Pelosi has cut down a pig head/Carlos Pueblo

 

Pelosi has cut down a pig head/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

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

普洛西砍下豬頭/莊峻華

 

普洛西砍下豬頭/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

我安慰愛美，彼詢何人所言，我說是我之政治了解，彼曰需文字為憑，因此記。

The adorable family/Carlos Pueblo

 

The adorable family/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

 

 

好家庭2/莊峻華

 

好家庭2/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

師大畢業五十年後/莊峻華

 

師大畢業五十年後/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

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

我會講日語之台北高等學校，和台灣師範大學，在日本甚受尊重，其來有自。

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

回憶師大往事/莊峻華

 

回憶師大往事/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

Promoting the junior tennis/Carlos Pueblo

 

Promoting the junior tennis/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

推廣少年網球/莊峻華

 

推廣少年網球/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

Sweeping leaves/Carlos Pueblo

 

Sweeping leaves/Carlos Pueblo

It is the fall and leaves are fallen from trees to the ground. I can no longer swimming and I find sweeping leaves on the ground as an alternative exercises after the morning walk. There is still a tall sweet gum tree on the front and leaves start to fall in October and continue by a magnolia and an oak tree until next summer. What I need to do is manage the driveway and the front street on my side. I begin to use the grass catcher to gather leaves and grasses when I mow the yard every other week.

Neighbors feel that I am a hardworking man to take care of my yard regularly. A young man with his infant daughter and a lovely pet dog comes by and introduces himself. I give him some idea of public schools in our subdivision. We are in the Houston School District which is the largest one in the area. People like the Spring Branch School District, a smaller yet well managed. Because that many younger families move in to our neighborhood to raise their children; therefore, I firmly believe that our schools will be improved dramatically. With children of good families, I believe that the school can manage its business better. Parents don’t have to send their children to private schools for education. Make sure to enforce doing the homework and save the cost of private schools for college education. Don’t force the kids to get into college loan debt.

Willy and his owner Mike drop by and Mike says that I should sweep the entire street. Every year I borrow his spreader to fertilize my yards. He also mows his yards. Willy is still sleepy. Most of our neighbors hire landscape persons to do the yard work. I don’t mind doing it by myself. I can sweep leaves almost every day if I feel like it.

The wind of the autumn will help to blow leaves from trees and also the rain. In Chinese literature, it describes both wind and rain in the fall will make people feel sad like to kill the mood of a person. I believe that there are many Japanese poets express their feeling of both in songs, like the Osaka sigure or Hatoba sigure mean the autumn rain in Osaka or the harbor rain in the fall. As a matter of fact, there is a famous Japanese old song called the fallen leaves which is one of my favorite. I sweep leaves on the ground and becomes my hobby.

掃落葉/莊峻華

 

掃落葉/莊峻華

秋天已到，庭院開始有落葉，割草機需要加上吸取袋，捕獲碎草與落葉，後院一株香楓已鋸除，落葉量稍減，前院仍有巨樹三株，加上鄰居前院近十株，掃落葉從今起，可以掃到明春。我的處理方法是，兩週割一次草，像理髮庭院草皮，然後興起時晨步後，提起掃把垃圾桶，打掃車道和街道落葉。

新近青年鄰居，攜女嬰與愛犬散步，我趨前與愛犬招呼，男主人自我介紹，我說認識其前屋主，然後談到這八月大女嬰，他說我看過其岳母大人帶女嬰散步，於是我談到學區終將改變，我甚至提出我的看法和策略，只要年輕家庭，繼續搬入社區，學生家庭經濟穩定，休士頓學區，品質一定改善，只要時時敦促家庭作業，進入德大不難，然後找到一好工作，就是一有用之材，我還未提到社區，環境和鄰居等之優越。

開始端上落葉入桶，聞一聲音道，應該打掃整條街，原來是麥克和其愛犬威利，麥克也是自己割草，每年我都需要借他之肥料噴灑機，初春施肥草皮，於是我又提起我的妙論，我說掃落葉，讓鄰居知道我是勤快愛整潔之好鄰居，此點令他無語，掃落葉像是掃集一堆一堆之美鈔，此點更令他啞口無語，愛犬威利今晨羞怯，每日，他們均出外散步幾次，寒冬炙暑不易。

推回垃圾桶，我又回去欣賞一下，我在晨步後小憩，愛美已在庭院工作，不見她讚揚我之幫忙，顯然秋風又掃落枯葉一堆，說是剪不斷理還亂，落葉後又有秋雨，這一年已經到了年底。

Refreshing my fond memory of Puli, Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

 

Refreshing my fond memory of Puli, Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

There are two photos circulating on our college classmates Line about collections of Lin Hsien-tang family at Taichung, Taiwan. One of them is a classical architecture while the other is a piece of furniture. They are so adorable and have many responses from our admiring classmates. I am too that am refreshed my fond memory of my birth township of Puli, Taiwan at the central top of mountains in Taiwan. I was born there and left at the age of ten.

Lin is a famous Taiwanese gentleman during that time of transition, 1881-1954. He was from a wealthy land owner in the central part of Taiwan. He went exile in Japan and deceased in Tokyo. He was the second founder of Chang Hwa commercial bank of Taiwan. He was one of the few survivors of the 228 Massacre in 1947. Christiana posts those two pictures and she is a relative to Lin that her paternal grand aunt is his wife, Lo Shuai-shing.

It is getting very interesting when I refresh my memory. I visited Puli in 1969 for a lunar new year. I stayed at a house of my tennis team mate Lo. After college, Christina has married to Lo. During that stay, he took me to visit her parent’s business at the downtown area. I had had a good chat with her mother. I told my dad about the visit and he mentioned that Lo’s grandfather, Lo Ying-han was the founder of Chang Hwa Bank. Instead, according to the Google search, he was the first mayor appointed at Puli after the War. I believe that they were acquaintance. There is a famous chemistry professor, Lo Dong-bi of the National Taiwan University, is also from the same family.

