpone the age of the requirement of the minimum distribution age from 70 1/2 to 72. I don't see any significant of the new law yet for some of the richest pensioners to delay their due to the IRS. Most of us, the commoners, need to withdraw our pension funds for our senior and non-earned income life. The RMD is shown on our pension funds at the end of the year to remind us to withdraw some of our pension in order to pay income tax back to the IRS, the share holder of our pension funds.

I agree that the income tax deferred is a good policy, a good politic. Various pension programs can provide vehicles to accumulate funds to help the poor to reach a financial independence. If we withdraw our pensions in a lump sum, then we must face tremendous tax obligation. You will pay more tax than before. All withdraw is counted as income of that year. I find that I take the RMD in order to pay the minimum tax is the best strategy. I shall exhaust all my regular pension funds under the RMD first and then turn it on to the Roth. If I still have some left on my regular, then I shall convert a few to Roth.

The Roth plan is a after tax money under the pension program. All growth is non taxable. It is a benefit for the saver and the frugal to live within a budget. The Roth funds can be used in an emergency without the concern of income tax.

The up and down of the stock market can be a concern to the saver. We don't have many choices. All investment, including cash saving, has a certain risk to take. There is not much we can get to put our money in the bank and the U.S. dollar is diminishing. Look at the trillion of trillion dollars printed in the market. I can only live on anything on sale and quit cruise travelling, etc.

領退休金之策略/莊峻華

 領退休金之策略/莊峻華

領退休金，有許多方法，最近國會醞釀，延期最低領出額年紀到七十二歲，原來是七十歲半，政府就開始強迫收網，這對尚有工作收入者減稅有利，我從七十歲當年，就恢復領出退休金，我因早年失業，領退休金幫忙子女上大學，六十歲後中斷，然後繼續轉退休金到羅斯帳號，每年乖乖繳稅，就是繳較低所得收入稅，一直到七十，七十後之最低領出額，不准轉到羅斯，羅斯是免所得稅退休計劃。

我把羅斯帳號，當作急需存款用，例如家庭特別大筆支出，我現在尚想不出，因為省吃儉用，又天天鍛鍊身體之故，我只需領最低額退休金，加上社會福利金，和給琳兒購屋之貸款收入等，加上中國武漢肺炎，旅行禁錮之賜，節省外出旅費，已足夠所有支出，因此，領出退休金之策略，應該是一般退休金為先，羅斯最後。

我之退休金不是很多，因為失業日常，而且有家庭負擔，因為我會算術，所以有稅務計劃，不想多繳稅，我若有財務問題，國家不可能幫助我，教會也不會援助，禱告不需花錢，所以我的羅斯帳號，逐漸加重比率，這是美國政府，鼓勵國民儲蓄德政。

我有一網球夥伴曰，手無股票投資該如何？我真是啞口無言，當然沒有領退休金之慮，蓋無股市崩盤之牽掛，股市崩盤，退休金縮水，甚是心疼，因此始有領出退休金先後之顧慮，政府是我們退休金之大股東，隨時都想兌現其股，我們是升斗小民，要斤斤計較，始得生活安定。

A friend's moving away/Carlos Pueblo

 A friend's moving away/Carlos Pueblo

My neighbor and friend Mike Oliver is moving away to Austin, Texas. He builds a new mansion on a two acres and a half land with a wood work room for his hobby. I am glad that he has fulfilled his dream yet suddenly a feeling of something loss in my senior life. Buddha describes the suffering of our life when at the departure of the beloved relatives and friends as one of the eighth hardship of a man's life. In this case I would say that is an uneasy or a melancholy.

Diana, Eli's owner, explains the meaning of melancholy to me that means you're sorry for the separation yet you wish your friend doing well. I am indeed wondering yet I am not sad at all. He usually is walking his dogs in the morning in the subdivision streets. He encourages his dogs to be friends with me. After his finishing school at the Tuscaloosa University of Alabama, he has moved to Houston for his career. One of the reason of our kinship is that I did attend Auburn for my graduate study in the 70's. 

He has a hoarse voice like my son Arthur. I believe that is a damage of his voice box like Arthur, yet I don't ask the reason. Sometimes I must ask him to spell the words for me. He is very nice in personality and very easy to get along with. He lives by the swimming pool and the tennis courts. I remembered that he used to have a papaya tree with orange color fruits in the front yard. His fig tree has generated good quality of fruits annually. He certainly can keep on growing tomatoes on his acreage.

Because of his moving, he gives me seven of his old tennis rackets. I am gladly distributing three of them to little Joseph and his father one each and Andrea one for building their interest to the sport. 

Neighbors and pets are moving away from our subdivision to pursuit their new life, of course, there are new neighbors moving in. I can only keep on enjoying my daily life with new and existing friends. The feeling of melancholy is common and not that uneasy at all.

愛親別離/莊峻華

 愛親別離/莊峻華

鄰居麥克，正在搬家，搬到奧斯汀附近之峽谷湖新居，西村社區住屋，即將上市出售，新居自建，約兩千五百平方呎，佔地兩英畝，有一木工室，一百戶鄰居，我曾兩三次，驅車經過此科羅拉多河谷社區，就在奧斯汀近郊，風景幽雅美麗，是美國退休者之至愛，以後就留給子孫當別墅。

認識他自搬來西村，散步途經社區活動中心，緊鄰一屋有橙黃木瓜，心甚垂涎，後來因愛犬相識，我注意到他之聲帶已破壞，就像元兒一般沙啞，我也不問原因，只是對話緩慢，有時請他拚字，以便了解。他是塔斯卡洛沙阿拉巴馬本校畢業，是棒球選手，畢業後就來休市工作，我在奧本讀書兩年，所以十分親切，他也喜歡家庭園藝，待他搬離後，我就來採今年剰下之檸檬。

我知道他種蕃茄，而且也送過無花果，因要搬家，連續兩次贈我七枝網球拍，我將球拍握把，重新貼上鐵佛龍，已贈三枝出去，兩枝給金髮約瑟夫和其父，讓他從小學網球，一枝贈美女愛徒安瑞雅，非常有意義，黛安娜遛愛犬，經過球場，果然看到史提芬攜小孩打球。

佛說愛親別離苦，其實未畢盡然，很多人相處甚難，別人也如此認為，不如遠離，如今我能體會古諺萍水相逢，亦或君子之交薄如水，若彼此無所求，則無恩怨之慮，愛親終需別離，我們重於把握真情現在，我相信我們是後會無期矣，好友保重。

Watching movies on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

 Watching movies on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

On December 1, 2020, there are some new old movies posted on You Tube that has made me occupied since then. I select Sean Connery's 007 first for two days, finished Roger Moore's, and am on my way into Pierce Brownson's now. Even though they are mostly repeated watching, I am still very fascinated to those movies. Watching movies is one of my life time hobby.

I always like to point it out one of the reasons why I have been anxious to immigrate to this nation. I have noticed that people are drinking the orange juice and the milk at the breakfast in the American family. We don't have that kind of luxury in Taiwan even today. 007 movies have been the fantasy since my teen age. I watched most of my movies at the second run theatres in Taipei, Taiwan. It has been a way to improve my English. I have had so much good memory of my movies watching now after recent day and night engaging to it.

There were the first two years after I came to the U.S., I watched movies during the weekend at the campus where free movies provided by the student center at the campus auditorium. Then watching on a used black and white television set. I seldom go to the movie theater to watch movie due to my frugal habit. This habit has been passed on to my children; however, my son buys movies some time to watch. He likes the science and fiction while I like action and adventure and the wars.

I don't mind if I am out of touch of the current day movies. I have so much fun with the old movies which I can watch free on the You Tube now. I feel more comfortable watching it in my library. I can be stopped to attend some other needs while I am watching the movie. It is very nice and considerate of the internet that makes the free movies available.

網路上看電影/莊峻華

 網路上看電影/莊峻華

最近兩天，網誌釋放許多007之影片，剛好遇到下雨日，於是我都在網路上看電影，深覺幸福，先看西安康納利之影片，最近他剛過世，我從小從台灣，看他的影片，看到現在，而且都是看過許多遍，真是百看不膩，看電影，令我想到年輕時代，過去美好之回憶。

電影是一戲劇，是一文明之表達，例如易安佛來明，有許多作品，拍成詹姆士龐德電影，讓全球不同時代者欣賞，他的作品，應該是短篇小說，和莎士比亞一樣，不同時代，不同表達方式，莎作是古典英文，可供特殊嗜好者，研究和欣賞，佛作經過現代電影操作，已經快炙人口，非常普遍。

小時候我就很喜歡看電影，初中前沒有預算，只能偶而進戲院，有一次訓導主任，指我前夜在戲院看到我，我想是面貌像我，令我百口莫辯，我心想我真想有錢上戲院。高中後，我就有預算，想辦法在台北看電影，台北有很多二輪戲院，廉價而且可以重復看一遍，因無劃座之慮，國際學社，夏天也有廉價電影，我也投資不少時間，看電影有時候有知己同伴，回憶更美，讀研究所時，學生社團每週末，在大學戲院放電影招待，我還記得結婚前，帶過愛美看電影。

過去美過電視，半夜或週末，沒有節目，也重播電影，是我觀看電視之大宗，不看電視後，改看網路電影，幾乎看遍所有免費電影，每重觀一遍有趣之好電影，多有新了解，就是上次疏漏之處，而且對英文聽力有幫助，我們老家之萬里大姊，對老影片，非常熟悉，回台灣時，想到某忘記影片名，只要稍加解釋劇情，她就可以說出其名，我懷疑她看過那麼多電影，可能是她有許多知己朋友。

我們家兩小孩，也喜歡電影，但他們之興趣，與我相異，而且也無時間分享，元兒偶耳訂購影片，琳兒則是錄制影集，都留在家裏，我現在連開電視機，都有問題。

The year end greeting 2020/Carlos Pueblo

 The year end greeting 2020/Carlos Pueblo

It is a time for me to do the year end greeting to my friends all over the world. During the last four years of my traveling of the world, I do run into so many of new friends and I want to say hi to all of them and wishing them a very happy new year.

