與元兒閒聊/莊峻華

與元兒閒聊/莊峻華

半夜醒來如廁，元兒剛好下班，在廚房準備食物，於是向我報告他之股市斬獲，於是我們坐在客廳大書桌旁，閒聊起來，元兒是位內向男孩，愛美希望我多與他聊天，我甚自信，能與鄰居愛全甜言蜜語，與愛子閒聊何難之有？

他說他的股票，買進賣出這一張，讓他賺了四百元，今年賺了兩千，這張石油股，也是他親點個人退休金計劃投資股票，是一石油股，總部設在休士頓市，他的六千元，現在價值九千，當然這部分未動，我幫他決定之石油大股，均未起色，我心早已決定，省吃檢用，漸漸贈於他我之存款為補償。於是我們談到高科技股，他的資本較小，僅選一兩股微軟當儲蓄，他說高科技股創辦人，多半是聰明人，不亂借錢，只賺錢併吞小而有為之公司，真是給我甚大啟示，愛子大學畢業，又有智慧，人生大幸福也。

我們談到網路之使用，像谷歌之搜尋，幾乎讓百科全書絕跡，他說下棋，西洋棋或圍棋，電腦均改變棋路威力，人腦無法與電腦匹敵，因為棋藝需要記住先人之棋路，人腦誠然不如電腦。我解釋我的生活，散步，游泳，和網球，社區之設備比較，他在茶花女街出生，仍然有回憶，於是我比較兩社區，老社區也有一社區中心，游泳池和網球場，但屬私人會員擁有，經費不足，維護遠不若新住社區，當然他工作忙，一無所知。

今午他三點上班，我不敢閒聊過久，耽誤他作息，連忙中斷，讓他吃飯，我也需要調整今日水餃製作時間，他甚捧場，吃畢我做之產品。

The swimming pool of our subdivision/Carlos Pueblo

The swimming pool of our subdivision/Carlos Pueblo

There is a swimming pool at our subdivision along with two tennis courts, one is converted to a basket ball court not yet open due to the Pandemic out break. I have started my swimming routine since the early summer. It is my surprise that I almost swim on the pool by myself most of the time. The association has paid very much attention of the well kept of the pool and courts,i.e. twice a week for the pool cleaning and several regular checks by the pool service personal weekly. I find my love of the pool and regret very much that I have not noticed ever since our move to this neighborhood.

I learned how to swim when I was at the elementary school at a mountain town in the central part of Taiwan. A small and clean creek called Tung Hung flowed by a rice liquor factory and later merged into a larger creek and several other confluence westward to the Formosa Straight. I have had a good memory of that. Soon after that, we moved to a larger sugar factory in the central west part of Taiwan. My dad asked his colleague, an engineer, to teach me how to swim properly. Since then, I can do laps swimming which means to and fro on the pool. Now, I am swimming like a mild marathon some times about 25 laps of 3 miles distance. I can do it better in breast stoke than other kinds of style.

The pool has an unique design likes two Olympic pools side by side with 50 meter tracks. Both tracks are perpendicular with each other. One with proper Olympic size lays on the ground with water deep about 4 feet while the other one on top of the small stroke of 7 has a portion of 10 feet with a guide rope to separate each for the safety awareness. There is no safety guard now; therefore, I swim along the side and dip pass the rope. When I estimate the most of 3 miles 25 laps is on the 50 meters on each side with 4 sides 200 meters one lap and 25 laps means 50,000 meters or 5 Km or 3 miles. I am thinking myself very much when I am swimming that I can really estimate the volume or how much water in the pool like when I walk on the Hersey Park, a flood control basin, that I understand the base of the flood water the Army engineers can keep it on the park. I believe that if have learned well at the chemical engineering unit process, I can even calculate how much energy that I consume for that 25 laps. There is a conversion that I am not good at it, in a result of such failure, I have never been able to be converted from a chemist to a chemical engineer.

I am very satisfied to have the pool by myself most of the time. The water is light blue and clean and is very comfortable during the summer. Occasionally, I do see one or two family come to join with me swimming. As a matter of fact, most of the residents here in the subdivision do have their pool on the back yard. It is fine with me of it all.

游泳池/莊峻華

游泳池/莊峻華

靜極矣，西村游泳池，夏天開放後，我開始恢復游泳，每日清晨散步後，我接著開車到游泳池，繼續我的運動，因為省錢，住家協會取消救生員執勤，因此，泳池天亮開放，日落關閉，安全自負責任，我評估安全，沿著池邊慢游蛙式，小心碰撞，有事可以扶著池邊求救，先是十圈，現在増加到二十五圈，估計有五公里，約三哩路，像是吹牛，但確為事實，現在需要散步後，早餐和晝寢，然後再游泳兩小時餘，如此完成一日工作，精疲力盡，游泳池周圍是五十公尺見方，形成7字型，十呎深處有界線，其餘大塊是標準之奧林匹克游泳池。

我小學時，放學走路回家，路隊長帶我到埔里紹興酒廠旁，冬烘溪學游泳，這冬烘溪是烏牛蘭溪上游，山城溪流清澈，這冬烘溪有一小竹橋，橋旁有人飼鴨，水不乾淨，但酒廠上游，水則清淨，而且有薑類花叢，我看過青蛇徘徊，就像白蛇傳一般，後來我從美國回台，專訪酒廠，不見冬烘溪，原來大地震後，已被舖蓋，這是遺憾往事。

我是學會蛙式，後來隨先父搬移虎尾，虎尾糖廠甚具規摸，日本人留下一新穎游泳池，先父懇請其同事，傅祖望先生，教導我正式游泳姿勢，傅先生為台南高工出身工程師，就是現在之成大，他是張富美僑委長之大姊夫，就是他増強我的馬拉松式蛙泳，我如此老而不邁，都是童年打下之基礎。

一般而言，甚少人使用如此游泳池，因為許多住家都有背院小泳池，讓幼童戲水，我們家小孩幼年時，我專門教他們游泳，待稍能浮水，即行離去，沒有我之興趣背景。我真正享受如此嗜好，我像是一隻青蛙，連游泳型狀都想像，消遙自在，徐泳於微藍水面，只是德州夏日燄陽，曬黑了身體。

増強每日運動後，老年每日均甚易渡，身體健康，夜寐順暢，食量増加，我是消耗需多糖分，我也忘記需要出外旅行矣。

Harvesting melons/Carlos Pueblo

Harvesting melons/Carlos Pueblo

It is quite a joy to harvest home grown melons now a day. I have picked 6 melons so far from my dog cage and a small lot behind the garage. The quality of my melons is less attractive in compare with what Amy's purchase from the market. It is a kind called the Korean melon with a golden skin when is ripe and also with a very light fragrant smell.

I am not disappointed because that I realize the disadvantage of my planting. The soil is not prepared with the necessary fertilizer before and after, secondly, I don't have enough sunshine on the spot of the back yard. Yet, I am very happy to see melons growing from the seed to vine and blooming to bear the fruit. I have been waiting patiently for the fruit to turn to larger size and color from the green to golden. It is a matter of three months.

It takes at least 10 years to grow a tree to view it height while takes 100 years to educate a successful mankind. This is the Confucianism materialized in the western civilization. I see some defect in the society such as the poverty and some people left behind. I know that there are reasons. A reasonable society would and should step in to help via the government. It is an ideal yet is difficult to reach like what I grow of melons.

I spread the left over from what I eat of my harvest to a new pot. After the heavy summer rain, I see sprouts coming out that are the second season for the late summer and fall. The weather factor shall come in to play a role of the growth.

香瓜收成/莊峻華

香瓜收成/莊峻華

今年開始種植韓國香瓜，我將清理果實餘物，埋在小盆中，春初移植於較大盆中，和後院椪柑樹旁，平日澆水不誤，大盆延申藤蔓到拾來狗籠內，收穫五粒，後院較差，未多結實，僅食一粒，但不意外，其間我觀賞台灣農藝直播節目，介紹到西瓜之培育，有些心得。

我的香瓜，和愛美平日購買之香瓜，不能比較，這是專業與業餘之別，而且我的家庭園藝，受限於多方條件，第一，土壤不夠肥沃，因為我不願花錢買肥料，廚餘堆肥來不及，第二，大盆腹地不夠大，後院有巨樹，遮蔽陽光，我算成功，至少看到香瓜，從無到有，而且介紹給幾位鄰居，就是金黃果實，掛在籠內。

植樹要十年，百年樹人，每一天，每一步，都將影響到人與物，許多人一生奮鬥，希望改變家庭環境，移民到美國，就是希望給子女和自己，有一較優土壤，較合理之政府，充份之教育和就業機會，我看連台灣人第二代在美國，身高體重，均優於其父母，這是進步，我不知我能改進香瓜如何？我不如老農，我不如老圃。

The fast walking versus the slow walking/Carlos Pueblo

The fast walking versus the slow walking/Carlos Pueblo

Amy's elder sister Ann fell the other day when did her powerful walking and injured her shoulder. I have been cautioned for years by Amy that to avoid the fall at old age due to the hard to recover. I don't like the fast walking because that looks like I am in a hurry; however, people think that people think that the fast walking can get the exercises done better than the slow walking; therefore, some pretty ladies won't like me to accompany them to walk because that I am too slow. Actually, I have thought about it and I like to explain what I think and my theory behind it, the slow walking.

