My prediction of the 2020 U.S. election/Carlos Pueblo

 

My prediction of the 2020 U.S. election/Carlos Pueblo

The 2020 US election is only 64 days away and I predict that the Democrat will sweep the House, the Senate, and the White House. It is all because of these four years of Donald Trump. Can anyone tell me what has been happened in this administration except an executive lead of legislation of the tax cut? The small tax cut may be benefited to a few rich; however, their overall portfolios are depreciated and less safe than before. Who are going to be the back bone of our tax revenue? Almost 50% of the American is not paying the federal income tax and now the rich and the corporate are paying less, plus I don’t see the rosy scenery of the U.S. economic, yet the national debt is ballooning. Even some of the conservative Republican are shaking their head, by the way, where is the Tea Party?

He breaks the law all the time, before the White House and in the White House. He thinks that he is above the law. There are many law suits and prosecutions waiting for him when he leaves the White House in January next year. Democrats ran on impeaching him and won the House of Representative. Even my Republican district changes hand to the Democrat and her only campaign issue is to impeach him. The House did impeach him yet fell in the Republican control Senate. In November, Democrats will keep the House and also take over the Senate. Without it, the U.S. will not have any progress at all and still wasting time even if the Democrat takes the White House.

Those voters like me who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 would never vote for Trump this time. She got more votes than him. I like to see how those voters in coal states, steel states, and agricultural states, etc. will vote this time. The U.S. has never been like his description of great again. Of course, I know that American has been great all the time. America is not great when you can’t find a job to earn a living to support yourself and your family. There are about 70 millions of American are not great any more. It is his mismanagement of the nation.

There is another great risk which he is taking now. He wants to create a war against China in order to take away everybody’s attention of his loosing election. I read Chinese and I know as well he knows. China is surrendering and Xi orders his military forces not to fire the first shot. Chinese is eager to talk whatever except no independent for Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and the East Turkestan. It is too late for him to take the opportunity for the peace of the world.

 

美國大選預測2020/莊峻華

 

美國大選預測2020/莊峻華

美國今年大選，已經如火如荼展開，我預測民主黨後選人拜登，將高票當選，落敗之川普總統，將開始面對法律，面對其私人企業之倒閉，我是根據我多年政治之觀察經驗，當然2016年希拉蕊之落敗，純屬政治意外，和美國和世界之不幸，美國浪費四年，不進反退。

2016年投希拉蕊者，絕對不會轉投川普，除非俄羅斯再度介入，古東歐流行一句史達林名言，選舉重要者，並非如何投票，而是如何算票，大哉言論也，美國人2016年不察，不知今年學到乖否？學不到乖，也只有自討苦吃，尤其這些弱勢者，要出來投拜登，投民主黨，共和黨總統任內，經濟都崩潰，雷根之1987, 老布希之1999，小布希之2008，都是民主黨總統，克林頓和歐巴瑪各執政八年後，始恢復正常，國家赤字趨緩，不在世界各處，惹事生非，美國人要征服中國嗎？

川普姦商也，借錢都倒債，現在美國讓他管四年，也快倒閉，美國有錢人，在美國經濟崩潰後，損失更大，智慧人如我者，都不知如何置我手足？股票兌現？有惟恐美金崩潰，不會？不會像拉丁美洲諸國，我說會，這不學無術之混混，連武漢肺炎之大難臨頭，都不知旅遊業之困境，難怪一直鑽法律漏洞，宣佈倒閉，倒銀行錢，銀行倒人民定期，倒國家銀行保險。

這種天天說謊者，仍有聞臭之夫，我看他能騙到何時？美國農民收入，有比德國農民好嗎？賓州鋼鐵工人，媒炭工人，工作回龍乎？武漢肺炎造成之六千萬失業者，都有機會找到工作嗎？我在失業後，二十年都找不到穩定工作，還好省吃檢用，投票給克林頓和歐巴瑪，十六年股市大漲，打下基礎，現在股票指數恢復，是騙人的，只有高科技股，川普上下周圍，都是無知者，高科技是美國一些人聰明努力，絕對不是川普之功勞。

Promoting to grow papaya/Carlos Pueblo

 

Promoting to grow papaya/Carlos Pueblo

My neighbors grow the papaya on their yard with green fruits hanging on the stem which are good looking especially when it is ripe with the golden color. I dump everything left after cutting the fruit to an old iron barrel full of soil and water it every day. Now, I have many young papaya plants five inches tall. I decide to promote some other neighbors to grow the papaya. I dig them up and pack up four boxes of plants to make my delivery. Two of them have previous growing papaya experience while two of them have eaten the fruit yet never seen the tree. It is not easy to grow the tree in Houston because that we must protect the root during the frozen winter. It  is a multiple years tree which can last for many years in the tropical weather area like Hawaii or Taiwan, etc.

I have had a find memory of growing the papaya in my childhood. On our labor class at the 5^th grade, we helped our teacher to transplant the papaya sprout into an empty ground by the swimming pool. I have built up my interest to look at the tree wherever I travel around the world. I have done it before when I live at the old house with some harvest. The cost is nothing if we don’t consider how well of the fruit should be. First, they must pass this coming winter and see the fruit next year during the fall and after.

Of course, we can purchase the fruit from any of the super market to eat, yet observing the tree be derived from the see to a tree and bearing fruits is wonderful.

推廣種木瓜/莊峻華

 

推廣種木瓜/莊峻華

食畢木瓜，將木瓜子埋在拾來水桶土中，夏天瓜苗冒出，欣欣向榮，正想如何處置瓜苗？於是我開始推廣種木瓜，鄰居聞言，甚感有趣，於是我趁開車上游泳池，送上四盆瓜苗，其中有兩位曾種過木瓜，兩位不曾看過木瓜，但吃過木瓜，在休市種木瓜，需要耐心，木瓜冬天需要保護根部，不受凍寒，也是多年生植物，我說種木瓜於門前庭院，等結橙黃果實，就像夏威夷，只是天氣稍熱些耳。

我在茶花女街，種過木瓜，也是豪無成本，而且也有收穫，只不過果株肥料不足，果實較小，但有相同味道，我在台灣故鄉，無論埔里或虎尾，最喜歡觀看鄰居木瓜樹，欣賞木瓜，也種過木瓜，那是小學勞作課，幫一位牛老師，在游泳池旁一空地，開發一片木瓜園，也偷採過教室旁水泥牆旁之木瓜，為女生檢舉，導師要班長帶我回家，告訴母親，這是唯一讓家長失顏面之憾事，我在小學讀書成績佳，只是名次不佳，但也挫折不了我之意志。

幾天前在游泳池，遇見一位小女孩莉迪亞，很大方前來打招呼，又詳細詢問我名字，原來她母親是牙買加人，難怪門前有棵木瓜，一大串青瓜，兩週後約可採收，戴安娜問我是否探詢許可，我曰不能，蓋木瓜有超市價格也，戴是受贈瓜苗四位之一，她年紀與我相仿，仍在城中上班，手機電腦技術甚佳，但不識果株形狀，在聖寶娜河下游，有一別墅兩英畝庭院，鄰居空地有一株台灣之椪柑，她已知道需要注意十一月，幫我採收，她的兩畝地，真的能種很多香蕉，很多蕃石榴等。