It is a very special year with the threat of the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus pandemic. I have stayed home since my scary return home from the Southeast Asia in February. Almost the entire world traveling has been stopped. We must take care of ourselves in every step to avoid to be infected. I have developed a new normal life at home by doing more of the physical exercises, helping more of the house chores, reading and writing, and making more friends among the neighbors. I am not lonely at all.

I read the daily e-mail from the cruise liner for the future cruise. I am also concerned of the furlough of my adopted daughters from the cruise ships. I hope that they can find some temporary jobs at home while waiting for the re-start of the cruise business.

Thanks to the stock market, my pension savings are doing well this year. I have no worry of my money. As a matter of the fact, I have moved some of the funds for the trips to make payments of some household expanses.

Amy is doing very well and is expecting to enroll to the Medicare next November. Arthur is with us and has been with the Kroger for 13 years. Michelle is at Austin and is working at home now due to the pandemic. She is doing very well with her rental property as well as her regular work.

恭賀新年2021/莊峻華

 恭賀新年2021/莊峻華

很快今年即將解束，我將提早問候全球朋友，不像往年，一拖拖到春節農曆年，我說的全球朋友，包括郵輪認收之愛女，旅行中認識之新友，過去之同窗，鄰居中有電郵住址者等，這是我的朋友圈，我的新老年生活，同時公佈在我的部落格，問候全球讀者知音。

這一年，因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，我就乖乖的留在家裏，安排新的日常生活，每天都甚規律，從早到晚，幫忙家事，認真運動，甚為掛念因肺炎肆虐，賦閒在家之愛女們，不知是否得以安排臨時新工作？每天，郵輪公司都寄來廣告，招攬未來生意，我仍舊非常興趣。

今年股票市場，超乎預料，穩住陣腳，我的儲蓄，發揮作用，油股和汽車股，仍是不振，但高科技股，仍有斬獲，家人投資，也是按部就班，在奧斯汀之琳兒，成績最好。

我的糖尿病痼疾，經藥物，飲食，和運動等控制，已經穩定血糖，聽人說我的體重減輕，我自覺身體健康，只是記憶不若當年，讀書效果欠佳，今年溫習西班牙文，讀美國歷史，而且勤於作文，英文表達是有進步。

平常我常看網路新聞和節目，非常有趣，尤其是美國總統選舉，也因此與人疾辯，我也看台灣政情，中國農村烹飪，中國城市之消長，看很多網路電影，我把佛學簡化，目標只是過一有意義之人生，設法幫助人，也幫助自己，像我幫助愛美煮菜，幫助元兒修車白內障手術，幫助推廣老人網球，免費教導年輕人，培養網球興趣，都是有意義之人生。

我是愛犬愛貓之知音，許多社區愛犬知己，散步時，可以體會到愛犬真情，使用過之網球，就贈送給幾家愛犬玩耍，也是廢物利用，提到廢物利用，我散步時，也收集拋棄物，若一狗籠當香瓜棚，種香瓜避松鼠，貓糞沙桶收集雨水，我說我是拾荒者，我也喜歡採果，枇杷，無花果，還有橘科等，而且找到同好鄰居。

明年要做事者多也，希望回台灣整治牙齒，參加大學同窗會旅行，重返郵輪旅行探親，我也仍想旅行英日法德西等國，只是不知體力如何？祝大家年終新年愉快，我們後會有期。

The life expectancy/Carlos Pueblo

 The life expectancy/Carlos Pueblo

The U.S. life expectancy is 78 and the media starts discuss the 90 plus longevity. My goal has been set to 80 years old which is not very far away. Because that I have exercises daily, the morning walk and playing tennis, people are very kinds to me to indicate that I may live pass age 80. Then, I shall expect to add 5 more years at that time. There is a very good living environment to keep a longevity life in this nation. If we can live up to the seventy's without serious illness, we should be able to reach the eighty's. This is our gene DNA.

Secondly, we must have a good habit of diet and live in a simple regular life. After age 65, we are under the Medicare coverage. My long time diabetes is under closely monitoring from my physician. Every six months, I must have a physical including the drawing blood to check on several physical condition in order to refill the medicine. If I don't control well my blood sugar content, the physician will increase the dose of the medicine. If it is getting worse after the medicine intake and the blood sugar is still out of control, I must go to the insulin injection. I know that is not good for my longevity; therefore, I must follow every procedure to get my blood sugar under control.

After seven years, I am used to the regular physical examination. I can't see my physician immediately but with his physician assistant for the physical check up. The decide that this way can free my physician to take care of some other task other than the physical. I understand it. They also refer me to see a regular ophthalmologist to check up my blood sugar on the eye balls. I used to have a specialist who rescued my failed left eye cataract surgery. It is all for the insurance cost concerns and I understand it.

I feel good about my senior life and enjoy very much; therefore, I don't see any difficulty to live up to my goal. I have sufficient retirement funds to make it to the expected age. It is all come true for the purpose of saving and investment which I have preached through all my life. I only spend in necessary needs.

壽命/莊峻華

 壽命/莊峻華

人之於壽命，非常期待與貪婪，美國人平均壽命是七十八，現在已經開始談論九十矣，壽命與人體質，後天生活環境，和個人人生觀有觀，我想討論的是後天環境，美國人之生活環境，算是優厚，美國人平均壽命，一直在増加，這是有原因者也。

美國國家富裕，政府有作為，國家治理，井井有條，給與國民，充分就業機會，是一理想成家立業之國，凡一有志國民，都能順利生活下去，以我為例，我在五十四歲失業，省吃儉用，活到現在，進入天堂境界生活，我的壽命目標是八十，人曰八十不死，又該如何？回曰再加五年，是時美國平均壽命，可能已近八十五，因為醫藥發達，環境更加理想之故也。

年輕時暴飲暴食，患得糖尿病，有老人保險後，就有醫生注意一些數據，控制藥物，若血糖過高，則増藥劑量，若口服藥劑失效，則需胰島素注射，嚇得我不敢喝酒，天天死命運動，得以控制血糖，血糖除驗血外，也可以請眼科醫生照相，察看眼球微血管，是否有糖結晶？

因為醫生索費甚高，所以診所開始控制支出，我平常驗血檢查，已經看不到我的主治醫生，只能看到他的助理，然後由護士通告驗血結果，如果有感冒發炎，還是可以見到主治醫生，這是一位好醫生，是醫學博士，也是哲學博士，不危言聳聽，按部就班，一項項問題解決。看眼科醫生，也看不到專科，只能看資淺一般眼科，我看專科，是因為我左眼白內障手術失敗，專科眼醫前來解救，然後收為其病患，一般眼球血糖，診所都想訓練愛克斯光技師拍照了事，我的球友竇眼鏡醫師診所，也有相同設備。

上次我尿失禁，道聽途說一大堆，結果主治醫生一劑消炎片，就解決問題，美國老年保險，非常完善週道，健康老人，可以得到很多照顧，有病痛馬上就醫，連我糖尿病這種痼疾，都可有效控制，就是服藥和運動，連有些癌症病人，都可拖上八十餘歲，當然這和求生意志有關。

門診驗血檢查前，需要填表問題，其中有一題，就是厭世，護士先看，還有記憶問題，行動獨立問題，診所越來越精細，很多個人健康之維護都注意到，這是生活環境之優厚，維護相當之長壽。

This year's Thanksgiving/Carlos Pueblo

 This year's Thanksgiving/Carlos Pueblo

It is also a year to be very thankful. I am very pleased that everything is going well. There is a threat of the Corona Virus Pandemic; however, everyone is healthy. We're very careful to avoid the gathering before the vaccine is injected at our arms. I have had a new normal life full of exercises and relax everyday. Stock market is doing alright and my pension funds are saved. I quit cruise trips; therefore, money is saved.

Because of the daily exercises morning walk and tennis, I feel that I am very healthy even though the aging is still vivid. I have done more house chores than before, i.e. helping to cook and maintaining the small yard. 

Amy, Arthur, and Michelle are all doing well this year. I have joined my old college classmates line to get connected. It is like a new circle of friends in my life. This has reminded me of my humble background of my life in Taiwan, of course, I am still very humble now yet very comfortable in compare with before. I am very thankful for my opportunity to immigrate to this great nation.

Another thankful matter is that we seem to get rid of someone on the national top after the national election. I am no longer depressed.