I have been back to my dream mountain hometown several times since 1969. The last time was in 2008 with two other families. Melanie called Christiana out to meet us. We went to tour the famous Sun Moon Lake and a local temple designed by her father. Later before the sun down, we went up to a hot spring resort of Lushan.

埔里舊事回憶/莊峻華

 

埔里舊事回憶/莊峻華

埔里同學伎朗姊，貼上幾張美麗霧峰林獻堂花園相片，引起許多同學羨慕，確實為台灣古典建築，我與埔里有緣，藉此查看谷歌，取得一些常識。我出生在埔里糖廠，一直到十歲，始搬至雲林虎尾，埔里常識不若虎尾深刻，但甚親切。先說板橋林家和霧峰林家，這是過去台灣兩大富裕家族，箸名者為林熊徵，林本源只是林家商號，這是板橋，霧峰是林獻堂，我們讀台灣史，都識此公，其父為前清舉人，現在我知道其夫人楊水心為伎朗姊之姑婆，就是祖父之姊妹。

我在師大網球隊，認識伎朗夫婿羅世灝兄，大二農歷年，回埔里曾在世灝兄府過夜，這是埔里街上一大書局，為其父所經營，我記憶中伎朗公公是羅家長子，谷歌有記載，諱永池公，明治大學法科出身，我也去過東京明大法學院門口，其地就是台大羅銅壁教授，一門顯赫學經歷，回家後與先父提及此事，先父立即提到羅銀漢公，就是伎朗之太公大人，父曰為彰化銀行創辦人，谷歌曰獻堂公為彰銀創辦人，羅則為第一任官封埔里鎮長。

是遊埔里，世灝兄帶我拜訪伎朗姊府經營之商店，我與其母大人，有過一聊天，一直記憶在心中，她說她當小姐時，從大肚城走過糖廠公誠路，看到我們家衣曬，知道主婦為台北搬來者，我曾問先母，她憶不得此事，後來我的資訊是劉家為埔里新貴，就是伎朗家富有，這是我的認知，多些同學連線，讓我重溫美憶，也要感謝2008年帶詹怡姊家人和我家人，浩浩蕩蕩拜訪埔里之伎朗，蒙受招待，不勝感謝。我還是不會在手機上打字，煩請宏義兄轉載，每日我都讀同學資訊，我也喜歡隨網誌唱日本歌和輕搖滾歌曲，只是我不會送出去，我也喜愛里查特克萊得曼之鋼琴小品。

Replace Arthur’s car battery/Carlos Pueblo

 

Replace Arthur’s car battery/Carlos Pueblo

Arthur’s car was stuck on the street because of the battery. I have to turn around my car and opened both hoods to jump. All vehicles have battery issues once in a while. I got it jumped and decided to visit the Walmart store. The technician advised me change a new one and I agreed. He asked me where was my Acura? I said it was gone in 2013. His hand held computer has my record.

I waited inside the big store. First, I went to have a soft ice cream at the McDonald and inspecting the nicely cleaned isles. The beef section steaks are not on sale and prices are higher than what I purchase at Kroger; yet they are better looking apparently. I check on the chicken feed on the pet food isle. There is a lost hen by the tennis court and I wonder how much it would cost to feed her. I continue my route to the sport isles to get 6 cans of tennis balls. They are more expansive than last time and should be blamed Trump for his increasing tariff on Chinese goods. I ask the clerk on the auto department if I can check out at her counter when my car is ready. She asks my name and tells me that my car is ready.

I am so glad that I can help Arthur as much as possible. He works at a supermarket at night with minimum wage. I insist that he stay with us to avoid any trouble by himself. I don’t do anything good significantly toward the other, yet I feel that I am doing some meaningful things to Arthur. I help him to build his financial independence for now and the future.

換元兒車電池/莊峻華

 

換元兒車電池/莊峻華

中午睡覺被喚醒，原來是愛美發動不了元兒座車，無法開回車道，我打開車蓋，電池記錄已經超過三年，於是我需要先將其車連接我車電池帶動，外面下雨，我將車調頭，使兩車面對面，街道邊緣已積水，弄潮舊皮拖鞋，稍微狼狽，我請愛美幫我打開我車蓋，這是一23年老車，開車蓋起已脫落，只剩一鋼索，需一人在車內，拉上鋼索，同時第二人，在車前板開車蓋扣，愛美看過多次，無需要叫人來急救，而且她幫我清除許多樹葉，將車發動後，我就準備上握瑪特大店換電池，免得麻煩，元兒半夜下班，車發不動，我正甜夢中，不堪驚醒。

握瑪特技師告知，電池非該店所裝，似乎還可用，但可能隨時有同樣問題，於是我決定換新電池，此車已14年，是豐田美國製造，非常可靠，引擎無雜音，元兒也很耐心，不計較小缺點，每天班來回五哩路，換電池是小花費，我在店內等候，技師曰馬上換，我聽到的是需時四十五分鐘。

我先到麥當勞吃一冰淇淋，逛到牛排舖，這牛排品質價錢，都比我最近購買者佳，我也不怨嘆，我選的是特價貨，而且愛美也危言聳聽曰，要死自己去，末帶元兒同往，彼曰牛排過於油膩，要我們多食豬肉和雞腿等，我看太多台灣新聞瘦肉精，還有豬雞肉，不若牛排可口。

然後我到運動器材部，買了六筒網球，現在中國進口網球，稍微漲價，都是川普之過，還好網球局，多半是竇醫師提供新球，我問汽車櫃台，可否結帳網球，她說車已換好電池，於是我結束一日一善工作，元兒可以安心上班，我也可以安心球局，這些意外家庭支出，都是正常。

Voted on 10/13/2020/Carlos Pueblo

 

Voted on 10/13/2020/Carlos Pueblo

We went to Tracy Gee Community Center to vote on 10/13/2020, the first day of Texas early voting day. We had to wait on a long line even though we arrived at the center way before 7:00 am. Voters were very waiting patiently with masks on and 6 feet apart. Because no straight ticket selection, we must select our choice individually and that is one of the reasons of taking a long time to complete the vote. We got it finished at 8:20 am. The Wall Street Journal has a piece of report that on the first day of voting, there are 128,186 votes casted in Harris County almost double the numbers 67,741 in 2016. I feel released after my vote and I can move on.