有兩位鄰居，在城外有農場，也是清晨散步夥伴，一位欣蒂家有四百英畝，在德州中部小丘上，約兩千英呎高，我開始推廣她，試種普洛蒂亞花，這是一來自南非之美麗花朵，需要有四季分明氣候，聞德州也出產，繼夏威夷和佛羅里達之後，她是我們社區之家庭園藝理事，深表興趣，她之兩愛犬，是我知心好友。另一位是凱西，家有約七百英畝地，在十號公路往聖安東尼市途中，她種過木瓜，也是四位之一，我帶她參觀一鄰居之蕃石榴和絲瓜，她都表興趣栽種。

第三位鄰居是邁克，八年前我們就發現他之木瓜株在庭院，後來我因散步和其愛犬相識，他也有興趣，再種木瓜。第四位是對面鄰居，法國太太瑪麗亞，她準備明年贈我一些琵琶，我先贈她木瓜苗。

The virtual clinic/Carlos Pueblo

 

The virtual clinic/Carlos Pueblo

My physician’s nurse instructs me how to connect to him via i-phone to perform a virtual clinic appointment which is hindered by the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus. I had had an issue of a urethritis and a urinary continence last Thursday. He prescribes me a week supply of antibiotic to kill the infection, as a matter of fact, I the pain was decreased a little bit and my urination process was improving before the clinic. He wants to deal with the infection first and to see the development later, if any. The clinic lasts for two minutes.

I have been thinking of my problem of the urination and consulted with the other old men including my own brother about this issue. Now, I have received a bottle of the healthy food supplement to reduce the swelling of my prostate, I don’t know if there is any? If there is one, I shouldn’t be so easy to get away from the pain and lost control of the urine. Furthermore, I do have semi-annual blood test, four test tubes of my blood, to check on every possible risk of my health condition including the prostate cancer. That number makes more meaning to my physician and his nurse than me actually. I have had my total confidence in them.

I asked Amy to check my weight, body temperature, and blood pressure to make up with questions from the nurse. She didn’t give me a hard time when I couldn’t answer. I pay more attention to my morning exercises than anything else except the eating. I am glad that I have lost some weight even though I am still like 6 months in pregnancy. I know that I can get rid of it if I go vegan diet. It is too inconvenient for Amy to prepare.

Let see how many times which I have visited my physician this year? They are all for the infection that I must be more careful about it yet how? How can I control the urethritis? Not go to swim as Arthur’s claim to give up swimming?

視訊門診/莊峻華

 

視訊門診/莊峻華

因為尿道發炎，又是武漢肺炎肆虐期間，無法看門診，只好視訊門診，就是在手機上，讓大夫看到我，然後重復護士之問題，有經驗和學識之好大夫，立下判斷，開一帖消炎片，結束視訊門診，他說有問題再解決，一共兩分鐘不到，很快藥局電話來，我開車領藥去，非常有效率。

先是護士來話，詢問我看門診原因，我因有準備，所以解釋清楚，問體溫，體重，和血壓，我一問三不知，她也無法計較，只好教我如何連接視訊，讓大夫看到我，上次我使用桌型電腦迷路，她說只要跟著電話音訊即可，不久我就看到大夫臉孔，耳機也聽到其聲，省下我開車和門診室煎熬。

每人體質不同，生老病死等八苦際遇也不一，久病成醫者之描述，很多是危言聳聽，或是擴充其詞，我離群索居日久，不甚習慣，我自有老人健保後，每半年都有驗血身體檢查，始可再領糖尿病三種藥，所以驗血事項，包擴心臟，膽固醇，和癌症痕跡，而且包括老男人之通病攝護腺，所以若有問題，半年前，甚至前八年之數目，必有警訊，而且最重要者為，解決小便疼痛，和尿禁失控之大問題。

我很喜歡這位大夫，他是位哲學博士，又是醫學博士，老神在在，給我很大信心，他讓我靠他，而且我要求步多，只想活到八十，我也離去不遠，而且也因武漢肺炎肆虐，更合理化我的自我放逐生活，每日勤於清晨運動，與愛犬為伍，所交遊者盡是高尚愉快之人士也。

而且，人體健康，也可以產生抗體，如我因網球局，延期視訊門診三日，尿道炎已趨緩，而且失尿也漸控制，開始服藥，當然可以迅速復原，減少病痛矣。

The urethritis/Carlos Pueblo

 

The urethritis/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, I have experienced a difficulty of urination. Suddenly I lost my control of urination, called urinary incontinence or involuntary urination. I am told that is very common for a man of age, yet I don’t see it should happen to me so fast. Last Thursday, I was not able to wait till I reached the toilet and couldn’t stop the flow of my urine when I used the faucet. I also feel a gingerly pain when I do the urination. I called my family physician’s office for a visual clinic appointment and also seek advice from some male friends of my age. I understand that some of my organs are out of shape and I must have a medical attention. It can be one of several reasons, a swelling prostate or a prostate cancer, or the urethritis, an infection somewhere in that area which hinder my function of urination.

My tennis body gives me a bottle of herb medicine gel to take to decrease the swelling. He says that has helped him well for a long time. I instantly make some preparation to shorten the time to the toilet by wearing underwear at home and schedule well for my long morning walk. After three days I am feeling better of myself to deal with this unpleasant issue and feel less pain now when urinate. It may be just the infection and my body healing itself.

I still have had a good memory of treating my bed wetting issue during my childhood. My dad took me to a Chinese herb medicine specialist to have a prescription. It is sweet and I later recognize that one ingredient is the semen coieis or coix seed. I thought that might help me this time also yet no body remembered such prescription. I can buy the coix seed on the oriental super market and I may just cook it like a sweet soup dessert.

I don’t pay close attention to my blood test each time for the refill of the diabetes medicine. I think that my physician does check my prostate cancer indication. I am alright till this year if there is any must be at the early stage that can be managed well than later. I shouldn’t let it bother me too much.

 

身體微恙/莊峻華

 身體微恙/莊峻華

年老後，泌尿出問題，尿禁失靈，最近幾日尤甚，所以我約布魯賽大夫，來個視訊門診，卻又因網球局延期，網球局中，立刻出狀況，連忙到廁所更衣，球伴立即顧問，就是先看醫生，吃特效藥，然後慢慢檢查身體，看看是前攝腺腫，或是前攝腺癌，兩者之一，提早治療，都可以保送我到八十歲，愛美緊張，電話詢問峻嚴，他說要找泌尿科，我又和他爭論一番，泌尿科跟我小題大作，我真會受不了，於是我在家只穿內褲，隨時應變，寒舍有廁三處，愛美特許我使用任何一處。

我的症狀是，遇見廁所，或是水龍頭流水，小便就流將出來，這是很困擾者也，在家裏，還可以馬上更換衣物，在外散步，就需要提前準備，安排廁所距離，游泳池也要準備妥善，網球局就請同伴原諒，或一局下課上廁所，我小時上學，或是出外旅行，都是先找廁所，紐西蘭地方政府，最為體貼，廣設免費廁所，而且美侖美奐。

我想我是有尿道發炎，所以小便疼痛，兩日來稍為不烈，我懷疑發炎何以無體溫？球伴為退休眼鏡醫生，他說距離太遠，頭不會痛，因此我更放心，說不定大夫就給我消炎片，就可打發我回去矣。

我是有糖尿病痼疾二十餘年，現在都是藥物控制，這尿禁將會是第二問題，我就開始正式面對，我要小心安排出外旅行。

The stock market under the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

 The stock market under the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

There was a market crash early this year due to the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus pandemic outbreak. Many people have lost their jobs and business are closed. All indicates that we are in deep trouble of recession or even depression. I was out of my requirement minimum distribution due to a loan to Michelle's purchase of a rental house plus a two credit cards balance transfer loan to make up that loan. However, there was a withdraw account which was wrong that I thought I would have to do it again. The government waives that RMD requirement for this year for the market crash reason; yet I am still concerned. The market is coming nicely and I don't know the reasons. I took the mistaken amount out in order to prepare to pay off the credit card loans before a short break of a stall in the market.

