家庭財務安排/莊峻華

家庭財務安排/莊峻華

每個家庭都有一本財務帳，需要妥善安排，偶爾遇上國家經濟動盪，情緒上稍有波動，想到美金之崩潰，當然會有魚池之怏，這是小康家庭之通慮，於是愛美教我，找機會賣掉一些退休金，留些現金在手上，以防不惻。如果手持一些現金，儲蓄小資本，就不全在股市，不能享受全額奔騰。我希望股市上升，公司也希望生意興隆，政府也希望股市賺錢，外國也希望美國富強，所以我全部放在成長股市。

我的支出，越來越簡單，生活越來越單純，我了解美國聯邦，可以隨時印錢後，更相信在我生前，美國財政不會崩潰，所以社會安全金，不會中斷，股市不像會全部歸零，因此我尚能領出退休計劃金，這是我目前之主要收入。我因一小周轉，向兩信用卡貸款，不久將還清，身體健康，吃的糖尿病藥物，都是免費，每年需繳之稅務，都在負擔範圍內。

因為武漢肺炎肆虐，我不能出外旅行，所以省下旅行費，每日我的散步，游泳，網球，和家庭園藝等，都是免費，舊車無冷氣，但仍可使用，打球和游泳，新車不宜。因此，我仍不為所動，我真是無需，領出現金，多此一舉，這些高科技基金，是我有今日穩定之主因。

每日，我都盯箸免費網路節目，看看美國，台灣，和中國等政治連續劇，想想我的看法，我已過大半人生，想想過去，比較現在，不敢想未來，也許我儲蓄這些小資本，可以安排人照顧晚年。

How the pandemic affecting the national finance/Carlos Pueblo

How the pandemic affecting the national finance/Carlos Pueblo

The Federal government is pumping more money to save the national economic after the out break of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus pandemic. I count the first three waves of the pandemic impact funds including the $1,200 for me with Donald Trump's name on it which is the third one with 2.2 trillions, the first two waves are 70 millions and 80 millions each. Additional 3.5 trillions is coming with the first approval of the House with the support of Trump's White House. I am puzzled with the huge amount of such quantitative funds generated by a government without any savings at all. I don't think any one like me up to any of an individual State government, or any of the nations of the world can practice like that. How the pandemic is affecting the national finance? I, therefore, ask Paul Krugman via a Google search on the internet.

Someone does ask him about this issue. He points it out as long as keeping at the range of 40% of the gross domestic product, GDP, and we'll be alright. Finally, I am confirmed that after leaving the gold standard in 1973, the Federal finance authority has been based on the GDP to maneuver the circulation of the Dollars. He says 6 trillions for the time being to save the American economic life is alright. I think that 7.2 trillions numbers mentioned above with 1.2 trillions deficit is not a big issue upon talking. He is a hawk of the government spending to stimulate economic scholar.

We don't have that luxury, if we need the money, we have to dig into our regular savings or we must borrow the money. Borrowing money must pay the loan back on time. That is why a normal person builds a saving habit to manage his own home economic. It doesn't look like the U.S. Federal is practicing that way ever since the establishment of the Republic. The Treasury does pay the interest of the Bill, the Note, and the bond regularly and borrow a new bond to replace the old. The National debt is accumulating until I loss interest to remember it. Of course, there is a legislation the balance budget and there is always ways to make an exception every times. We all assume that our GDP will keep on growing and the U.S. Dollars can maintains the value to purchase power forever.

When I save my money and invest it on my retirement funds, I trust the market will go up eventually. No body in the whole world would like to see the collapse of the U.S. Market. No body like to see the collapse of the U.S. Dollars. I only  have a limited time of my life and I almost have passed it. Krugman does point it out that the U.S. political situation is basically stable with tax revenue; therefore, the U.S. Dollar is reliable. I believe that the U.S. has taken advantage of a low interest of the treasury and free loan of people keeping their cash in the U.S. currency. The National Finance is complicated during the Pandemic and this is only what I can remember to mention about it.

疫情國家財政/莊峻華

疫情國家財政/莊峻華

講到中國武漢肺炎疫情，無法不注意財政影響，因為股市動向，足以左右我之私人退休金儲蓄，直接影響我有限之老年生活安逸。於是我迅速在網路搜尋，經濟智者，保羅克魯曼最近之論點，他的確再次強調疏困救濟金之必需，這是救命，若因疫情導至美國經濟崩潰，則無法挽救，疏困就是印鈔票，上次印2.2兆，加上稍前面兩次1.5兆，共約3.7兆，他說還需要照顧地方州市政府，像是失業救濟金，和因疫情控制等支出，所以民主黨眾院，有第二波立法疏困救濟金，約是3.5兆，參院共和黨有意見，川普白宮已同意，克魯曼曰，美國可以如此混，5-6兆美金，約是40%之國內總生產毛額，目前之美國政府，已經玩到超過克魯曼之估計，但他約不反對，救命要緊，二戰後，美國約是超過100%，然後再増加生產繁榮經濟，將該數目降低。

個人家政，上至州政府財政，沒有如此信用，只能借錢，但借錢要還，不還要破產，經常破產，又能為巨富者，只有像川普這種商人，所以大家都想研究他如何逃稅？我想最佳之策略就是量入為出，儲蓄以防不需之求，要小心翼翼，避免被感染，維持身體健康。

並不是每個國家，都可以像美國一般，自由操作幣制，美國富有國強，美金可以購買許多美國物品，美國財政部有信用，準時發放公債利息，或是新債還舊債，世人喜歡藏美金，給予美財政部無息貸款，像中國，日本，英國，和台灣等國，都大量購買美國聯邦公債，幾乎是無息貸款美國，多年前，我在達拉斯同鄉會，巧遇阿扁總統軍師，他提到美國之公債，指出德國在統一之後，就將錢留在德國建設，不若西德當年。

我比較興趣於家庭經濟，也重視私人資本，我儲蓄投資股市，主要在賭上通貨膨脹，如此加印美金，増加美金流通量，如果國家穩定，不發動戰爭，増加支出，有效控制瘟疫，政府有效率等，我看不出有近期財政危險，如政府可以如此印錢，社會安全金有何破產之慮？私人家政之迫切，更甚於國政。

The second wave of the pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

The second wave of the pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

New York Governor resumes his daily briefing about the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic and announces a new quarantine policy of three jointed neighboring states virus 9 other states in the U.S. for two weeks including our Texas. That means if I attempt to travel to NYC to embark a ocean cruise liner, I must have extra two weeks stay at a hotel. The second wave of the pandemic has arrived, not from the south hemisphere yet from domestic infection. We are still closely monitoring ourselves to prevent any damage from the virus.

I am still living in a life of self exile, practicing self quarantine of some degree. I have had a 3-4 hours exercises every morning around my subdivision, taking several hours nap, and stay the rest of a day inside the house. I wear a home made mast to cover my mouse mostly and fully cover up to my nose in case that I pass by some one who smokes or a dusted area such as the lawn mowing in progress, etc. Amy is very careful as well. She goes on grocery shopping and always wears a mask. She watches Governor Cuomo's daily brief to enrich her knowledge of the public health and English. The only risk is Arthur who is still on duty of his job in a super market 5 days in a week. 

We were in the southeast Asia between 01-19-2020 to 02-07-20 for a land and cruise trip  to cover several nations, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. It was at the beginning of the pandemic. We realized the urgent of wearing a mask yet we were unable to buy one; therefore, we kept our second defense by keeping our social distance including in a restaurant. We were lucky indeed. Upon returning home, we have stayed at home ever since. First, we want to make sure that 14 days period is going well and no infection.

I have my diabetic pills refilled via a telephone conversation with my physician. I took Arthur to his cataract procedure by waiting on the parking lot. Additional two visits with his physician under a very carefully arranged seat. We take the pandemic seriously.

I watch the television talk shows daily on You Tube from Taiwan. The issue is very dominated in that Island Nation. One particular expert, Dr. Lee of Taiwan University Medical School Hospital who has had experience with the SARS back to 2003 analyzes the pandemic. He predicts that there is a second wave of the pandemic in the fall because of the travelers from the south hemisphere of their summer. The virus spreads actively in a cooling weather. Now we can't wait till the fall and we have had another out break peak in the summer which means the first wave of corona virus has never been controlled.

I am working on it and I don't want to let it destroy all what I have had. I am going to keep my self quarantine way of life. I'll write about how I get along my life without travelling. I am fine with my current life schedule and I must learn how to co-existed with the pandemic.