Our Tuesday morning tennis was moved to 8:30 am from regular 8:00 am. I have had three Republican companions to play with. They are very curious why I must vote on that morning at that time to interfere with our tennis. It is because that we are anxious to get it done. Now, we don’t have anything hanging on our shoulders because that we have done our duty as good citizen. We can still read the news about the election yet it is up to the rest of the U.S. voters.

I believe that the election is going to proceed smoothly all over the country. I don’t believe Trump’s poll watchers can do anything. You are not allowed to stay inside after you vote. You will be asked to leave the poll center in order to allow voters to park their cars. If you insist to stay to watch, the constable will ask you to leave and of course you can’t carry a weapon to enter center not like at the State House of Lansing, Michigan. I don’t even imagine that there will be a civil war if Trump loses on 11/03/2020. I believe the CBS can project the winner right after western coast states close their polls. I still don’t see how Trump can refuse to vacate the White House if he loses. Will he start his civil war from his golf resorts in Florida? The U.S. in history is not afraid of the British Empire, Spanish Empire, German Empire, and Japanese Empire, etc., of course, not even the bankrupted Trump Empire.

Last night, I did have a nightmare about Russian Putin’s attempts to do it again for Trump. Stalin used to say according to my Serbia tennis partner Peter. It doesn’t matter how you vote, it is matter how you count the vote. Man, that bothers me dearly.

提前投票日/莊峻華

 

提前投票日/莊峻華

週二，十月十三日，是我們德州提前投票首日，我們一家等候四年，終於等到，我這一票在德州總統局，很可能仍舊無效，蓋本州共和黨人居多數，選舉人票是贏家全領，但我們仍舊抱一線希望，也幫助所有參選民主黨人，我認為民主黨願幫助弱勢。

過半夜，我就醒來，我們已將網球局，延到上午八點半，我們在六時半出發，朱美娟中心不遠，是我們哈理斯郡活動中心，已經排長龍，從室外到室內，室內有兩廳，前廳一線，次廳已是四線排隊，人人戴口罩，保持六呎距離，就是地上有標誌，我戴雙口罩，一是免費之外科用口罩，外加愛美手縫白布口罩，手上尚持一面板，是有點過甚其辭。原先以為投票甚速，但因共和黨州長，不准直投政黨票，所以需要一個一個選，選票中有很多法官，所以排隊和投票，一共費時一小時半。

投票所是民主黨郡法官主辦，兩年前哈理斯郡變天，很有意思，郡法官像台北市長，我們郡有三百萬人口，郡法官是位西語裔美女，處理武漢肺炎，板板有眼，和休市市長，合作無間，對共和黨州長開放學校等有意見，德州大城市，已經漸漸民主黨化，德州也沿海，將迅速加入東西兩岸民主黨州，這次選舉，將有一些政黨領土改變。

還好我能及時開門球場，完成週二上午例會，我和這三位共和黨人球伴，有些政治討論，我是胸有成竹，一位好友羅傑斯問曰，語我三理由，為何投票給拜登？我說川普是人類之羞恥，拜登至少在官場歷鍊多年，無一官司纏身，要使國家強盛，耀武揚威全球，富人要交所得稅，否則錢從何來？我相信這次選舉，會平平順順，川普不敢鬧，美國有法治，想在朱美娟中心鬧？選舉中心，閒雜人不得入內，更不得攜槍械，市警和郡警已可以應付，再不行，州長也可以調國民兵，想發動內戰？從何打起？想要俄羅斯介入？美國早已最強，無懼英帝國，德帝國，和日帝國，怕你俄羅斯？川普不要做白日夢矣，連輿論界都開始改口供，只剩台灣和美國民運反匪輿論，這是情有可原諒者也。

Save an oleander wall/Carlos Pueblo

 

Save an oleander wall/Carlos Pueblo

There is a metal fence along our tennis court. Previous homeowner association has planted oleander plants along the fence and now the bushes are growing very densely and tall like a wall. The other day, David Leiss came in to the court while I was waiting for my bodies to come for our regular Sunday games. He is our president of directors at the association. He told me that one of the lady directors in the board liked to cut down the bushes and place a long board of sign across the fence. I gave him my opinion that I like to save the oleander wall.

First, it takes a long time to grow such bushes to serve as a wall to block the wind which is a factor of playing tennis. Secondly, Tony in our group points it out that natural wall can block some street noises as well. David thinks it over and says that we do have some good points. I was walking pass to his house and he told me another director thought that I had a point. He said the board would trim the bushes instead of cutting it down. I think that we save the oleander bushes and also save the association some money.

Usually we pay our annual association due to keep the function of the association such as we pay the constable to patrol our subdivision, we pay private solid disposal, and we maintain the recreation center which covers a swimming pool, a tennis court and a converted basketball court, a playground for children, and a club house for meetings, etc. Our annual revenue is about half of a million and each household due is about $750 a year and increasing every year. It is like a small public organization with 5 directors served on the board and hires a management firm to run the business.

I know all five directors on the board because that I walk on every street every day. It is very interesting to know these neighbors who are taking seriously about the business of the subdivision. We also have a citizen patrol program which provides a vehicle for the volunteer to drive in order to keep the public safety.

