Dogs sitting/Carlos Pueblo

 Dogs sitting/Carlos Pueblo

Dogs sitting has become a new chore of mine. Michelle wants to be on vacation and asks Amy to take care of dogs while they are away. I love dogs; however, the reasons why I don't dare to keep one for myself are that taking care of a dog is like to take care of a kid. Whenever I see a loose dog wondering around the neighborhood, I think of the abandonment of the owner. It is very sad.

There was only one time I had a dog, Charlie, at home. Charlie lives up to 16 1/2 years old. I have developed a very kin relationship with pet dogs ever since. I can tell when a dog is paying attention to me every where I go in the world. I can easily chat with local residents about their dogs. I think of dogs as children or grand children of mine.

Brinkley and Honey are two rescued dogs as well. They both behave very well better than most of the kids whom I know of. According their habit, I must sleep right by them at night because Brinkley feels insecure to sleep at night by himself. He likes to have a company. This is fine with me that I always wake up during the night to go to the toilet and I can release them to the back yard and let them in again to meet their needs as well.

Amy will feed them breakfast and takes them to walk in the neighborhood for thirty minutes. After I come back from my morning tennis, they will accompany me for my morning nap. As a matter of fact, they take several naps during the day. I shall accompany them to the back yard to enjoy the nice unusual worm winter this year in Houston.

It is my turn to take them to walk in the afternoon and also with 30 minutes limit. Michelle won't allow me to march them any longer because of their age. I doubt it very much and I am firmly believe that they can walk and like to walk more. I bring them to meet four of my beloved neighbors' dogs. Brinkley is very friendly yet Honey doesn't care.

Michelle asks me to do more for them to have more vacation and design to get Amy to go with them. She asks me if I can take care of these two in August. I flatly reject the idea and ask her to hire some dogs sitters to do the job.

愛犬來客／莊峻華

 愛犬來客／莊峻華

年底琳兒攜兩愛犬，來家作客，就是要我們幫忙照顧，好讓她們到墨西哥休假，我也不敢有異議，我們家愛貓羞怯，只好安置在樓上起息，愛美準備事後洗地毯，其實此兩愛犬，非常規矩，不搗蛋也不作怪，我們照顧他們多次，習慣他們作息，不久前來我們家過一次，我一直喜歡操練愛犬行軍，這次有交待，一次僅散步半小時，早上愛美帶，下午輪到我，剛好我可以恢復一些舊日散步活動。

她們家一愛犬睡覺，需要有人伴，否則會害怕，因次我就睡在午睡沙發上，一愛犬睡其小床，另外一愛犬睡我們臥室門口，半夜我需要起床如廁，剛好釋放他倆外出，若有急需，他們會來沙發提醒我，一切均甚規律。平常不許可他們上樓打攪愛貓，但他們好奇我上樓，不知究竟，跳過兩旅行冰箱阻礙，上來二樓，於是我就斥責，手指下去，他們也甚識趣，不敢違背。

有訓練之愛犬，就像孫輩一般的可愛，我因為喜歡旅行，而且有愛親別離之痛苦，我忠告琳兒要小心，但這並非她的意思，我們都是盡力幫忙而已，上次來訪有三愛犬，回去後一愛犬癌症過世，我也難過許久，琳兒她們也煩，要我們收養此二愛犬，我說我都需要人來照顧，如能照顧此二愛犬？

Facing Wuhan corona virus pandemic 2021/Carlos Pueblo

 Facing Wuhan corona virus pandemic 2021/Carlos Pueblo

Even at the end of 2021, I am still facing Wuhan corona virus pandemic daily, very real and true. Yesterday morning my tennis partner came in with a caution of his Covid 19 infection. We all wore masks immediately and regret very much that he didn't post his own quarantine for 14 days. After one set, we were dismissed and I myself declared my own 14 days quarantine. No tennis for two weeks. I asked him how he got infected. He said that was from his wife church going. Amy's church has been closed two weeks before Christmas due to the infection of their pastor and his wife. They all took tests proved to be negative. It is a precaution and the knowledge of the public health.

When Lady, Michelle's neighbor's pet came out to greet me for visiting. Her owner Nina stood far away and mentioned that she got infected. I pulled out of my two layers masks immediately. It is so inconvenient with the pandemic. I am very disappointment that cruise liners get so many of their passengers infected on the news. I am worry about the job situation of my 400 plus adopted daughters who are gradually coming back to work on the ships.

Instead of playing tennis in the morning, I am going to walk with Michelle's two dogs for the next four days. They will be here today in the afternoon for us to baby sitting while they go to Mexico on vacation. I shall go back to march in the morning like before playing tennis. It is not all bad as a matter of the fact I am saving money by my isolation during this unfortunate pandemic.

接近武漢肺炎案例／莊峻華

 接近武漢肺炎案例／莊峻華

武漢肺炎肆虐兩年餘，最近開始逼近我們家，先是愛美教會牧師夫婦感染，兩人都打過三針，今晨打球，我的夥伴感染，想來也是教會感染，我們連忙戴口罩打球，草草打滿一局，然後連忙回家隔離，不是小題大做，而是小心翼翼，對付此武漢肺炎，要全神貫注，絕對不能像中國的習近平，和美國的川普，還有許多反對疫苗注射，又不戴口罩者。

我們家元兒，一直躲在房間自我隔離，在超市上班，戴緊口罩，馬上按規定打三針疫苗，我要告訴他我接近武漢肺炎案例，當然，他每天都需接觸，需要小心保護自己，我的情況應該不是嚴重。還有琳兒週一要回家，我要她在家也戴口罩，在車上也戴口罩，因為我是自我隔離者，又需開車送她們上機場，我不能是防疫之破洞。

我甚感激台灣國民，防範武漢肺炎之努力，這是台灣國民優良之公共衛生習慣，如此可以節省許多醫藥費，工作時間，我現在都懶得爭辯，只待如此接近病患，始知健康之可貴。

In Austin for Christmas 2021/Carlos Pueblo

 In Austin for Christmas 2021/Carlos Pueblo

We are invited to Austin for a Christmas dinner in 2021. We didn't go in 2021 due to the Wuhan Coronas virus pandemic outbreak. It was a short trip yet necessary. We left at 11 am and returned at 9 am on the next morning. I did calculate the total hours of the family together was three hours for a piece of a roast beef and three shots of Scottish whiskey. Most of our time was on the long drive to and from Austin, two marches with two lovely pet dogs, and gather two large bags of fallen leaves.

I consider that my life is very pleasant. Every day is like a Christmas to me. I don't have any stress of my senior life that I am healthy and I have my life occupied and I don't have any money issue. In order to make it easy for the long driving, I added additional two hours sleeping by skipping  a morning tennis. Freeways are no traffic at all.

Dogs were waiting anxiously for me to take them to march. Both of them are strong and I notice that they are not usually have a daily walk. I feel a little bit pain on my left knee above the old wound from tennis wear and tear. It gets a little better after dogs slowing down. I forgot to put the amaryllis bulbs box to the trunk; therefore, I missed the transplanting. Amy and I used the new leaves blower to clean some part of the front yard. We gathered two large trash bags all after my finishing of dogs march.

I have had a good trip to get together with Michelle's family. At a chat before we had a breakfast, I asked her about Amazon.com. She explains to me how it works. A huge data collection from my search of items, reminds me constantly if I don't make a purchase, after my purchase, it can deliver the item from a warehouse nearby. It is good to know.