今年感恩節/莊峻華

 今年感恩節/莊峻華

今年感恩節，情況特殊，因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，取消所有家庭聚餐活動，但是仍舊需要感恩，今年全家平安，無甚病痛，股市些許驚駭，但似風順，琳兒家庭事業也安，我也有新的老年生活，最近開始與五十年前之大學同窗連線，新闢一朋友圈，更加感恩，當年能考入師大，接受大學教育，順利移民美國。

早上，我將順無網球局日，走畢晨步全程，休息一段，然後割草。中午，元兒和我吃肋眼牛排，晚上吃烤火雞，很多肉類，但也無妨，感恩節是大節，就像台灣的春節農曆年假日，當然，我每天都是感恩節一般。

美國即將有一新政府，一掃我四年來之壓抑，我要從頭感謝拜登，感謝到八千萬選民，讓某人下台，其實全球都需要感恩，當然希望中國也能推翻習進平和共產黨，那就是全球要極度感恩矣。

John Kerry returns to the White House/Carlos Pueblo

 John Kerry returns to the White House/Carlos Pueblo

John Kerry returns to the White House as the envoy to the Parris Accord for the President-elect Joe Biden. He graciously presents himself at the introduction of six new national security advisors to Biden. I have watched Kerry for a long time in American politic since the anti-Vietnam War era. He ran the U.S. President against George W. Bush in 2004. I wrote a piece about Kerry's Purple Heart if the Republican questioned such military award, Bush should confiscate such award physically instead of the negative campaign to smear him, a Vietnam veteran injured his foot at the battlefield.

Biden and him were very nice to a junior senator from Illinois named Barak Obama at the senate committee for the foreign affairs. Biden was invited to be Obama's vice president and Kerry became Obama's second Secretary of State succeeding Hillary Clinton. He was the negotiator of the Parris Accord for the weather concerns. Now he just returns to the meeting after four years absent from Trump's pull out. It is very nice to have him to represent the U.S. to such an important issue for the peace and the future of the world.

I was on a tip only tour of Boston around the neighborhood of his residence. The lady guide pointed a nice house to indicate as his residence. We saw his wife Theresa Hain came back with her body guards to enter his house. She was very ill at that time. I believe that the American remember his quality even Biden mentions his resume at the introduction.

This group of six advisors including Kerry all come to the podium to present themselves to the media. They all appreciate the opportunity to serve to the White House and express their eagerness to serve the nation. I am in tear to see such missing in the past four yeas. Our nation has been in chaos.

Biden selects his advisors and cabinet posts very carefully to face the new challenge of our nation. Almost all of them are experienced public servants familiar with the government business and with the proof of excellent records. I believe that my vote is correct choice.

凱瑞復入白宮/莊峻華

 凱瑞復入白宮/莊峻華

拜登聘請約翰凱瑞回白宮，擔任巴黎氣候協定，總統特使，最近，總統當選人，開始推出白宮幹部陣容，都是穩健民主黨幹材，多年服務政府經驗，令人鼓舞，凱瑞是一特殊政治家，我在多年前，就幾度描述這位出身平民者，例如凱瑞之勳章，還有一次參觀他在波士頓住家，剛好遇見凱瑞夫人特莉薩女士。

凱瑞在越戰時，被徵召入伍，服役越南，他乖乖之服役前線，而且戰傷，得到紫色勳章，退役後讀法科當律師，從事公共政治服務，年輕時就當上麻州聯邦參議員，曾代表民主黨，競選美國總統，他和拜登當年都在參院外交委員會，善待一位伊莉諾州新科參議員奧巴瑪，兩年後，奧出選美國總統，帶拜登到白宮當副總統，凱瑞繼希拉蕊為國務卿，我的凱瑞勳章文，是要共和黨人，取消其被懷疑之越南戰功，只要共和黨小布希一紙命令國防部，無需在選舉中攻奸。凱瑞娶箸名韓斯參議員遺孀特莉薩韓斯女士，我在旅行波士頓，路過凱瑞府，剛好夫人外出歸來，看到侍衛協助她下車，當年她生病。

民主黨有治國理想，不是只有減稅和加重國防預算二途耳，像國民健保，一系列推出，造福國民，環境保護，弱勢之照顧，打擊犯罪等等，不遺餘力，所以選擇政府政務官，多半是從過去有經驗者，使新政府就續上路，毫無差錯。凱瑞新職，剛好是他未完成而被中斷四年之舊任務，奧巴瑪政府，受世界各國尊重，像英國國會，也幫忙非洲秩序，打擊中東恐怖分子等，都是奧巴瑪和民主黨人之功，我希望拜登新政府，實質幫助台灣，保衛台灣之自由民主，不是只賣武器玩具和豬牛肉等。

All about the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

 All about the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

It has been almost nine months since we are aware of the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic. Our life is all affected by this disease. I am afraid to visit my daughter for the Thanksgiving holiday and also the Christmas. It is very difficult for me to visit Taiwan to have my dental work done. I have to wear a face mask every where I go. I must be very careful to avoid been infected.

My last foreign trip was at the beginning of February when I came back from the Southeast Asia. That was the beginning of what we knew of the pandemic. Quickly, it has spread all over the world even makes the U.S. out of control. At home, our Arthur still needs to go to work at a supermarket and Amy goes out for grocery shopping. I make a new plan to spend my plenty of time. I quit my regular cruise traveling and add some more daily exercises instead. Now, I have had my morning walk and tennis daily and I finish my summer swimming.

We are waiting for our term to get the vaccine injected. Amy knows when. I am lucky that I save some fund from the cruise to spend some on the plumbing issues. I also help to cook more in a week, almost every day. I finish to read the U.S. History from 1860-1960 to better understand this nation. We vote Trump out of the White House.

The Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus will be like Aids or some other diseases. It will be under control and the important matter is to be safe while we are waiting for the solution.

有關中國武漢肺炎/莊峻華

 有關中國武漢肺炎/莊峻華

有關中國武漢肺炎，是美國一大課題，我們家小心應對，連感恩節拜訪奧斯汀琳兒行，都最後取消，中國武漢肺炎肆虐全球，疫苗尚未上市，而且也無明確解藥，許多人因而死亡，當然有更多人存活，像我有糖尿病痼疾，免疫力弱，非得小心應付，避免感染，改變生活方式，已經快滿一年。

每天，郵輪公司，寄來招攬生意廣告，就是在募款，郵輪尚不得啟航，航空飛行，似乎已開始，回台灣仍舊需要關兩週，以我判斷，明年五月回台灣，仍舊是迷。我發現凌晨，鄰居已開始開車外出，像是恢復上班，我們家元兒一直在超市工作，愛美最害怕，仍需要外出買菜，其他外出，都需嚴加考慮，我則是每日過我的新正常生活，戴口罩外出，見固定之鄰居，愛犬，球友，和超市店員等，結帳都是自動和插卡。

我發現牛排價廉物美，開始吃牛排，愛美嚇我，膽固醇過高，恐得中風，我置之不理，先父難得牛肉食，也得中風，我不吸煙，不喝酒，無不良生活習慣，又每日運動鍛鍊，只目標八十歲，七十可食肉矣，這是人生理想，有何錯矣？

國家就交給老拜登治理，我觀看他的白宮人事，都是年輕幹練白宮老手，奧巴瑪任內，所任用者，老拜登是政壇老手，美國將恢復穩定政治，我晚上可安寐無惡夢。

武漢肺炎，將和一般疾病，來來去去，我相信醫學，終將克服，而且也需小心，健康步步為營。

The ribeye roast cut to steaks/Carlos Pueblo

 The ribeye roast cut to steaks/Carlos Pueblo

During my regular weekly visit to super markets, I find a pound of ribeye roast is a dollar cheaper than the ribeye steak, so I wonder what is the difference? I tried to ask the butcher yet he was just off the shift. I asked my neighbor Christina my question. She says the roast must be cooked for two hours with several spices in it while the steak can be grilled and done in much shorter time. She doesn't believe both are in the same quality for intake such as the tenderness. I can't tell the difference from the outside appearance. On the next morning, I asked again to Kathy, pet dog Forest's owner. She tells me that they are almost the same and I just need to ask the butcher to cut the roast chunk into steak side pieces. She says that her parents own restaurants and practice that way all the time.

I ask the butcher to make a free cut for my roast into five pieces of steak. I am not quite sure that I take any of the advantage of the price difference because that there is more fat and bone attached to the meat; however, I can't tell the  difference of the taste. I feel good for the discovery.

Recently, I find the steak price on he weekly sale is about the same as the pork or even cheaper. I also watch some direct broad casting on the You Tube from China about the retail port price. I feel that I am so lucky to live in the United States where the food is so abundant over all. I mention a famous sentence from the Mencius that after age 70, people can start to eat meat that is the ideal of the Confucianism in the ancient China. Confucius says that at age 70, you can do whatever you like under the law. I also watch a picture of a wedding feast at a rural village in China to kill a cattle for the feast. I see the frightened appearance of the ox and kill some of my desire to eat the steak. I google the famous sentences which are in my mind. They are all from the same dialog style of article between a King and Mencius. The theory and the philosophy are all materialized in the current days of the United States of America. I am going to continue eating my meat.