I am so proud of myself to remember the definition of the work and the energy according to the difficult of thermodynamic after my college years. We like to get rid of our body fat via burning our extra sugar in the blood for instance; therefore, we do the exercises regularly. For most of the westerners, tall and heavy, they can generate a lot of work, W= 1/2 ma square. That m is the mass or the essential of weight and a is the acceleration, something with the difference of speeds. The fast walking could be considered an effective method to generate the maximum of work for our body; however, E= WS is the second step of this thermodynamic theory to explain how to convert the work into the energy which we like to exhaust it for the purpose of the health. That S is the distance. We can calculate the energy by the product of the work and the distance which we have walked. 

It is meant that if you don't have enough time, you can walk faster with a short distance to generate enough energy or if you have plenty of time like me, you can walk leisurely in a longer distance to generate the same energy like above. It is nice to have a walking company such as a pretty lay with a lovely dog on the way.

Every night I go to bed very early and wake up very early to start my long morning walk. I have found this interest for a long time and it becomes my hobby. I notice that there are more and more of my neighbors are getting involved into the morning walk either in the powerful fast walking or leisurely slow walking. I like the slow walk because that is safer and to avoid the fall I think. 

慢走與疾行/莊峻華

慢走與疾行/莊峻華

清晨散步，遇到許多同好，卻鮮遇及我如此，慢條斯理之慢步緩行者，許多人喜歡疾行，不願我跟隨，我甚知趣，反正每日，最多亦僅兩三位太太，可以結伴而行，散步有伴，較為有趣，一面可以聊天，打發時間。昨日，愛美告知，其姊因疾行跌倒，肩膀受傷，甚為疼痛，因上年紀，恢復較緩，老人注意健康，要求效率不錯，但要注意安全，避免跌倒，只要跌倒受傷，老人恢復較慢。

清晨開始上路散步，偶而腳步不穩，這是我的毛病，因此我選擇慢走，一些美國老太太，不願慢下腳步，所以我無法跟行，她們注意效率，走路速度快，可以消耗較多能量，其實應該是做較大之功，這功英文就是工作，較大之工作，熱力學上曰，功為1/2質量與加速平方之積，加速和前後速度差異有關，醫生建議疾行，是要有較大之功，作功和作功距離之積，就是能量，我們要消耗能量，消耗身體內之餘糖餘肪，所以疾行，其實増加慢走距離，也可以消耗相同能量，這是有公式可計算者也。

所以我甚篤定我的慢走，現在我經常有兩三位，鄰居太太，與我慢行，我們可以一面運動，一面聊天，時光飛馳，這慢走和疾行，是有熱力學理論為背景根據者也。

The anxiety from the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

The anxiety from the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

There is this anxiety created by the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic and people are infected and dying in big numbers. Even Amy is worried and affecting her eating and sleeping. There is a legend of ancient Chinese backing in the Confucian era which is about the people in a small city kingdom called Chi in the current day of Chi, Henan not too far away from Beijing. People of Chi worried about the collapse of the sky and something big might be fallen to suppress them. When I was a little boy at school, we had to recite such legend in order to know what that was meant. Most of what I can imagine is the comet may hit the earth; however, the current day pandemic is very possible to hit many people. We must deal with it and the anxiety must have a solid strategy to manage our new normal life.

We must wear a face mask to go outside of our house from now own. Wearing a mask can protect ourselves and the others which is making very much sense of the public health. I don't understand why some American are against it. Most of the European are for the idea now and their control of the pandemic out break is improving better than the U.S. This is why we must change our national leadership and we can't afford to have anyone who doesn't understand the public health idea to mislead our fight of the pandemic.

We must keep ourselves occupied for our new daily life. It is too late to worry about no income or any reserve capital for the time being. The protest of any kinds will not help to derive income period. Wearing a mask to find a work and be very careful not to get infected. We must attempt to help our own struggling family members before they can get a much needed help government cash pay out, i.e. the second $1,200 on the plan. Let buy some time to recuperate.

There are still many workers at work at the time. Some factories are still producing and farming field are harvesting. I am still intensifying my morning exercises and eating, etc. I don't think about the fallen of the sky and I am not in anxiety. I am waiting for my next cruise trip at home. I sleep much better now than before because that I am occupied, in Spanish called occupado which means busy in English. 

杞人憂天/莊峻華

杞人憂天/莊峻華

中國武漢肺炎肆虐，病無特效藥治療，也無疫苗可防範，而美國疫情緊繃，德州感染人數，每日萬人之譜，我們家愛美，精神有壓力，夜不得寐，我說是杞人憂天，列子有一篇說到古周杞國有人，憂心天地崩墬，廢寢忘食者，這是形容無謂之煩惱，若煩惱有助於避免肺炎感染，我們可以一起煩惱。

其實我們應該注意公共衛生，戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，保持距離，減少不必要之公眾聚會，自己要判斷，平時要多作準備，要隨時發問。台灣的一位台大李醫生，強調上述三點後，再補上避免手觸碰眼耳鼻口等，除非洗淨雙手。

我開始詢問鄰居太太，家庭如何？她們均樂意分享親人現況，確實有多人感染，感染者原因，多半是人傳人，家人傳家人，是有人參加聚會，接觸到感染者，而無警覺自我隔離，又繼續參加聚會，不戴口罩等防範，現在在休市感染者，需要送到九十哩外，始有病床。

很多人因感染而失去工作，全國已經有五千兩百萬人，申請國失業救濟金，這數目每週都在増加中，感染者要面對治療，治療要有健康保險，健康保險要有工作，所以我選擇不去煩惱，我煩惱也無濟於事，不如專心我的防範，我的健身運動，讓我身體每日力竭，容易入眠。

Our bodies are received from our parents/Carlos Pueblo

Our bodies are received from our parents/Carlos Pueblo

There are huge numbers of infected patients of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic and many American are suffering from such disease. There are many reasons for such damage for such an advanced nation like the U.S. and I ask myself the reason why. One of the reason that I remember is from the Confucianism is the beginning of the filial piety which is considered not relevant to the western society. He says that our bodies, the skin and hair, are received from our parents; therefore, we don't dare to have them damaged. The novel corona virus is new and lethal without any of the vaccine and cure; therefore, we must protect ourselves from getting infected. Doctors have advised us to wear the face masks, to wash our hands with soap, and to keep a safe distance with others. We can't make an excuse that you listen to Donald Trump for not wearing the mask and to engage to a campaign rally, etc. We must take a good care of our bodies.

I don't see how I can get infected, I have practiced myself a self quarantine schedule daily and I have lived a de facto life of self-exile for a long time. I check on the fresh air at my subdivision every morning while I am walking. I make sure that we keep a good distance while playing the tennis double, and finally, I make sure our swimming pool is clean and spaces, as a matter of fact, it is almost by myself. Of course, I must admit that this is an unusual nice environment to live on. Many people do not have this kind of luxury, they must go to work and earn a living and I understand. My son Arthur has never been off his supermarket work. He is very careful of his work environment and he doesn't want to take any chance to get infected and pass it on to us. His continuous working has made his mother's anxiety. She doesn't have a good health insurance and we don't know how to avoid the huge medical expenditure once get infected. There are 40 millions of the U.S. population have no health coverage at all and I am waiting for the study to come out to indicate the percentage of the infected. 

For those people who are fighting for their freedom to go out gathering, carrying weapons to the State Hall to protect the lock down in order to exercise their 2nd Amendment right, huge gathering to protest the racial injustice in this country, and want to go to huge parties, etc. I don't admire them and I pity them to take such a risk of their life, if there is any of the meaningful life at all. I even think further that according to the Buddhism that our body is just a loan from the heaven and we shall return them via cremation, isn't it true that what we do for the death cause by the virus? 