There is something which I don't know even though I really want to know, why the stock market is coming back up so rapidly. I don't see people are going back to the office to work, I don't see that I dare to spend my money and I am in the minimum consumption and not helping the gross domestic product number at all. I shall leave it alone as long as I am all right with my retirement funds to live by. I am up on certain high tech funds, even with a major capital growth funds, and down with two single stocks, one oil and one auto maker stocks. I am taking out my RMD first from the loosing stocks first and leave all my rest savings on the market to help me to earn some money.

I have a goal to live up to age 80 which is not that far away. Based on my basic calculation, I am OK with my social security income, Michelle's mortgage payment, a small miscellaneous income, plus the RMD yearly to be survival. I exercise every day in order to keep a healthy body and a quick death. I am very satisfied with what I have come through. If I can live longer and save more money for my children that will be even more meaningful. 

疫情下之股市/莊峻華

 疫情下之股市/莊峻華

疫情下之股市，又吸引我的注意，因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，股市重挫，慘不忍睹，這應是二月之後，我想我之退休金大幅縮水，因此不再注意每日股市變化，很奇怪，股市又開始回升，雖然許多美國人，仍舊失業，許多行業，仍舊關閉，但是我的高科技基金，已經超過去年底之收盤，一般大型資本股票基金，也開始恢復，只有兩張長年持有石油和汽車股票，仍舊損失慘重，但我已經恢復關看股市指數，計算每日漲值。

我的退休金數目尚小，所以仍舊在心算範圍內，雖然我無法了解，股市如何回升如此，但也無需了解後始投資，我先處理一領出年度退休金，雖然今年可以暫緩免領出，但我有兩張信用卡債，即將到期，我先放在銀行準備，其餘仍留在股市，我相信末日尚遠，退休金在股市，較在銀行低利息合算。

我猜測股市認為，美國經濟將在六個月後，恢復正常，因此股市已經開始活動，我非相信此解釋不可，如果美國經濟，仍無起色，股市仍會委縮，關稅物價和消費等，均將面臨新之評估，股票兌現為美金，也非安全，美國政府，猛印新鈔票，貨幣有貶值壓力，拿美金也有壓力。

讓我先將債務還清，然後繼續節約儲蓄，保持舊投資，我要留給子女，我的退休金和傢具等，他們可以送走我的舊書。

Make a good use of a text book/Carlos Pueblo

 Make a good use of a text book/Carlos Pueblo

While at a school, we must make a good use of a text book. What I have stated as how to catch up at a school is based on making a good use of a text book. It is because that the curriculum is mainly based on the text book of a school to select. I was late to understand the factor only when I was away from college and teaching at a senior high school. My dad's old boss at work was retired and teaching at a junior college at that time. He mentioned to me how wonderful a text book served to him as a reference, i.e. the glossary for our search for the definition of a word. Most of the text book has a basic definition of such word and we can also go to the chapter to find more in details. Our schools education are all related from the elementary school up to the college even the future continue education. A good text book is very handy even as convenient as the current day Google search.

I was very good at the arithmetic when I was at the elementary school. My next door neighbor who was a year ahead of me gave me his old arithmetic text book and my teacher gave me a brand new note book to drill. I was ahead of the class for at least one year. I lost that habit after I entered the junior high school and was behind on algebra, plane geometry, and trigonometry. The failure to catch up with the mathematics continue to the senior high school and the college. I has been very miserable and regrettable in my life. I believe that to make a good use of a text book, like the math book, at least can help us to catch up with the class. In Taiwan, there are varies entrance examination for senior high school and colleges; therefore, we can make it up to pass those examinations by reviewing and drill all of those we are behind by repeating drill of the text book. My goal is to study abroad especially in the United States; therefore, I must select the natural science field at college, i.e. chemistry. I must go back to the old math text book to drill more and more in order to make it to average level and make up with the other courses to bring up my average in order to pass such examination to enter a good college. 

I went to a teacher's university to study with the tuition free for my degree and then, I got a teaching assistant position for my graduate study in the U.S. Even though I had had a hard time to prolong my carrier as a trained chemist, I did make a successful change of carrier as an insurance agent and some general security business. I didn't work for as long as I desire; however, I did save sufficient fund to make the family going through. The old text book helps me to get the knowledge of numbers and to make a balance sheet in my family life. Now, I can even manage my budget to pay the minimum tax due by making a tax plan to direct my yearly income level. Amazing isn't it? It is all from the old text book of the math.

善用教科書/莊峻華

 善用教科書/莊峻華

教科書是學校教育過程中，一項準則，教師編排教案之根據，因此我覺得其重要，學生學要善用，有些教科書，似乎過於簡易，但卻無妨學習，可以提前完成，再求其餘，學業是循序漸進，像登樓一般，重要者為打下基礎耳，我喜歡填鴨式讀法，適用於幼年，等到高中以後，教科書份量稍高，則需做作業，來證明學有所成，就是通過考試，就是現在之美國學校，仍舊採用傳統式之筆試。

幾日前，愛美想起小孩幼年，我常購買學校教科書，大部份是算術，所以我可已在家幫忙作業，就是不讓小孩畏懼上課，琳兒一直順利跟上學校進度，元兒稍慢，但在初中後，開始落後，也不再有興趣讀書，於是我開始調整對策，他就像我在學校時之窘境，但所不同者，為我仍舊不放棄，我仍舊有強烈之求學動機，我把幾本舊教科書，帶到美國來。

先父之上司陳輔光先生，武漢大學出身，退休後在彰化兼課，一次在虎尾與我談到教科書，他說教科書真方便，不清楚之字彙，可以在書後之索引查閱，就像現在之谷歌搜尋一般，因此我都留下教科書，但又不常讀書，婚後被丟掉，幸好我有機會拾回一些，現在都在大廳書櫃上，我曾取出莫理森之有機化學，想重溫習過去不曾完成之課業，可惜仍舊中斷，但也無妨，只不過我與有機無緣，倒是理論化學，我讀畢兩次，但都在大學之後，幫忙跟上學校進度無涉。

最近又閒來無事，找到一本美國歷史教科書，這是第二冊，講到南北戰爭到書出版之現在，我剛讀畢第一冊之扼要，已經非常有趣，美國現在政治之變化，和當年移民建國有關，而且必需遵從，要依法有據，愛美最近喜歡政治，我鼓勵她也讀此教科書，我問元兒，他說這是必修課程，但許多人並不了解，而且也無所謂，生活只求溫飽而已，反正人生短暫而且無常，何需斤斤計較？

Say hi to young kids in the neighbor/Carlos Pueblo

 Say hi to young kids in the neighbor/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I have enlarged my circle of friends to young kids in the neighbor in addition to my pet dogs friends and their owners. I mentioned a baby girl waving at me from a distance when I came up from the pool. I chat with her parents and express my adoration of her. Yesterday, another pair of kids waving at me also when I came out from the water and I briefly listened to her subject about a girl whom I thought was her baby sister. I am so happy that now I have had another group of friends.