購牛排記/莊峻華

 購牛排記/莊峻華

昨日驅車前往超市購買牛排，每週三，我均等每週牛排特價，巧克力糖特價，徘徊於兩家超市和一家藥局，牛排解決我之口饞，巧克力為低血糖備用，巧克力今無特價，牛排則有兩則特價，都是肋眼排，一是肋眼排，另一為烤肋眼排，兩者每磅相差一美元，吝嗇如我者，開始遲疑，找來肉舖年輕店員，也不知我所云，屠夫已下班，只得回家深思，最近觀看一中國河南鄉村娶媳婦，屠牛景況，甚是淒然，但食素確實有困難。

先問祕魯鄰居克莉斯汀娜，她說兩者不同，一者為燒烤，一者需烤煮兩小時，燒烤是牛排，貴烤煮用肉一磅一美元，她說她先生再乎食草牛肉，不喜食飼料牛肉，我問烤煮肉切成牛排片，可視同牛排？她說肉質不同，於是我開始要放棄此項，專攻另一超市之丁骨牛排，本週價高於上週五角，我內心不爽。今晨，再問凱西，就是愛犬森林女主人，她很肯定曰，只要煩屠夫切片即可，她父親曾經營餐廳，非常熟悉，我於是乎再回超市，買上一塊，切成五片牛排。

最近吃牛排，寫作文都連貫到儒家思想，像我提到七十可食肉矣，真是隨心所欲，而沒有超過膽固醇之標準，看到河南娶媳婦屠牛，光是牛掙扎，我就心有淒淒然，我在谷歌把梁惠王上找出來，孟子提到吾不忍其觳觫，若無罪而就死地等等，這是一篇精彩之短文，孟子講了一段道理，中國歷代統治者，無人費心去了解，非常遺憾，他的理想，至少在我家庭實現，很多美國家庭都早已實現。

To own a house/Carlos Pueblo

 To own a house/Carlos Pueblo

To own a house to live is a dream of a young family. We can go to work from our own home and come back home from work every day. We can raise our children at the house we own. I have done that and I fully understand why so many people are frustrated themselves that they can't fulfill such dream in their own life. It is because that in a big city where the job opportunity is plenty yet the living space is limited; therefore, the housing price is high. It is so high that you save all your life time earning and still not able to purchase your own house to live.

I repeated such claim to a couple from the Switzerland, a Haka Taiwanese married to a Swiss engineer. He disagrees and tells me a story of their daughter who married a Swiss banker after 10 years dating. They manage to buy their own house, where there is a will, there is a way. Even in a high cost of nation, a professional couple are still capable to purchase their own house.

I have seen many of my customers who start at a small house and change to a larger house after their children are born. We must have a goal and working hard toward that goal. We can start at a beginner's house outside of the city limit and commute to work inside the city. After more established, we can sell the small house to move into a larger house in a better location. 

There are always reasons why we can't make sufficient income to purchase the first house. Some writers loves to use the statistic numbers to fool themselves and their readers. It is not cheap to own a house in Texas, yet it is still make more sense to own a house. It is what I encourage my children to purchase houses as their first goal of their life. One of them has made it while the second one is still living with us. His income is still not sufficient to live in  a house comparable to ours even as his savings is plenty to purchase his own house. We get it all figuring out carefully. There are still children in a big city like Houston who are still living with their parents. As a matter of fact, I intend to give my share of house to my son when I die. Many of the residents in the capital city of Taipei, they inherit their houses from their parents or their ancestors. 

Or, you can plan to immigrate to the United States to live in a city such as Houston. You can find plenty of the job opportunity and plenty of houses to purchase to live. As soon as we march toward that direction, the shorter distance to the goal can be reached. Some time it takes several general generation to pass on to own a house.

住者有其屋2/莊峻華

 住者有其屋2/莊峻華

按照輿論報導，許多世界大城市，一般收入家庭，無法住者有其屋，就是房價太貴，大城市就業機會多，適應時代生活需要，所以人口，漸漸増加，住者有其屋問題，變成顯學，社會之問題，我懷疑政府有辦法解決，解決此困難，必需從自己開始，切莫浪費時間。

同樣成長，許多人可以高收入，許多人仍舊低薪，甚至找不到工作，我們把元兒留在家裏到現在，他的儲蓄，早已可以自行購屋，但不經濟，因為購屋後，需要交房地產稅，還有日常維護費，將耗盡其所有收入，無法儲蓄老年退休金，若失業，則無處可歸，我在社區散步多年，從數車經驗，仍有美國家庭，成年子女，與父母住在一起，經濟稍可之父母，終究將留住屋給子女，這是解決住者有其屋之首步。

租屋其二，先租便宜較遠較偏僻之公寓，節省支出，計劃生育，直到可以購屋為止。許多家庭都是經過這一程序。我談到許多節約儲蓄方法，日子一樣好過，精神一樣快樂。

其三，就是想辦法搬到德州，這種住家便宜，工作機會又多之城市，找到一適居房屋不難，現在有些加州之高科技產業，有移到奧斯汀市之趨向，奧斯汀有昂貴之屋，也有許多可負擔之廉價住屋。

其四，移民出國，我在台灣，生長於先父之糖廠宿舍，稱不上住者有其屋，我想移民美國，所以在台北找到工作，住在訓導處之體育器材室一年，省吃儉用一年，投資美國大學許可，取得學位後，就投奔在休市工作之兄嫂，他也是搬離紐約市後，始能住者有其屋，我一找到工作，就按照長兄指示，買下兩住屋，一直到20餘年後始脫手。

我甚至在全球旅行中，遇見許多移民，都是住者有其屋，我無需注意這些移民失敗者。幾年前回台灣，遇見舊鄰居楷龍兄，與我談起一位舊日虎尾高中，好學生之故事，虎中有一位其同事，願意提供獎學金給好學生，楷龍是訓導主任，選擇推薦一位清寒女學生，這位女學生，考上東吳，畢業後當國中教師，一直到退休，一日回虎尾探望恩師曰，準備在虎尾購屋定居，那一年，我經常回虎中打網球，楷龍遇我，提起此事，當年提供獎學金之同事，也非常高興，住者有其屋，是一意志之實踐，並非怨嘆耳。

Making a good use of our time now/Carlos Pueblo

 Making a good use of our time now/Carlos Pueblo

Once we make it to the 70's, we appreciate more of our time than ever before. Because that we know our future time is limited and our past has gone. We must make a good use of our time now. I don't think that I have very much to dream for now. I can only hope that I can have an occupied daily schedule and I am healthy away from the pain of the sickness. It is nice to stay at home to have my daily routine.

Recently, I have just finished watching the American voters to vote out Trump from the White House. I feel that I shall have a better sleep at night at least for the next four years. I feel that Biden will do better for the disadvantage American and the rest of the world more than Trump.

I practice my believe every day to exercises and rest comfortably. I get my diabetes under control with the same medicine. I move along well with my old body and feel great and looking forward to every new day. 

The limit of traveling around the world is no problem to me. I have set up my new normal life without the travelling since the lockdown of the Wuhan Corona Virus Panedamic. More and more of our neighbors have joined our morning walk and even invade to our neighbor subdivision. More residents have signed up our tennis court and I just finish my summer swimming. I am almost at the annual Thanksgiving festival.

It is very important to stay healthy and away from the hospitalization. It is nice to stay home than live in a nursing home. This is what I advise my tennis partners to schedule time to play tennis and in addition to tennis, to make some walk in the morning or in the evening or both. We can't grasp back our memorable past neither catch up what we shall have in the future. The only real thing is now to make a good use of it. 

把握現在/莊峻華

 把握現在/莊峻華

老年人生活，最重要者，為把握現在，無需憧憬那有限之未來，也無需眷戀美麗之過去，就是活活運用現在，過一有意義之生活，我是指避免生病，莫想住老人院，兩者均是理想，而且有徑可循。

因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，我將今年生活，作一大改變，二月初，從東南亞回來，郵輪旅行，從此中斷，於是我開始安排，不能出外旅行之生活，増加清晨散步哩數，推廣老人網球運動，増加家事工作，和勤於日常作文自愉，我發現時光荏苒，精神愉快，一年很快渡過。

我也重拾西語教科書，溫習動詞變化，日語教科書在案旁，只欠東風。我經常觀看中國網路直播節目，了解中國經濟近況，和中國地方烹飪技術，我也觀看台灣政論節目，最近剛結束美國大選政論課，今年正式讀畢美國近代一百年歷史，對我了解當下美國政情，助益匪淺。

我因晨步，認識許多鄰居，許多愛犬知己，還有小嬰兒，社區老人，漸漸搬離，搬來一些年輕家庭，家長攜帶小嬰兒愛犬，出外散步，一年四季，和諧環境，像是人間樂園。我略估計，約可看到這些小嬰兒上小學。

香楓落葉，撒滿前院，我掃落葉，像是掃滿美鈔一般，心甘情願。美國將有新政府，我可安心舒適四年。

Grocery shopping/Carlos Pueblo

 

Grocery shopping/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I do some grocery shopping because that I like to have the steak meal every week. I find the steak sale price is very attractive; therefore, I can’t let it go. Of course, Amy doesn’t like it and she thinks that eating steak is not good for my health and my son Arthur’s health. I am too old which is fine with her; however, Arthur is still very young and I shouldn’t make him at risk to have a stroke at the young age. Every Wednesday, I read the flyers on the mail I can find what is on sale from two large super markets. I’ll make a special trip to make such purchase. I don’t like to eat chicken and pork all the time. These are what I can get now for steaks, T-bone $4.50 a pound, strip $4.00 a pound, and rib eyes $5.00 a pound which are the same cost for the pork in China.

On my way to the super market, I stop by a drug store to check on chocolate for my inventory. It is a necessity of my exercises. I need to take two pieces when my blood sugar is low. How do I know it? When I can’t make a proper overhead of a volley over the net, I know that I must eat sweet right away. I found my favorite kind is on sale; therefore, I purchase two boxes.