北上奧斯汀過耶誕節2021／莊峻華

 北上奧斯汀過耶誕節2021／莊峻華

今年耶誕節又奉召，北上奧斯汀過耶誕節2021，這是琳兒好意，剛好我老身尚可，我們是耶誕節夜早上十一時出發，翌日耶誕節清晨九時回家，時間緊湊，但安排幾件工作，帶琳兒家雙愛犬散步兩次，打掃其庭院落葉，還有和其家人晚餐，我雖非基督徒，但也不忌諱其生日，耶誕節是美國大假日，今年公路狀況甚佳，沒有傳說中之擁擠，車開入十號公路，始憶得忘記攜帶日前挖出的喇叭花球莖，我準備移植到其庭院，還好她再隔兩日，將開車回休市，搭機到墨西哥休假四日，可以順便帶回。

兩愛犬憶得此老人，緊隨我身旁，我稍吹前院落葉，就帶他兩散步去也，第三愛犬今夏來訪後，回家發現癌症已過世，此兩犬仍是強壯，用力拉我，倒是我的左膝蓋有恙，不堪折磨，但稍後較能控制，回來時已經四時，大家就等待我就位，我吃一大片牛排，喝上三小杯威士忌，打翻一小杯葡萄酒，週旋於一桌老少間，講了一夜醉語，七時尚知刷牙更衣，然後就和衣而睡。

早上我就急著要回家，親家前夜已回家，因為他們仍需趕路，攜愛犬行軍後，收拾兩大包落葉，琳兒曰可以留在家，逐漸丟棄。我問她亞馬遜郵購，她說這是大數據原理，待我開始搜尋物品，亞馬遜已經留下記錄，可以在亞虎新聞上，穿插該未購妥廣告，他們知到我會買網球拍握把貼布，貨物已經在休市附近倉庫，銀貨兩訖後，就有專車送到我家，我是不喜購物，她們一天到晚，使用亞馬遜，難怪亞馬遜可以賣便宜一些。

我開始包紅包給琳兒家人，琳兒送我很多襯衫，我的襯衫都是她送的，但她不知我缺冬日網球長褲，所以愛美邀我到市郊大賣店購物，我反正閒來無事，逛街也行，一年又過矣。

Three outstanding Prussian Ministers/Carlos Pueblo

 Three outstanding Prussian Ministers/Carlos Pueblo

Prussia is and old Kingdom of German Empire, current day Germany. I am reading a book about the reasons why Britain and Germany come to the War. WWI and I am on page 60. Even up to today, many politician still ignore the history of that time around late 19th century in Europe, Prussia for instance. Xi of China and Putin of Russia don't know how important to avoid Wars. The three outstanding minsters of the Kaiser William I are Otto Von Bismarck, Albrecht Von Roon, and Helmuth Von Moltke. I make some mistakes to identify Roon and Moltke. The Danish is Moltke and Roon is Polish who accompanied the Crown Prince Frits to attend the Bonn University and also advised the Ottoman Army instead of China. Bismarck initiated attacks of Denmark, Austria, and France while Roon and  Moltke executed it. Of course, both the Kaiser and his son are Prussian Army commanders and should be credited.

According to my reading that politicians should pay more attention to the benefit of citizens under their rule. None in history have make all the conquer, Not Xi to Taiwan and Putin to Ukraine. I am very sorry for both of them, Xi and Putin. I always believe that a war can end a dictator's tenure and even end of a nation, dynasty, etc.

普魯士三傑／莊峻華

 普魯士三傑／莊峻華

無畏號這書，讀到60頁，我又有一些感觸，作者已經講到卑斯麥，普魯士三傑，魯恩和莫特克是另兩位，是普魯士崛起歐洲之三位德國大臣。我在上期提到一位軍官，陪同普魯士皇太子佛來帝克到波昂大學讀書，我誤為丹麥人，其實是波蘭人，就是魯恩，丹麥人是莫特克，莫特克曾經奉德帝幫奧圖曼練兵，我到德國旅行兩次，第一次甚至到達比利時，丹麥，和捷克，都是火車旅行，徒步逛街，沿途搜尋谷歌，回憶和近日書本描述，許多對映。

卑斯麥微時，由魯恩推薦德帝威廉一世入柏林，這是1861年，德帝威廉一世在1857年繼兄位，威廉是普魯士軍統帥職，國會要縮減兵役制，三年改到兩年，威廉不滿，魯恩已是國家戰爭部長，威廉同意召卑斯麥入京，卑斯麥運用法律操作，將兵役和陸軍問題解決，然後就開始唆使威廉出兵丹麥，因為丹麥新王不顧倫敦條約，併吞漢堡北端兩大公國，這兩大公國居民，薛樂士維格講丹麥語，豪斯坦講德語，普丹兩國已打過一仗，丹麥戰勝，第二次就是三傑策劃，由德帝發最後通牒給丹麥，丹麥置之不理，於是威廉出兵，這就是普魯士第一次擊敗維金帝國丹麥，這是1864年。我曾搭火車在漢堡車站，轉車到哥本哈根，經過這兩大公國，終戰後由英國託管，所以後來還給波昂的西德，兩德統一後，今屬德國，第二次住漢堡，特地搭火車拜訪魯北克市，就在哥本哈根途中，非常美麗小鎮，街上店面有許多洋娃娃，曾是大公國首都，另外一海港基爾亦甚出名，是德國出波羅地海港口，都屬兩古大公國。

因為這兩大公國戰後隸屬未令普魯士滿意，因為丹麥之役，動用奧匈帝國軍隊，所以奧匈分到豪斯坦，卑斯麥一直設法挑釁奧匈，揚言要組一德意志聯邦，排除奧匈，奧匈是法蘭克佛議會之主角，卑斯麥繼續唆使威廉出兵，卑斯麥有魯恩和莫特克之專業評估，威廉果然出兵，奧匈戰敗，卑斯麥有太子佛瑞茲之助，說服其父王威廉，不帶兵進入維也納，歷史書就是如此有趣，這位太子也親自領兵精銳八萬，馳援僵持普奧兩軍，他也是普軍統帥，和其父一般，他就是維多莉亞女皇之大女婿，魯恩陪讀波昂大學這位太子。

波昂在科隆市東南，沿著萊茵河，有一年我特別到此貝多芬故鄉拜訪，因為我一位表哥，母舅大公子，台大醫科畢業後，服完兵役，就來波昂大學醫學院深造，取得醫學博士後，移民美國當婦產科醫生，在洛杉磯退休，現在應是85歲。波昂大學醫科，就在前院的大樓，現在已經搬到郊外，戰後艾德娜將西德建都在他的故鄉小大學鎮，我旅行德國，特別安排來拜訪，非常親切，還有學生王子的故事，德國帝制已經不存在，國家領袖民選，維持高水準，即使亡國也能迅速復興，令人敬佩。

Reading a book called Dreadnought/Carlos Pueblo

 Reading a book called Dreadnought/Carlos Pueblo

A book called Dreadnought is now in my reading regular. Amy's sister Mulan and two other Taiwanese ladies are working hard to improve their knowledge above all by hiring an American lady to instruct them for the advance. Dreadnought is one of the text books. I like to read history book and this is written by Robert K. Massie about Britain, Germany, and the coming of the Great War. I am on page 53 now and start doing my reports. Each time when I travel to a foreign land, I always Google something about that city of interest and persons of significant. I know that there are many things which I missed and puzzled. This book has been a help to me even after years of my fond memory.

Queen Victoria and her beloved husband Albert are German as I read before and now I know where both of them are from. Prince Albert's golden stature is erected on the Royal Kensington Park next to a beautiful garden with Japanese cherry grove. He died early. Across the street, there is a museum named after both of them with huge jewelry collection of Victoria Dynasty. In 1897, there was a Diamond Jubilee for her reign of the Empire of sixty years. I believe the current Queen Elizabeth II has one as well. During that celebration, I notice that there are two persons not in good health attended. Crown princes of Germany and Japan. I must check with the future Emperor Taisho, yet Germany's Fritz was in Scotland for his larynx issue. I read about Fritz's attending to the Bonn University with an Army officer whose statue is on the Berlin Victory Blvd along with Bismarck. This significant person was from Denmark after the famous war between Prussia and Denmark in 1863.

I was puzzled with the short reign of Fritz, the future of the Emperor Frederick III. Now I know that is due to his health. His son Kaiser William II succeeded him and lost the great Empire. I visited one of  his spa at Wiesbaden with a good memory.

Each time when I visit Germany, I always fly to Frankfurt. I notice that Frankfurt is a free city of that time. I know better of the Congress of Vienna that I do visit the big church where they gathered to make it possible. Reading this book has brought me back so much fun of my trips to this great civilization.