Many younger families are moving in to this subdivision to raise their family. I can see them on the pool in the summer. American kids are so lovely and well manners. They are all equipped with the swimming tools to the pool. That baby and this couple were watching me swimming on the pool and I thought that they liked to swim like me when they grew up. If i had grand children, they should be older than them. On my way home, I saw Anna was talking to their dad and I would ask her their names for our next time to meet.

We planned helping to take care of the grand kids, i.e. to the swimming classes and tennis lessons if their parents were busy. I could even make or purchase kites to fly in a parks and I knew where they were. It would be much fun with them instead of slow walk and swim every day. Of course, visiting pet dogs is a different story.

I shall tell her parents and her to swim like me in the pool to build up a hobby for life like what I have learned in my childhood. It is both healthy and fun to last for life.

喜與幼童招呼/莊峻華

 喜與幼童招呼/莊峻華

平常清晨散步，偶遇嬰車上嬰兒，其父母抑或祖母，常停下容我稱贊，於是我們開始認識，我甚有信心，可以看到他們上學，最近連續兩日，在游泳池，遇見幾位幼童與嬰兒，非常可愛，一位女嬰遠處與我打招呼，我趨近稱贊，與其父母相識，今是網球局後，穿過鐵門到游泳池，剛好遇見一家庭，母親稍入池不久，隨即攜小嬰兒離去，留下父親和兩位幼童，我開始圈游不久，年輕父親，就將幼童小池清淨，移兩童到小池戲水，我一直看到小水池，父親將兩折椅攤開，兩童坐椅觀看我在池中，游來游去，他們收拾準備離去時，我也上來，我們互相招呼，似曾相識，小孩們正準備騎單車回家，其父則有拖車，載運座椅和毛巾等，小孩戴運動膠盔，非常可愛，我過鐵門，這位約四歲大女孩，對我輕訴，她描述一位女孩，我停下傾聽，另一小孩也箸運動盔，和其父均留意傾聽，我未聽清楚即問，是剛才隨其母離去之妹妹？她說不是，於是我祝她們有一好週末，更衣後他們已離去，我正後悔未問其名，好可愛美麗之女孩。

我沒有直系親孫，因為子女選擇單身，否則這時候孫兒女，可以來家渡暑假，學游泳和網球，以前我們就如此安排子女，琳兒甚至參加少女網球賽，我們都尚可開車陪伴。我尚攜小孩們放風箏，遞紙信隨風線而上，我也帶他們到處旅行，我相信我是一位好父親。

這是我天堂似之老年生活，前日網球局不順，我的伙伴無法跟上節奏，於是我要求對手，不能老攻擊他，應該多與我交鋒，其實我之球路溫和，多半是擊回球，等待對手犯錯，大家都想贏球，因此皆攻弱者以得分，屢敗之球局，甚為無趣和壓抑，我寧願與幼童招呼。

Swimming reminds me the siting mediation/Carlos Pueblo

 Swimming reminds me the siting mediation/Carlos Pueblo

It is so calm and peace to swim in a pool by myself during the summer and reminds me of the siting mediation which I have learned since my childhood. My dad is a devoted Buddhist at the later days of his life. He told me that was a way to avoid the anxiety. Of course he had had with such a huge burden in the family for an insufficient income to support a large family. He discovered that a siting mediation might do some help to quiet down my stress and showed me how to do the lotus sit like the current day Buddha. He also referred me to a visiting friend of his from Philippine, Mr. Liu to reinforce the idea. Mr. Liu explained that the sit shorten the distance of the running blood from the feet back to the heart; therefore, our body got warmer. What the idea behind the sit is to think that our eyes look down  at our nose and our nose again looks down to our hear to form a concentrated mind. I learned to recite the secret chanting from Buddhist sutras along with the sit. In order to finish my swimming distance, I count my completed laps along the way; however, I have lost the counts most of the time; therefore, I abandon the count and let it be. I swim till I am tired like I sit till I am sleepy.

I don't practice the sit any longer because that I am very settle with my life now a day. I don't believe that I can achieve anything more. All what I desire is a healthy body and mind. I did my sit during my loss of a job each time to help me to get some sleep. I worried so much for the family because of the decreasing of income and worried that the children were still young, etc. The sit comes back to my mind likes something failure in my life. I didn't think of the swimming then due to lock of the facility and time.

I can do it now with exercises to consume some parts of my daily life. Instead of siting I swim, walk, and playing tennis. I also do the gardening and writing. Every day comes and passes by and I anticipate every coming day.

游泳想起坐禪/莊峻華

 游泳想起坐禪/莊峻華

最近開始游泳，社區有一座泳池，美侖美奐，我沿著池畔，徐徐蛙泳，就像一尾老魚，自由自在，最長一刻是三哩泳程，靜極矣，烈日烤黑全身，我突然想起佛家之坐禪，徐泳於池，像是冬日坐禪，在靜室內把煩心定下。

自幼先父見我急躁，暁以閒時坐禪，他信佛虔誠，相信禪定生智慧，高中時代，甚至箸我拜見菲律賓華僑劉梅生居士，後來之覺生老和尚，他更相信打坐曰，盤坐時，眼觀鼻，鼻觀心，心無雜念，勤唸佛咒，例如心經最後幾句，腳底血液，減半行程，循環回心臟，於是體溫稍増，有助於寒冬體溫，老居士甚至鼓勵我，搭公車時也坐禪，當然不是盤坐，而是心靜自然涼，暫時拋棄纏身碎事，我鮮少嚐嗜，但坐禪確是幫忙我渡過，幾次人生之挫敗，例如為雇主革職幾次，我都臨時抱佛腳，高誦心經和金剛經，然後坐禪些許，幫忙入寐。

現在，我已步入老年，沒有甚麼色受想行識之牽掛，游泳是為身體屢新，經常算錯圈數，於是任憑感覺，大概而已，我的頭腦也是空空如也，心亦無一絲雜念，於是我回憶到禪定，游泳比坐禪有趣多矣。

How to catch up at the school/Carlos Pueblo

 How to catch up at the school/Carlos Pueblo

Schools are the places where we learn the knowledge in order to face the future job related challenge; however, many students, including myself, fail to catch up with the progress. I always have had a nightmare about such failure which is built in my subconscious. As a student, it is very misery for not catch up in the class and there are many reasons. I believe that doing the reading of the text book and doing the exercises at the end of a chapter are the best way to catch up at the school.