身體髮膚受之父母/莊峻華

身體髮膚受之父母/莊峻華

最近美國因中國武漢肺炎感染數目増加，引起許多人憂慮，包括愛美在內曰，夜不得安寐，我甚不解，蓋我們生活單純，幾近隔離式生活，我們都戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，而且保持距離，美國疫情惡化，原因甚多，我也苦思不解，美國富裕，公共衛生設備好，應該可以控制疫情，甚至比台灣日本好，是人為疏忽？於是我想到孝經出名之一句，子曰身體髮膚受之父母，不敢毀傷，孝之始也，立身行道，揚名於世，孝之終也，這是儒家思想，碰到武漢肺炎，如此置命之傳染疾病，受過儒家薰陶者，必立刻聯想此句，立刻想辦法，保護自己之生命安全。

醫生忠告戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，保持距離，嚴重時需隔離生活，我們就如此生活，暫躲其鋒，等待治療法，媒體上之報導，輕忽者反其道而行，而且震震有辭，這是不智，不自愛身體器官，而且害人生命，無需強辯奪理。

我看影片，印度警察，鞭打違規聚集之民眾，心生不憐，這些人需要每日工作矣，美國上軌道之公司，可以停止上班，可以在家工作，失業可以領失業救濟金，生病有團體健康保險，隔離期間，就躲在舒適家中，問題出在不上軌道之公司，貧窮之家庭，沒有健康保險之人口，學校停課後，無早餐和午餐之危急貧窮學童，這是國家社會問題，無法平時不燒香，臨時抱佛腳。

我常推廣個人儲蓄，準備不時之需，養得青山在，不怕沒材燒，當然青山要永在，水土要保持，生材要由瓦斯取代，無需砍樹燒材，國家政府要能有效運用政府資源，我看美國政府鼓勵國民儲蓄養老，其實必要，也可養病，此為我深覺美國面對武漢肺炎肆虐，應較他國優勢之處，如今處境，不可收拾，人為之錯也，身體髮膚受之父母，不敢毀傷。

When you terminate your life insurance policy/Carlos Pueblo

When you terminate your life insurance policy/Carlos Pueblo

When you terminate your life policy, you must pay the tax of your gain of cash value. Of course, if it is the proceed of your death benefit, it is income tax free, yet the surrender value is not a death proceed. I want to reverse my statement to a former client of mine who bought two policies from me back in 1993. I have been terminated of my contract for almost 20 years and is no longer associated with that company; however, she is an orphan policy owner and doesn't have a service agent, lives in Taipei, Taiwan, and must rely her daughter to assist her to get the policy service through the 1-800 toll free numbers.

My problem is that I don't know how to call Taiwan with my i-phone; therefore, I expect that she will call me back. It is a variable life policy which is invested in the mutual fund. I recommended her to a fund which was the same as my retirement fund with the company. We all are benefit from the growth prospect of the stock market and I hope that she will get her money as soon as possible.

However, there is a tax consequence needed to be concerned. I like to discuss the matter with her, as a friend, I like to give her some recommendation to discuss the matter with her accountant. I would compare with the total surrender to a cash value loan to see which is more to get especially to keep the policy in force as long as pay the premium. As I understand that the policy loan rate is minimum because that is your own money and the the life company must pay the interest to that loan to the policy. When you die, the policy will pay the proceed less than the loan and interest. 

解除人壽險契約/莊峻華

解除人壽險契約/莊峻華

老客戶從台北電話來，想要解除人壽險契約，將契約內現金領出使用，與壽險公司客服部談論，仍有困難，循舊電話找到我，於是我開始仔細教她，如何解決此問題，這是一位很好之客戶，約是二十八年前，其亡夫過世，領得兩筆壽險，她因感激我售其夫婿該兩壽險，隨後捧場我業務，購買兩壽險，保護未成年三子女，剛好她職業收入穩定，兩壽險已有二十七年，累積兩筆可觀之數目。我因為她和客服部交通之困難，結果忽略稅務之問題，僅此補正。

如果因死亡，壽險理賠免於扣稅，這是稅法保障壽險，因此，富人有識者，藉壽險當財務遺產安排，但若生前，將壽險契約取消，領出現金，則需視同一般儲蓄投資，領出金額，扣除過去保險費，増值淨款，視為當年收入，應該可以必照長期投資稅率，而不是短期，或是半年期內買賣，一元抵一元，算是當年收入，所以保險公司，再三建議，需要與自己之會計師商議。

我現在想起來，也可以以借貸方式，將現金領出，如此稍微麻煩，有些利息和手續費用，但可比較優劣，若中途死亡，則理賠數目，需扣除借貸數目，淨值免稅。

Michelle comes back home next Saturday/Carlos Pueblo

Michelle comes back home next Saturday/Carlos Pueblo

Our daughter Michelle will come back home next Saturday to pick up a new door for her new purchased house. It is cheaper for her to rent a truck in Austin and drive to Houston to pick it up. Amy tries to take her to a favorite Cantonese restaurant for dinner and finds that the restaurant is closed due to the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. I suggest that we just eat at home for what we have made of the pasta every Saturday, the dumpling and steaming buns. Both of them agree. As a matter of fact, I can also do a beef noodle soup.

 She like to invest in rental properties to drive income and is very successful. I don't have to worry about her financial independence. She manage her finance very well. We used to go to Austin to help her do the yard work and house cleaning because that she was busy at work. Now, she can manage by herself well.

It will be a very quick visit which would bring in some excitement for our family. I like to show her my Korean melons inside the dog cage five of them in golden color.

琳兒回家/莊峻華

琳兒回家/莊峻華

住德州府奧斯汀市之琳兒，準備下週六回家，搬取一訂購之大門，新購舊屋，正在整修，大門運到休市門市部，她需要租大卡車自領，運回奧斯汀，愛美十分興奮，準備在老富記接風，昨日前往頂好商場，觀察地形地物，發現餐廳和整棟廣場，都在整修，這是因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐之故，而且這新中國城附近之郵遞區號，77036，是肺炎感染率最高之處，所以我建議在家招待她水餃，她也欣然同意。

這富記是一廣東餐館，我們光顧四十年，點的菜都一樣，我們家兄弟年餐，都在此餐廳，琳兒請同事多次，想點青椒牛柳丁，知道寫在黑板上，但卻不識字，只好電話求救於我，剛好侍者就是老板妹妹，於是我幫她點完一桌。

旅行業，餐飲業等，只要有群聚部落，都需要設法設計公共衛生安全，始得恢復生意，現在甚至有人專門代購食物，新聞上有許多年輕人死亡之消息，都是中國武漢肺炎，大半年來，美國只有紐約三州，稍有控制，我們德州，越演越烈，剛好我外出散步，游泳，和網球等，都戴遮口布罩備用，保持安全距離，進出室內，肥皂洗手，以測安全。

To my dear daughters off board/Carlos Pueblo

To my dear daughters off board/Carlos Pueblo

My regular cruise trips are stopped by the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic and you are all off board I assume. How are you all doing at home? It has been only 5 months since my disembark in Singapore yet I have missed you all already. I have had my new life scheduled to replace the Trans Atlantic, the Panama Canal, the Alaska, and the Canadian Provinces, etc. with the intense morning exercises to exhaust myself for the entire day. We are still under threat of the disease in Texas and I don't see that we can go out to travel any time soon.

Your company sends me all promotions for the schedule of the future cruise after October, 2020. It is only for the deposit and may be cancelled with a future cruise credit. I am used to have my life without a cruise; however, I do still miss the joy of being on board with all of you.

Before my last two cruises, I did purchase 4 cruise next deposits voucher and I believe that the company will find a way to re-start the business. I am closely monitoring all ships and their schedule of the future. I shall see you again.

給船上愛女/莊峻華

 給船上愛女/莊峻華

親愛的，我想妳們都下船幾個月矣，郵輪恢復航行，真是遙遙無期，每天我都注意貴公司之廣告，最近預定之船班是十月底，按照美國疫情之惡化，中國武漢肺炎，整個美國仍舊不能恢復正常，我仍舊安排自行隔離之生活。

每天我有四小時餘，清晨活動，主要是散步和游泳，一週有兩次老人網球雙打兩局，我有一些家庭園藝工作，兩週割草一次，還有種植一些花果蔬菜，還有每日耕耘我的部落格，現在我存有近三千四篇，有一些讀者知音。

我仍舊計劃郵輪旅行，但可能陸地旅遊先行，我需要先回台灣，整理假牙，愛美要我帶她旅行日本，這可合併，但需要一個月，現在從美國回台灣稍難，需要落地隔離兩週，回德州，也有相同規定，很不方便。幾個月不見，已經開始想念妳們，希望人類能克服此流行瘟疫，一切恢復新正常生活，我們後會有期。

The much needed rain/Carlos Pueblo

The much needed rain/Carlos Pueblo

There is a rain which is much needed today at noon and may have some more at night. Houston, Texas has been too hot and without a single drop of rain for more than two weeks and we worry about the lawn , the home garden, and the summer heat wave. I quickly finished my ten laps in the pool after two sets of senior tennis double and went home before the sounder broke out. It is a good news and a good for the much needed rain.

I started my day early  as usual, I went to my section 2 walk in the subdivision and drove the car to the swimming pool and tennis court. It was still early and I accompanied Eli and her owner Dianna for a brief walk. She is going to her river front house for the weekend and would bring me some citric fruits from her neighbor's vacant land. I assume that is the grape fruit for the time being otherwise the orange or tangerine should be ready in after the fall. She tells me more about her family that this river front house on San Bernard River is a gift from her parents-in-law. After they inherited the two acres frame house property, her husband did some work on it. Now, all her families are enjoying the weekend resort type of living. She also mentions that on her side, she has inherited 12 oil wells passing by her great grand parents. It is not generating very much now a day due to the cheap oil price; however, at the beginning and at her parents time, the windfall was almost $30,000 a month. I bring this up because that is a proof of the saving and the investment of the generation. I am going to give something to my children when I die.

I find that even the senior double tennis is getting harder for me to bear and I must take some break to catch my breath. I feel better after I intensify my morning activity almost about 4 hours. I let my old body have plenty of exercises and feel good about it. Every day is so wonderful for me to start a day. I don't have to go out to travel. 