疫情/莊峻華

疫情/莊峻華

自中國武漢冠狀病毒肆虐後，已超過半年，美國仍舊無法有效控制，美國已經夠大，我無法煩腦到整個世界，但我深切了解，這世界已經開始在劇烈變化中，我最需要注意者，為在疫情環境下，我如何能避免感然？如何能安全渡過難關。

今年一月下旬，愛美與我遠赴東南亞洲旅行，當時，已有風聞武漢肺炎，但是行程早訂，不能退費，而且泰國，香港，越南，和星加坡等，都是久聞大名，未履其境，愛美是帶了兩具簡易口罩隨行，全程只能戴上一次，就在香港，口罩已不堪使用，全程各地都已經全程戒備，我們在郵輪一週，海上陸地一共三週，回家後，元兒已經設法訂購五十具口罩，因工作需要，他一直在超市工作，沒有在家禁閉。

愛美仍舊需要上街買菜，因此設法買合格口罩，我有智慧控制我的自我放逐生活，所以我開始戴愛美手縫口罩，勤肥皂洗手，撫摸愛犬，都至少蓋住口，如此和鄰居，相安無事，台灣醫生分析，東方醫界強調戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手， 西方醫界，主張保持巨離，我個人隨時奉行兩者不誤，偶而出外購物，但見美國人開始重視戴口罩，美國媒體，開始分析新増病例，來自感染者之疏忽，無視於防範措施，像群聚不戴口罩，保持距離，爭先恐後，要求開放解除禁閉令。

台灣已有七十三日，零本土病例，因禁止入境，或入境者，需有兩週禁閉規定，所以整國零病例已有多時，現在政府鼓勵國民外出消費，但人民仍舊餘悸猶存，仍舊節制，美國有人無視於防疫，藉故不保護自己，於是感染數増加，直到逼迫無法有效控制，非常遺憾，生病要花錢，而且此病毒能迫壞身體器官，就是痊癒後，也不復原形。

My happiness/Carlos Pueblo

My happiness/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday I felt a sense of my happiness when I watched my yard, front and back, after I did my lawn mowing. A heavy burst of rain were pulling down to refresh trees and grasses. We temporarily stay away from the summer heat way in Houston, Texas. I feel my happiness of my life to the highest degree. It is true that I am aging; however, I have achieved most of my life dream. My life is sound, a reasonable good health, a saving and retirement funds arrangement, and a house to live and a car to drive., etc.

While I was in Taiwan, I lived with my family in a frame Tatami duplex with a small front and back yard owned by my father's employer, Taiwan Sugar Corporation. When I left Taiwan in 1975, we didn't have most of the appliances except a laundry machine and we used outdoor drying. Now, I have had a single dwelling with plenty of rooms to use. I have had my own library and I have a small space to do the garden work. Even Amy appreciates what I am doing myself on the yard. I have had a dog cage to lock my Korean melons inside to prevent the invasion of squirrels.

I have had multiple income to meet the need of my family. Two of my children are grown up and both are working. I don't have my parents anxiety to have sufficient money. I am very frugal and good at the money management. I love exercises, a three hours plus daily via morning walk, two sets tennis double, and some swimming afterward. I think that I shall be alright if I stop going out to trips from now own. I like to know the politics; however, I only see what I like and ignore what I don't like to see. 

A gentleman will be sorry if he is not know after his death, it is a piece of thought by Confucius which I like; therefore, I write and write many. I don't mind that I am not popular, yet I have already consider that I am a philosopher. I understand the true meaning of life. A meaningful life is based on what I define.

幸福比較/莊峻華

幸福比較/莊峻華

幸福感覺，是可比較，尤且隨著歲月増長，昨日割完庭院草皮，我在室內觀賞窗外，庭院經過幾日大雨，碧綠映然，我突然有一幸福感，這是我一生最為幸福之一刻，幾日前，琳兒因整修新購舊屋，未能如期完工，準備暫時返家，並且攜帶一愛犬兩愛貓隨行，她仍舊可以在其臥室工作，愛犬愛貓我們都認識，同時也可以讓我們全家，有團聚之機會。

我在台灣出生，自幼家境清寒，父母親給予我讀書環境和機會，我都是在一宏偉美夢中成長，就是移民美國，除了應付準備工作外，也無心思想念其他，當年台灣政府之規定，必須留學和經商，始可申請出國，經商無緣，只有乖乖之讀書，考上各級學校，各種考試，還有完成各種國民義務，然後離開台灣，我從來未曾想過要回台灣居住。

美國生活，也是一關過一關，職業不穩定，真正體會甚麼是謀生，幸好我有一長兄在身邊，孔子曰樂有賢父兄之謂也，當上保險業務代理，收入開始穩定，然後學上理財，加上原來之儲蓄習慣，就是誠正勤樸之台灣師大校訓美德，我的生活漸入佳境，漸漸體會幸福感覺。

美國是一上軌道之國度，給予國民，甚至移民等，許多機會生存，若不氣餒，仍有重生再起之機會，我一直在失業和就業中掙扎，一直相當準備求生存，一直到最後一次工作，深覺無望，浪費資本，因此辭去工作，然後就賦閒在家，變錢渡日，就是不工作，錢從天上掉下來，無中生有，這是儲蓄投資之威力，若能財務獨立，可以眼不見為淨，無視於他人之歧視，我買票旅行，不賣我者，我不消費也，我不喜歡者，我不投票給該人，美國給我如此權力，而且我也盡了繳稅之義務。

因此我感覺越來越幸福，每天都過有意義之生活，其實所需有限，要求也不多，甚易滿足，也沒有甚麼人來抬槓矣，一切體會者，皆幸福美滿也，亦不足為多人道也。

Growing the yam/Carlos Pueblo

Growing the yam/Carlos Pueblo

Amy brings back the yam leaves from her church to make a green dish, boils the leaves and mixes with chopped garlic, the soy sauce, and the sesame oil. We grow the yam in Taiwan for multiple purposes, eat them or feed the hogs, etc. Due to the shape of the Island, we call ourselves the Sweet potato or the yam in different from mainland Chinese . Only due to the long absence of the eatery items, we eat the yam leaves otherwise we leave it alone and make sure the plant bearing the ball stem underground.

Because we like the boiling green leaves, she decides to grow the plants on the back yard. She let the stems be soaked in the water for a few days till roots are clearly seen and transplanted to the ground. The plant can find needed sunshine it self and it is very easy to grow. We have already had a plant from a yam root stem in the ground previously and these whole bunches addition will join force to make our first dish of the home grown in a near future. 

I used to grow the yam on a dog run area of our old Traviata St residence. After I cleaned the broken cement block of the ground which the previous owner attempted to prohibit the weeds, I planted some yam and let them alone for years. The purchaser was a luxury home builder and I knew that he was going to replace the ground soil in order to make sure that would help his structure foundation. I dig up the yam underground that I had had a harvest of many. It is a good memory.

Both of our children have no previous experience with the yam and they don't enjoy to consume them. We are the yam and we remember our past experience from that island of Taiwan. I have lived here in the U.S. longer than in Taiwan, a lot of good memory to grown the yam.

種豬菜/莊峻華

種豬菜/莊峻華

豬菜就是蕃薯葉，台灣鄉下豬菜餵豬，二戰時缺糧，民間食無米，盡食蕃薯簽，就是蕃薯戳切細條曬乾，與米飯攪拌共煮為主食，豬菜水煮乏味，一般我們不吃，但在美國就甚稀奇，有人贈送豬菜，愛美洗淨水煮，攪拌碎蒜醬油香油，變成可口美味，於是愛美拔除春花梗，轉植蕃薯藤，在後院空隙，插上十枝莖藤，都已萌牙。

如果不摘蕃薯藤，地下能結球莖，就是蕃薯，如果食其葉，則蕃薯不生，蕃薯便宜，豬菜貴，所以我們注意豬菜，在美國食豬菜，想都沒想過。蕃薯藤漫延各處，爭取陽光，而且也無需照顧，生長過多，還需要設法送人，美國小孩與豬菜無緣，未能養成食豬菜之習慣。

老茶花女街住屋，有一空地，經除崩潰空心磚後，我栽上幾粒發芽蕃薯，十餘年後，售屋搬家，我一不作，二不休，空地裏挖出十餘粒蕃薯，若我不挖，建商亦將掘土，換上不同土壤，當豪宅地基，蕃薯亦成廢物拋棄。

Facing the inflation/Carlos Pueblo

Facing the inflation/Carlos Pueblo

The inflation is not avoidable and is a sign of the dollar diminished. Once the national economic runs into distraction, the Treasury will print more money into circulation to encourage the consumption, i.e. the 2.2 trillions stimulate funds to help fighting the recession of virus pandemic and another 3 trillions coming up next, etc. We can see meat prices are up a bit and the water melon price is up in compare with the same time last year. My method of facing the inflation is very simple for a simple family that is always budget ourselves well and more flexible with our expenditure.