All school have a curriculum to be followed and with a text book on a subject to teach. There is an examination to assess the learning progress. Back to the time when I was in Taiwan, we had to pass the entrance examination to get the permission to limited space available at a junior middle school, senior high school, and college, etc. A male student must pass such college entrance examination to get a seat to the college or you had to be draft into the military 2-3 years services which was my nightmare was built in. That was not it, if you couldn't make it and got kicked out of the college, you were also to face the draft issue. I had been in those situations for many years and I knew that to catch up at the school was very vital.

Actually, this is an advise from my elder brother Yancy who is a much better student than I am. After one of my major failure at the college examination, he advised me to go back to all the text books to review them and to do all the exercises chapter by chapter and repeatedly. I had had a better learning environment when I was at the graduate school, I could catch up with some of the study which I missed at the undergraduate study. After many years passed, I attempted to gt a teaching job at the high school after I lost my insurance company's contract. I went to review three college books, general chemistry, general physics, and physical chemistry and did every chapter's exercises and I felt good even though I could only hold that job for two months. I am still feeling good.

A time of computer has changed all the school learning which I admit it; however, the basic training of the logic is the same. We can't wait until that everything is right in order to learn and also, there are many good schools and bad schools in the world and we can only have one at a time to study. It is really doesn't matter for anything that how to catch up with our study is more important of all. i see most of the failed students are lack of self confidence and don't want to settle down and spend the time needed to read the text book and do the exercises. We must make up our mind in it to catch up at the school.

如何跟上學校進度？/莊峻華

 如何跟上學校進度？/莊峻華

多年來，我經常半夜，惡夢連連，幸好驚醒，我常夢到學校進度跟不上，有退學之壓力，在台灣男生考不上大學，需要當兵服役，大學退學，更是可惜，而且絕非坦途，我的初中，高中和大學，確是掙扎不已，跟不上之科目，包括英文，數學，和物理，到了大學，則是所有本科，普化，有機，物理化學，和儀器分析等，甚至到研究所，高等無機也重修過，我是屢敗屢戰，因為我無其他選則，在學校求學，貴於靜心，心無旁騖。

初中時，先父委請同事賴洋卿先生，指點我理化和數學，理科是有訣竅，他是台大化工畢業，我的困難是平衡化學方程式，居然一兩下就清楚，代數我不知進度，未曾請教到，因此在台北五省中聯考中，拉下總分，因為鄉下師資，參差不齊。美國也有此問題，但不若台灣嚴重，所以解決之道，在於勤做作業，就是將每章節後之作業，做過一遍，不會者請教學校老師，或是成績佳者。

上課聽課跟不上，不要氣餒，仔細溫習教科書，當然英文是最基本要求，從小一就要戰戰兢兢，一步一步上來，小學就要打下基礎，然後初中，高中，可以選擇工作機會待遇較佳之科系。小學時涉獵範圍較小，初中，高中，和大學，日後份量増加，就需要更加用心。 

學生要盡力，家長也需要了解和鼓勵，千萬不能放棄，當然我們之看法，不一定跟上時代，也不一定適合時代，但需要關心盡力。我在大學時代，跟不上之化學本科，我在研究所設法彌補，後來保險失業，想當老師，又重新讀過一遍普通化學和理論化學，而且做了習題，當然教師職失敗，但也了上一心願，當年我也幫忙琳兒量化，但生化部份則幫不上，琳兒放棄理工科，從事商務會計，也走出一途，元兒落後，與我相似，但也大學畢業，安份工作，收入方面，我們來幫忙儲蓄投資。

The school education/Carlos Pueblo

 The school education/Carlos Pueblo

The school education is vital important for a nation as well as an individual. It may not seem to be that important for the rich; however, it is the reasonable method for the poor to break their poverty class. I believe it from my own experience. I have had 19 years school education completed in my life while my father has had 10 years and his dad has none. Similar cases occurred in my siblings and we all come out of the poverty class.

I was a trained middle school teacher when I was in Taiwan. It was a public service position employed by the government. If I don't make an outrage mistake, I shall have that position till my retirement with a handsome pension. I don't see any burden of myself to the society as well as the government. Of course, none of my ancestors were a burden of any governments because back then there were no obligation from the rulers for any of their slaves. I consider my ancestors are the slaves of the Manchu Dynasty, the Japanese Empire, and the Nationalist Chinese Regime. It is similar to what happened in the old North America.

My father was very fortunate to have his mandatory school education when Japanese applied their education law in Taiwan to make the elementary school compulsory. He did well and was encouraged to take an examination to go further. He has had another five years school education at a technology school to be trained as an engineer. Once he completed the tech school, he found a job with a sugar refinery plant. Two of my uncles with no records at all and I assumed no school education at all. It is very sorry and there is none to be told at all.

The only interest of my dad is to support all his children to get a proper school education and the most important matter of his life is to see all his children to make it in school. He doesn't have money enough; however, he can tell how proud he is of his children to get a good school education. He was so proud of me when I taught at a provincial senior high school and hand over my salary every other month for 6 months. He attempted to see me off at the airport when I left Taiwan.

I have had two children in my family. Again, the school education is very important for my children as I have learned it from my dad. I can even tutor both of them in math and physical science. They all finish their college degrees and work alone with a very good attitude of working, saving, and investing. Like me, they all make hays while it is sunshine.

The U.S. job market has changed dramatically due to the development of the computer technology. The school education is playing a major role of learning to use that tool. I know that may not be the only way of life; however, it is nice to know how to operate a mobile phone and to send an e-mail. I must have a help from Arthur, my son, when I encounter some difficulty in computer. He learns the knowledge from his schools. 

學校教育之重要/莊峻華

 學校教育之重要/莊峻華

最近美國因中國武漢肺炎肆虐未解，封閉半年之學校，是否準備開放，引起爭辯，愛美每日與我討論，因她每日均聆聽紐約科莫州長之疫情詳述節目，紐約，紐澤西，和康乃迪克三州，疫情有效控制，因此學校準備在這個月開放，學生和教職員之安全，有盡力之維護，例如學生分匹回校上課等，戴口罩，我們休市疫情嚴峻，學區仍不敢宣佈何時恢復上課，但是民間企業，已經開始準備恢復辦公室上班，時間在月底或是九月一日，這是我晨步夥伴之消息。我說學校恢護上課，至少可以解決一些貧困學生之營養早午餐之問題，這很不幸是事實，美國雖是富裕之國度，仍有許多窮困國民。

我曾在高維斯頓包爾高中，教高三，四化學，學校要求出席率，剛好有營養早午餐，於是學生均設法趕來上學，午餐過後，就有學生離校，美國家庭重視學校教育，程度有別，一般學區較佳者，房價也貴，蓋無需送子女上私立學校也，私校可以比較嚴格，甚至天主教修女，可以體罰頑劣之紈絝子弟。美國學校義務教育將近十三年，聯邦政府，再幫助兩年大學一年兩千元學費，還有以後之終身學習助學金，就是鼓勵學校教育，現在電腦發達，若未習得網路，甚難生活，何況找到好工作。

美國許多無需高深知識之勞力工作，都已經遷出國境，國內僅存工作機會，都需要一些專業知識，或是可以接受訓練者，都要有一些稍多於義務教育程度者，否則只好當侍者，餐廳都關閉，侍者也失業，這是一社會問題，誰人不曉？小時候，我尚銘記大姊一句話，打鐵要趁熱，年輕時要把握箸珍貴之學習機會，習得一技之長，及得工作，奮力以赴，節約儲蓄，養成財務獨立，這是人生之目標，也是有意義之生活。

My leisure life under the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

 My leisure life under the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo

It has been more than 6 months since I schedule a leisure life to face the lock down of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. Actually, it is a four to 5 hours exercises in the morning to lead a much relaxing daily life with plenty of naps, internet watching, and writing throughout my daily life. 