I love watermelon very much. I always purchase some when it is on the July 4^th or the Labor days weekend. The supermarket always put up sale price to celebrate the holidays. When I go shopping with Amy, I always select those items on sale. It is a habit built from my childhood. I was from a very humble family background and I have appreciated the value of my money. All the money which I save from necessary shopping, I put it on saving and make the money works for me forever.

It is a part of my strategy to save money. It is also a theory that I can make money from nothing. I have been enjoy to describe on my writing all the time. Gaining something from nothing.

 

購物/莊峻華

 

購物/莊峻華

每週三，我均等待牛排廣告，準備上街購物，因為我開始改變日常食譜，牛排價格，比豬肉和蔬菜水果便宜，美國農民也很慘，一大半餐廳，仍舊關閉，我先順路到一老藥店，買下兩盒巧克力糖備用，然後先到一家超市，買下一塊兩磅重肩胛肉，一磅三美元，再買一袋馬鈴薯，再到第二家超市，買一盒三片前肋排，是四點五美元一磅，因為昨日為退伍軍人節，未送郵件，故無廣告可看，購物僅憑經驗，愛美嚇我，吃牛排會中風，若我不怕死，也需顧慮元兒，元兒也不理會，所以她要他每週休兩日，與我打網球。

我出身於貧窮人家，對購物價錢，十分敏感，過去購物，均先請教峻嚴，他總有些資料，結婚後，就是愛美買菜，我想影響她精打細算不果，精打細算，需要有很好之算術，要會平衡，我覺得蔬果，都需要在季節間購買，肉類就等特價，衣物就等年終特價，美國社會，不重視浮華，簡便服裝成習，只要整潔即可，我的衣服，久穿不壞，西裝一穿三十年，座車已開22年，而且也只生糖尿病。

我也曾經素食過七年，但素食甚是不便，而且食材我也不喜歡，因此在老人健保生效後，我就恢復葷食，喜歡西瓜，所以養成經常運動之習慣，我也無甚奢望長壽，如能享受有限餘生，不為金錢所困，過有意義之生活，美國真像天堂。

The oil price/Carlos Pueblo

 

The oil price/Carlos Pueblo

The oil price has been depressed for a long time and is affecting my own investment saving. Yesterday, there was a 10% gain on my oil stock in one day. Of course, it is not significant after years down turn. I like to guess that the Saudi Arabia Kingdom has made a decision to change the oil price. The media in the U.S. has made a conclusion that the Kingdom likes to control the world market and beats up all the competitors especially in the U.S. and Russia. Sometimes, the gasoline price is cheaper than the drinking water and how the Saudi can feed its people.

One time, the U.S. oil production has reached to the top of the world and the Saudi is not happy about it. The Saudi has flooded oil on the world market plus the Chinese Wuhan corona virus pandemic. The Saudi is not happy with the stall situation in the Palestine. It doesn’t look like Trump is fair in the conflict. I can feel that people are losing their oil related jobs in Houston, Texas similar to the 80’s. Many houses in the subdivision are on the market for sale.

I am hurting as well. The Saudi has taken advantage of the oil to do what they want. I have noticed at least twice since I immigrated to the U.S. One was the oil embargo back to the 70’s and the second one was in the 80’s. There were 200,000 jobs loss in Texas during the last time of crisis. This time may not be as severe as last time, yet I am hurting like a hell. My oil stock has been depreciated 70% from the peak of the time.

Now, Biden will be our new President who has plenty years of the foreign affairs experience at the Senate as well as the Obama administration. I hope that he will lead us to a smooth recovery of the relationship with the Saudi and the rest of the world. Let me have a peaceful senior life.

油價/莊峻華

 

油價/莊峻華

昨日道瓊和油股大漲，我想和新政府，即將上任有關，我之儲蓄有顯箸之油股，這四年來，飽受壓抑，股票被踢出道瓊股，選舉時，共和黨人與我爭辯裂油生產問題，第二次總統辯論，川普也責問拜登限制裂油生產政策，逼得拜登改口曰，只限制在聯邦土地裂油，我猜民主黨人不願見裂油造成環境污染，我問質疑我之共和黨人，裂油有利可圖？油價一桶三十美元，裂油生產一桶成本七十美元，生產裂油技工，不是最低工資者，是幫助誰？就像生產煤礦一樣，受到市場之制衡。我說這是石油戰爭，沙烏地在打擊美俄兩強，這發生幾次在歷史上。

我的老師賴洋卿先生，在沙國服務多年，有一英文箸作，我仔細拜讀，稍悉沙國政治，石油是沙國惟一生產，王國賴以為生，沙國曾經運用油價，發動經濟戰，例如上世紀七十年代之石油禁運，還有壓低油價，擊潰所有美國之油葉岩生產，還有今年之原油氾濫市場，為甚麼沙國自干墮落？自貶身價？汽油一度比不上礦泉水，沙國在想甚麼？

沙國不爽川普之以色列政策，沙國不容許美國搶奪世界石油市場，美國一度奪回世界油產第一，呼風喚雨，沙國不爽巴勒斯坦問題未決，沙國也不爽伊朗俄羅斯等石油產國，於是我的儲蓄投資，幾乎泡湯，也於是我更加省吃儉用於日常生活中。

我希望拜登新政府，恢復關心巴勒斯坦問題，關心巴勒斯坦人之處境，就像關心美國境內弱勢一般，當然富人也要關心，讓他們之投資有保障，讓他們交少些所得稅，維護世界和平，無需擴充多餘軍備，我說油股慘跌，不但影響到我，也重措加州之退休金投資，要爭取美國第一，要動腦筋，要穩定前進，不是喊口號，要充份準備，要跟上高科技。

Trump has been voted out/Carlos Pueblo

 

Trump has been voted out/Carlos Pueblo

It is the American politic that Trump has been voted out of the White House. I was at the tennis court last Tuesday night. Before leaving the court, I checked with i-phone news about the election. I was depressed that Trump was ahead among the battle grounds of states and also ahead in Texas. It reminded me almost four years ago while I was on my way back to the U.S. from the Europe. I have been very depressed in Florida and Texas for the past four years.

When I woke up for my toilet break at about three a.m. Amy told me that Biden came from behind and was ahead in counts among some states counts and shrank the gap of loss in Pennsylvania. I was excited. Since then, we have been closely watching the reports of the ballot counts and figuring out how to figure out how many ballots left to be counted. I have been very good to convert the percentage by multiple and division to get the number which I desire to have. The reporters explain very much in detail how the numbers turning out and the reasons. This is lasted on every minute until Saturday when the Associate Press announces it project winners of the election, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Trump is out or on the way out of the White House.

I don’t like Trump. As a matter of fact, I have never voted for the Republican. I believe that a nation should help the poor in the nation or in the world with the mighty power of the U.S. I am very happy of myself that I don’t have to see Trump’s face and his voice again. I wish him well on all his law suits now and after he leaves the White House.

I am not alone on the outcome of his end of the presidency. We shall have a new beginning of the old normal democracy. At least, I shall enjoy my next four years and possible before the end of my life.

川普下台/莊峻華

 

川普下台/莊峻華

上週二，美國大選，我剛好有早晚兩局網球，待晚上球局結束，翻閱手機新聞網頁，川普在幾關鍵州領先，尤其我們德州，僅逼近膠箸一段時間，我甚納悶如此多人，仍舊投票給此世紀大騙，回家後就匆匆就寢，半夜醒來，愛美告知拜登已經領先，而且川普開始演小丑戲，自行宣佈當選，要求賓州停止計票，他認為郵寄票有鬼，但又提不出證據，我開始詳細閱讀全球各家電台報紙之網路實況，非常熱鬧精彩。2006年大選，我在捷克布拉格市投票，美國大使館幫我郵寄選票，當然，我的票被共和黨人壓抑，在史詩號郵輪橫跨大西洋，驚悉川普當選，然後就開始四年之厄夢，我非常厭惡川普之為人處事態度，甚至遷怒到投票給他者。

我覺得支持川普者，都有幾種因素，喜歡減稅者，種族岐視者，福音派新教徒，和厭惡中國古巴越南者等人。我很不齒川普行徑，所以偶而與川普支持者爭辯，我無法容忍他的詐騙，好色，為富不仁，不盡國民義務，他絕對不是一個國家領導人，充其量為一姦商耳。我發現台灣政論節目，一面倒向川普，於是我開始拒看節目，現在谷歌開始排除台灣頭版，所以我又節省一些時間，開始看些中國農村直播節目，了解中國近況，還有學習烹飪。

亞虎網頁，有一大掛牌指示開票近況，然後可以讀文字分析和影視分析，美國總統大選，非常清楚公開，注意開票，也可以了解美國各州之投票制度，美國總統選舉之根據，很好之公民課，也幫助股票投資，當然我仍然不解，武漢肺炎肆虐，重創美國經濟，何以股市變化不多？當然川普又邀功，是我厭惡之處也。

各州因應武漢肺炎，鼓勵郵寄投票，所以這些非大選日之投票數目増加，當日無法計票完成，一直拖到週六，就是五日後，美聯社始正式判斷拜登當選，川普揚言訴訟，以圖翻盤，電台訪問學者，全曰不可能，俄羅斯也一時措手不及，普汀無法學史大林，替美國算票，又是提早選舉票，又是郵寄票，又是大選日票，又是各郡各算票等，俄羅斯高科技駭客，有所不及，美國這次有準備。

川普還是不認輸，還是要耍賴不走，美國法律正在等候他，還有各州檢察長，地區檢察官等，民事訴訟案，都在等候，落選德意志銀行要他還三億四千萬貸款，不戴口罩，感染武漢肺炎事小，高爾夫球場豪華大飯店倒閉事大，要跟中國索賠？中國更慘，人民吃都有問題。

Adding the steak in my weekly dinner menu/Carlos Pueblo

 

Adding the steak in my weekly dinner menu/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I add the steak in my dinner menu because that there are weekly sales on the supermarket. I guess that is due to the restaurant closure and the Wuhan Corona Virus pandemic. Amy is against that we, Arthur and I, are taking so much beef to increase the fat consumption. She doesn’t want us to have a high cholesterol; consequently, be suffered a stroke. Both Arthur and I love the taste of the steak and the price is right.