I monitor my balance sheet all the time to be sure that I don't exceed my limit. I save money and find out some other pleasure than spending money. I am really not a good citizen to help the economic growth; however, I have avoid the stress of money issue. As I point it our regularly that saving and investment can help us to increase income as well as fighting the inflation. We can leave the inflation headache far behind if our saving plan works.

First, we accelerate our loan payments no matter of our income tax bracket that we can always find another loan to be beneficial for our tax filing. Second, we put to the maximum of retirement contribution to defer tax. We may run into higher tax bracket when we reach the age of the retirement. There is a way to get out of the early withdrawal in case of the urgent need such as systematically withdrawal for college funds of our children or buying a vehicle. Keeping our saving with mutual funds for example can fight the inflation. Let the funds managers fight the battle for you. It works.

I believe that the smartest economists are working for the Federal Reserve Bank and they can adjust the interest rate up and down in order to control the inflation and the deflation. All what we need to watch is our balance sheet to be sure that our expenditure is less that our incomes of all sources. I make the pasta every Saturday, the dumpling and the steam buns, to saving money and exposure risk of going out to pitch them in the restaurant. I pick up trashes of neighbors for my horticultural hobby. I have intense morning walk in stead of the cruise or foreign trips. I play tennis and swimming which are all free.

The stock market is up and down and I believe that the IRS has an interest of it. If it is up, the IRS will get more from me and vice versa if the market is down the government share of my retirement funds will be decreased as well. We are all together to fight the inflation.

面對通貨膨脹/莊峻華

面對通貨膨脹/莊峻華

通貨膨脹是必然的，美金隨時在貶值，所以更需要儲蓄，更需要投資，先需要穩住工作，有固定之收入，然後量入為出，開始累積成本，投資成長，就是存款放在定期，也是成長。我不希望看到西瓜一粒，去年五美元，今年一粒七美元，政府也不希望稅收美金貶值，所以有一中央銀行，來調整利息，例如調高利息，來扼阻通貨膨脹，簡低利息，來鼓勵消費，像我七美元買到一不甜西瓜，我就決定不再吃西瓜，減少消費，改食其他水果，我聽愛美曰，最近肉類也漲價，這就是通貨膨脹。

最近不是有張川普之一千二支票？來幫助疏困武漢肺炎？這是二點二兆美金，數目不算大，政府惟恐不夠，準備再印二兆美金，來幫助疏困經濟，我讀保羅克魯曼文章，他說這是應該的，這是武漢肺炎之前看法，他認為美國財務有此實力，可以買空賣空，惟我們一般私人家庭，上朔到州政府，則需要有財政紀律，需要量入為出，不能像川普微時，倒閉他人和銀行等以至富，他是異類。

財政紀律，也是求生存之必需，我們必需自重，然後始無顧慮他人之歧視。儲蓄投資是老生常談，在守本份之家庭，這是一種習慣，我們提前將貸款還清，作退休計劃，不多浪費，注意身體健康等，將支出減到最低，也無懼於俗世之吝嗇物議，讓通貨膨脹，在我們的控制範圍內，就像美國聯邦財政部一樣，有持無恐。

股票，尤其基金投資，就開始發揮作用，我的退休計劃，造福我的家庭至巨，生活習慣也甚易滿足，一切都在可控制範圍內，沒有債務，一切都簡單，美國是一上軌道之國，通貨膨脹弧度，尚在可忍受範圍，而且是自由經濟，商人受到競爭之壓力，進口之壓力，消費者也有拒絕消費之武器，面對通貨膨脹，美金貶值，我們需好自為之。

Taking a second job/Carlos Pueblo

Taking a second job/Carlos Pueblo

People take a second job in order to make a supplement income to the first job. I am so happy the other day to discuss the stock trade with my son Arthur and find out that he is taking the stock trade as his second job, i.e. he is not worrying about the cutting hours of his first job as a super market clerk due to the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. I am told that he never gets a 40 working hours week, 35 hours at the most and some time even dropped to the 20's. He figures it out in a small case of his by low and sell high policy, he can get a two days income by one trade. I tell him that he has already made dividend income in par with his earned income in 2019 and shall get better every year from now on.

It is what we call the saving investment. We must first have a first job, then figure it out to save the money buy budget it well that means don't spend exceed your income. Postpone our income tax to the retirement by accumulate our capital. Secondly, we let our capital works for me during some time period which we call the duration in the finance. Of course, we must first have the knowledge to know how which is from good schooling to build a good habit of investment. As I understand the U.S. policy, the government encourage people to save and there are laws of all kinds to the benefit of savers. he stock markets in this country are the best in the whole world.

Counting his sources of income, now he has three, his regular income as a clerk of a super market, his saving accounts both on retirement accounts and regular after tax accounts, and his new developed stock trade accounts. Therefore, technically he has a blue collar first job and two white collar jobs  on the second and third job or I say a second job in general.

By this definition, I always have a second job in my life. I once had had a a second job as a store clerk at a mall when I worked at Johnson Space center in the late 70's. I still remember the U.S$3,25/ hour pay to sell jewelry and watches. When I was an insurance agent, I also attempted to sell some other staff like the gold coins, the houses, and the security in order to supplement my income. Now, I don't have a main job to earn the income any longer; however, I do have a steady income from the social security income, the requirement minimum distribution of my retirement accounts, and a few residual income from the insurance. The U.S. has provided her citizen with plenty of opportunity to make a good living in this country.   

兼差/莊峻華

兼差/莊峻華

元兒工作待遇微薄，身體亦非勇壯，個性內向，不像勇往直前之男孩，所以我們留他在家，其實能幹如琳兒，也留在家中到兩年前，始搬回奧斯汀家中。我們家元兒，從來無需考慮兼差，因為兼差也無法存多少，我很注意他的儲蓄習慣，而且他也聽話，深守本分，去年他的儲蓄投資股息，已經逼近年收入，今年，他開始買賣股票，希望年儲蓄和股市所得，可已達到六千美元，得以年初購買個人退休計劃，我突然大悟，此非兼差者乎？

 年初，他就交上今年之個人退休計劃款，然後開始累資，如退稅和肺炎一千二等，約有一筆數目，然後就買低賣高，一切合乎股市原理，我因他開始離開電腦遊戲，準備資助他成本，約是明年，他就有稍大之資本投資，一切如舊，我相信知識可以賺錢，資本可以賺錢，儲蓄可以累資，為投資之本錢，這是改變家庭經濟之原因。

 美國政府鼓勵國民儲蓄，工作儲蓄，其所得和儲蓄節餘，在年老領出後，再算所得，其實提前領出退休金亦可，有特別之稅法計算，我個人領過，沒有百分之十罰款，這是非常微妙之稅務計劃，我目前有高稅率之壓力，但總比年輕時，馬上扣除所得強，我失業幾近二十年，現在之退休金年増值，比當年年收入好，更遑論兼差。

我把元兒工作儲蓄投資公告於世，這是我儲蓄之心得和經驗，我年輕時，販賣保險，有些客戶同意我的看法，儲蓄投資，一直到工作退休，買賣股票事屬白領工作，需要有起碼知識，在學校要認真求學，要心無旁騖，要有目標，政府之幫忙有限，要腳踏實地。

Trump's Presidency

Trump's Presidency

There have been so many news release on Trump's Presidency ever since his successful election of 2016. His contribution to the American Society is that he provides endless object to be discussed on the media and the family dining table. My son Arthur used to discuss the U.S. politic with me and now we switch to security trade; however, Amy is getting more attention of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic which is also involving Trump's handling. He is reckless and unlearned and shouldn't be in an important position as the President of the United States. He is a bad example to show and educate our children and grand children, etc.

Filing bankruptcy often is a kind of irresponsibility for your behavior either for business or your own personal affairs. Those forfeiture loans are the deposit of bank depositors certificate of deposit. I look down upon those rich who accumulate fortune upon the bankruptcy from the other and brag about their richness. Trump is the only one most famous. It may be legal yet it is not moral yet those Moral Majority of American support him.

I believe that is the racism. It is almost 50% of the American population. He doesn't like Mexican and insists to build a wall along the Mexican border like the Great Wall of China. He doesn't like the Arabians or the Middle Easterners, he doesn't like Asian, overall, he doesn't like non-white people yet he still can get away with it. This is why I always ask my fellow Taiwanese who vote for him if they know he is a racist.

I am glad that it is getting clearer now a day that the media find out he is more interest in his own family business that his American First slogan as claimed. We all like to learn how he can accumulate so much money and still avoid to pay the federal income tax; therefore, it is the main reason we like to see his income tax returns like his predecessors. He runs out of excuses just like he is running out of his time as the U. S. President, in 5 months.