網球場夾竹桃牆/莊峻華

 

網球場夾竹桃牆/莊峻華

社區屋主協會理事長，大衛萊斯先生，一日清晨走入球場曰，一協會理事建議，將北端球場夾竹桃牆砍除，在場內鐵絲網高牆，佈置看板，我驚曰不宜，蓋夾竹桃林，成長多年，已有幾丈高，巌然若防風牆，又可減少路過汽車燥音，春夏季又有花開，看板幾年後，風吹雨打，需要維護，他說有道理，於是和副理事長崁蒂討論，這崁蒂是一美女畫家，也同意我的看法，我還未動用到兩愛犬主人欣蒂，她是園藝專門，當然不會砍除四十餘年花樹，這整修之計劃，顯然要胎死腹中。

我們社區，有一休憩中心，游泳池，網球場，和嬰兒樂園，網球場因少人使用，幾年前，整修地面時，改一球場為藍球場，因武漢肺炎，藍球場至今關閉，就是將球架，降到平面，網球場也鮮有使用者，我才開始推廣老年人網球局，一週五次，一次約一小時餘，嬰兒盪鞦韆和滑遛梯，是有些使用家庭，但亦非瀕繁，總之西村早是一寧靜之社區。

我約八年前，搬到此社區，剛開始七年，清晨散步，僅走二哩路，不及此休憩中心，又初請門卡不順，於是擱置使用念頭，直到今年，又是武漢肺炎，又是網球局中斷，因無球場，因此想起家居社區中心，除増加晨步路程外，打網球，推廣網球，游泳，和積極認識鄰居朋友，不亦樂乎？

今晨注意到夾竹桃林中，仍有一小叢紅花，大衛曰將令園丁修葺樹叢施肥，待春天花開，也是一景，我想起歐胡島北海岸高爾夫球場，是芙蓉花矮牆，甚是美觀，我應給大衛相片作參考，他打高爾夫。

Erect a campaign yard sign/Carlos Pueblo

 

Erect a campaign yard sign/Carlos Pueblo

As the election comes near, some of our neighbors erect campaign signs on their front yards to show their intention to support. I count the Presidential signs daily on my daily morning walk along streets of my neighborhood. I know or can guess whom are those neighbors putting up Biden signs or Trump signs. I live in a county of Democrats yet a State of Republicans.

Out of 498 households, there are 17 Biden signs and 7 Trump signs. It is not a scientific poll at all; however, I can tell the difference strength of supporting in those yard sign. Biden sign usually stands alone while Trump sign is hiding with a bunch of local Republican candidates. After I have my Biden sign erected, people know that I vote Democrats. I have had several arguments with my Republican neighbors and that is very interesting.

The first one is Frank who is Cindy’s husband. He asks me to remove my sign and I ask him the reasons. My favorite Democrat is not Biden yet I don’t like Trump. I have had so many reasons and I write them repeatedly. I believe that Trump gets into the politic is simply for his self-interest and not for the welfare of the nation. He says that Biden will raise the income tax and I don’t care because that I have been unemployed for almost 20 years and I don’t have very much tax obligation. I live within my means.

The next argument is with a group of neighbors on a front yard of a local precinct chair of the Republican Party. I was passing by and invited to join the discussion. There are many signs standing on his yard. I have no limit to criticize Trump. Finally, he tells me to vote for some Republican.

The democratic system is such a wonderful thing in politic that the national leader, the President must be verified by re-election. It is a re-evaluate process to see what the politician has done for the current term on duty.

 

選舉人標誌/莊峻華

 

選舉人標誌/莊峻華

美國人習慣，將選舉人標誌，立在前院當廣告，每天清晨散步，我就一一察看，拜登幾家，川普幾家，無甚民意統計意義，但甚有趣，我們家愛美也關心政治，常詢問看牌數目，在這曾是共和黨天下之社區，今年民主黨拜登牌，是共和黨川普牌之三倍，難怪兩年前，選區國會眾議員翻盤，參議員差百分之三不到，明天德州開始提早投票，我們三人將趕黎明七時正投票，我們希望拜登在德州翻盤。

德州是共和黨人多數之州，但在五座大城市，奧斯汀，聖安東尼，休士頓，和現在之達拉斯渥斯堡市，民主黨領先，還有美墨邊界。我們在總統參眾議員中，一直起不了作用，因為是少數，所以一直等待機會，今年似乎等到，所以特別興奮。

最近，我有兩次機會，和兩群共和黨鄰居爭辨川普，我是有備而來，第一，我對政治，原本有趣，政治清楚，可以幫忙了解經濟，可以協助投資，幫忙變錢。我只舉幾例，批評川普，這些鄰居就受不了，我說我們當父母，不能教子女像川普一樣，講話不算話，借錢不還，愛好女色，不是花錢買色，就是令人不乾不願，說克林頓，人家克林頓睡的女人，都是心甘情願，不離不棄，有一位甚至為他坐牢，蘇珊瑪可杜枸，只有一位人家不願上鈎，他賠一百萬美元了事，而且那一百萬是保險理賠，川普落選後，有二十六件色情騷擾官司在等他，還有至少兩件箸名之買色勒索案，是否動用公司公積金，或是選舉募款，大家都在等候，至少有紐約州和馬里蘭州檢察長在辦。

川普做生意，倒遍美國銀行，又倒德意志銀行，現在約是準備要倒俄羅斯和中國銀行，紐約時報說是四億兩千萬，這是根據拿到之報稅資料，全世界人都想知道他逃稅之絕技。他說要使美國再度強盛，但賺大錢又不交稅，幫忙國家國防經費，真是天下大騙。

四年前，說是要蓋美墨邊界，萬里長城曰，墨西哥出錢，嚇得墨國前後任總統，同時立刻否認，國會不通過，川普硬要闖關，讓聯邦政府關閉，後又魚目混珠，動用國外美軍眷宿舍經費，蓋幾哩牆，討好某廠商，也為法官不許，講到此，鄰居已受不了曰，我改變不了你，你也改變不了我，一位選區共和黨主事曰，不選川普，也選其他共和黨後選人云云。