及時雨/莊峻華

及時雨/莊峻華

昨日雅虎氣象宣稱，今日有陣雨，早晨網球局，球友告知是中午，我們期待陣雨多日，主要是草皮，鄰居們多半訴諸於自動噴水器，我則期待這一及時雨，果然，不到中午，雷聲大作，陣雨緊接，我已經收集五加侖雨水，恢復日出，氣象預告，下午將有第二波陣雨，可以稍解乾旱，解救雨水缺少，對庭院花草樹木之壓力。

休市夏日炙熱，熱浪襲人，而且近海濕度甚高，更加悶熱，僅能凌晨稍有活動，午後則需窒息室內。我已經提早晨步到日出前，今日，剛好有網球例局，因此提前上球場，然後再走兩街，遇到黛安娜和她愛犬伊莉，伊莉毛體重，走畢半街，已經氣喘呼呼，真想打道回府，幸有其他愛犬路過，轉移其注意，今日，他們將到聖百納河畔別墅度週末，她將採鄰居空地之橘科水果，讓我品嚐，我猜是葡萄柚，否則橘科成熟，應過秋天，這別墅是其公婆之遺產，有兩畝地，她們家人輪流使用，我晨步好處，就是認識許多愛犬，和它們之主人，很多好家庭，這位黛安娜小我一歲，仍在一家歐洲盧森堡氣體公司上班，最近公司將武漢肺炎隔離延到年底，才需要回辦公室上班，她告訴我其曾祖父母，留下十二口油井，現在傳到她，十分有趣，她說剛開始，油井一個月有三萬美元收入，現在油價不穩便宜，不是每個月都生產，但仍有石油，將來留給兩位女兒，我想了一想，我就留股票基金給子女，雖然他們沒有子女，至少我一生奮鬥有成。

老人網球局，越來越吃力，我的對手桌球根底，常有回球短促，讓我疲於奔命，我開始需要短暫休息，補充糖水，待兩局雙打後，我更需要休息一節，然後投入游泳池，我真幸運，這麼一座大泳池，僅我一人使用，我先立下目標，游到八十歲，然後再衡量身體狀況。

China is a failed nation/Carlos Pueblo

China is a failed nation/Carlos Pueblo

Even with a good number of the gross domestic product, China is still a failed nation in the view of such impressed history of civilization. The old Communist Chinese propaganda claims that under the Communist regime, Chinese are better off or at the best of time in Chinese history. It is what the Communists want the world to believe; however, I don't buy it. I am basically a history lover and I compare nations according to what I see and read.

Chinese don't want to live in China. I have seen so many Chinese escaping that nation from 1980 until now all over the world in every possible way. Every where I go to visit, in the Caribbean nations, South America, Europe, and Asia, I always visit the Chinese stores, restaurants and the business. Oversea Chinese find better opportunities to have a better life away from China. The current Chinese Communist regime can not provide that and that is why China is a failed nation.

I watch what the Chinese regime how to response to their own creation of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. They lock the city of Wuhan down in humanely. They don't have any of answers that I may ask, i.e. how the residents get their foods, how the sick patients to get treatment, etc. They don't want to tell the world. We have to guess and estimate by the numbers of crematories all together and multiple their capacity per day and get a figure. That failed national communist regime lies the true fact all the times.

There is a flood now along the Yangtze River area 27 provinces which I see them every day on You Tube political forum. I don't see any response of rescue from the failed national regime. Chinese flood victims reached to 38 millions are on their own. There are no clean air to breathe and no clean water to drink that are two main problems in China for years.

There is another issue that is facing China, the starvation. The threat of the locust is approaching to some parts of China compounding the trade war with the United States. There are 1.4 billions mouths to be fed daily and I watch those You Tube direct broadcasting that indicate many are in starvation now. There is an issue of Hong Kong that the residents have no way out and I can keep on listing many reasons why China is a failed nation.

I must stop here and point it out under the current Chinese communist regime, there is no way for Chinese to get out. China must be like the rest of the civilizing world under a democratic system, under a system of the rule and law. Chinese must help by themselves.

中國乃失敗之國也/莊峻華

中國乃失敗之國也/莊峻華

中國之紅色政權正在瓦解中，其實我讀世界歷史，觀察台灣和美國，中國乃失敗之國也，何以言之？大哉問，中國如此巨大之國，仍舊迷信專制體治，此其也，中國為共產制度，不倫不類，公與私不分，中國統治者貪污，言而無信，幸虧中國人認命吃苦，否則早已亡國矣。

最近美國川普政權，遷怒於中國貿易順差過多，武漢肺炎曝露出美國之弱點，南中國海和香港等，危害美國之利益等，掀起全面反中國之行動，也曝露中國政權失敗之原因，美國現在僅在増關稅，尚未禁運，如果雙方武力開火，就需禁運，俄羅斯，北韓，古巴，和伊朗等國，都在禁運名單中，中國政權，不知衡量，不知天高地厚，僅知自欺欺人，走到困境。

中國祖先歷代，走到困境，都僅哀嘆，中國殊不知，民主法治為何物？中國領導人不讀書，不知近代政治已經進化到何境界？仍舊迷信終生執政，鏟除異己，因此步步走入困境。最近，我常觀看中國影視節目，我看到大洪水，卻不見有拯救之措施，中國不是世界第二大經濟國乎？美國和日本，甚至連台灣，執政者都不容許坐視，有錢擴充武力，騷擾台灣，對峙美國，卻置國內災民無顧。

上海有一全球第二高大廈漏雨，影片傳遍全球，中國有很多爛尾樓，就像台灣之過去，過去國民黨中國人，帶來之中國傳統腐敗之貪污文化，近年台灣開始要重拆新建，中國則是馬上看到其改革開放後之爛尾樓，我甚至在越南都看到，還有一帶一路等，這些都是中國沒有民主法治，一黨專政，層層腐敗之果。

二戰後，中國並無戰勝，僅未滅亡而已，中國人不幸，為共產黨統治七十年，日本和舊西德，在廢墟中重建，實行民主法治，代代都有賢能，領導國家，走向繁榮盛世，連台灣都是，自從台灣人推翻國民黨專制政權後，台灣不但繁榮，而且國民有自信，日德台三國，我都經常拜訪，都是理想國，都是人民宜居之境，都是成功之國度。

China is collapsing/Carlos Pueblo

China is collapsing/Carlos Pueblo

According many phenomena, China is collapsing now. We must watch how the Chinese refugee escape China and how the rest of the world to response. Chairman Xi is not capable to manage the crisis, the Communist regime can not facing the challenge, and Chinese can no longer bear the hardship.

First of all, there is a trade war between China and the United States. Of course, China and purchase foods from some other nations to make up the insufficient supply of foods to feed the balk population; however, the news are shown not effectively. In addition to the trade war, there is a huge flood facing  27 farming provinces along the Yangtze River. We don't see how the regime can help the almost 40 millions victims of the flood.

There is the Hong Kong issue that is the beginning of an up rising inside China. It doesn't look like to be stoppable. The United Kingdom, the previous ruler, offers to accept 2 millions residents of Hong Kong as refugee. Taiwan and the U.S. also make the similar offers. I believe Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, etc. will soon follow. Can we imagine a much large scale of refugee Chinese 1.4 billions? I can only see North Korean, Russia, and India do have forces to block the refugee and I don't see the rest of Chinese neighbors, such as the Southeast Asia and Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, etc.

I read some Chinese media reporting that China is planning to attack Taiwan to distract all the tension that may buy some time for the Chinese Communist regime; however, it won't solve a bit of the issue of collapsing.

We don't know how severe of damage in the result of the Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic in China. We don't know the numbers and we also don't believe their numbers. Based on what we have had in the United States, we know that is very severe. I don't believe that China is better equipped to cure the disease and manage the damage than the U.S.

There is the locust issue in China now and there is also the pig swine which both destroy the domestic foods production. I watch self broadcasting traveler showing $4.00 U.S. for a 500 grams for pork and $4.5 U.S. for a 500 grams of the lard in a rural area of China. It will be harder and harder for the regular Chinese to be survival.

Is there a soft landing as most of the American China experts hope in China? I kind of doubt. I am a history lovers and I can the the end of current Chinese regime and I can wait and see in my comfortable home in Houston and witness the second huge collapse of the Communist regime after 1989. 