I read the flier delivered by the mail every Wednesday and go to the market to pick up a box with two or three pieces of steak. The receipt is shown how much I have saved. I would cook a piece with boiled potatoes along with it. We share equally for that piece as our dinner. I prefer steak to any kinds of pork. I watch Chinese direct broadcasting on the You Tube, my cost of steak is even less than the cost of pork in China. This is one of the luckiest matters to live in the United States. Of course, the free market and the democracy systems are among the advantage.

I go on to check the Chinese names of the strip steak, the rip eyes steak, and the T-bone steak and their location in the cattle. These are the common ones on sale. I also find the chuck roast available some time. I remember vividly that one time my dad prepared a beef stew for our family. I think that is a Japanese dish involving the potato, the carrot, the green bell pepper, and a root vegetable called go mou in Japanese. I shall prepare one based on my memory.

I am so lucky to live in the modern day to have plenty of meat to eat. According to the ancient Chinese literature, Manfucius used to advise a king about how to rule a nation. His goal is to make senior citizen aged 70 to have plenty of meat to eat. This is what I mean my luck so far in my life. Confucius also mentions something after 70 that he advocated man after 70 can do whatever he desires to do with the boundary of the law.

 

七十者可以食肉矣/莊峻華

 

七十者可以食肉矣/莊峻華

美國農業發達，大量肉產，人民豐衣足食，沒有孟夫子當年之顧慮，美國人耽心者，為肉食過多，對身體不好，這七十者可以肉食矣，是孟子梁惠王上之一段，孔子也提到七十歲，他說七十而從心所欲不逾矩，我的食肉問題是，這些年來，食物受愛美控制，雖是葷食，但卻口將吐出一隻鳥來，於是我開始上超市，購買牛排，讓我和元兒解饞。

我先找兩家超市，每週三就推出特價牛排，一般在一磅五美元以下，一塊一磅重之牛排，由元兒和我均分，我在熱鍋上，兩面煎熟，均分一半，佐以水煮馬鈴薯，如是一餐，如一包兩塊牛排，則分兩天食用，三塊則三天，吃牛排餐，則不易飢餓覓食，我能買到者為，牛腰脊排，上腰脊排，和肋眼排，幾乎每週輪流特價，因為武漢肺炎肆虐，一半以上餐廳都休業。

吃牛排不但是一享受，而且也非常經濟，元兒喜歡煎熟，所以我也跟著改口味，煎熟也較衛生，愛美說我們兩人都要中風，因為牛排過於油膩，我想兩成人一餐分一磅牛排，應該適當，所以不加理會，而且我近來幾乎每天都掌廚。

我喜歡看中國自播網誌，許多農村生活，中國肉價昂貴，尤其牛肉，我越想越幸福，七十多歲後，每週吃牛排。

A false alarm 2/Carlos Pueblo

 

A false alarm 2/Carlos Pueblo

Driving an old car is an art which you must know the vehicle well in order to save the money. The other day, I was resting on a sofa and was alarmed by Amy for a flat tire of Arthur’s 07 Toyota. I barked at her for moving the car to the street by ignoring the red light on the panel board. Actually I should bark at Arthur for not being alert of the low air pressure. I am a good father and I pay all the maintenance except for the gas. I worry that the flat tire may cost me hundreds if the tire is ruined.

First, we call AAA for help to replace the spare tire. I told the serviceman where the tire lock key located. He quickly jacked up the flat tire put the spare tire on and we could drive the car to the Costco tire store. Arthur got lost again on following my car at I-10 federal road. I worried again if he was involved an accident. I-10 federal’s traffic is always very bad. Finally, he made it to the parking lot of the Lowe’s. We went home to wait for the replacement. After 4 hours or so, we went to pick up the car and it was free of charge due to warranty. I am released. I admit that I hate to spend unnecessary money.

He drove home safely from the Costco and told me that the key battery is low. I asked Amy for the spare one last time I bought. She said that was used on a new car key because the old car key was not working properly. Man, I must go to Walmart to buy a new battery or Arthur would have a hard time to get in to the car to work or to come back home at midnight. I might just drive to the Walmart to solve the issue. That Walmart doesn’t carry the battery and Amy reminds me where I get it. I was mad again and barked at her and waked up Arthur to buy the battery. After his returning with two sets of battery, he tells there is no need to go to the Walmart. Any of the supermarket carry such items.

虛驚一場2/莊峻華

 

虛驚一場2/莊峻華

清晨運動歸來，正在沙發上小寐些時，愛美打攪曰，元兒車胎砰風，原來是她需調車外出，將元兒車開到街上，我已被吵醒，甚是不樂曰，未見紅燈？她以為沒關係，僅移車位幾步耳，於是我將元兒叫下樓來，交待他如何處理，先拿出美國汽車協會卡，呼叫協會派車來換備胎，同時責問元兒，何以漏風亮紅燈，仍不知不覺？然後大罵愛美笨，開車一輩子，尚不知警覺，而且幾週前，始換一新車輪胎，兒子笨老母跟著笨，她換一新車輪胎約五百美元，是她出自己之錢，我是心平氣和，幫她處理接送，元兒收入少，我早發心幫忙，所以不是很慷慨，一直憤憤不平。

車協會人來，也只有我知道輪胎鑰匙，就是一環狀圈，套在胎柱上，始可鬆動缷下爆胎，換上備胎，這是防盜設備，也只有家中智者，知其所在。然後，我要元兒開車隨我到卡斯科大賣場，十號公路旁道，已是車水馬龍，跟車不易，果然他又走失，我真耽心車禍，上次也一樣，他就開車回家，我因不曾打過電話給元兒，故無其電話號碼，過了三十分鐘，仍未有電話來，於是我在卡斯科灌風輪胎，然後到一五金行如廁，果然元兒電話來，已在停車場，愛美電話給元兒，元兒曰已與我會合。

卡斯科職員曰，無預約需候四小時，我們就回家等候，我心中仍是憤憤不平，不知此車爆胎，要花我多少錢？我也可以要元兒自己出錢，但我又失去一人生一有意義之善事，所以只好碎碎唸愛美，她正送蛋糕給姊姊，所以才調車位，我更是遷怒不已。

卡斯科人電話來，找輪胎鑰匙，我當然知道，很快就換好輪胎，也不提價錢，我心中高興，一定是免費，輪胎受損不巨，尚在保證期內，到店後取得車鑰匙就離開，無需付帳，真是虛驚一場。回家後，元兒告知，車上紅燈警示，車匙電池過低，需換電池，這也是急務，我需立刻到握瑪大店購買，不然他開車上班不安全，半夜下班，進不了車。

Pelosi has cut down a pig head/Carlos Pueblo

 

Pelosi has cut down a pig head/Carlos Pueblo

Steve is one of my senior tennis partners. He asks me how Biden and democrats will fill up justices in the US Supreme Court. I was shy and unprepared to that question, yet I denied the important of the Court decision in previous US history. I believe that the President is much more important that the Court. I say November 10 is a test of the Court for the Obamacare of 2010. Twenty millions will be in the stake of losing their insurance coverage. The Court is in 6-3 in favor to overrule the law. After our tennis meet, he said goodbye and to see me to fill the court on Saturday. Before arriving home, I have already had some answers of his case. This is what I tell Amy who is also very concerned with the election this year and she asks me to write it down to show the proof of what I say before November 3, 2020.

The court will decide the Obamacare on November 10, 2020. If Biden is the next President and the Court decides that it is indeed violate the US Constitution, I believe that Biden does say that he will bring in a new Biden care to save and enlarge the enrollment of twenty millions. It will also cover those states option out of the Obamacare. It is on today’s news headline. It is still just an issue nothing to do with the fill of the Court.

The abortion law of Roe V. Wade is a major concern of Steve and his fellow Christians fundamentalist and they reject Biden and democrats outright completely. They want to take this 6-3 advantage at the Court now to overrule it. I think at that time, Biden with both Pelosi and Schumer’s help in the House and the Senate, will fill up the number of the Court to 12 in order to make an even of 6-6. Trump can do it so Biden can do the same in his new term as the US President.

I am so proud of my new finding and mention to my fellow Democrat Arthur. He says according to his Bible study, he would be sacrificed as the elder son of the family. Abortion is just a renaissance of the Bible, a teaching from God, the almighty. The definition of a human being can be tracked to the conceded as the Christians insist.

Pelosi has cut down a pig head and Trump doesn't even know he is bleeding.