台灣舉國上下輿論，都支持川普，我覺甚為不妥，但台灣都是聰明人，我只能祝福，我是社區第二位立上拜登牌誌，許多人跟進，美國政治，非常有趣，川普揚言，敗選不退白宮，這國家傳統，無懼英帝國，德帝國，日帝國，蘇維埃俄羅斯等，懼怕川普？川粉和白色優越狂，想發動內戰？從何打起？那幾支槍和武器，想拍網路直播？川普選後，要面對法律，和武漢肺炎帶來之事業倒閉。

A big con man steals a great nation/Carlos Pueblo

 

A big con man steals a great nation/Carlos Pueblo

Yan fu, a Chinese scholar and English translator at the end of the Manchu Dynasty 1854-1921, used to point out a view that big bandits steal nations, which has been in my mind recently. The U.S. 2020 national election is on the way, we can go to vote within two days in Texas. I shall modify Yan’s theory that it has been occurred nowadays that a big con man steals a great nation. The world has been changed and more civilize, instead of wars we cast votes to change our governments.

A more detail explanation is like this. A man with ambition and able is always started as a bully or a bandit to gather a group of people of his same kind. They raid the weak of the society or a corrupted authority to make their living. Then, they become a war load of some kinds. Through endless battles, the winning war load becomes the ruler of a nation. In Chinese history, there were two great Dynasties, Han 206 B.C. to 6 A.D., and Ming 1368-1628. Their funding emperors were truly from very humble bandits, not even as honest peasants. Mao Tse-tung, the current day funder of the Communist China, is a bandit as well. The bulk of the rest war loads, their ancestor mostly were also bandits as well.

After the World War I, four major Empires collapsed. Many new nations established. It has been rarely heard that a bandit stole a nation except some kinds of military coups. Then, the biggest con artist job occurred, Hitler of Germany precisely 1933 when he stole Germany. After Hitler, there are many con men stealing nations of all kinds and the largest one is Donald trump in 2016-2020. He is the current day con artist of all mankind, yet he gets it his way. Every day we can read all stories of his behavior on all the media. He lies when he opens his mouth. Some people adore him and we are not quite sure if we can get rid of him.

I feel very sorry for myself that I must live under this kind of embarrassment for four years. Thanks to the U.S. political system that I am a fit person. I can handle my life to meet my humble request of my life and how about those unfit rank of folks who need help from the government. A bandit or a con man can get rid of such name by working hard on their positions to move on toward the benefit of those unfortunate.

大騙竊國/莊峻華

 

大騙竊國/莊峻華

最近，美國輿論均關注於總統大選，非常有趣，使我憶起一句中國成語曰，大盜竊國，此句來自清末學者嚴復辟韓論曰，大盜竊國，予智自雄，就是運用政治上之樞機，竊國於民也。我將此句改成，大騙竊國，更為貼切現況。盜則強人也，過去歷史之政權更換，很多都是強人，使用武力，奪得統治權，因為武力多半是戰爭，戰爭就是生民塗炭，所以現代文明國度，取得政權，需靠選票，公民授權，鮮少大盜，上述之樞機，就是取得選民支持，贏得選票，就是政見，當選後政見無法實現，就是詐騙，四年前，唐納德川普，就是一典型之大騙竊國，現在美國選民，將循政治樞機，請他下台。

 中國還有一句話曰，成者為王，敗者為寇，而是徹底執行，非常野蠻之政治傳統，美國政治，從來不是如此，剛才所提大盜和大騙竊國，當今世界，騙多於盜，而且竊國之後之所做所為，為國家國民福祉，則不曰盜或騙，為歷史所稱讚，歐巴瑪健保，使兩千萬人，買到健康保險，歐巴瑪已經脫離騙界，不再是騙國，克林頓任內，也有希望獎學金，幫忙大學生注冊費，他雖好色，但確是兩廂情願，和川普不同，川普卸任後，有許多性侵犯官司。

美國政治制度完善，即使大騙如川普竊奪總統職位後，雖然可以一意孤行，但國會稍可牽制，例如美墨邊界之萬里長城，選前先騙墨國出錢，國會不給全額經費，於是政府關閉，開放後，又挪用國防部經費，開始動工，又被禁止。所以美國稍可制衡，可以等到四年後之大選。

讀歷史看新聞，先假設這些政治者，是來尋找工作，來服務人民，選前開始編政見，引人共鳴，這是大小騙之開始，選後政見無法兌現，就是大騙竊國，川普所有動作，都是為自己私利，而且說謊成性，真是大騙竊國之實例。

The early voting day in Texas/Carlos Pueblo

 

The early voting day in Texas/Carlos Pueblo

There are more than two weeks in Texas to cast your vote for 2020 election. It is also a way to cast your absentee vote by mail or by drop box. All by all is to encourage citizen to vote. We are going to vote on the first day, October 13, 2020, at 7:00 am at the Tracy Gee Community Center. We are determined to move on our life and forget about the last four years of the Trump Administration.

We know that our votes don’t count very much because we live in a Republican State, Texas; however, you never know that our votes may flip the State to the Democrat. Two years ago, we did elect a Democrat to the House in our district. I read the poll that we’re 2.70% shy to flip the State to Democrat this year. This is perhaps the year and we cast our votes on time.

I am doing alright for my life. I am glad that I love the politic and believe that governments can help the unfit people in the society. Of course, I mean that the government to provide a fair living environment for the poor to be survival. I mean the government would help not should help the poor. Let them to have the opportunity to struggle up their poor classes. I believe that I have made it to that dream to be a middle class person with my own house to live, own vehicle to drive, own money to live till the end of my time.

I believe that the United States has been great ever since the independent revolution. The U.S. has been second to none in the world of nations. No need to make the U.S. great again.