讀書無畏號／莊峻華

 讀書無畏號／莊峻華

無畏號是一本書，作者是羅伯特.馬西，是幾本書最近跑來寒舍，我看了四十六頁，已經迫不及待，寫下心得，這是一本近代史，講到英國和德國，如何開戰，就是第一次歐戰，世界大戰，從維多莉亞女皇開始講，講到她的長女婿，德國的皇太子，皇太孫，我因為旅行德國多次，曾經谷歌多次，帶回許多美憶，這是旅行的好處，讓我一一道來。

1805年，英將那爾遜在直布羅陀西岸特拉法格，擊敗拿破崙和西班牙海軍艦隊，從此英國海軍稱霸全球，到維多莉亞時代，大英帝國為日不落，維持世界秩序，這世界秩序在二戰後，由美國接替，我們尚未相信，近代中國能挑戰美國，因此南中國海之暢通，是美國當務之急，連德國都派軍艦來南中國海，當年，1897年，維多莉亞登基60週年，英帝國有一鑽石狂歡慶祝，今皇伊莉莎白二世，也有一次，全球都有船艦代表來參加，德皇太子在蘇格蘭治病來，他是英女皇長女婿，日本皇太子也來，我猜是後來的大正天皇，但大正一直體弱多病，我一時無法考證，英帝國方面是皇太子溫莎公爵主持，這是我故事的開始。

我旅行德國，拜訪海德堡，海德堡離法蘭克佛市很近，學生王子這部電影，背景就是海德堡大學，我先後拜訪海德堡市四次，徒步到海大多次，這位學生王子，不是普魯士王子，當年德國帝國前，有三百個王國，稍有規模者，可以票選神聖羅馬帝國皇帝，就是大諸侯，法蘭西帝國，一直有規模，有巨砲，因此這些歐洲弱小諸侯，經常被欺侮，海德堡皇宮，就遭路易十四砲轟，到現在尚未重建，一直到普魯士擊敗拿破崙三世，其實早年華鐵盧，普魯士和英帝國，已經擊敗拿破崙一世，三百諸侯在法蘭克佛共推普魯士王為主，就是德意志帝國皇帝，這普魯士軍隊甚強，三敗三歐洲帝國，維基丹麥帝國1863年，這本書說丹麥王併吞兩地，德皇不爽，武力征服丹麥，還有擊敗奧匈帝國，當年當過神聖羅馬帝國共主，最後滅掉路易拿破崙法蘭西帝國，柏林也有一凱旋門，不若巴黎之豪華氣派，但德國確實滅過法國兩三次。凱旋門中有三銅像，當年終戰埋在地下，現在復立，其一為卑斯麥，另外是一位將領，來過中國，是丹麥人，當年伴讀皇太子佛來帝克於波昂大學，佛來帝克皇太子繼帝位僅三個月就病逝，我在柏林追查其履歷，僅悉曾當德皇日短，不知其故，現在知道他是維多莉亞之愛婿，民主開放，其子繼帝位，德帝國亡在其任內，我曾到過他洗溫泉浴所在，在法蘭克佛附近，畢士八登市，曾是駐德美軍總部，是萊茵河和緬茵河匯集處。

Inflation 2021/Carlos Pueblo

 Inflation 2021/Carlos Pueblo

The inflation of 2021 is suddenly a topic to discuss nowadays. Is it a surprise? After the mass printing of the U.S. dollars to help the victim of the pandemics that I don't recall how many billions or trillions. Our U.S. dollars are diminished. We must pay the increasing import taxes posted on China 25% since last administration. The oil price is finally raising and we have to pay more to drive the vehicle. How to we deal with the inflation? I think that a regular saving will help. We must have a saving to balance our income and expanse.

I have been out of work since 2001 even though I do try to get back to work yet in vain. I do save my limited income to live in a frugal life style so as my family members. I always enjoy to tell my love of saving money. I don't like to spend money. All what I am doing now is filling up my gas tank once a month, buying beef weekly when it is on sale, and paying the necessary expanse to live in a house. The value of my retirement accounts are growing faster than the inflation rate if there is.

It is a strategy which we preach to the general public while we sale insurance and financial products, make hay while is sunshine. I like to go to foreign trips and I insist that the price must be right, i.e. I monitor the price to make a cruise trip and am still waiting for the right one or I shall forget it.

Some farmers like to have the inflation; therefore, they can make additional income. Of course, they have to face the cost of materials to grow the crops, yet it is a farm management that every farmer must learn like we must manage our money wisely.

Don't let the inflation bothers you if you like to be stress free. Work hard when we need it, save hard we must, and spend less as much as we can to fight the inflation. 

談論通貨膨脹2021／莊峻華

 談論通貨膨脹2021／莊峻華

最近開始又有通貨膨脹之壓力，我最喜歡談通貨膨脹，美國政府印那麼多鈔票濟急，又沒有黃金節餘儲備，幣值不會貶值？我們賣保險，天天鼓勵客戶節約儲蓄，道理在此。下週琳兒售出租屋，還我一筆貸款，我正想如何處置？剛才查閱銀行定期，兩年是0.7％，於是我想錢還是留下他用，我出身寒門，來到美國始得翻身，現在仍舊不喜歡花錢。

昨日球畢，驅車上超市，購買一包三塊牛排，大家都說肉貴，豬肉漲價，我吃牛排，不吃豬肉，我只買特價牛排，超市有嚴格規定，牛肉不能過期，我們家元兒，每週日吃牛肉麵，牛肉由我購買，我也注意特價，買多備用，如果肉貴，我就恢復素食，就是吃蔬菜而已。

我住一樸實二樓磚房，約2，560平方呎，有小庭院前後，當年是賣出舊屋，買斷此屋，尚有增值節餘，老年又有房地產節稅，價錢比住公寓便宜甚多。

我們家有車四輛，愛美車新，是2019年，因為她是婦女，車需可靠，琳兒開2013年車，她比較能幹，而且無所謂新舊車，她經常出差，現在在家上班，元兒開2007年車，每天開3哩路上班，我開1998年舊車，開車2哩路打球，因冷氣壞而不修，因此開車僅需要耳，車不壞，漲價與我無涉。而且我有油公司股票，油價上漲，我還可以找機會兌現。

過去我常出國旅行，現在因瘟疫肆虐，搭飛機郵輪，諸多限制不便，而且我吝嗇旅行習慣，像投宿客棧，吃潛水艇素三明治，到處徒步，又搭休市公車到機場，旅途勞累，我心有餘悸，乾脆省下旅費，留給親人使用。

還有，美國對中國出口貨物增稅，當然我們付稅，東西不會便宜。

My arm and knee issues after the tennis/Carlos Pueblo

 My arm and knee issues after the tennis/Carlos Pueblo

After every morning tennis, I have developed my right arm and left knee problems nowadays. Traditional thinking might be quitting such exercises and stop the wear and tear circumstances and let my over used body heal. I think of it and don't know how I can replace the morning tennis. It is such a good routine which helps me consume my daily 24 hours and 365 days a year.

A tennis companion gave me his old arm brace to tie up my right arm to decrease certain degree of shaking and vibration each time I chop a ball. It helps. I slice tennis balls when they are coming to me instead of a ground stroke or a top spin that I credit it to save my tennis elbow throughout these years. No, my problem is not the right elbow instead is the arm between the elbow and wrist. After the tied up brace, I feel better and am able to continue playing. It has been for more than a year with the arm issue. 

Recently, I develop a sour pain above my left knee. I see many partners wear knee braces and understand that will help to decrease the pain. It is not that urgent therefore, I have a thought that may go away after a night's rest. I was wrong. My double partner gives me his old knee brace because that is too small in size to him. I wear it and see the result instantly. After taking it off when I return home, I feel comfortable without the original rest overnight. I can see that is working. I should know it earlier.

Playing tennis regularly can help me sleeping well. Now, I have had an additional nap during the day and I go to bed before 8:30 pm. Occasionally, I can sleep through the night without a toilet break that is very unusual for a diabetes. I am loosing weight and am about 140 lbs. or 65 kg. I haven't so light for quite some time. I am thinking to enjoy some brandy during holidays.

護臂和護膝／莊峻華

 護臂和護膝／莊峻華

網球運動容易磨損手臂和膝蓋，我的左膝上方和右手臂，都呈現問題，打完球似乎無問題，過些時候，開始酸痛，球友贈送老舊不用護臂和護膝套，果然奏效，我用舊護臂套，已經多時，固定右臂，不使擊球頻頻，磨損右臂肌肉和神經，造成網球肘，其實我是肘下之臂，膝上之腿部份，現在兩處固定，可以再打網球些時。

為什麼老年要打網球？不然要做什麼？一天有24小時，剛開始我們有四人，可以每天打，現在有兩日，可以增加到八人，甚至達十二位，因為老人和家庭主婦，開始重視此項運動，有趣省時又省錢，打完球我可以有一午睡，晚上可以早睡，早上可以早起，生活和飲食都甚規律，我相信能幫助長壽，因為日常生活，沒有壓抑憂慮。

體重開始減輕，肥腹但見消失，我可以再瘦十磅重，這是幾十年難見奇蹟，身體輕如若釋重，走路上樓都輕便，這是每日運動之好處。

幾局網球下來，全身是汗，對心臟跳動，血液循環有幫助，而且可以消耗多餘血糖，克制糖尿病，我想來想去，清晨網球已經佔用一日，其餘都是善後和維護，人生已經無法再做什麼矣。

Happy New Year 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Happy New Year 2022/Carlos Pueblo

It's the time to say Happy New Year 2022 to my friends worldwide even though I have been mostly at home in 2021. I have enjoy this kind of life and everything is going so well that I have no complaint. It is a prosperous year as you notice that the stock market is up for most of the year; therefore, I have had an appreciation of my retirement funds. I have been very healthy and I do solve my fake teeth issue in Houston instead of going back to Taiwan.