I start my morning walk before the day break at about 5:30 am. First, I go north round alone streets of the section II on the side of our house, then, I come back from the north down to the south end street one by one. I run into my fellow morning walkers and the most pleasant matter is to greet my pet dogs friends alone the walk. Most of them are insisting on waiting for me or coming forward to meet me. Both the dog owner and myself are very touching. I have had such luxury for years. Now, I have had at least three owners allowing me to walk with their dogs for a short distance and I also have several walk friends stop by for a brief chat.I feel so lucky to have a friendly neighborhood. The morning walk if complete on every street would be about 5 miles and three hours of time.

After the walk, I would have a breakfast and a long nap to recover my exhaustion which I understand that I am an old man already and I must be nice to the old body.  Our swimming pool is well maintained two cleaning services a week. I have had an article to describe the facility and not many neighbors to take advantage of the facility. I have three routines to follow, a 15, 20, and 25 counter clock circle laps to make about 1, 2 and 2.5 hours of time. I swim like a fish.

There are two tennis meets, on Friday and Sunday morning at 7:30 am. I would keep my morning walk on schedule for 8 streets and meet my other three partners who are at my age. We have had two competitive sets of double last about 1 and half hours. Since we have had so much fun, we are going to add another meet on Tuesday night.

I help Amy to do some cooking and the pasta making on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday is only for a clam soup making accompany with her shrimp noodle. Saturday is the pasta day that I make the dough from the all purpose flour and roll the dumpling skin for her to make the dumpling. It is because of the Pandemic which has caused to closure of a dumpling restaurant. I also make some steam bun for ourselves because Arthur doesn't eat it. Sunday is a day of beef noodle soup for Arthur, as a matter of a fact, all three are for Arthur, the clam soup, the dumpling, and the beef noodle and I come to release three dinners making for Amy and I enjoy it.

I have some yard work done regularly. I mow the yard every other week on Wednesday after the morning walk and a nap before the swimming. It is the best for my old body. My yard looks good because of the rain and the full grown of the St. Augustine grass. Even my edge work looks nice and neat. I am very proud of it and save a little bit of money. My second season of the Korean melons are coming out now. This year, I have had a harvest of seven melons and some long beans.

疫情下之閒居生活/莊峻華

 疫情下之閒居生活/莊峻華

中國武漢肺炎肆虐下，我的閒居生活，已過半年有餘，每日都有固定之課程，又身處德州休市之熱浪襲人雙肆虐，仍是需要按部就班，管理每日生活，我不厭其煩之分享，這段幾近單調，又甚無變化之閒居生活，包括的是，清晨散步，游泳，和網球三項運動節目，三個主助理製作晚餐，互聯網新聞節目，還有幾乎每日之部落格寫作。

因為天熱，所以我再清晨五點半，就需出門散步，我先從二區五街來回，信否我已經開始遇見散步和晨跑夥伴，跑者為愛犬史考特和奧提斯之青年主人，散步者為伊蓮和她愛犬可口，凌晨靜極了，只有週五清晨六時正，一割草師傅，開始發動機器，蓋其有整街草皮需要清理，多半屋主要求一週割草一次，我持異議兩週自理一次，我認為草需長滿兩週，始易顯出草皮厚度，而且可以節省澆水次數。走到第一區，開始天亮，散步者漸眾，我搬居此村已近八年，多與散步者相識，尤其半年來，増加路程，走遍十二條街來回，已經有固定愛犬群，需要打招呼，一些早起鄰居，其中陪伴三位鄰居太太遛走愛犬，她們也讓我有機會案內其他路過愛犬，或等在門內吠叫之愛犬，我有幾隻愛犬，等我多年，甚具深情。

走了三小時餘，回家後到景瑛府採無花果，然後早餐，看股市新聞晝寢，恢復體力，約十一時正，開車游泳去也，看體力與意志，我游，1.2哩，2.4哩，和 3.0哩不等，分別是10圈，20圈，和 25圈，這游泳池是我使用過中，管理最佳者，若是網球局後，幾乎就是我專用，非常滿意。週五與週日清晨有網球局，我仍是早散步暖身，網球局我亦甚當真，夥伴有趣，正想再増一次。

疫情中，不便購買水餃，因此我們在家自製，週六我就準備麵食，發麵醒麵和趕麵，愛美調豬肉餡，然後我們分工包水餃，及早讓元兒吃畢水餃上班，午夜返家，尚有一份水餃為早餐，元兒亦甚捧場。週日，我需要準備一大鍋牛肉湯，這是元兒之兩頓，我在午後開始製作，配合他之工作時間，我在家製作牛肉麵，已有多年歷史。週五是新増菜單，愛美買上半打蚌，我將蚌煮成薑絲湯，元兒澆到炒麵上，我們家琳兒，未成有台灣人喝湯習慣，比較難款待，吾少也賤故多能弊事也。

如此隔離閒居生活，讓我忘卻夏日避暑旅行，我也習慣休市之熱浪襲人，我能做甚麼？水盆內之新苗已冒出，我大概有香瓜長豆之第二季矣。

The distribution of the retirement funds/Carlos Pueblo

The distribution of the retirement funds/Carlos Pueblo

It is so much fun to count retirement funds, for instance, count the appreciation value on a up tick stock day and count how much money I need to withdraw from various retirement accounts. I don't really need to be concerned about the second $1,200 check at all. They can argue all the time as they want. If I don't have the money, I don't spend. What I need to get the distribution of funds because I still need to meet my obligation after I enter  the no earned income age and I am still alive.

I count on the social security income now very much. Both Amy's and mine are sufficient to meet the necessity, i.e. the grocery and some payments; however, to maintain a household expenditure, we still need to have the supplement income, then, the retirement income comes in. Early of the year, I have already withdraw my requirement minimum distribution from three accounts; however, there is an error by a company's clerk that the withdrawal is all on an after tax account, the annuity. Fortunately, due to the down fall of 401k to 101k, the Fed release a waiver for this year's RMD due to the down value of the stock market. I can wait till January 2, 2021 to withdraw that amount as I desire. This is my money and I don't like to go through again of the anxiety; therefore, I decide to take some money out again to pay the year end real estate tax and prepare to pay off a second credit card 0% interest loan. I think that I can manipulate the money like getting something from nothing. Actually it is what I have saved and invested during my working years.