論川普/莊峻華

論川普/莊峻華

川普是甚遭物議之美國總統，還有五個月，美國選民，就可以決定他的去留，我對他的為人處事，很有意見，醫生分析他的自我陶醉感，和他的缺乏自信有關，他要求各部會部長，在電視直播前，一一肉麻歌頌他，我只注意到一位曾是石油公司董事長，德大畢業之工程師國務親，保持緘默，一年不到，他在公務自非洲返美途中，被川普解職。最近，一位亦甚遭物議之前國安會主席，遭撤職後，寫一本書將出版，為川普使其法務部阻止，提送法院扣壓，其實尚未出版，只不過是草本，故意送給三大美國報紙，於是舉世皆知其内容。

我覺得川普是位小丑，美國在他執政下，正在演一幕小丑戲，常有人與我爭辯川普，他們是投票川普之支持者，就剛剛有位同鄉，連絡到我，談論政治，於是我們又開始爭辯，予豈好辯哉？予不得已也。世界人多有種族歧視，需要一段時間緩化，絕對不能像川普一般，公然歧視墨西哥人，公然歧視非裔美人，公然歧視阿拉伯人，和公然歧視亞裔美人，川普只為個人家族利益，假裝是基督徒，來騙保守教徒選票，我看不出他對美國經濟，有何好影響？在民間經營旅館賭場，倒閉六次，經營國政，倒閉美國。

川普的問題，主要是不適其位，許多人想學他如何成為富人，在如此倒閉之歷史，因此要他循前例，公佈其繳稅記錄，他一直拒絕，他不學無術，知識來自保守電視台，剛好適合一半美國選民，我說是2016年，講到他，我就說是令人厭惡，連其支持者都被相同歸類，雖然是自由選擇，但做人必需有原則，這是有意義之人生。

川普誤信美國總統是皇帝，有帝王之享受，閙出多少笑話，實在跟我沒有甚麼關係，我也沒有甚麼不平，甚麼壓抑，德州是共和黨州，我的一票，總統選舉，毫無作用，但我仍可期待，不到半年後，我可已不再看到他的面孔，不再聽其胡言亂語。

Waiting for a melon to be ripe/Carlos Pueblo

Waiting for a melon to be ripe/Carlos Pueblo

It is a time for me to watch my first Korean melon to be ripe on the vine inside a dog cage. I am closely monitoring how the fruit growth, changing color, and even checking on the Google to be sure how many days can it be. At least I know that I can smell it or I can wait till it is dropped to the ground. It is the life that I like, no stress and on schedule every day.

I even count how many more fruits are following after this first one. I was from a rural township with plenty of farming when I was a child. I have always admired the farmer to grow something on his farm. As a matter of fact I like botany at school. It was between 1976-1977 when I had had this kind of excitement at my graduate school Auburn, Alabama. I leased a lot in campus to grow tomatoes and some water melons. I was monitoring the ripe of both at that time as a way to be relax from my research. 

I am so proud of myself, therefore, I have presented my first melon to several of my morning walk lady friends, some of them are good gardeners. From a grain size of female flower to the ripe of melon takes about 30-50 days as some ones post on the Google. I think that I can enjoy the pleasure of monitoring for the rest of the summer. Growing the melon on a pot is not as efficient as growing it on the ground because its root space is limited. Growing the melon under a tree is not as good as the vine under full sunshine. It is also involving the soil and the pollination, etc. I don't get rid of too many young fruits to save the resource for few because the harvest is not in my mind. I like to see that they grow.

The squirrel comes to visit and leave some peanuts buried in the pot. I can see the peanut plant coming out and growing. I shall get the peanut before the squirrel that is another benefit to grow melons and flowers on the same spot. My neighbor feeds the birds and squirrels foods hanging down from the trees. The squirrels takes as many as they want and hide them everywhere and forget to dig them out. Now I see the peanut plant everywhere in the neighboring yards and I am going to pick them if I can. 

香瓜成熟時/莊峻華

香瓜成熟時/莊峻華

庭院幾株香瓜，分散於盆栽和後院，其中一株已結果，我將果實安置於狗籠内，每日觀看多次，而且也介紹給幾位散步之女鄰居，這幾天，我又將另一株有小果實，引入狗籠内，隨時澆水，這果實不算大，但是我幾年來最大之一粒，約大於拳頭，因為是高麗品種，果瓣中有白線，與台灣品種有異。莫非議我之稀罕，我本非農家，自幼一直羨慕耕種園藝，四十五年前，學校園藝系學生，開闢耕地，出租給校内有志者，我有兩崎零地塊，於是種植蕃茄和幾株西瓜，都有收穫，當年是學生，心有學業壓力，心情與今日迥異，我說這是人生之享受。

這株是在大鐵盆内，若蕃茄尚可，惟香瓜則稍嫌不夠深，但總比小花盆強，今年花苗瓜苗等萌芽時，我剛好在家，又遇見中國武漢肺炎肆虐，於是開始增添家庭園藝計劃，鐵盆勉強可以移動，爭取較多日曬時間，剛好春初雨緜，瓜葉雄花均甚茂盛，䧳花終於到來，而且一粒，脫穎而出，於是加速跟進步驟，拾棄物回用，一一解決問題，香瓜就掛在鐵支架上，安安穩穩，松鼠似乎無法插足。

我知道土壤也有問題，這是庭院土壤，泰半黏土，適合奧古斯丁草皮，種瓜也無妨，只要能生長，夏天過後，又是一年，超市裏有很多水果，因此不計成果和收穫，反正也是無本嗜好，家庭園藝，確是日常好節目，澆洗菜水，遇下雨，又是喜形於色。

如何決定瓜熟時？我想是聞其芳香，我要開始注意，看看谷歌有否報導？

Discuss the stock trade with Arthur again/Carlos Pueblo

Discuss the stock trade with Arthur again/Carlos Pueblo

It is very nice to discuss the stock trade with my son Arthur again, a sign of his new interest which is much better than his love of the computer game. He tells me what he is doing with his saving to invest in the stock market through his  own research and based on the buy low sell high principle. He is making some money to compensate the loss of working hours from his employer due to the Wuhan Novel Corona Virus pandemic out break.

I was once a license series 7 broker dealer. I had spent times to study the finance to pass on that examination. I understand what he is talking about and give him some advice, don't do short, option, and marginal, etc to avoid stress. I am very sensitive to bankruptcy, limited partnership, and some other trick existed in the society. I don't like to gamble and don't like to lose. He smiles and says that his doing is within his affordability.

He has a business degree; therefore, it is up to him when he is ready. He asks me about his portfolio, i.e. where is an account coming from? I explain that is original from the Uniform Gift to Minor Act and a combination with his sister's account due to her goal to have a student loan to the law school. I am so glad that he is getting into his own personal finance. I congratulate to Amy, his mother, that we do have some progress to see his maturity according to the point of view of the society.

I encourage him to save after his employment. He is a good son and listens to me on the financial part. If we find his package coming to often and after Amy's cleaning his room, I'll post a charge on him for room and board that happened once. Now he understands how important to accumulate the precious capital and let the capital work for him.

When I die, I shall pass on my life time saving to him and his sister Michelle. She is doing much better than me actually yet she doesn't mind to have some of my left over. I estimate that he himself will have sufficient funds for the rest of his life when he retires.

My father, his grandfather, struggled all his life to make it for our family of 9. I think that most of our siblings are doing well in our generation buy working and saving. I watch our children carefully of what they are doing and they are appreciated of what I am doing. I want to make sure of their breaking of the Class in the society. I have made it to the middle class and I believe that they can do better to the middle calss 2.0 by saving and investment.