中國崩潰時/莊峻華

中國崩潰時/莊峻華

中國正在崩潰中，這是美日台等國，極不願意面對之事實問題，中國崩潰多方面，武漢肺炎，瘟疫流行，洪水氾濫，糧食不足，更甚者為幾千年，專制統治，近七十一年更是劇烈，中國共產黨之非人性統治。中國之崩潰，勢必帶來大量難民，這些難民，將是世界之難題，我甚難想像，各國如何處理。

近談香港，香港人口七百萬，最近中國二十三年統治，已經崩潰，需要英國，台灣，和美國等提供人道，接受難民，中國號稱十四億人口，中國近代歷史上之崩潰，無有如此大之規模，令人恐懼。日本輿論和學界，早就對中國問題有研究，中國崩潰時，近鄰日本，首當其衝，日本海關自衛隊等，無法阻擋中國難民，只有俄羅斯可已，因為俄國不標榜人道。我在四十年前就讀過，日人估計中國崩潰時，勢必分裂成許多小國，想想看此甚邏輯，以專制政體，加上中國統治者之能力，無法管理如此之大國。

我是位移民，當年我就是逃難國民黨中國人，蔣介石王朝之難，來到美國，我對難民問體，特別有戚戚感，我甚厭惡這些不表同情難民者，而自己祖先，也曾是歐洲難民。今年初，旅行泰國曼谷，搭車經過一處美麗墓地，多彩多姿，博學女導遊曰，中國人墳墓，因為泰國信佛，佛徒火葬，她解釋中國人來泰國後，有些人回中國，有些人留下來，更有些人再回泰國，帶更多親友移民，這讓我想起太平天國，二戰，和四九年之中國，中國沒有民主法治，永遠是戰亂。

講到戰亂，中國崩潰時，或將有戰亂，印度有準備，中國挑釁不成，美國也擺出陣勢，不惜一戰南中國海，日本也妥善準備，中國只能威赫台灣，台灣是存亡之秋，希望中國共產黨政權瓦解，不帶來世界之大浩劫。

Testing my new normal of life/Carlos Pueblo

Testing my new normal of life/Carlos Pueblo

After the Chinese Novel Corona Virus Pandemic out break, I have extended my regular self exile life to a new normal of life which is fully tested for five plus months. The infected cases in Texas are increasing alarmingly and I think my new normal may make some improving factors for the unaware people. I increase my morning walk distance from 11 streets in my subdivision to 24 streets, add 6 days swimming to a week for 10-15 laps each morning, and I play two sets of the old man tennis double with a grand total of 4-4.5 hours a day. I wear home made mask when I go out walking, I keep my social distance, and I wash my hands with the soap all the time.

I don't think that people can follow my new normal pf life and I understand. We all have our own life to pursue. Recently, I have thought very much of my life on every stages since I was born in Taiwan, 27 years plus in that Island nation, and my almost 45 years in the U.S. etc. I finally can plan and manage my own normal of life. I like very much to live on a meaningful life until my end which is not very far away. I like to keep myself healthy and leave my two children alone to worry about me. I write on every subject as I like it for those who are willing to read it that is meaningful.

I appreciate it more on home gardening. I admire farming; however, it is a hard life. I enjoy to the scenery of a beautiful farm and pick some fruits when they are ripe. I know that farming is a hard life to bear. I don't think neither of my children would inherit a farm if I would buy one and leave it to them. A small pot of plants would do. I can always go out to see the neighbor's garden, I can go to cruise trip, and I can travel to the Royal Gardens all over the world on a flowering seasons.

Suddenly, I feel much better in my health. I shall describe how I manage the rest of my day after that 4-4.5 hours morning exercises. I would turn on my internet to see what is happened at the beginning of that day till the sleepy forcing me to take a long nap. Some day I do take two naps. It is so quiet and lonely that makes us talk to the old cat more often. Now, I watch some Japanese classic movies at hand till the end of that day. 

新生活/莊峻華

新生活/莊峻華

自從最近一次旅行返家，面臨中國武漢肺炎肆瘧，我就開始策略佈局，安排新生活，當然新生活基礎於舊生活習慣，只是稍加修正，増加原來活動時間，増加新活動，彌補上取消之節目，如此行駛五個多月，德州武漢肺炎加烈，顯然我需要繼續新生活，就是繼續隔離，繼續自我放逐。

昨日與一位晨步女鄰居對照，我的晨步距離，約僅四哩，非我想像中之六哩，四哩六哩，何距之有？一日約行三小時，走過十二條街來回，欣賞四百餘棟單屋庭院，花園巨樹，拜訪鄰居與愛犬，呼吸新鮮空氣，已經倦極矣。

然後是新増游泳，我再估計，十圈是一點二哩，十五圈是一點八哩，將近一小時，游泳和晨步，使發現除去肩膝酸痛，而且幫助睡眠，我可以一睡六小時，無有如廁中斷之需要，這是一大改進，其餘睡眠時間，可以晝寢，讓老夫子討厭。

一週有兩次網球局，這是比較劇烈之老人運動，第四位球友，微恙復出，我們恢復球局，然後我繼續游泳，這是人生，最為無壓抑之生活。

每天，我都巡視狗籠內之黃香瓜，現在有五粒，我已收成一粒，但是未全成熟，這次我將慢慢等候，也許這是今夏最後一批。豬菜葉已經收成一次，這是最為成功之作物，蕃薯藤蔓延各處，不受樹蔭居束。

我仍舊關心台灣和美國政治，非常有趣，我不相信能對我有何生活影響，眾多政治人物中，我最欣賞台北市長，我不算多數，但我是正確一邊，像是四十五年前，我一直認為台灣要獨立，台灣要像美國，台灣不為中國吞併，最近我預測川普倒台，中國政權倒台，因為處理武漢肺炎，沒有新生活之後果，正在驗證之中。

My internet connection was interrupted again/Carlos Pueblo

My internet connection was interrupted again/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday, my internet connection was interrupted again. It was due to a cut of wire by the fence contractor who removed posts and dug holes. Amy was reporting the interruption and I went up stair to check on my computer. It was not working. The ground on our side is clearly marked with yellow flags by the AT&T technician previously. Amy went outside to question the contractor and he denied any cut at all. I lost my Buddha's cool and yelled at the contractor that the damage was down and I would deduct the cost from the AT&T to his pay. Our neighbors came out and discussed the matter and my madness. His internet is not interrupted at all; therefore, he still can work at home.

I am used to the AT&T service technicians for their routine schedule due to my previous experience. He plugged a hand held computer machine to a box like a circuit breaker to what happened. Of course, it is logic. The small screen indicated a disconnect of 40 feet. He went back to his vehicle and brought back a new wire to be connected between a pole station and the box. It is about 40 feet. It was done quickly. He said that was alright and left back to his van. I knew what to do and informed Amy to check on hers and went up stair to check on mine. The screen showed me some details to be followed. I rushed out door to catch him. He came back inside and help us to input the password which meant if you were stupid and you are still stupid in computer.

The life is getting easier with an internet connection. I can live on my regular life such as sending a long missed payment to a credit card, monitoring the market, writing my blog, and watching he You tube, etc. It is a good looking new fence. The cut was only applied to my connection, of course, the service charge was only applied to me. I don't believe that they mind that I transfer such charge to the fence builder.

I am an old man now and I don't really think everything in a proper or reasonable way, i.e. I don't really care something is too old like the fence as long as it is still functional; however, my neighbors may not have the same thinking. I comply with her request because that is affordable and a new fence is better in looking. After my yelling to the contractor of the damage and my threat, he told me that thing happened and threatened back if I selected this way. I thought it over night that he was right that there was no need to yell at him. I used to have two rental property which I built fences when I bought the new houses. I did attempt to get a share with neighbors on the first house and in vain and I didn't even ask for the second house neighbors. One of the neighbors complained that I didn't build it properly on the border line. I agreed and told him to correct it on the next time when he needed to replace the old fence. I was lucky to get rid of that house.

網路再度中斷/莊峻華

網路再度中斷/莊峻華

昨日網路再度中斷，原因是因為籬巴換新，工人不慎切斷電纜，我接著愛美與築籬巴工頭理論，工頭見到我聲勢凌人，很不習慣，這是我之欠修養，但我很明確之指出，美國電話公司，就是網路提供者，將派人來修理，一定不是免費，這筆帳要算在籬巴費上，愛美對我態度，甚有微詞，她是老好人，我則是劣性不改，原形畢露。

如此，有一整日無網路可使用，晚上我看了一老日本電影，椿三十郎，今晨忙完三局，晨步，網球，和游泳，心裏還是惦念網路中斷，很奇怪，愛美之蘋果手機也故障，琳兒將寄其舊手機來，我在家等候電話公司技工。

技工將一手提電腦，接在車庫外牆電子盒線路，就像室內電路控制盒，電腦螢幕顯示，有一段40呎無連接，顯然是切斷電線，所以他判斷需換一新線，連接一切，我們後院有兩電子筒一為我家網路，另一筒為鄰居網路用，都是同一公司，昨日切斷電線屬我家，鄰居則無恙，技工迅速換上電線，然後就離開曰，一切恢復，我連忙查看電腦，飛奔樓下街道，將他請回，因為我們仍無網路，於是他再穿鞋罩入內，幫忙打入密碼，重啓網路，我不甚專長電腦，但日常生活，仰賴網路，缺息網路之生活，甚不習慣。

我可以看網路新聞，看台灣之政論節目，看直播，看免費電影，寫部落格，與銀行來往，查看股市，寫信等等，我也在網路聽鋼琴演奏，網路確實重要，幾乎是生活之必需，網路恢復後，則心平氣和，一切都恢復禮節節制。

A busy Wednesday morning/Carlos Pueblo

A busy Wednesday morning/Carlos Pueblo

Every other Wednesday, I have an additional task in the morning other than my morning walk and swimming which is to mow my yard. In order to repair or rehabilitate the damaged lawn, I set up a schedule to do the yard every other week than every week. First, I'll let the St. Augustine grass grows on additional week and more root extension to cover the bare loss of grasses on the edge. I'll expose the grass hopper the the birds and also I'll skip a week to do the work. I feel that the yard is better looking or thicker than I do the mowing every week. It is why I am busy every other Wednesday morning. I do the lawn mowing in between the walk and swimming and have my breakfast after the walk to supplement my sugar content in the blood.