I miss the cruise trip and notice that the cruise is coming back. There are some familiar ships coming back for business and I am looking forward to going back to trips of any kinds. I wish every one of you is doing well and coming back to work next year.

Our daughter Michelle is married this year. We went to Costa Rica for the wedding in August. Arthur is doing well also. He stays with us at home. He has had an eye surgery to repair his left eye retina detachment and successfully corrected. Amy is doing well also with her sisters both in family as well as her church.

I have built an unique way of life now. I have had a routine to play tennis and a morning walk every morning. Even though I do have left knee and right foot issue and lucky me I do have a way to protect them like to protect my right arm to avoid the tennis elbow. For an old man, I am considered very healthy and active. I don't see that I must go to the nursing home any time soon.

I am loosing weight as well. It is due to the morning exercises and my vegetable diet. I have some steaks in a small size and not that often.

新年恭喜2022／莊峻華

 新年恭喜2022／莊峻華

新年恭喜2022，年終問候全球親友，我已經離群索居多年，只能在部落格問候。首先問候我四百位全球結識的義女，我是兩年未上郵輪，也未到處旅行，只是每天打網球，煮飯，整理庭院，最近開始留意郵輪旅行，主要還是考慮到瘟疫肆虐，小心為盼，郵輪飛機價格均漲，剛才忘記提到今年哥斯達黎加旅行，是八月份。

我已經習慣這種生活，因為清晨運動，所以上下樓梯不難，享受二樓書房之樂。我而且可以繼續割草，整理庭院，可以和鄰居朋友，交換園藝心得，我還是結交社區鄰居愛犬，現在已經擴充到第二處社區，就是網球場屬社區，此社區較大，有一綠地草場，讓我想起倫敦的三座皇家公園，堪辛頓，海德，和攝政王公園草地，清晨散步小草場，比美皇家公園。草場與球場間，有游泳池和幼兒遊憩場所，約是上午九點許，許多家長媬姆，推車來中心玩耍，涼亭就在球場旁，可以看到許多可愛嬰幼兒，金髮碧藍眼，真是享受。

剛過74歲生日，直奔75歲，我知道已經老年，但感覺不老還好，偶聞有人過世，因為疫情嚴重，也沒有告別式，新聞上有名人逝世，我都注意其壽命，確實有人長壽，我沒有甚麼希望。有一天，一位寮國苗裔美國姑娘，來家裡推廣觀看電視，美麗能幹，讓我想起船上的愛女群，偶而有愛女寫上支言片語，我都非常興奮，找出留照相片，祝大家事業順利，我們後會有期。

The joy of playing tennis at the old age 2/Carlos Pueblo

 The joy of playing tennis at the old age 2/Carlos Pueblo

In additional to my informing tennis partners to play tennis in the morning every day, I also have informed them a day before. We have built up our tennis routine for our senior life that is very good for our health and also the joy of playing tennis at the old age. The other day one of our regular advised me practice my ground stroke during a regular game when I am way ahead like forty love. I slice or spin the incoming ball instead of a ground stroke because that I have a better control of the ball yet slice ball is slow in speed and not good looking.

It is because that I don't have a proper training to make a proper stroke. I learned my tennis when I was a kid in Taiwan. We played Japanese tennis with a bamboo racket and a robber ball most identical to a regular western tennis; however, it was very difficult for me to convert my grid and hit to meet a new style of tennis. I adopt the slice technique and it works for me all the time. I don't run into good players because they don't like to play with me to mess up their good stroke yet I have enjoyed very much get along with not so good players most of my time especially when we play matches. I slice or spin the ball, love the ball, and wait till they make their unforced errors.

At the rally, I do dare to hit the ground stroke and I know that I can't control my ball within the base line. It is because that I don't have that top spin form involved, the arc swing to finish the 360 degree circle. My friend tells me that is fine because the old professionals before the 70's playing that way. There was no top spin involved. 

I try immediately and feel the pressure that I can't no longer control the game during a match. I hate to loose at a match. I like to win all the time that makes me very happy. I have to correct it right away and back to my slice lower and lower  to make a threat. A regular ground stroke form is still in my mind and I like to make such improvement to enjoy the tennis.

打網球之樂趣／莊峻華

 打網球之樂趣／莊峻華

打網球成為我晚年第一樂事，經過我認真推廣，現在我們已經固定，每日佔有一球場雙打，經常有兩球場，週六甚至擴張到三個球場，就是同時有12人在球場上，我從清晨起床，忙到十點半回到家，又打掃香楓落葉，像是全職工作下班，掃落葉是因為我剛購置一電池落葉機，解決前院香楓橡樹和木蘭三巨株落葉，我們撒掃也應對幾十年，第二次機動化，也幫助球友分擔球場落葉打掃。

我應該是在1960年，開始學打網球，那時候是初二暑假，糖廠球場有同儕少年聚集，使用破舊球拍，淘汰球網橡皮網球，中午後在球場打球，我們輪流到典明家取裝備，安置球網，然後就打三場一局雙打，敗者下場排隊，勝者繼續，互砌互蹉，很快的初三上，我們中有幾位，已經是學校校隊，出征西螺縣運網球賽。

我選擇台北聯考，暫時放棄網球，台北高中無網球場，但寒暑假回家，仍舊可以在糖廠球場打球，當年尚有一先父朋友贈送之破損球拍，如此持續到大學，我知道師大有校隊，所以迫不及待加入校隊，但學校舊日球場已拆建，所以還是中斷，大專每年都有對抗賽，我每年均敗，最後排不上出賽前五線。

我在虎尾高中教書，這是當年母校，許多體育組同事，都憶得當年的我，於是我有一非常愉快之一年，因為準備出國，我第二年就到新店教書，學校有位中國流亡教師，在廣場水泥地練網球，於是我自告奮勇，陪他牽球，他說前一年有位羽球國手，也在該校任職，擊羽球於牆上云云，一年後，我就離開台灣，前來美國。

我在拉斯維加斯居停，陪義父母愛女打網球，她很奇怪我能擊球，而且她挑戰單打，也打不過我，我到奧本，就買下一過時新球拍，因握把過大，我只能切球應戰，不能全擊，而且軟式網球和硬式網球，許多差異，幾位美國同學邀請挑戰單打，我都能應付自如，當然高手不願與我一淌混水，平常牽球我能正常擊球，然一比賽，我就開始切球，因為較能控制求路。

我的越南球友尼墨氏，鼓勵我正常擊球，他說我的正常擊球比較強勁，切球速度慢，我提出無法控制之理由，他說贏球甚多時，可以戒掉切球，恢復正常，確實切球式網球，不是正常打法，我曾戒過一次，但後來求勝心切，又恢復切球。

The rest of my life/Carlos Pueblo

 The rest of my life/Carlos Pueblo

After my birthday last week, I re-started thinking the rest of my life in this world. I have been out live  my beloved father for nine years and my question is how long shall I keep on going. Michelle, my daughter, is selling her rental house and returning the balance of my mortgage. I am considering a way to dispose this fund and I am thinking of my rest life.

I was from a very humble background before and after I came to this nation. All what I have had now is what I work for it all my life, of course, it is during my limited tenure of working years. I was a trained chemist, yet I didn't have a chemist job but less than three years. I was lucky to make it as an insurance agent. I save money and invest wisely, then I have achieved a financial independent status. Both of my adult children have jobs and manage well in their life. I still like them to have my savings gradually before governments touch my estate.

I live in a solid old house of 40 years and I don't see any structural issues in my life time and after I leave there is no longer my concerns any way. My life from a humble background is very simple and easy to be satisfied. After two and half hours tennis every morning, I am exhausted and required a very completed rest during the rest of the day for the next morning. Even though I am no longer working yet every day is still very pushing, pushing to the next morning.

I can no longer to make a foreign trips due to the pandemic. The cruise ships are getting more expansive than before. I am afraid of making a trip required a lot of walking around a foreign country and I am also afraid of long distance driving domestically which is the sorry of the rest of my life.