與元兒談股票買賣/莊峻華

與元兒談股票買賣/莊峻華

昨日，元兒來書房與我談股票買賣經驗，他的實戰經驗，居然比我還多，我泰半是購買基金，然後一放三十年，是讀了很多書，準備考執照，了解一般股市買賣之原理，所以他最近常與我討論此話題，而且也實際參戰，他開始問我他的投資内容始末，我發現他已經漸漸成熟，體會儲蓄投資之威力，真是感謝主，他終於漸漸離開電腦遊戲，股票買賣，比較有趣。

我不喜歡短售，槓桿買賣，和期貨等，他在網路平台，取得這些知識，因為他的資本較小，因此買賣額小，損失可以承受，不入虎穴，焉得虎子？重要的是，他知道買低賣高，也開始計算得失，數目足以彌補工作時數之減少，他說一直為公司，減少他之每週時數之困擾，現在只要小心謹慎，成功之買賣，值得幾日之工資，這就是資本賺錢之威力，我提醒他多次，他的多種儲蓄投資股息，已經與其年收入平手，我每日無所事事，生活費都是仰賴儲蓄投資，而且有餘，他說閒錢就買下一兩股藍片股，比放在無利息銀行帳戶強，他的道理來自網路平台，難怪同鄉鄰居女兒，不上班工作十餘年，整日經營股票，學歷顯赫，麻省理工畢業。

我問小額買賣，需繳買賣手續費，豈不浪費？他查過幾次曰，似乎免費，因為他甚至購買微額便士股票，也不見加上之費用，市場改變甚巨，就是考上證券執照，也難職業生存，就像賣保險一樣，這碗飯難吃。我分析生存之道，讓時間賺錢，讓儲續累積資本，也讓資本幫自己賺錢。

先父一生為家庭奮鬥，沒有一些儲蓄，但喜愛每位子女，提供子女就學機會，我們每位兄弟姊妹，除一位外，一代之間，扭轉階級，當然先父也扭轉一次，從赤貧之先祖，到貧窮，我們也承繼，又扭轉一次到小康家庭，我相信元兒這一代，可以繼續扭轉，臻及富裕境界。

Enjoy the home grown melon/Carlos Pueblo

Enjoy the home grown melon/Carlos Pueblo

In the spring some seeds sprouts came out on pots in the back yard patio. I transferred young plants into several limited space available on the yard. One of the best performers is the fragrant melon or the Korean melon. The vines are healthy and flowers are plenty. I have had one fruit from a larger pot and is safely locked inside of a dog cage to prevent the squirrel. I also picked up a trash can to gather rain water if there is any. Everyday, I would visit all plants to enjoy the home grown melon

and expecting the green fruit to be turned into golden color.

I know my limit to grow anything in my yard due to huge trees block the needed sun shine. I don't think that I have had the proper soil to grow melons. However, growing something or the yard work is very interesting especially at an old age. Before I have my melon project, I already have mowed the yard and repair some damage parts. I have too much time and even come out of the room to enjoy what I have done on the yard and now I come out more often to view the melon inside the cage and water all plants with the kitchen water.

I proudly show it to my lady neighbor friends what I have done. A senora is an excellent gardener herself advises me to put some fertilizer to improve the result means to enlarge the size of the fruit. I hate to spend additional money for something that is destined for poor performance due to wrong soil, less sun, and limited land or space. Also, fruits cost is not that much if I can get them in the season properly.

I don't see bees coming out to help the pollination yet I do see small fruits coming out under a protected leaf. I count them everyday and there are more than 10 on the vines. I may cover those which I am unable locking inside the cage with paper to fool the squirrel. I did it once last year when I was away on a cruise. I had had a taste of that small melon to help the improvement later.

It is an idea to have a small farm to grow something. I do have a good family friends live on a farm of 40 acres land. They have had a small lot to grown melons and vegetables for their own consumption. I envy them very much. They must use the electricity to pump up water from the well to irrigate the garden and they also use chicken manure to be the fertilizer, very organic as defined.

欣賞香瓜結實/莊峻華

欣賞香瓜結實/莊峻華

每天，我都幾次外出後院，欣賞香瓜結實，愛美喜歡一箱箱買入韓國香瓜，我隨意將瓜子，撒在小盆上，翌年春天，瓜苗長出，今年，我特別將幾種瓜苗移植，顯然已經有些成果，目前，我有後院四處瓜圃瓜盆，草皮是兩週割草一次，欣賞香瓜，則是幾小時一次，愛美也享受家庭園藝之樂趣，其實她更注意庭院之美化，不願意看到我隨意撿拾垃圾。

因為我用之土壤，為鄰居修理水管，留下之黏土，似乎不宜瓜果，況且後院盆栽，先天性有陽光和腹地之限，我又吝嗇，不肯購買化學肥料，因此結實不佳，倒是瓜籐花朵盛放，欣欣向榮，我將一粒香瓜，置放在狗籠，每天就等待香瓜專成金黃色，我可以聞果香味，決定是否成熟，松鼠已無法捷足先登，我略估約有十粒子瓜，正在排隊落下瓜籐。

幾天前，新約教會之台芳，來話商討保險，有租農轉讓其車屋，於一兩英畝農地上，同時有一五千平方呎暖室，我請其夫婿電郵相片，這五千平方呎，面積夠大，郊區農莊，可以打電抽井水灌溉，甚是理想，只是太遠，而且業餘和職業園藝有別，若欣賞花果，可以旅行，沒有房地產之牽掛，這是酸葡萄，而且我也無此毅力務農。

今年其他瓜菜，成長均不理想，絲瓜尚未季節，長豆有蟲害，僅香瓜稍有結果，還有兩種花朵，像是喇叭花，我有六年計劃，從種仔撒落萌芽，到春天開花。

The scavenger/Carlos Pueblo

The scavenger/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, I pick up two items from street curbs for my hobby, a dog cage to protect my Korean melon from the squirrel and an used steel barrel to gather the rain water. I feel good and gladly describe it to my neighbors. I was from an humble country of Taiwan where I did see people making a living to gather salvage staff to sell them to recycle stations for small pay such as the metal, brick, woods, and some other material can be re-used. I do see some people here in the U.S. gathering beer cans or below minimum pay. I ask my son Arthur for a proper use of English to describe such phenomena. He thinks for a while and defines them into two, one is the scavenger similar to my behavior while another one is the dumpster diver. 

I don't mind very much about face saving idea, for me, picking up staff I can re-use are either saving money or frugal and more environmental. Both are very noble and I don't care of Amy's objection due to junk. My horticultural project is simply an hobby not for production purpose and is not wise to spend additional fund. I have had tree shades yards at home and no need to use the sprinkler often. Gathering rain water is very common now a day. The scavenger is looking for the used staff to re-use for the need while the dumpster divers are looking for unsold merchandise to re-sell for profit such as the old fashion computer items which the store dumps them for the more space for the new fashion items. He also gives me some ideas of how the stores hold their annual sales by moving their unsold merchandises to warehouses and bring them back during the year end sales. That makes sense.

I check my English-Chinese dictionary about the scavenger which means in Chinese. It does mention about the food. My tennis body gives me several pieces of bakery bread almost every week. I don't mind to eat them. He also gave me carps and cat fishes until I stopped him due to the difficulty to clean the fish and not that tasty at all. I love Japanese raw fish dishes yet they are very expansive. I read about how the poor Japanese to wait out side of restaurants and markets at night before the closing of stores for those items they try to throw away. It is scavenger to salvage foods. I haven't go that far yet I do manage to go to some restaurants around the world at night to get some stores closed discount. I also admit that I once had eaten some bagels of this kind that Amy brought back from her church. It is a long story. Her old church allowed a homeless to sleep outside of the building and this man came to join their Sunday service and distributed the bagels which he scavenged from super markets. I don't care. I used to have the hungry experience when I was a student outside of home.

   

拾荒者/莊峻華

拾荒者/莊峻華

在近代美國，鮮見拾荒者，因為美國物資豐富，拾荒勞力不克平衡收入，過去在台灣鄉下，偶見拾荒者，留下一些回憶，我因清晨散步，偶遇鄰居棄物，檢拾回家運用，像油漆桶儲雨水，空鐵桶種香瓜，狗籠藏未熟瓜果等，雖未賴拾荒為生，但也實踐廢物利用之實，愛美喜歡乾淨，頗有非意。

我之興趣家庭園藝，主要是割草工人難覓，我不同意每週一次割草，而且我自信自理庭院，也是一樂趣和嗜好， 因此開始成為日常工作。我儲雨水多年，雨水有多種用途，雨水桶可以蓄水，澆花水果，也可以儲逆滲透廢水，當作馬桶沖水用。

我們家有高樹，擋箸陽光，因此需要盆栽花果，但盆栽腹地不深，效果不佳，於是注意到鄰居搬家，拋棄之大鐵盆，蕃茄便宜，改種香瓜，然後就是檢狗籠，置放香瓜於鐵籠内，防範松鼠，我已經有一粒香瓜展示給幾位鄰居。因為家庭園藝，純粹欣賞用，需要計較成本，購買肥料設備，都不合算。

我請教元兒拾荒者英語，他甚難體會，甚至在電視和影片中看過，於是他說一故事，就是一般電子百貨店，如何處理過時難售之存貨，有時候棄之於大垃圾桶，有些人專門開車來提取曰，垃圾桶潛水者，有時候百貨店會來驅趕，一般百貨店甚至另設倉庫，儲存這些過時貨，待過年過節，重新折扣出售，此與我之拾荒者有異，這和餐廳和超市拋棄當日食物，也不相同，我在外國偶見食物架上日本料理，晚上八時後半價優待，其道理相似，廢物利用，或是滯銷物善用之道理。

The affectionate feeling toward pet dogs/Carlos Pueblo

The affectionate feeling toward pet dogs/Carlos Pueblo

In the morning walk, I do have plenty of opportunity to meet pet dogs in the neighborhood. I have an affectionate feeling toward these unique friends in my senior life, not many people have these kinds of deep feeling as I do in their life. Pet dogs are simple and they recognize you as their friends straight forward with no complicate motivation. There are several dogs who are expecting me to greet them every morning, accompany to walk with them briefly, and waiting for me to come by to say hello to them. Because of these friendship, I get to know their owners and be their friends as well.