普洛西砍下豬頭/莊峻華

 

普洛西砍下豬頭/莊峻華

川普剛當選總統，就開始兌現競選政見，準備興建美墨邊界之，萬里長城，選前曰，墨西哥出錢，墨國前後總統均堅持不出一毛，於是川普送交參眾兩院提案，當時國會均為共和黨把持，普洛西和紐約州之舒墨參議員，都是民主黨少數黨領袖，連手在參院將白宮提案擊敗，當時夜間笑科節目主持人，訪問普洛西記者美女，美女曰其母厲害，也是美女，對手被砍頭，尚且不知人頭落地，美國政治非常精彩有趣，政治者有許多好角色。川普眼見提案未通過，廠商政治獻金，早已落袋，於是強加若干築牆費用在年度預算上，還是沒過關，甚至造成關閉聯邦政府，川普豬頭落地，尚不自知。

兩年後，主張罷免川普之民主黨進步派，將普洛西重送上眾院議長寶座，普洛西按兵不動，因她熟嫻議事，不浪費寶貴時間，而且色厲內荏之川普，已不敢在大部分預算抵抗，普洛西民主黨，可予所予求，不久等到，川普扣留烏克蘭軍事補助，威脅烏國總統甚麼，為人告密，罷免案成立，但為參院否決。最近，普洛西為英雄法案，與白宮協商，普洛西要求2.2兆，白宮同意1.9兆，包括每人可再領$1,200，川普終於想通曰，越多越好，但已來不及在選前通過，總統之權利在龐大預算，國會在野黨送上大張支票，救助全國人民和州市政府，總統居然拒收，真是豬，無頭豬。

現在共和黨，已經開始哀鳴，普洛西和舒墨，在女大法官提名案，按兵不動，節省精力於大選，共和黨之奧巴瑪健保拒保違憲案，眼看最高法院九比三，勢必通過，普洛西老神在在，平反墮胎法律，送到最高法院，也勢必平反，就是年輕女性，墮胎違法，此兩共和黨仇恨之政策，眼看即將為共和黨得逞，普洛西仍是老神在在，我想她正準備揮斧砍豬頭。

大選僅剰五日，而且許多人已完成投票，如民主黨大獲全勝，十一月十一日，大法官投九比一，判奧巴瑪健保罰款違憲，拜登已聲稱有新拜登健保，正在等待，普洛西和舒墨都會在國會幫忙，迅速立法，拜登簽字，拜登曰新法更加完善，造福包括現在之三千萬人。若墮胎案送交最告法院，民主黨會考慮増加大法官人數到十二人。

我安慰愛美，彼詢何人所言，我說是我之政治了解，彼曰需文字為憑，因此記。

The adorable family/Carlos Pueblo

 

The adorable family/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, I have joined our old college classmates to discuss Lo’s families at Puli, Taiwan. They are well established yet not political distinguished. One of their daughter -in-laws is Christiana who is one of our class mates. My dad used to mention Lo Wan-ge as the first chairman of a famous Taiwanese after the War. Christiana tells me if she knows her husband and I are friends, she would invite us to their old houses at the downtown Puli in our 2008 visit. I was from a very humble family when I was in Taiwan. My mom used to define the adorable family to us and encourage us to have our future own families that way. Her standard was not as high as the Los, yet with plenty foods to eat, to own a house to live, and to live without the financial difficulty, etc.

That is the main reasons why I have a strong desire to immigrate to the United States. I have been working hard to achieve that level. I live in a subdivision of regular American middle class families and they are all adorable. Many of them have second houses at the rivers front or large ranches. Most of the properties are inherited from their parents or ancestors like we are going to pass our house to Arthur in the future. My middle class status has been built by my frugal nature and the best environment I can obtain in my life.

We were invited to visit a house on Briar Rose drive in 2018 and I wrote about it. It is like a small palace inside and the front garden is the yard of the month and I am very impressed. This morning, Kathy and I walked by Linda’s house and went through the constructing drive way to see her finished patio and a new swimming pool on the backyard. It is such a wonderful design that you can cook on the patio with a fancy kitchen. I tell Kathy who owns a 700 acres ranch in west Texas that Linda’s husband also has inherited a ranch in the state of Oregon on a lakeside. America is a peaceful nation that citizens can pass on their achievement to the next generation on and on.

I don’t ask too much and I am very satisfied so far. The dream of my childhood is coming true to me.

 

 

好家庭2/莊峻華

 

好家庭2/莊峻華

最近常在舊日同學線上，談論台灣埔里舊日好家庭，就是前羅銀漢家族，剛好他的孫媳婦，是我們班同學，其孫也是我們鄰屆系友，是埔里幾代望族，與霧峰林獻堂家，有親戚關係，吾家甚貧，三餐幾乎不繼，是以先母常羨慕好家庭，不僅三餐充裕，糧有庫存，買賣無需賒貸，子女學費無慮等等，像埔里羅家，則是上好家庭，我們搬到虎尾，似乎無此規模。

於是我從小立志，要建立一好家庭，雖不敢奢望一次臻及羅府地位，至少衣食無慮，住有其屋，於是我就移民美國，認真讀書，認真工作，省吃儉用，冰箱存滿新鮮食物，庫存乾糧，行有座車，無甚債務，已經無愧於先母。

像我如此之同學，彼彼皆是，若再進一級，到地主房產尊貴，百萬富豪也有，我的美國鄰居語我，這是需要幾代之累積，始有農莊別墅，我心已滿足，只不過是回憶舊日之美夢耳。

My life 50 years after Taiwan Normal University in 1971/Carlos Pueblo

 

My life 50 years after Taiwan Normal University in 1971/Carlos Pueblo

It has been very much different of my life now from 50 years before at the Taiwan Normal University in 1971. I am more mature and move up myself to a middle class income family away from the poverty level previously. I conclude that three reasons are factors to change my life. First, I was eligible to apply for studying abroad after I finished the University. Of course, I had to serve in Taiwanese army for two years and another two years teaching at middle schools. Secondly, after obtaining my master degree in chemistry, I had enough confidence in myself to seek a job in the market. Third, after I lost my job as a chemist, I converted myself to be an insurance agent to earn a living smoothly. After working 23 years, I lost a major contract with an insurance company and had been idle for almost 20 years at home, yet still manage to live along. It has been all because of my no surrender policy which is built in to me during my college and the army service thereafter.

I did have a hard time to finish the college, yet at the graduate school with sufficient financial aid and my frugal nature, I could concentrate my study and get a second degree accordingly. I did go to the third degree program; however, due to age, lack of confidence in chemistry, and the financial desire, I went to work at a laboratory at Houston space center as a chemist. Because I couldn’t get along with my direct supervisor, I was terminated three years later. At that time, I just got married for half a year. I immediately jump into a total different carrier. I sell insurance and real estate. I did prepare both permits as my part time business before I was fired. It is all because the encouragement of my able elder brother who is also living in Houston as an engineer.

I work very hard to establish my new career. I helped my brother-in-law to purchase 5 rental houses and managed them while he was in Taiwan. Before I was married, I had already purchased two new houses for rent with 5% down payment and two big mortgages. Insurance business started very well and I could see my income improved dramatically. Very soon, I added on the security business into my job menu to understand a little better of the finance. After 12 years, I was terminated by the first insurance company, and the second one after 10 years. I was very fatigue. I thought of teaching and prepared for the alternative certificate as a secondary school teacher. I did teach at a senior high school for two months and was terminated due to the failure of the class management. I tried to come back in insurance and got fired after 6 months with the third insurance company. I terminated the fourth insurance company after 6 months try out due to lack of business. Recently, the fifth insurance company terminates my 20 years producing contract. For the time being, I still have two governmental programs to maintain some fire and flood insurance in my book; however, the income is diminished.

I like to discuss my current income which is more vivid and interesting. First, I have been getting the social security payment for almost 11 years. Second, I give a mortgage to my daughter for her rental house for 10 years which is about the end of my life. Third, I am on the requirement minimum distribution of my pension funds. Fourth, I still have a residual renewal income from both of the fire and flood companies. All portfolio is in major cap growth stocks and funds and gains and dividends are all reinvested.