餘生／莊峻華

 餘生／莊峻華

人到老年，就開始要面對餘生，或是餘年，我們都不知道能再活多久，我要馬上安排一些後事。最近琳兒將賣出一棟房屋，我們家中三人是貸款主人，將領回一小筆貸款，錢是我出的，我是可以藉此機會，贈送給家人，動機非常純正高尚，而且我已經開始如此贈送，但是我又不甚習慣，如此慷慨，我的出生是貧戶，家人為金錢掙扎甚久。

美國遺產稅是真的，而且扣得非常厲害，我可以想盡辦法，安全贈送財產給家人，但如果我臨時有急需，不知家人能否還我？當然這是一很羞恥的想法，我從來未想過要成為家人之負擔，我就是如此自信，我也不喜歡苟且偷生，他們說我需要填表，此表我尚不熟，一拖就是好幾年，我交待元兒，他說會找姊姊幫忙。

我們住屋，甚為堅固，因此我無懸念，可終其一生，現在我還可以割草掃落葉，房屋維護，可以找師傅幫忙，我只生活在一小圈範圍，容易滿足。我開24年舊車，打網球和買牛肉，已經有多年未買新車，而且新車費用也是三分，合情合理，無形中省下一筆錢，元兒和我都是開舊車。

因為中國武漢肺炎一直肆虐，我已經放棄出外旅行，在家居住簡單舒適，而且時光飛馳，沒有甚麼其他的憂慮，每天都過一天，日子甚是好過，我也沒有甚麼怨嘆者也。

Saule Omatova withdrews her nomination/Carlos Pueblo

 Saule Omatova withdraws her nomination/Carlos Pueblo

Today Salue Omatova withdraws her nomination by President Biden as the Federal bank regulator because she can't get 50 votes in the senate, a couple of Democrats joins all the Republicans oppose her nomination. It is due to her opposition of banks are getting too large to be control. I write this not because that the position is vital yet her photo on the news has brought to my attention. she has a face of the oriental yet she has a Russian last name.

I go to the Google to search on her. She was born in western Kazakhstan of the central Asia. She is a Kazakh American. I believe that the Kazakh ancestors were from the north China, north of the Great Wall a group of Huns. They used to be spread all over that area. Chinese Dynasty as well as the Mongolian conquered them and pushed them toward the West. They are settled in current day the Central Asia. After the Soviet Union collapsed, they have formed one of the four Central Asia nation. They use Russian as their language. They look like Siberian Russian because their ancestors were all Huns. They are or were all under the Russian rule.

I read some history and am very curious about everything about the Huns. After the Caucasian Russian expelled the Mongolian, Peter the Great moved his force toward the West. His Empire and later has claimed many no-mans land in the West even to some part of the current day U.S. like Alaska and the northern California. Soviet Union had had the largest territory during before 1990. My tennis partner informs me that Putin puts 200,000 force around Ukraine and ready to invade the nation just like 1,600,000 army around the Manchuria three days before Japanese surrender. Some people like to gain the territory and ignore to build a better nation for their own citizen to improve their living. Russian and Chinese are the typical example.

I have been watching the You Tube videos produced by Chinese outside of China about China. China is such a pitiful nation as a matter of the fact. People are so poor that I feel pity to them. Chinese Communist pay more attention to invade Taiwan and I don't know the reason. Russia is the same difference, do Russia and China not big enough to manage their own large nations? Do they feel more safe after they annex Ukraine or Taiwan?

從邵莉.奧瑪托娃撤銷提名談起／莊峻華

 從邵莉.奧瑪托娃撤銷提名談起／莊峻華

今日邵莉.奧瑪托娃，撤銷被拜登總統提名為，聯邦銀行總監，因為民主黨參議員50票中，有幾位不同議其提名，是這樣的，共和黨全部反對拜登總統，所以民主黨任何一票，都可否決拜登總統，當然此官位不甚顯赫，對邵莉也不是損失，倒是對控制銀行無限擴大，是一挫敗，對我這種小公民毫無影響，我提奧莉是有其他目的。

邵莉有一東方人面孔，但又有俄羅斯姓名，托娃就是托夫之女性，一猜就是舊日之蘇聯屬中亞，我查谷歌是來自哈薩克國，哈薩克族驍勇善戰，歷史上如是說，曾住中國長城以北，就是歷史上的遊牧民族，為中國人所破，也多次入關消滅中國，統治中國，歷史上最近，隨蒙古人，歐洲歷史稱之為哈薩克人，征服俄羅斯，統治俄羅斯兩百四十年，非常有趣。這些蒙古人的後代，在蘇聯時成立四個自治國，蘇聯瓦解後獨立成中亞四國，仍舊受俄羅斯影響，講俄羅斯語，使用俄羅斯文，邵莉出生於哈薩克，在莫斯科大學畢業，威斯康辛大學哲學博士，西北大學法學博士，康乃爾法學院教授。

我很好奇，俄羅斯國各界，對台灣有興趣，對客家人有興趣，像我這種毫無名氣之部落格作者作品，讀者排名俄羅斯第一，客家人匈奴說，政大論文研究，俄羅斯大學出資贊助，俄羅斯人想幹甚麼？有何歷史連結，我所不知？

俄羅斯人東進，佔據許多中國之領土，現在中國海外人士，屢屢提到中國東北之土地，我現在有新的結論，這些土地自古不屬中國，是邵莉的祖先匈奴，是東方臉孔，也有白種人臉孔，幾年前，我在一艘郵輪輪上，認收一位塔吉克美女為義女，她名艾奴拉，電郵址是俄羅斯簡寫，白皮膚東方輪廓，長髮尾端為赤，奇怪不？中國人，中國統治者不爭氣幾千年，這些匈奴後裔，早就不認同中國，早就認俄羅斯為父矣，西伯利亞大世界，早就為俄羅斯人統治矣。

我講這邵莉故事給球友聽，他是中國人，他也不想當中國人，被中國人所統治，所以我們都來美國當美國人，他說當年蘇聯想唆使軍閥吳佩孚，為吳所佢，只好找孫文，因孫無兵權，因此蘇聯幫忙設立中國國民黨，難怪國民黨就像共產黨，有所謂的國共合作，這些都是中國近代史，我們都讀不到真像。

Shinzo Abe's speech about Chinese invasion of Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

 Shinzo Abe's speech about Chinese invasion of Taiwan/Carlos Pueblo

Japanese long time prime minister Shinzo Abe delivered an important speech about Chinese invasion of Taiwan the other day. Chinese foreign minister's aide called Japanese ambassador , Hideo Shui, in Beijing to protest Abe's statement. Both Abe's speech and Shui's brief statement have created a heavy wave of international politic in regard to Taiwan that I believe is the most interesting development of Taiwan issue for a long time. I hear and read Abe's speech in Chinese translation and I wish I can read the original Japanese edition and I believe that is a very interesting article with his sincerity and good logic to maintain the world peace.

As I have described recently about Taiwan as well as Manchuria and Manchukuo on my blog. Both Taiwan and Manchuria were under Japanese rule before WWII, 1895-1945 for Taiwan; 1932-1945 for Manchuria. Just a few days ago, an You Tube program has reminded me that most of the Chinese coastal provinces were under Japanese rule as well, 1938-1945. As a matter of the fact, all Eastern Asia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Lao, Thailand, Singapore, Malaya, Burma, Indonesia, Philippines, even to the India border were all fallen to Japanese control. Eventually, Japan was surrendered. China has never been stronger than Japan in history. 

All politicians understand wars are not good for the peace; therefore, NATO has been established to prevent Germany from attacking the others in Europe. NATO and European Unions try to tell Putin of Russia not to invade Ukraine. Russia has plenty of land to rule likes China doesn't need to annex Taiwan to make it great. Taiwan has never been part of PRC.

It is true that Abe says when China attacks Taiwan just like attacking Japan because that Taiwan is so closed to Japan. Japan must have self defense. U.S. and Japan have a mutual defense treaty and both must response Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Does it scare off Xi of China? Only Xi can tell. He is very busy to be an emperor nowadays.

Abe is good at arithmetic that he figures it right that Taiwan has 25 years of democracy, since 1996. Before that was under Chiang Kai-sek's martial law and Nationalist Chinese rule neither free nor China.