American family like to have pet dogs at their home like their own children, some of them are rescue dogs. The owners treat them like their own children. Pet dogs can understand most of their owners demand. After the first encounter and introduction, they know me and very friendly on the second time. I am so excited that I don't see that with most of the human being. Our expectation of the friendship is very simple, my admiration and their simple desire to be noticed. I love them because that they understand what my simple desire of the friendship. It seems to be very simple yet not many people can reach to the stage to enjoy it. I have been called the dogs whisperer and I am not quite sure that I am yet I admit that I love it very much. Neighbors are passing around that I know most of the pet dogs in the subdivision. I can sometimes manage two dogs to get along together and have a dog party.

I do run into some dogs who are very shy to be closed to me even after their owners encouragement. I don't mind and leave them alone. I don't feel sorry for myself that I do have many others who are waiting for me and like to maintain such closed relationship. It may not be appropriate to compare with my adopted daughters on the cruise ship yet the feeling is the same that I adore them and enjoy to be their friends. I believe that the benefit is mostly on my side.

I don't know how much longer I can be alive to maintain this kind of friendship yet I hold it very tight that the affectionate feeling if forever.

愛犬深情/莊峻華

愛犬深情/莊峻華

自離開保險零售業後，我的生活更加孤立，我自稱離群索居，就是一種自我放逐的生活，因此經常出國旅行，八年前，搬到西村社區，鄰居較為年輕，而且喜愛飼養愛犬，我因有愛犬經驗，當知如何與愛犬相處，而且鄰居也十分友善，同意我對其愛犬之，甜言蜜語，許多鄰居都認得我這號人物，認得大多數得以外出散步之愛犬，愛犬之感情，單純深緻，令我難望。

每天都有幾隻愛犬，等候家裏，待我經過，有的在室内吠叫，但外出時，又是羞怯不前，遙遠注意到，均能示意主人等待，因此，我有機會陪伴他們散步，有時候我又能當和事佬，撮合雙犬和慕友好，所以有鄰居贈我愛犬傾訴者。愛犬真情無疑，比起人類簡單甚多，許多人均能重視與愛犬間之友誼，所以醫生鼓勵飼養愛犬為伴侶，從小到大。

愛犬壽命短暫，若是稍大犬隻，約僅十年出頭，袖珍愛犬，可逼近二十歲，其間常有疾病，和人類相似，最近我始發現，愛犬主人，也幫愛犬購買愛犬健康保險，愛犬也有牙齒疾病，最近愛美告知，愛貓有蛀牙，因此貓食需要磨細，冰箱冷食罐頭，需要在室溫下，始方便嚼食，我只喜歡與愛犬為友，而不願飼養，十分自私和現實，但也無妨，我可減少負擔，交遊本無需擁有，而且也無需無友不如己者，鄰居愛犬，友誼深情，威力浩大。

Swimming/Carlos Pueblo

Swimming/Carlos Pueblo

Finally, I got an opportunity to swim at our own community yesterday morning after our tennis games. The pool is next to the court and my key is working; therefore, I can't resist. The water was perfect and I was all by myself. My cataract corrected perfect eyes can have a nice view across the pool to that pretty front yard of a neighbor's with  a garden. I feel that I am in a paradise. I stay at the 4 meter deep section of the pool to avoid the no life guard policy present risk and I also prepare the cell phone available in case of an emergency call.

I shall add swimming as my daily schedule during summer time at home. It is very nice to be soaked in the water to have an exercises and avoid the Texas heat way. The pool is well maintained and convenient to reach. It is the Olympic size that is better than the deck side pool on a cruise ship. 

I lost count of how many laps which I had done yesterday. I felt comfortable after a fall a day before on mis step on an extension of a pick up truck, 8 blocks of morning walk and two sets of tennis. It is a very good physical every day that I am old yet fit and I like to live up to the 80's.    

游泳/莊峻華

游泳/莊峻華

幾經等待，今晨終於得在社區游泳池游泳，靜極矣，整池僅我一人，池水溫度適中，我剛在隔壁網球場打完兩局雙打，剛好讓身體冷卻些許，池水並無氯水味，活動中心外過街，就是鄰村一家美麗花圃前院，我的雙目，已經有完美視力，這環境之享受，常使我有樂園之感覺。

週二下午，游泳池聚集許多鄰居，剛好我之門卡不靈，網球局後，也已經日落多時，這時候泳池已關閉，今日門卡問題解決，我看佈告得知，泳池不再提供救生員，一切安全，自行負責，於是我攜帶手機，下次要置放於池邊，也僅在四米深池圈泳，以測安全。

我已經有清晨散步習慣，現在又有三次網球局，我將再安排夏天，其實可以延申到秋天游泳，這是我首次有如此好設備，又有充份時間，從事游泳，我習慣緩慢蛙泳，可以持續一段時間，游畢後，又可以馬上回家，也有充份之戶外運動。

Hong Kong Independence/Carlos Pueblo

Hong Kong Independence/Carlos Pueblo

Hong Kong Independence is the only way out of the Hong Kong issue. People in Hong Kong can manage their own nation as well as any one nation in the world. When Hong Kong was annexed by China in 1997 under the name of one China two systems which means Hong Kong remains 50 years self rule system in different from Chinese authoritarian rule. It has been a tragedy for Hong Kong ever since. I visited Hong Kong four days in January, 2020 and I felt the pain of Hong Kong under the Chinese rule. Hong Kong can be a very progressive nation if she can be ruled by herself, i.e., people are well educated with the rule of law in their mind and experience.

It is not difficult for me who has 27 years of life under the Chinese authoritarian rule in Taiwan. I felt hopeless. That Chinese dictator was Chiang Kai-sek and his Nationalist Party. Since then, Taiwan is gradually transferred into a democratic nation even though is still under the territorial threat from China. At lease Taiwan can defend herself and plan her own future under a genuine democratic system that people can choose their leaders under the law. Taiwan is prosperous. I like to see that Hong Kong is free of the Chinese rule and also I like to see something occurs in China as well.

I like to see that China is broken up into s smaller size like before the Manchu Dynasty. Let Tibet free, let East Turkestan free, let Inner Mongolia free, and let Manchuria free, etc. Chinese Communist regime is not capable to manage such a huge nation and the problem is that they don't know it. Most of the Chinese don't like to live under the current Chinese rule. They don't feel safe or comfortable under the authoritarian system. I feel the Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic is a begin of a change that current Communist China will be collapsed and Hong Kong will be free eventually.

香港獨立/莊峻華

香港獨立/莊峻華

解決香港問題，就是香港獨立，就像台灣獨立一樣，可以拖很久，可以名不正，言不順，但終究上，台灣政治現況，就是不為中國統治，逐漸推翻中華民國，台灣人尚可活得有人類之尊嚴，香港人只求中國統治者，讓他們活下去，所以香港獨立，是惟一出路，可惜者，香港獨立，道路坎坷，除非中國政權崩潰，西藏，新疆，内蒙，滿州等，均紛紛獨立，中國歷史，絕大部分是，如此分裂局面。

中國統治者之水平，並無與時並進，統治國家和人民之想法和政策，非常不文明，違反人道，為世人所側目，香港青年之反抗是必然，我對美國領導下之世界各國，支持香港青年抗暴，揭櫫香港獨立，表示欽佩，這是人道精神，一日，中國亦將有此結局。

我在今年一月，訪問香港四日，留下甚佳印像，只可惜香港之遭遇，香港存有大英帝國之繁榮和秩序，中英語流利，讓中國人羨慕又嫉妒，所以有二二八大屠殺之趨向，我之力微薄，僅能作不平之鳴，也衷心期待，香港獨立成功，香港人萬歲，台灣人萬歲。

Recycle staff for gardening/Carlos Pueblo

Recycle staff for gardening/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday while walking down to the neighbor street, I found an iron cage throwing away on the street curb. With the permission of a lady owner, I drove it home for my gardening use. I have been growing some melons in pots and ground on the back yard for fun. There is one Korean melon with a fist side which I lock inside the cage to prevent from the squirrel. I also use two small steel bars, two abandon bamboo fishing poles to set up a frame like interior for the vine. I have counted that I do have additional 10 small fruits to be taken care of.

Several years ago, I picked up a large steel pot down the street when the owner moved out of a rental house. With a help of water pipe repaired dirt, I filled up the steel pot and began to grow flowers and melons. What I have done is to spread the seeds from what we eat on the pot and when the sprout comes out, I start to water them or relying on the rain. I therefore transplant those sprouts into some limited space on the back yard. Now, it becomes my habit as I feel like an amateur gardener.