A few pet dogs wake up early and give me a morning bark. Usually I start my walk before the day break on the Section 2 neighborhood, return to my drive way to check on how my melons are growing, I do have 5 more in the dog cage and they are good looking. Then, I continue walking toward the Section 1 which is double the distance. Today, I walk with Eli and her owner Diana for two blocks. She was with her husband for a surgery a day before and asked her daughter to dog sit Eli. I enjoy very much to walk with several dogs in the morning and chat with their owners on the way. 

It is such a wonderful summer swimming for me this year. I feel the morning exercises help me get rid of my frozen left shoulder, a mild pain on my left knee, and avoid the mid-night toilet break. I sleep well day and night. After my swimming, I can be relax for the rest of my day.

忙碌之週三清晨/莊峻華

忙碌之週三清晨/莊峻華

兩週一週三，有一忙碌之清晨，除散步六哩路，和蛙泳1.2哩外，我需要割草，草皮兩週，已經有6吋高，所以我安排在散步和游泳之間，若是當年，我不曾有如此壯志，最近發現，體力和毅力，可以負荷，容我細述。

昨夜，我看畢一舊日本影片，一直到半夜，這是紅鬍鬚，觀畢影片，倒頭就睡，清晨五時醒來，我已經有一週，無需半夜尿急醒來如廁，就是老人膀胱無力，我相信這清晨活動有關，和元兒閒聊一陣，上書房發一英文短信，給在馬尼拉之愛女，璜妮妲，然後摸黑上路，最近天約六時後始亮，我先行二區，見到愛犬可口和女主人伊蓮，連墨犬哈利和新愛犬莉莉都早起，在鐵柵內吠叫，引來女主人注意。過三條街來回，天已亮，我習慣領早報入內，並且查看狗籠內香瓜，現在已有五粒大小香瓜，籠上仍有幾粒，今年有成。

今晨在一區陪愛犬伊莉和其女主人走兩圈，伊莉毛長體胖，已經開始不耐暑氣，昨日女主人黛安娜，帶先生上醫院小手術，忘記交待女兒餵食愛犬，於是她開始報告鄰里疫情，那位金髮小男孩，約瑟夫，媽媽剛生一男嬰，就是弟弟，其父這段期間，都在醫院繼續工作，卻不幸感染武漢肺炎，非常可怕，我已經開始與此家庭熟悉，尤其這位金髮小男孩。鄰居晨步者凱瑟琳注意到我草已有6吋，我邀她下午再來，她說太熱，只待明晨，我的策略是，讓草多留一週，可以割草推肥沃土，而且也可以補救一些技術和工具之不足。

割草畢，就是割邊，我已經修葺完畢草邊，空隙已經長滿，就是迴轉線除草機，也可以達成修邊工作，我把草削掃淨後，稍欣賞一下成果，然後就開車游泳去也，留兩週後之草皮，確實有較健康之色澤。

我甚滿意恢復游泳，我的左五十肩，和左膝疼痛，突然消失，這和清晨鍛鍊有關，而且發現游泳池設備完善，只可惜未能早日善用。

Dear Juanita/Carlos Pueblo

Dear Juanita/Carlos Pueblo

Thank you, Juanita, for your nicely note yesterday. We're busy to manage our new normal life during the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. I have increased my morning exercises from one and half hours to four and half hours including a 6 miles walk on the streets in the subdivision, one hours swimming, two morning tennis a week, and some gardening and yard work, etc. 

I am still read the promotion of your company e-mail for the future cruise trip. I think the cruise will come back to normal gradually. I see the new advertisement of your ship in Europe for a schedule in October, 2020.

I miss you all for all the friendship which you kindly grand it to me. I feel very fortunate to know all of you and wish that I shall meet you again in the near future.

Sincerely,

Dad

給璜妮妲/莊峻華

給璜妮妲/莊峻華

謝謝妳的回條，自星港下船後，我們按行程留在該市三日，然後飛往曼谷市訪問，回到家裏，已經是武漢肺炎，滿城風雨，我們按照規定，在家隔離，減少外出，我雖停止出外旅行，但仍然注意郵輪公司，每日寄來之廣告，我很高興妳安全返家，我看十月裏，郵輪將恢復營運，我會注意。

目前，我在家裏安排固定活動，就是清晨散步六哩街道，一週兩晨雙打網球，六次晨泳，週末兩日，幫忙家事，一日包水餃饅頭，一日煮牛肉麵，還有一些家庭園藝工作，當然我比較喜歡郵輪旅行。

我計劃下次旅行，應該是跨大西洋，從歐洲或從美國，我希望身體能夠健康，能夠勝任旅途勞累，也希望能探望愛女群，我們後會有期。

More American are infected by the virus/Carlos Pueblo

More American are infected by the virus/Carlos Pueblo

More and more American are infected by the Chinese Wuhan novel corona virus including out state of Texas. I have had the luxury to stay myself in a lock down style of life and I can't imagine how people get involved to the virus. Amy is still wearing mask to the super market, I have had my home made mask ready when I have my morning walk, and Arthur tells me that he works at night when less customers are shopping. Patrick, our #4 tennis partner, has a fever and recovering. He wears mask to play double games with us. Cindy informs me that she has a sore throat after coming back from the hill country ranch and I immediately raise up my mask to have my nose covered. 

I don't believe that I am safe from the beginning of the out break of the pandemic. I understand that I am in an excellent environment to be prevented from the disease that I am in a single dwelling house with a small yard, I have been in self exile for quite some time, and I have made  my daily schedule occupied. I know the effective way to deter such risk to be infected. I don't believe my  medicare can do the absolute protection and relax me in case of my infection, neither with Arthur's union group health from his job nor Amy's grandfather type of surgical and hospitalization policy to avoid tax penalty for not having health insurance. Over all I don't believe some American including Donald Trump on the top are ready to understand how severe of the disease to the nation.

I wear my mask, wash my hands often with the soap and keep my social distance according to the advice of physicians from Taiwan. Some people in the society are less fortunate than myself that they have to live in an urban area with crowded space and they have to continue to work in order to keep the income flowing. They can't do the quarantine at the severe period and now it is out of control the entire Texas is overwhelmed.

We must go back to the basic that every life is matter. With a life, there is a hope to get through the hardship. It is not too late and we must set up what is our priority to deal with the pandemic. It is not too late.

感染中國武漢肺炎/莊峻華

感染中國武漢肺炎/莊峻華

美國人感染中國武漢肺炎人數増加，變成世界第一，每日愛美均收看紐約科莫州長，記者說明會，然後通知我，並且與我討論，我承認我的肺炎知識，全部來自台灣之政論節目，尤其是一位台大李秉穎醫生之病理分析，美國人公共衛生之警惕，不若台灣，而且兩國總統，危機處理，方式策略不同，兩國國民服從政府觀念，非常有異，最重要的是，台灣人尚有全民健保，這項武器，美國有四千萬人口，沒有健康保險，有三千萬非法移民，無從投保，我們家愛美，因我失業近二十年，沒有團體險，又年輕不得加入老人健保，歐巴瑪健保，因有財產收入太貴，故僅保住院和開刀險，一萬美元自備款，幾乎是沒有健康保險。

所以我們有危機意識，我是自我方逐，在家隔離，她仍需要買菜，現在教會也不去矣，我們惟一之破口，應僅元兒之超市工作，我們準備口罩，如臨大敵，我們相信小心防範，也相信不被感染，對身體和財政，都有幫助，美國這麼多人感染，每況愈下，到底何故？是失去控制？

美國是有許多貧民，貧民需要工作，不斷工作，像元兒一般，需要有工作，始得工會之團體健康保險，有八個共和黨執政州政府，最近通過貧民收入標準，使州民容易參加歐巴瑪健保，就是得到貧民保險費補助，川普想廢歐巴瑪健保之干擾，是越來越無力，有健保，國民較能提早求醫，沒有財務憂慮，感染治癒機會増加。

紐約市病患中，有相當人數是年輕人，年輕人病患，死亡率稍低，但器官被病毒破壞，仍不可小觀，這是一生求生存之必要條件，紐約市居住環境，不若鄉下各州，但我們德州等大州，感染數目増加，是極不可原諒之疏忽，不戴口罩，不保持安全距離，都是勞民傷財，甚至無需之生命傷亡，這是個人和家庭之極端不幸。

Chinese red regime is collapsing/Carlos Pueblo

Chinese red regime is collapsing/Carlos Pueblo

There are signs of Chinese red regime is collapsing. The protest of Hong Kong residents, the out break of Wuhan novel corona virus pandemic, the tension of wars on several fronts, the trade war with the U.S., and the economic downturn in China as well as the entire world.

The fire starts in Hong Kong and the Chinese Communist regime doesn't know how to handle it. It is the first signal of the rebellion. Once Chinese military movement toward Hong Kong, we shall see the military coup d'e.tat which means a branch of moving army will go to the direction of Beijing. Chinese Liberation Army is pulling back from the border of India in order to prevent from further direct conflict with India, yet the tensions in the South China Sea, the Formosa Straight, the East China Sea, and the Yellow China Sea, etc. are still very much in tack.