This account is different from the other accounts because that I must mail in the request forms of several pages. It is a life insurance company; however, I am not complaining because the fund is managed very well and the amount withdraw is small. I mail it the forms because I don't know how to fax them via my cell phone. I have to take such chance of a crash during the mailing. As a matter of fact, I would be suffered even more with the devaluation of funds left behind.

This is why I am so relax now at an old age to do whatever I want to do except to be very careful of my exposure of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. It seems to control the disease is more difficult that managing my own retirement funds.

領退休金/莊峻華

領退休金/莊峻華

老年生活，最愉快者，莫過於跟著股市算退休金，需錢就領退休金，這退休金是我一生之儲蓄，自失業十九年後，我就到處變錢，現在輪到領退休金，美國有很好的國民退休計劃，有工作者，都可以參加，例如社會安全保險，最高者夫妻可領四千美元一個月，我因工作僅二十三年，又在六十二歲提早領，所以只領到一千六許，愛美不上班，領我之一半，所以私有退休計劃金之領出，十分重要，國稅局也規定，七十歲半就需要開始領取退休金，開始繳稅，剛才我想領出者，為一舊公司之401k基金，我要領出一萬五，來交年底之房屋稅，和所得稅等。

因為我已有三年領出之經驗，而且脾氣也很好，錢是我的，這是一人壽保險公司，電話客服在國外，手忙腳亂，無法與證券公司比效率，但基金管理甚佳，比較重要，我要填表簽名後，傳真給公司，始可當日出售股票，折算現金，今年初我已賣出兩萬五，但公司幫我賣到稅後年金部分，還好國稅局德政，今年因疫情，股市暴跌，可以不領，但我需錢，還是領出濟急是妙。

其實還有一種羅斯個人退休計劃金，五十九歲半領出免稅，我也有一些，準備急用，我常言財務要有計劃和策略，稅務亦然，政府可以幫忙，但主要還是靠自己。

The U.S. pull out 10,000 forces from Germany/Carlos Pueblo

The U.S. pull out 10,000 forces from Germany/Carlos Pueblo

Trump announces that he is pulling out 10,000 of the U.S. forces in Germany for the retaliation of less than 2% of German GDP spending as a guiding line for the European defense. He is going to relocate half of the troupe to Italy and half back to the States. The German authority doesn't say very much about it. Angela Merkel says nothing. I am very puzzled.

I envy the U.S. strategy toward Europe after the War. Starting from the military occupation in Germany both in prevention of another war and to protect the German Nation. The distinguish German do unify the East Germany and the West Germany peacefully and eventually. Germany is still allowing the U.S. to station heavily in their nation to keep peace and maintain such huge U.S. force. Like Japan, Germany pays all the cost for the U.S. troupe in their country. At the beginning, Trump wanted to move the 10,000 troupe to Poland and I did wonder how Poland could afford the cost. Now, he moves half of the withdrawal troupe to Italy and half back home and I must ask if Italy will pay the full cost of the U.S. troupe as Germany; furthermore, will it be cheaper for the U.S. to pay another half home in the U.S.?

As a private citizen and observer of the politic, I don't think that is a smart move. For instance, both Bushes move U.S. troupe from Germany to invade Iraq twice and who pays all of those years cost maintaining such big force? Trump is stupid and what about his deputies? No body figures it out for him the math? German have been very aggressive all of those years in history. They have been involved in almost every decisive change of the politic in the Europe, such as the fall of the Roman Empire, the domination of the holly Roman Empire, the termination of several European Empires and initiation of two world wars, etc. After WWII, German pay more attention to the peace and never attempt to be great again. They pay more attention to rebuild their nation in every field and have no major argument with the rest of the world; therefore, there is a peace in Europe for 75 years and I believe that the U.S. troupe stationing in Germany play a major role.

Recently, I have had some luxury to visit this great nation several times. Each time when I passed by a city, I would do some history reading of the city and I am very impressed. German and build the big cruise ship and I believe that they can build the carrier; they can build the best of vehicles and of course they can build tanks and jet fighters. German are very smart and advanced in science and technology and  they are not interested in building those of fancy toys. They like to use their precious percentage of their GDP to improve their people's happiness. I hope Biden will reverse such stupid decision of withdrawal when he takes over the presidency. 

駐德撤軍/莊峻華

駐德撤軍/莊峻華

美軍駐德軍隊，將撤一萬名，因為川普不爽德國軍費，不及德國國內總生產額之百分之二，不符北大西洋公約組織之共識，讓美國獨撐歐洲安全，原議將一萬美軍移駐波蘭，現在說一半移駐義大利，一半調回美國，我還是弄不清楚，川普打的算盤？是真不爽德國之軍費太低？還是甚麼其他因素？反正他任期僅剩五個月，離敗選僅三個月。

德國官方，好像不當一回事，這三萬美軍之費用，完全是德國支付，就像駐日本四萬美軍，也是日本支付，南韓之三萬七美軍，也是南韓四分之三，美國四分之一，義大利財政不若德國，我懷疑能比照德國負擔，回美國者吃自己矣，所以我們選民要判斷總統之智慧，川普之智慧不高，又無道德觀，色厲內荏，惟利是徒者也。

我讀歷史，深佩當年之美國總統杜魯門白宮，在西德駐軍，而且也邀請英國和法國，所以有英屬，法屬，蘇屬，和美屬德國，後來蘇屬德國為東德，英美法屬為西德，東西德後來統一為德國，現任梅克爾總理，是位化學博士，來自東德，能言斯拉夫語，她和歷屆總理們，都了解德國不需要軍備，她也很清楚告訴俄羅斯之普汀，不要惹德國，打德國需要經過東歐，德國有時間備戰，而且這一次，德國和美國在一起，我觀察歐巴瑪和梅克爾關係較好，日本和德國關係也很好，法國在歐盟也和德國，充份合作，惟獨川普，這真是美國之不幸。

最近幾年，我因慕德，幾次旅行德國，參觀德國，因為我購買火車優待票，旅行全國，回來後勤讀德國歷史，日耳曼民族是使西羅馬帝國滅亡者，後來之神聖羅馬帝國，也多半在日耳曼城邦國，掌握之中，1860年後之普魯士王國，五年內連敗奧匈帝國，維金帝國，和陸意士拿破崙法蘭西帝國，於是各城邦合組德意志帝國，奉普魯士王為帝，五十年後，發動歐戰，戰敗亡國，又過二十餘年，希特勒發動二次大戰，又戰敗亡國，二戰後，德國人領袖已經不再尚武，俄羅斯攻打烏克蘭，德國強烈禁運制裁，而國內軍備，則多半忽略，花錢養美軍，讓俄羅斯放心，維持和平，已有七十五年，這是歐洲歷史上，最為和平之一段，只要日耳曼人，愛好和平，天下就太平。

川普這類美國人，好大喜功，宣稱要美國重返第一，巧立名目，浪費國家資源，於武器軍備，擺出不惜一戰姿勢，其實梅克爾這些老政治家，見過之世面廣，不與川普計較，德國有能力，維持自己之國家安全，德國和平，也是世界之幸福，過去美國從德國調兵，攻打伊拉克，養兵千日，德國出錢，川普奸商也，只為武器國防事業之獻金而誤國，美國選民必誅之，我說是讓他落選。

45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S./Carlos Pueblo

August 17 of this year is my 45 years immigration anniversary to the U.S. and I feel that I should congratulate myself for my decision of my childhood and my effort to stay in this great nation for the benefit of myself and my children. In 1975, I had had  a F-1 visa with a teaching assistant to enter the country as a graduate student before I completed all my citizen obligation to the Nationalist Chinese Regime in Taiwan. I have made up my mind to work hard to stay in the U.S. and never returned to Taiwan. I didn't know that the Chiang Kai-sek's Dynasty would be ended eventually.