Even Amy can tell what the names of plants as she also likes to do yard work. We have done very well with lufa squash on the back yard for years except the problem from the squirrel. However, it is a joy to see growing on something annually other than flowers. 

We also utilize the fruits peels and vegetables. First, we store them at a closed 5 gallon tank with a cap till it is full on two of hem. Then, I would bury them among pots and ground to serve as the fertilizer. I don't know if it is working yet it is free. It is not a growing to expect something to harvest but a kind of hobby. Plants can grow well as long as there is a space, water, and sunshine, etc. like a person's growth and the outcome can be different upon the proper of environment.

棄物回收/莊峻華

棄物回收/莊峻華

昨晨散步，途經一屋前，見一棄物，尚可運用，剛好遇上女屋主，經她許可，我回家開車載回，這是一舊鐵籠，尚甚堅固，我將一拳頭大之韓國香瓜，置放在籠内，並且置放四不同鐵棍，支架香瓜藤，整晚安眠，將松鼠危害，拋棄腦後，今晨，我又拾回兩舊竹釣桿，在籠内合縱連橫，我高興的多看幾遍，翌晨，藤葉已經向陽，恢復正狀，香瓜垂落架上，明年應是兩粒西瓜，夏天，我應該開始留下瓜子備用。

這一鐵桶腹地，也是棄物回收，我每天都在笑街落石，台語謂數電線桿，每天都在注意棄物，愛美下意識厭惡，但我不覺卑賤，她也漸漸適應，這桶内泥土，也是對面鄰居，水管破裂，市府工程處修管後棄物，我幫忙清除，移到前後院，塞滿大小盆栽，今年更加系統化，延伸到車庫後院，我們擴大家庭園藝項目，我發現鄰居也重視家庭園藝，有的家庭主婦，甚志惠及社區美化工作。

廚房常有洗菜廢水，和洗碗筷廢水，我就不厭其煩，像陶侃大將軍一般，移出室外澆花草瓜果，補充雨水不足時。廚房也有瓜皮果菜餘，我們就置放密閉桶内，待桶滿，移植於花菜圃，挖深土壤，都是蚯蚓，有利於土壤肥沃，而且蚯蚓也是諸鳥類食物。

Discussing the stock investment with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

Discussing the stock investment with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

One morning, my son Arthur came to my library to discuss the stock investment with me. He says that is more interesting than playing the computer game. I feel so happy and glad to see that he may mature enough to get rid of the game in his still young life. I have been so much appreciated that one year my daughter Michelle opened a financial talk to her mother, aunt, nephews, and Arthur. At least I know that  both Amy and himself are actively involving their own investment strategy in stock trading. In order to get into the security investment, we must accumulate the capital which means if you want to steal a chicken, you must have some rice grain to lure the animal.

Having that fist amount of rice, we must find a job and no matter how much it is paid. That is the money management. He is very introvert; therefore, we invite him to stay with us. We like to help him to face the real society. I encourage him to save and he listens to me. Last year, his saving investment dividends was in par with his earned income. He takes over his own annual Individual Retirement Account stock pick. He selects an oil stock head quarter in Houston 600 shares and another 100 shares in addition of his after tax saving. Within three months, I figure his appreciation stock value is 60% because his buy low strategy.

I don't like his idea of the option purchase and threaten him of my guarantee of his investment that means I will make up his loss of stock and mutual funds investment if there is any. I am getting in years and eventually I shall pass my saving on to him and some for the well to do Michelle. Amy has had her own already. I prefer purchase security long instead of the short, marginal, and the option because that there is a time restrain and not a long time investment.

I share my saving experience with him and he can see the fact. I have been out of my major contract with the insurers for years. I get it all figure out that as long as I am frugal that I shall live comfortable for the rest of my life because my saving in a right place, the U.S. is a stable nation to live, and money management through security investment is interesting.

與元兒討論股票投資/莊峻華

與元兒討論股票投資/莊峻華

清晨元兒來我書房，與我討論股票投資，幾年前過年，琳兒給他們三男孩，峻嚴家兩男孩和元兒，上了一節投資課，迄今在元兒生活中，開始發酵，他說比打電玩有趣，我聆聽他之策略，也發表我的看法。他在四月開始自選個人退休計劃，六千美金儲蓄投資，過去我幫他放在一家大石油股，今年他選另一稍小石油股，現在兩個月不到，增值百分之六十，他額外再買一百股，所以已經開始享受内心愉快，他在超市工作十二年，都是起碼待遇，儲蓄投資股息，已經與收入平手。

我鼓勵他購買股票，但非期貨，也非借股短售，或是保證式購買，這些股投都有時間壓力，我喜歡買斷，心安理得，股市崩盤，我就套牢，眼不見為淨，股市上揚，我就心情爽朗，看看一日增值多少，他在網路上，閱覽股友妙談股市軼事，像大投資家，也有陰溝翻船故事，我說甚麼人玩甚麼鳥，他們和我們一樣，只是大小有別，重要的是要及早累積資本，偷雞先要有一把米，這些都是中國智慧，中國人自古多難，惟有智慧始能生存。

我就一直標榜我的節約成性，如何善用周轉金錢，撫弄於手掌之中，我早已發現如何與他討論共同興趣，他是位内向者，人有正義感，非份不取，我們很高興他有一快樂穩定之工作和人生。

Re-open the swimming pool in the subdivision center/Carlos Pueblo

Re-open the swimming pool in the subdivision center/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday afternoon was the first day to re-open the swimming pool in the subdivision in thins summer. There are 4 facilities in the community, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a basket ball court converted by a tennis court, and a playground for children. I have received an entrance card this year to use the tennis court and planned to swim in the summer from now own. I briefly entered swimming in 1996 due to the health reason and was interrupted due to some unknown reasons soon after. The swimming experience has given me such a good memory in my childhood era.

In my recollection, I was accompanied with my eldest sister Mary and her middle school classmate to a trip to a hot spring resort sponsored by my dad's company one winter. I first saw an small outside hot spring pool and made up my mind to learn how to swim. Later at my first grade, I was brought to a small creek by a rice liquor factory at my hometown Puli in the central part of Taiwan. I did learn some basic to be afloat. Then, my dad was transferred to another cane sugar factory on the central southwest part of Taiwan. There was a swimming pool facility inside the company's employee living complex. My dad formally asked his colleague, an young engineer, to teach me how to swim properly. I therefore can swim thereafter like later on pick up tennis. I can go to swim any times travelling around the world, lovely beaches, pools in the hotel, and the open deck of the cruise, etc.

I have my both cataract eyes procedure done and I can see in perfect vision ever in my life and I think that I can enjoy much more than ever before. Most of our neighbors have pools on their back yard; therefore, I don't see very many residents to take advantage of the facility; however, I still need to find a regular swimming companion because that there is no life guard in the facility this year in order to save some money for the homeowner association. It will be nice for me to add on swimming in my daily routine to avoid some summer heat way in Houston, Texas.

社區活動中心/莊峻華

社區活動中心/莊峻華

我們西村社區有一活動中心，有一游泳池，一網球場，一網球場改裝之藍球場，和一兒童遊戲場，都是當年開發社區建商所規劃，算是週到理想，由屋主協會請人管理，經費由屋主每年繳納，約是六百美金一年，全村約有收入三十萬一年，這收入尚且包括私聘荷槍民事郡警巡邏，我今年因需用網球場，再度申請門卡，終於領到，開始使用，游泳池也將在今日下午開放，球伴東尼要求我，讓其孫兒來打藍球，真是方便。

因為中國武漢肺炎影響外出旅行，因此我開始就地取材，善用社區設備，先是清晨散步每一條街，然後增加兩日清晨網球，再來就是下午之游泳，我覺得這社區游泳池，最為方便，泳池夠大，適合全身活動，90年代，在老茶花女街社區，我教子女游泳，但他們都未曾培養出興趣，不像我之童年，吾少也賤，故多能弊事，其實習得游泳是在習得網球之前，我想是八歲時後，網球應該是十三歲。

我在埔里冬烘溪習泳前，就曾浸泡過水池，那一年，萬里姊攜我先行廬山溫泉，她之街上同學蘇阿幸能泳，我看過她跳水躍入室外池中，後來據說阿幸是南投縣省運選手，我在小學就在埔里酒廠旁冬烘溪，自修成基本浮水泳技，搬到虎尾後，先父拜托同事，傅祖望先生，正式教我圈泳，傅先生是前僑委會委員長張富美教授之大姊夫，台南工學院工程師，隨後我回台多次，專程拜訪埔里和蘆山，均不得見古跡，童年回憶。

因為游泳池安全警衛，費用昂貴，所以我要等候幾週，認識一些鄰居，安排守望相助措施，就是我們都攜帶手機，可以隨時呼救，如果我能養成游泳習慣，這又是一經常之身體檢查，對我之糖尿病痼疾有益。

Cars in the subdivision/Carlos Pueblo

Cars in the subdivision/Carlos Pueblo

It is necessary to have car for the transportation in Houston, Texas; therefore, cars in the subdivision are another scenery in addition to pet dogs, front yard gardens, huge trees, and various designs of houses, etc. I also need to watch out cars in and out of the drive ways while I am taking my morning walk. Many residents are parking their cars on the driveway in order to keep the car garage as an additional storage area. Of course, there are still many keep their cars in the garage or both. We keep two cars on the driveway and an old car on the street.