安倍晉三對台灣的看法／莊峻華

 安倍晉三對台灣的看法／莊峻華

日本前首相，安倍晉三氏，幾日前受台灣智庫演講，對台灣的看法，非常有趣，中國外交部，非常不滿，調日本駐日大使，原想申斥，沒想到日本大使垂秀夫，有備而來，雙方對話，立刻可判斷高下，我在一網紅節目，聽畢安倍講稿中文翻譯，深覺此為難得之政治講演，有感情有內容，深想如能有日文原稿更好，可以欣賞日文之美，需知我們欣賞日本傳統演歌，其歌詞都是近體詩，非常難得，作詞者都是詩人，日本詩詞在演歌中，均有歌譜可吟唱之，安倍之演講生動有趣又簡潔，難得之曠世作品，垂秀夫大使，更是高桿，簡潔有力，日文古代是受中國文學之影響，現在已經超越中國文學幾百代矣。

中國一直迷信恐嚇詐術等，可以撿便宜，文攻武嚇台灣，安倍氏曰，中國侵略台灣，等於侵略日本，美日兩國都不會坐視，二戰時，中國領土近半都為日本佔據，尤其沿海各省，香港，越南，新加坡，馬來亞，泰國，緬甸，逼近印度邊界，好大之武力，近代中國有此能耐乎？中國人卻是迷信有原子彈是萬能，真是幼稚，安倍氏奉勸中國，切莫窮兵黷武，這是忠言逆耳。

我觀乎安倍年輕有為，1954年出生，兩任日本首相，工作狂幾近生病，是因病引退，不像習近平之不學無術，只想當皇帝，終生執政，中國比日本更大更複雜，可以如此輕鬆愉快，說要當皇帝就當皇帝？天天騷擾台灣，就能使中國強大富有？

南非有一武漢肺炎變種，南非立即通知全球注意，武肺肺炎從發生在中國武肺第一株病毒，中國一直設法隱瞞全世界，習近平毫無公共衛生觀念，終國病毒為害全球，現在全球都戒慎恐懼，一切無常，這種人還想繼續當中國皇帝？

Take Arthur to have his final visit of the eye sugery/Carlos Pueblo

 Take Arthur to have his final visit of the eye surgery/Carlos Pueblo

In early June this year, my son Arthur has had an emergency retina detachment procedure successfully and we're scheduled to have a final visit of the surgeon after five months. I have been puzzled for that I haven't received any bill from the surgeon and like to ask his clinic. The front desk nurse checks the accounting office and tells me that Arthur's insurance company pays it all. I am very happy yet am very surprised. My guess is that he is referred by a net work surgeon to this non net work surgeon and the insurance company has considered as a net work job; therefore, waives the co-payment. I learn something every day. Because of the unknown cost, I have borrowed some money from several credit cards to pay the expanse and now I can re-pay the short term loan before the due day. I am glad that he has a job and his work carries the group health insurance and this insurance has put in good use my driving to take him for the surgery is nothing at all.

After the visit, he has another dental visit because his dental crown, a cover for his trouble tooth was broken. That is the reason why he is not eating well lately, my pan cake and Amy's fruits ball, etc. His dentist is very busy and unable to do anything until early next year. He can't do anything about it and his company is going to switch to another insurance carrier. I can't take it; therefore, I step in and make a phone call to my dentist for help. Coincidently my currently dental clinic was the original one which installed his crown five years ago. He switches the dentist due to the net work issue. I ask the front office to check whether they are under his insurance net work. The girl promises to call me back before the end of the day and I can't wait that long. I call myself to the insurance company to find a help. Two customer services ladies are impressed of my urgency and step in to help. My dental clinic is actually inside of Arthur's company coverage. We have a schedule appointment for next Monday. All doctors are busy nowadays.

I feel very good for that I still can help my son to solve his issues of all kinds. I consider that is a very meaningful way of life. I am busy with my senior life routine and also I can find a way to help my adult children. How lucky I am that I am some sort of a important person.

帶元兒看眼醫／莊峻華

 帶元兒看眼醫／莊峻華

元兒的眼睛手術，視網膜剝離症，期滿半年，我們依醫生指示，昨日到休市醫學中心診所檢查，我將球場門卡交給隊友幫忙開門，我是清晨球局領導，有事交待助理領導幫忙，合作一件有意義之工作，過有意義之生活。休市內超速公路610號，清晨已經忙碌不堪，恢復正常，我門趕診所第一班，先讓大夫助理護士檢查，然後等候大夫，大夫告知手術成功，一年後再來檢查，這位大夫是今日華陀，能妙手回春。

我問櫃台護士，如何未收到帳單？已經半年，護士幫我查，原來元兒保險公司已經全部付清，我鬆了一口氣，感激美國保險制度，更感激元兒工作，有一團體健康保險，這次大手術，我們輾轉使用保險外醫生和醫院，我擔心醫費昂貴，特別到銀行信用卡，借了幾張信用卡債備用，現在用不上了，我猜測是因為這位大夫，是經由契約系統內大夫介紹，因為他無法緊急處理此案，立刻轉移送元兒，到契約外大夫和醫院，保險公司視同契約內醫藥條件處理，這是美國！還好我從事保險業，能夠立刻了解。

元兒最近食慾不振，連我的熱餅都不捧場，小碗水果也未吃畢，原來是牙套脫落，看完眼科大夫，再趕到牙醫診所，牙醫大夫太忙，只能延到明年一月，元兒也非常無耐，我又開始打暴不平，我立刻電話給我的牙醫，就是幫我裝假牙這位，剛好這診所五年前，幫元兒裝此牙套，因元兒公司每年換保險公司，換來換去，契約內契約外診所大亂，元兒只注意電腦遊戲，所以我又介入幫忙。

我先電話給我的牙醫診所，先生娘不在，所以我就請櫃台護士幫忙，查證其診所是否為元兒契約內？她先問要作甚麼大事業？然後說日內回復，我等不及，就逕自追查，保險公司女士，很有經驗，立刻幫我查到我的牙醫診所是契約內，於是我就回去將門診約好，現在醫生都很忙，看病除非是急診，否則均需等候。

我每天都很忙，打球忙，午睡忙，作文忙，現在又看電視忙，這是一有趣之老年生活，每天過一天，時間飛馳，又是一年。

Taiwan after WWII(2)/Carlos Pueblo

Taiwan after WWII(2)/Carlos Pueblo 

Chiang Kai-sek's army was invited to rule Taiwan in 1945 after WWII. Nationalist Chinese always claim that Taiwan return to China after 50 years Japanese rule. As a matter of the fact that Taiwan was one of a few places which the Nationalist Chinese could actually controlled at that time with a firm help of the U.S. naval ships to move Chiang's army to Taiwan and Japanese 250,000 imperial forces orderly disbanded. Chinese Mainland began a very rapid civil war and the rebellion Communist Chinese quickly defeated Chiang's forces. Chiang's collapsed forces exile to Taiwan with a government called the Republic of China. Chiang's claimed himself a President of that Republic with a central government formed by some kinds of form established in China after the War in 1947. He had firmly controlled Taiwan with his military and successfully passed on to his eldest son when he died in 1975. His son lived up to 1989 as the ruler of Taiwan. We call it the Chiang's Dynasty, 1945-1989. A native Taiwanese took the succession in 1989 and he made it possible for Taiwanese voters to make the mandate for a democratic system and elected him as a new President of Taiwan. A native Taiwanese political party won a national election in 2008, Chen Shui-bien became the first leader of Taiwan to briefly took over the central government. In 1978, the U.S. severed the relationship with Taiwan. Taiwan has been moving on since. I credit it, the 17th world powerful economy, to the political system, hard working Taiwanese, and the support of the U.S. as well as many powerful nations and developing nations of 15. It is very interesting that Taiwan survives for all of these years. In the past several years, I have traveled around the world and I find that Taiwan is one of the best nations came out of a colony of the power nations. Now, Taiwan can help some poor nations in the world. Taiwan received some U.S. Aid like many in the world after the War, yet I can see Taiwan comes out self sufficient. I am just like Taiwan, my old home land, I come out alright as an individual and I am doing all right after all.

Taiwan after WWII/Carlos Pueblo

 Taiwan after WWII/Carlos Pueblo

After Manchu Dynasty lost the War to Japan in 1895, Taiwan was officially ruled by Japanese Empire until 1945, the year that Japan surrendered to the U.S. There were so many former territories of Japan, Germany, and Italy to be covered by the small U.S. White House staff; therefore, the U.S. allowed China, at the time of the Republic of China, to land on Taiwan and pretended to be return Taiwan to China. What I like to emphasize is that there is no peace treaty signed and also there is no so called self determination by Taiwanese until 1996, a national election of the President has been held and Lee Den-huei is elected as the first President. Of course, Chiang Kai-sek was elected several times in Taiwan by Chinese refugee under the name of the Republic of China in exile on Taiwan. Officially Taiwan was ruled by Japan between 1895-1945. Taiwan after WWII was ruled by Chinese Nationalist under the name of the ROC even after 1996 still call itself the ROC, the second China yet the lawful U.S. still insists its one China policy that there is only one China in this world both China and the U.S. agree. This is very confusing as a matter of fact.