My stipend from Auburn was $375 a month which was 3 times of my high school teacher's pay in Taiwan. It was enough for me to pay the tuition, room and board, and even a small saving for the left over. In return, I worked at the laboratory as a teaching assistant for 4 hours with a T.A. partner and graded the paper and examination. I could study hard without any anxiety of money. Two years later I finished my master degree and moved to Houston, Texas.

Again, I was accepted another term of T.A. with a new stipend of $450 a month from the University of Houston and the goal was toward the Ph.D. degree in Chemistry. I admitted that I didn't do well at all. It was a booming town and I found a job in a chemical laboratory as a technician with a pay of $5 an hour, then changed to another full time job with a water lab in the Johnson Space Center. The pay was about $8 an hour for almost 3 years. Then, I was terminated from the job. It was hard for a newly wed husband of seven months. I decided not to take a city chemist position in Detroit, Michigan because I desired to try in the field of sales. I started as a real estate agent and an insurance agent simultaneously.

I like the insurance part of the business because the property insurance I get the renewal commission which means I can add new income to the old renewal service commission. I served to a very small Taiwanese immigrant community for their insurance needs such as the vehicle insurance, home owner policy and rental property insurance. I also did the life insurance, health insurance, and some security products deal. My income was improving and there were two children added to the family.

After almost 12 years, I was terminated again from my contract with that insurance company. My brother Yancy recommended me to join his life insurance company and I did. After less than 10 years, I was terminated again and that was in 2001. Since then, I had attempted to be a high school teacher after a two months try at Galveston, Texas and failed, briefly returned to two insurance companies and failed again. However, I still have maintained my individual contract with some independent carriers till now to serve a small group of my old customers.

My personal savings kicks in for all of these years since 2001. The meaningful part of my life is to manage my own finance and help one of my son to have a happy life. I figure out my own way to live a pleasant life in the old age. I am very sure that I have left the poverty class in my life. I am much happier than my parents at their time. I have no longer need to worry about money and I keep myself healthy without any worry about the aging such as senior care like I don't need the life insurance because I have had it in my saving already. I am not worry about the Chinese invasion of the U.S. at all and I am very safe here.

移民美國四十五年/莊峻華

移民美國四十五年/莊峻華

美國是全球最為宜居之國度，我真慶幸已移民美國四十五年，1975年八月十七日，我迫不及待，離開松山機場，奔向美國，我是根據國民黨政權，條條規定，盡畢國民義務，正逢當年美國大學給與化學助教獎學金，幫忙台灣學生，來美國讀研究所，我一離開台灣，如同破釜沉舟一般，絕不回頭，甚麼報効祖國之類想法，因為蔣介石剛斃，其子經國牢牢控制，高壓統治台灣，我看不出台灣人，有何希望可言，移民美國最為理想。

先是完成研究所學位，奧本化學系給我一個月三百七十五元獎學金，約是台灣我當教師薪資之三倍，合租公寓九十元一個月，熟悉狀況後，費用下降，當年學費是算州內學生價，一季三個月兩百七，也是九十元一個月，尚有一百九十元，我就省吃檢用，自理三餐，偶爾買個漢堡，或是到自助餐廳，兩年畢業後，我尚有四百元存款，還有一台六九年舊車，開到德州休士頓，投奔長兄。

休士頓大學化學系，也給我助教獎學金，是四百五十元一個月，學分也是州內生優待，是四元一學分，大約是十六學分算全時學生，我讀一年就混不下去，因為我又去選化工課，又不讀書，所有選課都當掉，因此在第二學期結束前，就找到一化學廠技工工作，一小時五元待遇，不久找到明湖市太空總署水實驗室工作，大蓋是八元一小時，稍升薪水，就被開除，工作不到三年，這時候我剛新婚八個月。

底特律市政府，當時，就是革職幾日之別，有聘書到來，待遇稍佳，愛美家人主張我去，我因綠卡尚未領到，不敢跟底市政府解釋，因此留在家裏創業，當時我有兩副業，一為房產代理，一為保險代理，愛美兄長，給我機會幫他們買下六棟住屋出租，而且幫他們有償管理，我的保險業務也是起飛，收入第一年，就比前一年高，於是穩下陣腳。

結婚兩年半，我們就有琳兒，琳兒是位健康之嬰兒，多少喜悅，兩年後有元兒，元兒不幸，有先天性缺陷，不能自然呼息，一直到其六歲，始脫離生命危險之威脅，這時後我幸有愛美之賢內助，而且事業也甚穩定成長，我們也想辦法節約儲蓄，累積資本。

美國是一政治合理，充滿工作之國，尤其是休市這般新興大城市，只要努力工作，到處是機會，我因出身卑微，不敢奢華，穩紮穩打，沒有甚麼花錢嗜好，美國充滿個人自由，不在乎一些繁文褥節習俗，我年老後發現生活，更加自由自在，我選自己之生活，過自己之日，享受樂園天堂之環境。

The midnight chat with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

The midnight chat with Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

The other night Arthur was back from work and ready to eat his meal. I was awake for urination. He reported to me that he made about $300 for his buy low sell high target stock, an oil company. I congratulate him and am very happy for his second job other than his super market clerk. Actually, based on his strategy that he can't loose too much and only makes a little in comparison. He also has a silent partner, personal savings in funds and retirement stocks worked for him. We have had a good conversation about our personal finance.

I have a big chunk of an oil stock which has not performed well at all for quite some time. It is the oil price which I understand that I should do his buy low and sell high strategy. I don't do it because that one time in the past I had to buy it back in a higher price. The stock went up pass $100 a share and now back to $43 a share. Luckily, my bet to high tech stocks works. He says that the owners of high tech companies are smarter than regular nice talking executive of regular companies. He points out several big names whom I am familiar with. As long as my high tech investing are working, I am allowed to have my leisure life during my senior age.

I mention the computer game which I have never played while he plays all days and nights. He says that is like a chess game which requires plan ahead. Now the human brain can't play better than a computer because the computer can hold more previous successful moves into its data base while a smart chess player is with a limit volume of his brain. It does make sense. In order to prolong our chat, I bring up my story of the Japanese Go game. A gentleman in San Diego taught me how to play Go on a cruise across the Panama Canal. He mentions that I can play with the other on the internet or even with a computer. Now I know that is also a computer game. I am no longer that hostile toward the computer game any longer after his explanation.

I am very fortunate to have him as my son. Amy asks me frequently if I have a chat with him because that he is considered a lonely and introverted person, yet he is a well learned person. He knows what his limit is and very satisfied with what he has had now. I have made up my mind ever since his birth that I will help him to have a happy life.