 

投票日2020/莊峻華

 

投票日2020/莊峻華

下週二，我們德州開始投票，我們全家準備一早，就到朱美娟活動中心排隊，把這事盡到公民責任，四年前我的選票交給捷克布拉格美大使館，在郵輪返美途中，獲悉希拉蕊落敗消息，終於等到今年投票日。

明日普洛西眾議長，要開始憲法25條修正案，詢問白宮內閣部長，川普是否身心健康？足以領導美國，依照此法案，基於國家安全，國會可以介入，川普舉止鬼異，神經有問題，又得武漢肺炎，這時候可能挺而走險，在亞洲幾乎與中國，箭弩拔張，戰爭一觸即發。川普民間官司纏身，落選後將面對司法，讓他揚言選敗也不認敗，不交出白宮云云。

川普公開抱怨，司法部長，何以遲不逮捕歐巴瑪，拜登，和希拉蕊等異議者，抱怨國務卿，何以不公開希拉蕊私人帳戶之公務電郵？這是今昨兩日之小丑戲，我巴不得早日投票，無需再聞問川普。

他感染武漢肺炎，拜登不敢與他同台同室辯論，這是衛生安全，也是國家安全，不能像白宮一樣，官員一一被感染武漢肺炎，而且包括國防部，高階將領，這種美國執政者，自顧都不暇，如何管理全國？領導全世界？

我在社區觀看，庭院選舉招牌，川普招牌不若其他共和黨人，而且躲在眾黨後選人牌群中，屋主均羞恥為伍，現在開始傳說，德州將翻盤，我們家四票，將提供助力。

My new circle of friends/Carlos Pueblo

 

My new circle of friends/Carlos Pueblo

After the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus pandemics, I have built a new way of life called the new normal. My life boundary is really around my subdivision of 12 streets between two sections. I can’t go to travel due to the cancellation of the flight and the cruise. It is real and is very sad. However, I do build a new normal life and enjoy the most of my daily activities. I think that I don’t ask very much and only care about my health both physically and mentally. Friendships toward the others have come to help to fulfill the task.

First, I must define between an acquaintance and a friend. An acquaintance means that I know you even frequently see you around while a friend means that we can converse a little bit further about our interest, of course not including a loan of some kinds. After I lost my major contract of my insurance business in 2001, I suddenly lost most of my contacts built from the business. I have been in self-exile ever since. I felt ashamed of myself and isolated myself in the environment around my house, walking, writing and reading, etc. At that time, there was Charlie, our beloved pet dog, to be my company. He was my close friend. After he died, I went out to travel around the world. With the experience which I have built with him, I make friends with pet dogs everywhere as far as I travel. Most of the pet dogs are friendly because that they also like to have people’s attention. Then, we move to a new subdivision and I get to know and make friends with more than 40 pet dogs by remember their names individually. Most of them can answer my whistle. Their owners become my first circle of friends.

Because that I walk on every street in the subdivision, I have some fellow morning walkers attention. I get to know them and some of them even their names. Yesterday, there was this pretty lady of my age came toward me and asked my name. She indicates that I know her name and she doesn’t know mine. We had a good chat about Japan, Syria, and Germany, etc. Finally, I ask her where she lives. She says is on Piping Rock with two red pomegranate trees. It is Carol. I ask her name from Diana, Eli’s owner, to ask her permission to pick the fruit. I call her name each time when I pass by her house and see her. Now, we become friends of the world travel, our common interest. These friends derived from my morning walk have become my new circle of friends.

I also have created a special group of friends while travelling on board of the cruise. I adopted pretty girls working on every ship to be my daughters almost 400 of them. I know them and they are aware of me. Each time when I am aboard, I feel like returning home for a visit.

新朋友圈/莊峻華

 

新朋友圈/莊峻華

清晨散步，原是健康運動，因為我喜愛愛犬，先是建立一以愛犬家人為中心之朋友圈，再來是因為散步在社區，因此認識許多鄰居同好，再圍一新朋友圈，昨晨，走在小溪上街，有一位女士趨近曰，你能稱呼我名，但我不知如何稱呼你？於是我連忙告訴她，我一時憶不起其為何人？但無妨我們交談。於是我們談到旅行，她曾經和先生，駐紮在日本青森附近三年，我青森去過三次，也答對一風景湖，於是我們談到世界旅行，最後我問她住那條街？她說是管石街，門口有兩株紅石榴，我連忙說是凱若，原來我曾要求採其石榴。

這是愛犬依莉和她主人黛安娜，我常陪她們散步，經過管石街，先是發現一株檸檬，果實無人採食，遛愛犬女鄰居鼓勵我敲門，獲取許可採食，結果是柳丁，非常甜美，今年看到紅石榴，像是春天耶誕節掛物在小株上，我說石榴營養，於是黛安娜鼓勵我，再申請許可，這紅石榴家主人，就是凱若，柳丁株家緊鄰，對面就是我採無花果之一株，都是黛安娜鼓勵，她對果株甚為好奇興趣，有一別墅在聖寶娜河畔，鄰居空地有一椪柑，我請她關注。這黛安娜小我一歲，仍在上班，凱若年輕我兩歲多，都是非常健談有趣。

有很多愛犬，甚有感情，而且能認人，經過其門前，均能吠叫，提醒我注意，無論是天黑或天亮，有很多愛犬，可以回應我之口哨，主人也鼓勵愛犬等候，有的愛犬甚至堅持我的到來，我是少數人與愛犬為友，結果也認識他們之主人，能陪愛犬散步者，都是好家庭。

我在二十年前失業，是一大人生打擊，當時束手無策，失業在社會上，是無顏面者，於是我就離群索居，自我放逐，天天想出外旅行，我曾描述過，我在郵輪上認了四百位義女，這也是新朋友圈，若我再上船，真像返鄉探親一般親切。我發現結識鄰居，有助於我之英語表達能力，而且也無老年寂寞。

The cooks comb flower/Carlos Pueblo

 

The cooks comb flower/Carlos Pueblo

Our neighbor Kim has noticed that I have some cooks comb flower plants in the front yard. They are from another neighbor the senora. Kim gave me two boxes of the flower plants to grow. I manage to place them on three spots on the front and back yards. At the end of this summer, I see some of them are blooming even though my plants are much smaller than both of theirs. It is because that I don’t have 14 hours a day sunshine and lack of the fertilizer applied. At least we do see the red crown type of the flower. It is like a rooster’s crown or a Roman Empire Army’s helmet.