Look at Taiwan nowadays, Taiwan is the 17th economy in the world and is a developed nation. Not many Taiwanese need to immigrate to the foreign developed nations for living. Taiwanese can do well at home in Taiwan and there are several reasons of the why. First, Taiwan has the Japanese rule of 50 years and has established the advanced national infrastructure of the modern time. The most impressed achievement is the literacy rate. It was about 80% in 1945 and now is about 100%. 

I came to the U.S. in 1975 under a teaching assistant scholarship program to have my graduate study. Luckily, I have built my family successfully since then. I credit it to my basic education in Taiwan and proudly announce myself to have my poverty class changed. I know what I am doing when I left Taiwan. I am looking for a better life like most of immigrants, now or before.

終戰後之台灣（2）／莊峻華

 終戰後之台灣（2）／莊峻華

台灣曾是大日本帝國之殖民地，1895－1945，一共五十年，先父母三位姊兄，都是出生在這一段時期，接受日本統治，都曾是日本帝國國民，日本政府統治台灣，其原則和統治日本四島本土國民，差異不大，我到北海道旅行，發現台灣日本留下來之基礎建設，不若台灣甚巨，北海道是明治維新，最後一塊領土，早於台灣之統治，當然甚至滿洲國，1932－1945，朝鮮，1910－1945，中國沿海各省，1938－1945，中國部分正在中日戰爭期間，無法建設不表，終戰前台灣是有近代化之建設，和滿清割讓台灣之1895年，迥然不同，我之父母均識字，都接受過六年以上之國民教育，深知學校交育之重要。

日本人離開台灣時，台灣已經有一國家之基本建設，國家之基礎，蔣介石在中國潰敗後，從1946年舊滿洲國開始敗，開始有滿洲國人逃到山海關內，輾轉搭太平輪從上海到基隆，1949年是顛峰，約七十萬中國難民，和明治時代之1895年不同，一些中國人因顏面自卑，說是蔣介石帶黃金來台灣，救了台灣，這是非常膚淺之談，陳儀拿台灣之蔗糖等物資，到上海變賣，都是事實，陳是蔣之愛將，二二八事變之元兇之一，按照上述書本描述，台灣在1949年已經恢復稻米外銷日本，切記台灣水稻一年二熟，屏東是三熟。我們家住糖廠宿舍，台糖當年砂糖產量，全球第二，僅次於古巴，抑或夏威夷，日本人留下先進之製糖設備，我在夏威夷茂宜島旅行，看到一尚在生產之製糖工廠，貌似我們虎尾糖廠，但維護不若虎尾。

台灣的徵兵制度，是學日本帝國，我在十餘年前，開始寫回憶錄，提到一位移民客戶之描述，蔣介石中國軍隊，毫無兵役制度觀念，所以在中國是抓兵充數，非常辛酸，日本時代，台灣人也需參軍，徵兵令收到後，掛彩帶在火車上集合，此制度一直繼續到1971年，我的提前入伍，在台北火車站集合上台中車龍埔，新兵訓練中心，我是服兩年義務役，而且駐防金門，所以和金門有感情，注意到古寧頭和八二三戰役，還有台灣國家定位，台灣前途等大問題。

李登輝總統選擇西方民主法治，使台灣走向民主法治，台灣進步神速，台灣已經是世界經濟第十七強，在亞洲僅次於日本，台灣人無需汲汲營營移民美國，在台灣一樣有充足機會，過一舒適之生活，我想就是要提醒此點，台灣是有中國之外患困擾，但我們有不能投降，只有戰戰兢兢，堅持下去。

終戰後之台灣／莊峻華

 終戰後之台灣／莊峻華

台灣一直在中國之壓迫下求生存，當然這中間有蔣介石集團之中國難民，從中攪豁政局，最近我在網路上，看到一位台灣名嘴，開講蔣介石總統和他一位將領的關係，非常有趣，我當他在講故事，信否已非重要，終戰後之台灣，故事很悲哀，我們都身屢其境，這位作家他提到一段小故事曰，廈門和金門戰時均為日本統治，就是1938－1945，台灣是1895－1945，滿洲國是1932－1945，我在我的部落格文章中，都提到這些事，僅忽略日人在中國福建省這八年，我的岳父大人，就在這段日據廈門期間，在廈門日軍服務，家庭住在鼓浪嶼，有五位子女在廈門出生，看完42集節目，我才又想起此段回憶，終戰後沒有職業，就舉家返台，日本連飯都吃不飽，只好回台灣。

這位名嘴講的是金門防衛司令胡璉將軍，和蔣介石總統之關係，因為台灣解除戒嚴令很晚，輿論一直不自由，中國歷史，尤其近代史，一直未有檢討機會，讀者無法判斷，而且都被蒙騙，終戰時的台灣，按照台大陳翠蓮教授之看法，應該是美國請蔣介石就近託管，而不是中華民國的光復台灣，美國一下接收德國，日本，和義大利之許多領土，很多都是就近取材，稍有關係就一切從簡，國民黨軍隊是搭美國軍艦來台灣接收日本統治之事實，比較箸名者為1947年二月二十八日之大屠殺，有一本書被出賣的台灣，有較詳細的分析，這是一本台獨書籍，為何台灣人追求台灣人，要獨立於中國之外，就像韓國人，越南人，印度東北部黃臉黑髮印度人等，不願歸屬中國一般，還有星加坡，現在之香港人，均不願為中國人所統治，不願為中國奴之故，我到世界旅行，到處遇到華人，都想盡辦法，離開中國，非常可憐。

這位名嘴提到胡璉防守金門，有接近九個月時間，部隊僅有軍糧，而無軍餉，胡璉曰此為軍奴，胡璉之長官是台灣省主席，告訴胡台灣沒有錢，1949年，蔣介石被迫下野，手上有多少錢，無人清楚，軍隊由將領自理，許多人都投降，軍隊潰散敗逃，名嘴歷史家研究，胡璉在金門走公和走私，養活約八萬軍民，賣美援麵粉到香港，拿軍糧周轉，開軍中樂園，自蘇聯進口中亞高糧種子，以高糧換大米等。

名嘴是中國難民第二代，雖非忠實國民黨遺孽，但還是不以台灣為本位，仍然有大中國沙文自悲感，我姑隱其名，終戰後之台灣，和近日之中國相似，台灣已脫胎換骨，然中國仍舊迷信武力，習近平想學毛蔣，都想當皇帝，辜負統治國家，造福國民之機會。

Drinking the coffee/Carlos Pueblo

 Drinking the coffee/Carlos Pueblo

Three days ago, I was helping Amy to get her car fixed a flat tire. I was very happy to do it because that I could do several errands simultaneously, checking two old cars tires pressure and purchasing five large cans of coffee on sale. Drinking the coffee is my renewal habit after many years absence. The pan cake breakfast is my new routine and I need the coffee supply. A large can of coffee of 1.44 kg is on sale for about $7 after tax is an excellent deal for the inflation in my mind.

I also checked on the coffee brewing machine which is also on sale. I asked a lady in front of me about how easy to operate it. She reply that is very easy; however, the machine is for the cup coffee users. My can coffee can only use the traditional method input spoons of coffee into a thin filter, usually three spoons, and repeated brew it for three times. I have frugal in my mind all my life. After that process, I dump the waste to a flower bed to neutralize the soil PH value. Brewing coffee makes me remember how sorry I have been for not doing well to change my academic major from chemistry to chemical engineering in order to get a better job opportunity in Houston, Texas. One of the reasons why I was stopped was that I fail to understand the Throttling Process, a thermodynamics in the unit process operation in chemical engineering requirement. I Google the process and still have a hard time to understand it. The professor in that class did mention that the process was related to the coffee brewing.

My old class mate in Taiwan is very proud of drinking coffee. There are various kinds of coffee to drink, mostly to describe how expansive of the cost., i.e. a cup of coffee in Frankfurt, Germany will cost more than 7 Euros and to get out of a Starbuck would cost about $10 at least. I don't know the difference except how much sugar and cream to mix with coffee and I also can small the different of the fragrance. I have a diabetes and I only drink black coffee and there is no significant difference of the bitterness of the coffee.