Due to the trade conflict with the U.S., the foreign investment are moving out of China to find a better place to manufacture their products; therefore, they are requesting the return of their capital investment. They are cashing out their Chinese currency holding in change of the other major currency. The Community regime attempts not to pay them or has no intention to honor its own currency by accusing the foreign firms not paying tax for instance. Chinese regime brags about their richness of the gross domestic number yet they are very poor like their number of the GDP per capital.

The diseases of many kinds in China have severely damaged the life and economic. The weather doesn't help either. The three dams on upper Yangtze River are facing collapsed by heavy rain to flood at least 6 provinces and populated cities such as Shanghai and Nangking, etc. Chinese are famous for their tolerance of the hardship and I wonder how long they can sustain such hardship.

I believe that it is similar to 1989 when the Soviet collapsed. It is worst of all cases simultaneously occurred in China, the Communist regime is just overwhelmed and collapsing.  

中國紅色帝國正在瓦解中/莊峻華

中國紅色帝國正在瓦解中/莊峻華

中國港版國安法通過實施日，香港股市不跌反漲，中國政府介入護盤，否則更慘，我認為這是投資者，賣出之時候，拿回一些港幣，設法兌換外幣，保存實力，不能兌換人民幣，因為人民幣有危險，中國紅色帝國正在瓦解中，何以然？這是歷史跡象和經驗。中國目前遭遇天災人禍，沒有一路可渡此難關。

蘇聯在1989年瓦解，這是第一號紅色帝國之瓦解，沒有經過戰爭死亡破害，比起1945年之納粹帝國，和日本帝國，和平甚多，這是人類之進步，和人類之福氣，避過一場人類大浩劫，我不知中國紅色帝國之瓦解，將經過如何之過程？全球都在密切之關注。 

中國瓦解，有很多前兆，目前中國政權，無一能解，第一，香港自治問題，已經到你死我活之地步，這是中國歷史上之陳勝吳廣，揭杆起義，再來，中國有瘟疫，有武漢肺炎，情況不明，連美國之川普政權都將被波及倒台，中國有大洪水，長江三峽，將崩潰，中國有飢荒，中國糧食不足，中國面對多方面之戰爭，印度邊界，台灣海峽，南中國海與美國，陳兵對峙，北西北邊界之俄羅斯，一旦戰爭爆發，中國勢必有軍隊叛變，帶兵將領，必揮兵兵北京，這是重復之歷史。

我看不出習近平總書記，有能力處理如此危機，中國紅色帝國之滅亡，給予中國人一個機會，跟上世界，享受和平自由和尊嚴之生活。

Two China issue/Carlos Pueblo

Two China issue/Carlos Pueblo

Chinese has issued a new Hong Kong Security Law recently with a lot of no's on Hong Kong Independent, Taiwan Independent, Tibet Independent, and East Turkestan Independent, etc.; however, I don't see the reinforce of the offense of one China slogan this time. The new law doesn't strike any term of penalty of two China idea or advocacy such as another China in Taiwan called the Republic of China, an independent Nation. I don't see any severe penalty posted on this new Law as an example to threaten Taiwanese, 24 millions of them.

We all know that Chinese love to post the slogan and promise to penalize those who make the offense. This is the reason why I don't visit China except I do make an exception to visit Hong Kong once. I was very concerned and very low key to see without talking at that almost 4 days visit. I did see posters every where about Hong Kong Independence. I am told that Hong Kong residents remove them and clean those area to avoid the arrest by the new Law.

Next time when I go back to Taiwan through a stop over in Japan, I'll insist that my itinerary will not include China in order to protect my own safety. I believe that it is my own right to reflect most of the dream of Chinese who love to leave China. Chinese government has no jurisdiction of what I think and what I say and write even if I am on their airplanes. Of course, I am a careful person and I will not put myself in danger to take an airliner with a Chinese name to give Chinese government a chance to practice such law. I don't want to test the U.S. authority to challenge such law. I believe more that Chinese military can't enforce such law in Texas to arrest me unless I am on their airplane in China and I am not that stupid.

I tell Amy who is more engaged in the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic that what my decision not taking Chinese Airliner or my precaution to avoid the arrest by Chinese Government. She is not impressed.

兩個中國無罪/莊峻華

兩個中國無罪/莊峻華

剛剛中國為香港設立一國安法，按照中國人之邏輯，世界上很多人都犯該法，都雖遠必誅，例如主張香港獨立犯法，台灣獨立犯法，新疆獨立犯法，西藏獨立犯法等等，中國人真的如此想，一直到現在的台灣，上上下下，均自號中華民國，這是兩個中國，北京之中華人民共合國，台北的中華民國，我的政治常識是，兩個中國，但台灣漸漸感到慚愧，避而不提其憲法上之統治幅圓範圍，中國則堅持世界只有一個中國，凡是主張國土分裂者，均犯法，不但不能講，也不能想，我懷疑中國有那麼多之監獄，得以容納這麼多犯其罪者，所以該法不例舉蔡英文等人以下，聲稱國名者有罪，講兩個中國無罪。

我相信中國人講殺人，是說得到做得到，因此我要盡量避免搭機途經中國，不能拿生命開玩笑，家兄去過中國幾次，鼓勵我參觀中國，我怕死，因我自幼主張台灣獨立，現在主張香港獨立，新疆獨立，西藏獨立，甚至讓滿州獨立，主張中國國土分裂，中共亡國，因此絕對不敢入中國境內，兄曰我過甚其詞，但我相信中國人，真是如此邏輯，有一次，我搭全日航，從東京飛台北，途經上海機場，在機場過關有困難，我一直擔心國土分裂之問題，後來愛美安慰到，琳兒過關也有問題，她也有問題，所以應該是中國海關效率之問題，我曾受國民黨中國人統治多年，深知中國統治者，如何整肅異議者。

美國朝野上下，已經開始覺醒，現在先面對中國武漢肺炎，繼續増加進口關稅，然後禁運，軍隊開始佈署訓練，隨時可以在南中國海，台灣海峽，東中國海，黃中國海等，和中國一戰，印度也想和中國一戰，俄羅斯也將乘機進入新疆，中共紅朝不倒，中國必將亡國，香港只是導火線耳。

Another one quits our tennis meet/Carlos Pueblo

Another one quits our tennis meet/Carlos Pueblo

This morning at our regular Friday morning tennis meet, Tony told me that Patrick was with a fever and couldn't make it while West was at home waiting for our call. I figure it out that is another one quits our tennis meet again. It is very difficult to make it workable for a tennis double meet. First, not many players can make it permanently, second, the tennis court is not that easy to arrange, and third, not many people can play tennis. I am lucky that I can still play with some less than U.S.T.A. 3.0 players to have two sets to satisfy my ego that means to win one set and loss one after switch the partner. That partner is the sick one who plays good ping pong and uses a lot of drop shots.

Tony and I rallied a while and quit and I went to next door swimming pool for my 15 rounds which was 5 more than the regular due to lack of tennis running. I am thinking how do I make my life more interesting after the summer without the tennis. I may ask some one to take me to the golf that I can hit straight and walk for a long distance except that I don't like to pay for golf which needs to be solved. Otherwise, I must e-mail the Captain to join the league if there is any after the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic.

I have a schedule of 4 plus hours every morning to have my morning exercises routine, walk, tennis, and swimming. After they are done, I am exhausted and rest for the rest of my day. I go to bed very early every night and wake up very early after midnight for the toilet use and read the overnight news in the U.S. or the political talk shows in Taiwan. I also write a piece on my blog on the Google and the Tumblr. I go to sleep again and wait for the walk at the day break.

老年人運動/莊峻華

老年人運動/莊峻華

今晨網球局，四缺二，因為第四位發燒，所以第三位在家等候，於是我們兩位，在球場拉球些許，然後鳥獸散，我到隔壁游泳池，多游五圈，老年人運動，受到身體健康狀況之限制，若非身體適應，無法如願活動鍛鍊，我們一時找不到第四位球伴，網球局可能將中斷些時。還好，我仍然可以晨步和晨泳，維持例行老年人運動，冬天到來，說不定我可以打高爾夫球，我自信可以擊中球，而且又可步行球場，現在就是要會算球記分數。

自從増強清晨散步哩數和游泳後，發現左肩和左膝蓋關節酸痛，突然消失，顯然是因為四肢經常活動有幫助，運動回家後，已經身疲力竭，需要很多休息，一日飛渡，清晨又復始，非常迅速，我好像非常期待一日之到來。

其實，這麼一切活動，不過四小時餘，然後就需要一整日之休息，老年人運動，確是耗費體力，我甚慶幸我尚可如此享受，一旦我力有不逮，那就是真正老邁，不知如何適從？我說再給我七年半時光。

Utilizing the individual U.S. pension plans/Carlos Pueblo

Utilizing the individual U.S. pension plans/Carlos Pueblo

In order to accumulate my own individual capital, I utilized the individual U.S. pension plans such as the individual retirement account, the HR-10 Keogh Plan, and the company's 401k Plan, etc. I do have another small company's defined benefit plan and an after tax annuity plan along with that 401k contribution. These pension plans have been very good to me and successfully made me financial independent. I used to sell mutual fund IRA to my customers to save money for the retirement and repeat it so often that I also pass it on to both of my children to get on the pension plans when they begin to work.