The flower is very popular in the rural area of Taiwan. When I was a school child, I used to help my teacher to grow flowers in front of our classroom yard. The cooks comb is one of them. It is very easy to grow in a warmer climate like Taiwan or in Houston. I know that I can’t do anything about our tall trees on the yard; however, I do have plenty of opportunity to enjoy our neighbors’ gardens while I take my morning walk. It is such a joy to view many pretty gardens in the neighborhood.

Our subdivision has a deed of restriction applied to our front yard. We must maintain a regular mowed lawn including edging. Some neighbors even manage to have a nice garden with honor’s pride that I am very impressed. I have had my good lesson from them and I pay more attention to my yards than ever before. It is too late for me to consider having a larger lot without trees; therefore, I can grow something like to have a nice garden. I hate to move and I don’t have time long enough to have that dream filled.

雞冠花/莊峻華

 

雞冠花/莊峻華

去年夏天，一鄰局贈我幾株雞冠花苗，我將花苗分塞前院兩處，過了嚴冬，兩株微弱掛冠，仍舊支撐，這位鄰居，教我散落花子，然後施肥，我不以為意，我相信樹蔭擋住陽光，我無法改變環境。一日另一女鄰居曰，已贈我四盒花苗，在家門口，是雞冠花苗，她自己培育，因見我那兩幼株在前院，並且告知英文花名，就是雄雞梳，過去我解釋為雞冠，或是羅馬兵盔，非常接近，今年兩鄰居前院，雞冠花怒放，非常美麗，我的較為袖珍，因長在小盆中，或是老樹坑中，但已讓愛美驚喜不已。

此花赤紅色，長在高莖上，花成團狀若雞冠，需要足夠雨水和陽光，雞冠花在台灣非常普遍，我仍舊憶得，而且也不甚昂貴，就是一通俗普遍之草本花朵，小學時候，級任老師喜歡蒔花節草，我們幫他整理，也認識許多種花草，因此，稍有園藝概念，也幫助參觀世界級花園。我們社區有幾位女鄰居，非常重視家庭園藝，前院像是祕密花園，這祕密花園是一鋼琴名曲。

我不能砍掉巨樹，她們兩家，均無巨樹，花園有足夠之陽光，庭院也不是很大，而且大部分為草皮所佔，花園只不過沿著屋簷下，或是另闢花圃，如果需要大面積種花，可盼需搬到甚遠郊外。

 

 

Ending my summer swimming/Carlos Pueblo

 

Ending my summer swimming/Carlos Pueblo

Houston summer is gone and I have to end my summer swimming. It is the first time that I feel the heat way is shorter in Texas because of the water temperature in the pool. Now, I must find another exercise to fill up my morning.

I begin to do some yard works by trimming bushes. It is like to get my yard a haircut. I am getting better and better in the handy job at home. I can also do some cooking by watching some lessons on the You Tube.

I am back to my Spanish textbook now and I like to extend my Spanish conversation with my neighbor senora every day more than the typical greeting. I want to surprise her with some sentences. I also like to get back to my self-study Japanese and enjoy Japanese songs. An old classmate sent us a song, the moon over a ruined castle, and brought back my good memory of my learning Japanese language.

It is much comfortable to walk late in the morning due to less of the heat way. We still maintain five tennis meets in a week. The old man tennis is like playing the shadow boxing, not that hard yet plenty of sweating. I am still monitoring the cruise opportunity to get on board of the ship.

We are going to the early vote on the 13^th of October to get it done early in the morning at 7:00 am sharp.

 

停止游泳/莊峻華

 

停止游泳/莊峻華

今年夏日炙熱，剛好在九月底結束，天氣轉涼，我就停止游泳，一週五次之網球局，也開始遇到困難，球伴手背受傷，無法如此頻繁使用手背，畢竟我們都是上年紀之老人，於是我又準備長期抗戰，清晨恢復五哩散步路。

我將圈游泳池，當做坐禪，因為蛙式游泳，全部是吞吐動作，而且也眼觀鼻，鼻觀心，游畢一節，比我坐禪一次，時間要久，而且無打嗑睡之慮，遺憾者為天熱夏日，僅存四個月，今年夏天，首次覺得短暫。

老人網球，像是太極拳，無需使勁，只需選擇性之勤跑，已經是滿頭大汗，只要避免跌倒受傷，對心臟跳動有益。過去我甚計較球伴之球藝，輸贏球之認真否，現在始體會，老人網球，重點是經常運動，讓身體四肢有活動之機會。

停止游泳後，我就自動之修葺庭院灌木草叢，趁花落期，將樹叢理髮，剪短樹枝，與草皮對稱整齊，我們庭院開始美觀，春天若埋水管草皮破壞處，未為恢復，我擇需另舖新草皮，維持整齊美觀。

The old cap and gown pictures/Carlos Pueblo

 

The old cap and gown pictures/Carlos Pueblo

After I join the Line of my college time class mates group, I soon receive several old cap and gown pictures from a classmate. It is very touching that I haven’t seen the pictures for half a century. I was in a hurry to leave Taiwan back to 1975 for a graduate study in the United States. All what I packed in my luggage were cloths and some old text books. I didn’t know that was so difficult to return to Taiwan until 1989. My dad was passed away and my mom had been moved to a different company’s complex. My personal stuff was lost. That return visit was very shot and never mentioned anything about my belonging, of course there were not much as a matter of fact.

At that time, back to the summer of 1971, I was not quite sure that I had enough credit hours to complete my degree. At least, I had to take a summer class to pass one more requirement. However, I did attend the commencement and the picture taking ceremony. After I completed the summer class, I was too late to pass the dead line to be assigned as a teacher for a secondary school teacher; therefore, I applied to be drafted as a regular army to serve up my two year obligation in order to apply for studying abroad. After I came back from the frontier, I continued to serve two years school teaching obligation. It was very stressful back then.