 

師大畢業五十年後/莊峻華

 

師大畢業五十年後/莊峻華

台灣師範大學畢業後，轉眼已經半世紀，我想做一感想，因有此文憑，給我一生之幫助，第一，我因為有化學系學位，我得以按當年政府規定，申請出國留學，第二，取得化學碩士後，已足勇氣自信，出外工作，第三，失去化學專職後，我順利轉換謀生職業，工作二十二年後，失去保險代理契約，多次矢業在家，長達二十年，仍舊設法生活，得助於不退之人生觀，和師大及服兵役等之鍛鍊。

我是有困難如期畢業於師大，但研究所就能專心讀書，而且也省吃儉用，遵守誠正勤樸之精神，因為化學基礎欠佳，年紀漸大，不敢戀棧化學博士學位，趕緊出校工作，是在休士頓太空總署當實驗室廢水和氣體分析士，三年不到得罪上司被開除，當時結婚剛半年，立即投入保險和房產專業，結婚前，我早已準備後路，安排課外活動，這要感謝樂有賢父兄之謂也，家兄也在休市當工程師，他是台大土木出身。

我非常認真工作，助買五棟房屋給妻舅，並且幫他管理，取得管理費，婚前我已貸款購置兩新屋出租，保險工作，一帆風順，收入顯箸改善，後來又加入證券基金生意，對財務管理和所得稅，有較清楚之了解，十二年後，被第一家保險公司開除，十年後，被第二家保險公司開除，當高中老師兩個月，也被開除，捲土重來，六個月後，又被第三家保險公司開除，再接再厲，六個月後，因無生意，我將第四家保險公司契約解除，最近，第五家保險公司，經近二十年後，解除契約，我目前手上，尚有兩家政府保險，屋險和水險，尚在代理，但收入已遠不若當年。

我目前之收入有好幾筆，講錢比較有趣，第一，社會安全保險年金，第二，租屋貸款給琳兒十年，第三，每年必需領出之退休金，第四，上述兩火水險續保傭金，股票基金之股息，全部再投資，投資全部在成長股票和基金，我的誠正勤樸生活習慣，幫助甚巨。

中國武漢肺炎肆虐後，我被關在家裏，深居簡出，出外戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，不摸眼鼻喉，一切遵守台大李醫師之指示。我増加清晨散步之哩數，推廣老年人網球運動，現在開始新増少年網球一週一節，已經游畢一夏天之泳，非常充實，一週幫忙家事，掃地割草種水果，香瓜，鳳梨，長豆，和絲瓜等，因有多株巨樹和松鼠，績效不佳。

我覺得越老越平靜，這要歸功於我的省吃檢用，我對佛理哲學之了解，就是聲聞和緣覺二乘之領悟，過有意義之生活，我甚至更加了解慎獨之道理，莫見乎隱，莫顯乎微，故君子甚其獨也。

我會講日語之台北高等學校，和台灣師範大學，在日本甚受尊重，其來有自。

Remembering my hard life at college in Taiwan 1967-1971/Carlos Pueblo

 

Remembering my hard life at college in Taiwan 1967-1971/Carlos Pueblo

It will be a 50 years anniversary of our graduation in 2021 and our class mates are preparing to hold a class reunion in Taiwan for two weeks. We are preparing to publish a photo book along with a lot of memory during that period of time at the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, Taiwan. I was very fortunate to pass the college entrance examination that year and accepted to Taiwan Normal for the future secondary school teacher.

It was a government sponsored program; therefore, we had had tuition and fee free at school with a minimum subsidy of about US$5.00 at the time. If I took the meal in the cafeteria at the dormitory, the cost was $4.50 deducted from that $5.00. 50 cent was for a haircut. It was very hard and I had to budget very well. For some reasons that I was not permitted to live in the dormitory; therefore, I had to rent a bed outside of the campus for about $5.00 a month. I didn’t believe that my dad could help me simply because he was not able to help me with his salary about US$20.00 a month as an engineer at a sugar company. I copied myself from my elder sister Amy who worked study through the same college. I took a part time job as a tutor for kids in rich families who needed helps for their study at schools. I got a pay of US$15.00 a month at least to maintain my expanse in balance for four years.

I made an excuse for my failing grades at that time. I had to repeat some of my required classes on the second and third years and repeated during summers by paying fees which I borrowed from my sister who was a high school teacher at that time. At the junior year I failed almost one half of my credit hours and was facing to be expelled from the school. I was saved by a two hours passing grade of a physical chemistry laboratory. Otherwise, I would be drafted immediately to the navy for three year service.

I didn’t quit and couldn’t afford to quit because of that military draft pressure. I finally got the requirement for the graduation done yet it passed the deadline for the teacher’s appointment; therefore, I requested to be drafted to the army for a two year service duty. My infantry division was stationed at the frontier off the Chinese coastline about 4 km away.

回憶師大往事/莊峻華

 

回憶師大往事/莊峻華

考上師大，先父如獲重擔，喜告朋友，我也非常僥倖有機會，進入此公費大學，畢業後，就能分發到學校教書，像二姊一般，順利在虎女當老師，我高中就在師大附近出入，因為需要二姊一些金錢幫忙，一直到大學暑假班，也需要向她借錢，是很辛苦。

我因分不到宿舍，所以在外租床位，和永源和昭旭兩兄同室一年，後來四年級，又與文嘯兄當室友，都有很好的回憶。因為不願意讓先父，増加負擔，所以我在校外當家教，就是國中高中英文，數學，理化，和化學等都來，又喜歡跳舞交女友，所以荒廢主修課業，多半都學要在暑假補修及格，有一年成績幾近一半不及格，連忙到桃園士校找服役之物化助教，方泰山先生，補上兩學分實驗課，始可注冊。有一年，先母隨惠美來師大講習，聞我學業掙扎曰，需要注意課業，但化學系不若家政系好混，而且在師大困難出名。

我在四年級，也愛上一位英語系美女，她都不理不睬，一直到當兵回來，寫信向她求婚，她已經心軟，稍有社會經驗，原諒我在佈告欄上之不及格成績，當時還標誌三分之一，和二分之一，男生二分之一就退學入伍，她坦白承認，當年確實注意到我的朽事，後來師大取消公佈成績和二分之一退學之政策，我不敢結婚，是因為我要出國，不敢耽誤他人，我雖然已經年老，這大學課業掙扎，遂成下意識，屢出現厄夢。

我需坦白承認，我能畢業於化學系，純係幾位先生之同情，像毛光新教授和王澄霞教授，讓我四年結業，連註冊組主管，都為我高興，算完必修科學分和總學分，結業後未及時分發，只有申請提前入伍，我下部隊後，就駐紥烈嶼兩年，實實在在苦鍊。

我在宿舍住一年，認識許多紳士好友，很高興師大造就如此多人才，為國家社會服務，春蕓姊和祥玉姊在定性和定量分析實驗室幫忙，終生難忘，還有一位湯孝桂兄，是一紳士，我服役完後，到台北找愛人，孝桂兄尚在台北，幫我借住宿舍床位，我真想到馬來西亞找他。

Promoting the junior tennis/Carlos Pueblo

 

Promoting the junior tennis/Carlos Pueblo

When we meet on Tuesday night, we often see an Asian Indian American father watching his two children to play basketball. It was this Tuesday night when I arrived to the court the family just finished their tennis playing. I asked if they liked to have some used balls for practice. The father dais no yet liked me to teach his kids for tennis. I suggest that he hires a professional to do the job because that I am not that good. He says that I am good because he sees my playing. I believe that he wants to give his kids a free lesson. We agree to meet on the nest Monday night. I am going to promote the junior tennis in addition to my senior tennis project.

I was not quite sure if I still had a ball basket. I forgot how long ago that I had taught a group of children tennis from a neighbor’s family. It is a family of the home school children. They went out to the same kinds of families during the weekend for the exercises as the extra curriculum. I volunteered the teaching with all the tennis supplies which left over from Michelle and my own tennis playing. I since had got rid of some of Michelle’s rackets, a ball stand, and plenty of used tennis balls.

I learned Japanese tennis when I was on the first year of my junior high school. Before that I did watch my brother Yancy’s tennis tournament at his elementary school level as a company to my mother. The tennis has been very popular sport in Taiwan since 1895 when Japan ruled the Island. There were two nice tennis courts at our residential complex of the sugar plant. It was next to a swimming pool. We waited on every possible available time to play tennis. We used old net, used rackets, and refilled rubble balls to get to the sport. We learned the sport by watching people to play and copied their moves. It is very fortunate that I have built such hobby in my life. It is much better to play tennis that staying in the nursing home by now.

I am going to show them the different kinds of the grip, feeding balls to each other for practice, and the rest is really up to more practice of hitting like the regular study of every lesson in the class. If they still love tennis, they can join the local junior tour and school teams, etc.

推廣少年網球/莊峻華

 

推廣少年網球/莊峻華

昨晚網球局前，遇見一亞裔印度父親，和兩位年輕子女，在球場打網球，過去他們在籃球場投低籃，顯然他們已結束，走出球場，我詢問是否需要舊球？父親曰不，他們已有一筒，倒是他想要我教其子女網球，我謙虛道球技不佳，他說看過我打，沒有問題，於是我們講好週一夜我給他們一課，回家後準備拿空貓砂糞桶，當作球籃檢球，結果車庫裏仍有一舊框架球桶，連忙擦拭乾淨備用，我開始要推廣少年網球，我已經成功地推廣老人網球，一週有六次。

我從小就喜歡網球，先觀看哥哥打，隨母親看他比賽，初一暑假，隨同儕男孩，在虎尾糖廠網球場習打網球，無師自通，初三已經是校隊，高中到台北，沒有球場，打球機會不多，只有假日回家，偶而打一兩次，然後就是當兵回來，在虎尾高中教書，有機會摸上球拍，然後到奧本讀書，狠下心來買第一枝球拍，隨時應用於同學邀請球局，雖言軟式網球與硬式網球有別，但比賽道理，完全相同，我的少年基礎，非常好用。我在1996年，開始恢復網球運動，現在一週打五次，包括週一教學，則有六次，非常滿意運動機會。

我們家琳兒，網球則是接近女子職業水準，她是經過專業教導，實際參加少女州內比賽，大學五年內，已經是非校隊級雙打無敵，聽她說高爾夫球也好，我開始相信，幾年前，我在船上遇見一老翁，傳我一招擊高爾夫球，我發現已經可以擊中擊直。

我就是要效法這老翁，當近代之黃石公，說不定可以増益這對姊弟之終生嗜好，對我而言，不過是舉手之勞，而且可以善用舊球，免得一天到晚找愛犬送舊球。