The U.S. Government encourage the citizen to save for their retirement by deferring their income tax until they withdraw the fund. This is how it works, you can deduct your annual contribution to the pension plans from your annual earned income and funds stayed in accounts without reporting any gain through out the growing period until you withdraw it from accounts. IRS shall take its share of the account by taxing you as that year's annual income. It is very fair and I believe the Government may come out ahead because in my case, I have more income than before my retirement.

U.S. politician understand that well prepared citizen at their retirement age will have no burden to the Government in the financial means. It will keep the society more stable and the government can focus more on helping the under privilege citizen which is the idea. It won't bother me if I am so called discriminated in the society if any. I am paying taxes to the federal and the local tax authorities while almost 50% of the population do not have to pay, at least those people can not discriminate me for any reason. I have mentioned so many times that I did borrow some money to cover the air fare from Honolulu, Hawaii to Auburn, Alabama.

I don't mind that people complain; however, we must attempt ourselves to improve our financial situation first by working, no matter how humble the job is, second by saving and investing, utilize the individual U.S. pension plans is an excellent vehicle which is agreed by almost everyone and practiced quite often in the society.

善用美國退休計劃/莊峻華

善用美國退休計劃/莊峻華

美國政府鼓勵國民儲蓄，商界輿論界，鼓勵人民消費，鼓勵儲蓄是期待減少貧戶，鼓勵消費，是在刺激經濟繁榮，所以優先有序，我因為出身貧窮，因此特別注意儲蓄和投資，善用美國退休計劃，曾是我的職業，我賣退休計劃，購買基金，一直到放棄一般證券執照，美國退休計劃，最主要之好處，就是緩交所得稅，一直到領出時，所以可以暫時控制稅務，我使用之退休計劃有三種，個人退休金計劃，基歐計劃，和401k計劃，這三種計劃，現在合併為兩種，是我財務獨立之主要工具。

要懂善用美國退休計劃之原理，相信它之作用，持續購買，年年購買，累積成長期，這一段成長，可以暫緩繳年所得稅，待退休無收入時，漸漸領出，可以控制稅率，今年年初，我需籌措一筆款，結果領錯一筆儲蓄項目，需要再年底前，補領一筆，以符年度領出最低額，結果遇到政府因中國武漢肺炎，股市重挫，免去今年領出規定，所以我可以暫時無需増加今年收入，美國是一理想合理之國度，我漸漸了解，這些給國民緩稅之優待，其時是放長線釣大魚，我老年之稅務，反而較高，但我也樂意。

善用美國退休計劃，先需要有工作收入，要能量入為出，要相信儲蓄投資，我有兩子女，從小就聽聞我的教導，從小就儲蓄投資，退休計劃都做到最高額，琳兒是高薪，威力更大，元兒是基本工資，儲蓄股息總和，去年已逼近其年收入，兩人工作，都滿十多年，儲蓄都有成果，都達財政獨立之途。

Owning a house is a privilege/Carlos Pueblo

Owning a house is a privilege/Carlos Pueblo

It is a goal to own a house of your own no matter via finance or out right purchase. We must have a place to live 24 hours a day. All my retirement plan is based on that I own a house without any debt obligation except the real estate tax. Then, I can calculate and balance my income and expanse in order to live comfortably.

There are several economic down turn in the recent history in Houston due to the oil price. in the 80's for instance, there was one that the loss of 200,000 plus oil industry related jobs. Most of my insureds who were engineers lost their jobs and yet tried to hold on till they felt no hope to make it. Foreclosure of mortgaged dwellings and banks were very common. It was because of the mortgage default. Fortunately, Houston is still a big job market and we gradually obtain some other business than oil in the area. People are moving back to Houston for their family to build a life. At that time, I was terminated by an insurance company and received a small lump sum payment for my agency. I paid off my first lien of the house and later took a 0% credit card balance transfer to pay off the second. This decision allowed me to have my second opportunity to build up my new agency again. 

Houston is prosperous again as always. In 2012, we sold the old Traviata house to a builder for $400,000 and he had already sold the land to a rich and young family to build a mansion of 1.25 millions. We instead to purchase a less aged and well built two story house three miles south for $252,000. This is what now I have enjoyed so much on the morning walk, home gardening, playing tennis, swimming, and getting to know so many pet dogs friends and their owners. Again, my obligation is limited to the real estate tax and home owner association fee annually. If I divide such cost into three of us, it is about $100 per month much better than a lease of an apartment.

During the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic, I feel no threat at all on my finance. It is because that I have had a house free of mortgage and is a privilege. There are some minor issues like all houses and I ignore them as long as that they don't bother my way of life. I'll be gone very soon and I shall let Arthur to worry about it. A builder may step in again to tear it down for the next owner and it is no longer my concern.

住有其屋之經驗/莊峻華

住有其屋之經驗/莊峻華

美國地大物博，住有其屋，不算困難，除紐約市外，擁有獨門獨院住屋，是一基本目標，尤其居住在德州，在休市有固定收入者，都可以住有己屋，最近我提到之老年生活安排，都是建立在住有其屋之經驗上，就是一切買斷，沒有貸款負擔。

於是一年內，只繳地方稅，約是住屋官估屋價之百分之三，還有住屋協會年金六百元，以我老人折扣，約是四千美元一年，我們三人居住，一人約是一百餘元，實在便宜，三人手機月費，都是一百美元。於是我可以開始每天心算，我的收支平衡，當年或是八年範圍內。

我們住茶花女街舊屋30餘年後，售出搬到此戴爾蒙特街，賣出去40萬，買進來26萬，所以賺錢，建屋質料更好，所差異者為學區不同耳，我們家人，均過學齡，所以無甚所謂，而且我準備在此屋老去，我自無需擔憂賣不賣出去之問題，說不定屋老後，建商又來收購，拆屋翻新。

剛開始購屋無本錢，所以有貸款，我們迅速提前還清，減少失業時之壓力，我的壓力是在子女高中畢業，開始上大學，我又失業，但無面臨危機，因無房貸，而且我也有妥善之安排，就是開始變錢周轉，非常有趣，賣掉兩棟租屋，取的現金十萬，我相信那十萬，一直讓我周轉到現在。

住有其屋，應該是住有己屋，也是儲蓄，也是累積資本，舉元兒為例，省去租公寓之費用，全部放在其退休金，我們老頭兒，僅繳一些稅，來維持此屋，都是能力範圍內，所以住有其屋是一目標，我提到之清晨散步，網球，游泳，家庭園藝，和結識鄰居愛犬等享受，都是盈餘福利。

My individual financial strategy/Carlos Pueblo

My individual financial strategy/Carlos Pueblo

The Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic out break is only one of the down turn of the financial market, a severe one as a matter of fact. After I takes the interest of how the response of the U.S. Government, I feel more sure of my individual financial financial strategy which is very aggressively investing my saving in retirement funds in the growth market with no reservation of cash. I'll explain the reasons.

First, I don't have very much impressive of income from the beginning, my last permanent job has been ended in 2001. I get by my regular cost of living by practicing  a frugal way of life and the relying heavily on the emerging growth funds. I have had a small and steady social security income plus a stream of the requirement minimum distribution of my regular retirement accounts according to the IRS regulation. I can still move around my credit card 0% interest loan with a 3% fee paid ahead of the cash transfer which I call it to get something from nothing. In that way, I have created a mortgage for my daughter Michelle on her purchase of a San Antonio house to rent. Total the current income sources, I have had sufficient funds to pass on my life with some extra to save. I am healthy with a very good habit of exercises including the morning walk, tennis, swimming, and gardening, etc. several hours a day. I am under the HMO medical care protection.

Therefore, I can keep my retirement saving 100% percent in growth stock funds in order to utilize the power of that the money making money for me. I don't need the extra cash at hand for doing nothing. I select the emerging growth fund the most, of course, I do have two mistake of holding two blue chip stocks which I gradually withdrawal under the RMD program annually. I believe that every party in the world loves to see the prosper of the U.S. stock market as well as the U.S. prosperity which will benefit all party. After the great depression of 1929, there have been laws and regulations still in force to prevent that from occurring again such as the social security, the unemployment benefit, the federal deposit insurance corp, and some Q1, Q2,and more to save the U.S. economic life. Imaging all of these collapse simultaneously one day and I should be dead and there is no need for me to worry about. I can't get a steady job long enough for me to be satisfied; therefore, I am lucky to save the capital working for me as a second job which I have described several times.

I have no threat of a major spending for the time being, I am driving an old vehicle near to an antic status for my daily swimming an two tennis in a week which are all within a mile. I have developed a system of the family use vehicles which are distributed according to the safety of usage such as Amy drives the newest car, Michelle takes the second, Arthur the third, and I get what left for salvage. We don't waste and make a full use of the vehicle as long as possible. The pandemic has stopped my travelling ever since the beginning of February and I don't see that I can go back to visit my lovely daughters on the cruise; therefore, I have developed my way of new normal life at home free of the expenditure.