The gift/Carlos Pueblo

 The gift/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

贈與/莊峻華

 贈與/莊峻華

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

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

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

Year end house sitting at Austin/Carlos Pueblo

 Year end house sitting at Austin/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

年底外出2020/莊峻華

 年底外出2020/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

Year end saving report/Carlos Pueblo

 Year end saving report/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

年終儲蓄投資報告/莊峻華

 年終儲蓄投資報告/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

Daily exercises 2/Carlos Pueblo

 Daily exercises 2/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

每日運動/莊峻華

 每日運動/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

Neighbors help each other programs/Carlos Pueblo

 Neighbors help each other programs/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

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

鄰里守望相助/莊峻華

 鄰里守望相助/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

欣賞南越南農村生活/莊峻華

 欣賞南越南農村生活/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

Watching a Vietnamese vlog on the You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

 Watching a Vietnamese vlog on the You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

觀看網誌直播影片/莊峻華

 觀看網誌直播影片/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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

The strategy of taking out our pension funds/Carlos Pueblo

 The strategy of taking out our pension funds/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

領退休金之策略/莊峻華

 領退休金之策略/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

A friend's moving away/Carlos Pueblo

 A friend's moving away/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

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

愛親別離/莊峻華

 愛親別離/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

Watching movies on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

 Watching movies on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

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

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

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

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

網路上看電影/莊峻華

 網路上看電影/莊峻華

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

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

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

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

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