Finally, I left Taiwan in the summer of 1975. Auburn gave me a financial assistant for my graduate study. The stipend was enough to cover my tuition, fee, room and board. I could concentrate to my study. After two years, I left Alabama to Texas to join my elder brother. He has been a very good brother to guide me in every way. My life is better and better every day.

舊學士照/莊峻華

 

舊學士照/莊峻華

昆明兄在老同學連線上，送出幾張舊學士照，應該是半世紀前之回憶，我很快就找到我的相片，一張合照中之我，心中多少感處，愛美也收到曰，相片中人，均甚清瘦，其實四年後，離開台灣時，我的體重，約僅一百磅，就是少於五十公斤。

相片中之我，並非興奮，而是惶恐萬分，我的學分仍未修完，尚有一科需要在暑假補修，而且當時，學期課業滿擋，過關與否，尚在未定之天，我先需要籌劃有機分析之暑假班，再來是提前入伍服兵役。儀器分析，有機化學，和高等微積分等科，先生們都網開一面，讓我過關，王澄霞系主任也同意開課，亞平姊當助教，我們五人家教班，順利完成，教務處職員曰，可以結業矣，然後給我一張結業證書，也通知兵役課，開始徵兵服役，虎尾鎮兵役課開始發海軍艦艇兵召集令，刻日入伍。

於是我上書救國團宋時選祕書長幫忙，提前入伍，因為海軍是三年兵役，我希望加入兩年大專兵役，宋指派邊靜平上校安排，我到木柵一國防部辦公室，見到一位主管軍官，很快拿到一紙隨台北市大專兵梯次入伍，台灣省梯次，早半月已入新兵訓練中心，此徵集令優先於虎尾鎮兵役課艦艇兵召集令，於是我省下一年青春。

我的兩年陸軍步兵師兵役，多半在烈嶼后頭，一直到退伍，虎尾之義母裴大夫，幫我介紹到虎尾高中教書，剛好接下屆林崇仁兄兵役缺，我在虎中指導學生，科學展覽，獲得全國首獎，當然要感謝王澄霞教授在嘉義之初選，還有程祥榮教授之台北複選，那年虎中贈我績優教師獎。

第二年，吳國民教授，推薦任教新店文山國中，準備來美國讀書，雖然也是困難重重，但也終於成行，我在家兄峻嚴，步步呵護下，順利在美國生活下來，如今已愈四十五載。

Doing the yard work/Carlos Pueblo

 

Doing the yard work/Carlos Pueblo

The summer is gone and welcome to the fall weather in Houston. I decide to do some yard work other than the lawn mowing every other Wednesday. I need to trim some bushes to make our yard better looking. First, I recharge two batteries for a chain saw. The white flower bush by the fence on the west border fence is getting tough to slow down the chain saw and I change to a pair of scissors to make the cut and repeat some cut from the saw. I also use a stand to cut the top portion like a haircut to the bush. Finally, I do see a rectangular shape of the bush.

I leave the debris on the driveway for later pick up and go to the front yard to cut a pair of bushes. Eight years ago, the sellers left an even pair of bushes for us. Now, they are not even due to the lack of regular care or they are growing unevenly. The battery chain saw is working better than the previous one. I am still cut some bigger branches manually and after that, I would apply with the saw. Amy is so happy that I do the yard work voluntarily. I explain that I hear Henry Wei is doing his yard work and I like to copy such good exercises. She tells me that she also trims the bushes regularly yet can reach to a certain height. I use the stand and step up to reach more.

I explain to her that I shall do some more with crape myrtle trees tomorrow. I have stuffed the trees in the front of our yard along with the street. Now, they are growing wild with branches like willows. I shall cut the top off to leave the lower stems to grow back next year. This is a common practice for growing such flowing trees. It is not good looking for such arrangement to plant flower trees in the front yet I hate to through them away and we don’t have any space left for those plants.

I sweep the leaves on the ground and feel very well of myself. Neighbors are walking by with dogs and I must put off my work to greet those honeys and what a day of the autumn this year.

庭院工作/莊峻華

 

庭院工作/莊峻華

傳統美國家庭生活中，是有庭院工作，有些是可以自理，有些需要請人幫忙，平常我兩週自己割草，愛美則是一週兩次，庭院工作，整理大樹枝幹，和填木㞕沃土，兩年一次，需請專人處理，砍樹等則是家庭意外支出。幾天前和北郊之宏義兄談話，聞知他除散步外，尚忙修理房屋，我猜是家庭園藝，於是我下定決心，停止游泳，開始做些庭院工作，我先選擇與西鄰邊界之一叢灌木排，和前院一雙並木，兩處先行箸手，剛搬來此屋，前屋主留下美麗庭院，現在已經變了形狀。

我先充電，使用一修葺電池剪，灌木叢枝老軔，剪斷不易，隨時需要繼續充電，於是改用手剪，剪完一次，再使用電剪，就像理髮一般，高處需要立梯協助，灌木叢已經佈滿其他雜草，這樹叢春天開美麗之白花，和叢旁一株灌木紅花相對映，這是前女屋主之設計，紅白花仍在，只是稍嫌雜亂，我先兩刀手剪多次，效果立現。

前院並木叢，原甚均勻對稱，現已分岐，我站在立梯上，設法理平，但只能理到屋頂狀，就是有起伏，並木間有一空隙，清晨拾報紙，可以通過，我設法理平整齊四周，愛美在屋內觀看到我的發願，出來感謝，我說明日將繼續整枝，縐桃金孃樹枝，這是我從舊屋庭院移植來，已經越來越高，不可收拾。愛美曰平時她也手剪樹枝，但僅止於身高處，這次我將踩上立梯，甚至上屋頂。