Most of the cars in the subdivision are the reflection of the vehicle market such as the popularity of the car made of the name brand. It is very nice and good view of the design and also how well they are kept in shape. It is also very true that the car owners are showing their social status that means how well they are in establishment. By viewing cars in the subdivision, I have reinforce my confidence in one of my major investment in a vehicle stock even though it is poorly performed in compare to my other investment in mutual funds.

Kathy and her husband John are the owner of my favorite dog Forest. They keep their luxury Lexus and Infinite inside the garage. I visit the dog every morning and rarely seeing the vehicle unless they are scheduling out. Both of them are retirees of an oil and gas firm with an excellent pension plan. Since I have been walking in the subdivision for a long time, I automatically wave to the passing car. Some of them even roll down the car window to say hello. A neighbor Gonzo drives his Volvo to go out to get a Starbuck coffee with his small Pekingese sweetheart and always stop and roll down the passenger side window and let me pet that sweet heart. Gonzo provides me some information about the landlord of that unique design house which I describe on their street.

The utility vehicles are getting very popular nowadays. There are more space inside the vehicle and easier to carry more load people and staff. Pick up vehicles are also popular for younger generation. I am so envious for owners who take their dogs for hunting. Some dogs like the laboratory are good companies for hunting in Texas. There is an old pick up parking on the Meadow Lake street and still in operation. The owner is one of the builders to build the subdivision and is still working. I need to chat with him about the unique design house on the same street. There is Mike a retire drilling pipe line owner who owns a Corvette as an hobby collection and drives to the car show in Las Vegas. He also takes his pet dog to hunting. His dog is trained to pick up newspaper on the front yard and now I understand how to train them to do such chore.

During the pandemic and lock down, residents in the subdivision stay home. I can see most of the cars in the subdivision. People are not taking advantage of the cheap gasoline price. I am still enforce my routine to avoid driving in every possible way. The old vehicle is not giving a headache any longer.

注意到社區座車/莊峻華

注意到社區座車/莊峻華

社區座車也是一景，每日清晨散步，仍需注意到社區座車，座車是休市居民之必需，外出無車甚是不便，因此幾乎是一人一車，社區住家車庫，多半是兩車位型，而且許多人，將車庫當作儲藏室用，座車停泊在車庫道上，我們家第三輛車，停在路邊。每天，我需要注意每家每戶，座車出入之動靜，以策安全。

美國座車是一巨大商業市場，全世界安全合格座車廠，都在美國市場競爭，我們社區算是中等收入家庭，一般家庭座車，多半是實用為主，因此，普遍暢銷車型為主，車廠產品，年年更新，款式變化，真是五花八門，我因為生活方式改變，甚少開車，因此不再煩惱座車問題，社區内座車，也反應出居民之經濟實力。

一般家庭座車，反應出美國座車市場之排行榜，例如豐田，通用，福特，本田，日產等，也有些家庭喜歡歐洲和南韓現代，座車和住屋有異，座車是每年折舊，住屋則可能增值，我算過在美居住45年，購買座車數和錢，比購買住屋多和貴，而且純粹是為使用之需要耳。

我因為有一22年舊車，因此特別注意，停在戶外之舊車，是有一輛建商之小卡車，比我座車還舊，他仍然開此老車上班，我的愛犬朋友主人，我需要認得其座車，例如一小北京獅子犬主人，開一白色雙門瑞典富豪車，清晨攜帶小甜心上街買咖啡，都能停下街道，降下乘客車窗，容我與小犬打招呼，如此持續七年有餘，小犬有白内障，而且聽力也不若當年，犬主人算是年輕人，和我一樣，賦閒在家多年，他家就在草地湖街，那座現代型住屋設計同街。

愛犬森林主人家，兩豪華車，都停泊在車庫内，兩人都在石油氣公司退休，住屋和庭院都維護特佳，兩車都是豐田和日產之豪華級有多種用途車輛，這種車型，已經開始需要交豪華新車稅。有些拉伯拉多愛犬主人，攜帶愛犬打獵，他們開之車輛，多半是四輪帶動之卡車，有時候他們描述攜愛犬打獵之樂趣，美國男人喜歡打獵釣魚，這些四輪帶動座車，也可以拖小船。

我只注意到愛犬維利主人，購有一通用牌跑車，雪佛蘭之柯衛特，這是一高馬力之纖維外殼車輛，當年我服務之一家車險公司，不敢成保有折扣之保險計劃，必需投保較貴之保險，他對此車有特殊喜愛，專門開到賭城，參加車展。

Viewing the house design in the neighborhood/Carlos Pueblo

Viewing the house design in the neighborhood/Carlos Pueblo

Our neighborhood subdivision was developed between 1979 to 1982 by several builders. Recently, I have intensified my morning walk along the subdivision streets visiting my pet dog friends, enjoying the front yard gardens, huge trees, and now come to the design of every house. The U.S. is a free market nation and all business is based on the supply and demand, of course, all most meet the requirement, we do have the deed of restriction, etc.

Houston has been developed from the central downtown area toward the four directions, mostly toward the west, passing through the 610 loop, Beltway 8, highway 6, and the Grand Parkway to Katy, Texas. A single dwelling house is usually on a 1/4 acre lot; however, when the developing reaches in our area it becomes smaller, 1/5 acre lot. The builders have utilized the smaller size to build two story house. I recently see a house on the Over Brook street with an unique design which has caught on my eyes.

There are three sections of the building, a two cars garage attached to a main residence of two story on the east side. Another section is one story building on the west side and I assume that is for the formal dinning room or living room. The front gate is in the middle with a contemporary design, a decline roof of 45 degree to connect both sections. I can see through the bright and open window like a path to walk through. The house is currently on the market for sale or lease. I may have an opportunity to view the interior. Again, it is a small building lot for the commoners. I do see the builder to maximize the space and pay attention to the design.

I gradually appreciate the neighborhood environment and enjoy my mind while walking in the morning. I have been traveling around the world for quite some time. Now, I am getting more and more appreciated the living environment around my neighborhood. I make more friends in the neighborhood, as a matter of fact, people are coming out more in the morning to walk. I don't have to spend money to go out traveling while I can enjoy the convenient of all facilities at home. 

欣賞社區美屋/莊峻華

欣賞社區美屋/莊峻華

我們社區一共有四百九十八棟住屋，十三條街，分別在1979和1982年間興建，每日清晨，我沿兩區走遍十二條街，約六哩路，三個多小時，先是拜訪愛犬朋友，欣賞鄰居前院花園花草，再來是欣賞巨樹，現在讓我注意到這八十年代之住屋建築，我一發現，立即通告相識鄰居，有人確實感激提醒，此社區之驕傲。

休市氣候酷熱，但有許多工作就業機會，冷氣普遍後，人口迅速增加，社區漸漸增加，社區開發建商，一一興建新社區，居民遷入後，開始佈置庭院，我職業包括房屋保險，有第一手經驗，欣賞房屋建築，而且我經常旅遊，訪問比較世界各地民屋，頗有心得，最近，我注意到一屋，特別設計，讓我稍加介紹。此屋座落於草地湖街，此街我新納入散步範圍，是一棟特別設計之一，二樓住屋，屋主正在招租和出售，聽小愛犬主人曰，彼擁四棟屋，自居和出租。此屋車庫擺在前院，連接者為一二樓公寓式建築，我想是四套房間臥室等，這是街前左側。右側則是平房，有尖屋頂設計，我猜是主餐廳和廚房，美的是這左右連接之不俗巧妙設計，都是玻璃窗，又像是有連通走道，當然不是，這不是巨大豪宅，當然沒有累赘多餘，此連接處有斜坡屋頂瓦，這是十分現代化之設計也。

剛好我正在純欣賞美學境界，我只把握現在，能擁有之一切，這是哲學觀，我不再考慮屋價，學區，我所體會者悅目者也，我也無法等待，或者是需要考慮房產投資之回報率，此美屋屬該屋主人，我欣賞其美，卻又無需擁有而後滿足，這是哲學觀。