I went to Jamaica Island to search the famous coffee bean of that island. I was told by my old customer who was a real coffee drinker. She mentioned that Japanese Corporation purchased all the islands coffee bean to market in Japan. She asked friends to bring it to the U.S. She used an Aladdin lamp type of the coffee pot to brew the Jamaica coffee. She even served to her customers at her dry cleaner. I was very impressed.

I met a well learned coffee drinker in Frankfurt. She educated me about the cappuccino, a kind of coffee with a lot of milk. She told me that some coffee from Africa with fruit taste, a citric taste that I tried it at a Caribbean island.

喝咖啡／莊峻華

 喝咖啡／莊峻華

日前陪愛美到大賣場換輪胎，剛好順便灌足兩輛舊車輪胎，購買五罐咖啡，大賣場有特價，我等候多時矣，因為我早餐簡單熱餅，佐黑咖啡，因此咖啡供給需要充分，這五罐約七公斤多，大概可維持多年，因僅我有此習慣，家裡也無訪客，雖然我們有很多咖啡杯俱組，多年累積禮物。我喝咖啡十分簡單，就是置放三湯匙咖啡，在咖啡爐滾煮，這咖啡滾煮有一熱力學原理，我在化工單元操作課上過，非常遺憾未能如願，當化工專業。我的咖啡爐簡易多年，正好大賣場也有特價，於是我們走到咖啡爐列參觀。

一位女士剛好買一具，我詢問容易使用乎？女士曰非常容易，看到我買的五罐咖啡曰，必需是咖啡盒，讓我想起車行候車大廳的咖啡機，還有哥倫比亞鄰居家中之咖啡機，咖啡盒裝上咖啡機，戳破盒然後熱水罐入，又是那熱力學原理，煮咖啡和泡熱茶有異，台灣的老人茶泡法，不知是否和煮咖啡相似？我因為美國綠茶難覓，因此改喝咖啡。

尤基妮亞是喝咖啡專家，她喝咖啡很是講究，喝咖啡之藝術，真是於我如對牛彈琴，我不習慣花很多錢喝咖啡，因糖尿病我也不加糖，牛奶也不加，咖啡好壞是有分別，在郵輪免費咖啡，通常不若收費餐廳，如牛排店和法國義大利餐廳，我始終不解咖啡豆有如此大之區別。

為證實尤基妮亞說法，我請教並嚐試非洲咖啡，是有橘科味道，我又要證明我的節儉，問到咖啡可否多次使用？店員告知可也，只是稍淡味道耳，尤基妮亞聞言不爽，我泡三次後撒咖啡渣於花盆土中，物盡其用。

自習得逆滲透水原理後，我喝自製逆滲透水，泡咖啡喝熱開水，都是純水，感覺不同，自認為是一種享受。

Back to watch the television/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to watch the television/Carlos Pueblo

It has been more than 20 years that I skip watching the television. Recently I am invite to watch the television again and I accept it. First I watch the Saturday college football games. It has brought back my fond memory of the 70's when I arrived to this nation. I went to Auburn University for my graduate study and this university paid very much attention to its football program and students loved it at that time. Last Saturday, I watched two games; Ohio State vs Michigan State and Alabama vs Arkansas. There is an Auburn game next Saturday that I shall watch.

I have learned the college football game before I enter this nation. People mentioned to me that Auburn had a good football program, as a matter of fact before I came, it did win the Gator Ball in 1974. between 75-77 when I was there, Auburn's football was not in a good shape yet I still managed to attend some games. When there is a home game, the small college town swell in population. The school opens up the stadium parking lots to host the recreation vehicles to solve some room and shelter issues. It is an unique feeling in a college life. After graduation, I have built the love of the sport by watching it on the television. Back then, I could see college  games from all over the nation large or small cities from the early summer to the beginning of next year. It was a big deal.

I came to this nation by a teaching assistant program. Auburn Chemistry offered me a stipend of $375 a month to be a laboratory assistant to a professor and help him to grade the examination. We called it a teaching assistant about 1/3 of our study time. This pay was about four time of my full time senior high school teacher pay in Taiwan. I paid $90 a month for the apartment with a roommate, pay exactly $90 a month for the tuition and fee, and $195 left to manage the rest of the expanse such as electricity, phone, and foods, etc. This is why I am so good with managing my money in my life. 

I didn't have the same feeling at the University of Houston about its football program. it was because that Houston at that time became a huge city. It was more sophisticated as a student. I didn't finish my advanced study and got married eventually. I still watched and paid attention to college football games until 2001 when I lost my job contract and I was depressed.

觀看大學橄欖球賽／莊峻華

 觀看大學橄欖球賽／莊峻華

美國大學橄欖球賽，是大學盛會，這週開始觀看電視，史單那老隊長之俄亥俄州大，今日對抗密西根州大，兩校球隊排名分別是全國第四和第七，前半場俄州大就大勝，結束後，我轉台看阿拉巴馬大學，出戰阿肯薩大學，排名分別是全國第二和第二十一，阿大雖非驚赫，但也飽受苦戰，我已經二十餘年，未曾觀看電視，大學球賽自離開奧本大學後，就未曾購票入場觀看，但觀看電視，週六中午後，則是重要節目。

大學賽和職業賽有異，大學賽很熱鬧，像我們大學鎮，每逢球賽週末，小鎮就有十多萬人湧入，平常就是兩萬人口，我在奧大時，1975－1977，奧大球隊走下坡，屢戰屢敗，非常氣餒，後來到休士頓大學，也是錯過盛況，所以內心中沒有驕傲處，後來兩校，也曾出色處，僅短短一兩年，然而阿拉巴馬大學，則是全國最強幾十年。

大學鎮球賽週末，許多校友家庭，遠從外地返校，學校開放球場停車場，讓旅行車停靠，而且有露營設備，十年後我返校，發現沿學校到85號超速公路，已經新闢建環校超速公路，以便疏散球賽後車輛，美國人重視大學橄欖球賽，就像宗教一般，台灣的拜拜一樣，但不是流水席。

下週廣告有奧本出戰，我又要觀看，這觀看電視節目，擠下我休閒的日常生活。

Lingering out my happy life/Carlos Pueblo

 Lingering out my happy life/Carlos Pueblo

In two weeks, I'll be seventy four years old that I should have to say something about my current life. I am lingering out my happy life. My Dad lived up to his sixty five and a half years old due to a strock to end his hard life. I am lucky that I have had an humble beginning and getting better and better in my senior age and have been lived in a wonderful nation.

First, I must credit to my working and saving habit built in my early childhood. We didn't have sufficient fund to enjoy our life at the beginning. My father was an employee of a sugar factory and made a meager income to support a family of nine. We have learned that we must fine a job to work and save money whatever we can to support our own families. The retirement savings have been enough to maintain my frugal life to the end. 

Everyday I go to sleep sleep and get up early. I have had a very simple daily schedule to follow. My final gt up at five in the morning, I go to prepare my breakfast and be ready for my seven thirty tennis. I am a leader of two groups at courts and a third group players will join me after eight o'clock. We usually finish at ten o'clock and I am usually exhausted. I feel sour on my right arm and left knee yet after a good rest of the rest of the day I am fine. I walk on a green soccer field while I am sitting on to wait for my turn to play tennis.

I do have more than one nap during the day after tennis. Ricard Clayderman's piano helps me very much. I like his modern pieces. I don't do very much on telephone and television and I mostly live by myself. I consider that I am a philosopher and a living Buddha because that I live in a meaningful life. I write my blog when I am fresh in mind. There are some readers all over the world, not that many yet quite a few to enjoy my writing.

I am in control of body following a regular exercises and healthy diet. I am loosing weight now. Since last August, I have installed my fake teeth to solve my eating difficulty. I am waiting to get on board of my favorite cruise trip now.

頤養天年／莊峻華

 頤養天年／莊峻華

再過兩三週，我就滿74歲，值得慶幸，比先父多活八年半，先父因中風，纏病十個月後往生，我一直很在意此事，滿60歲後，一直掛念不為碎事煩心，注意飲食，注意運動，早睡早起，週遊世界，不落人生遺憾，我是在頤養天年，我希望能活到80歲，台灣人社區，許多兄長都活過80。

我已經養成習慣，每天清晨網球散步，回家後，小睡一小時以上，然後就是休閒活動，看股市，看網誌，現在加上電視，偶而和大學群組連線，清晨和下午，我自作早晚餐，中午吃剩餘飯菜。我安排每日網球局，通知三群組，清晨觀看下雨否？決定球局，我們一直能維持一雙打，週六甚至達12人，兩組雙打也是平常。

我在網路上之部落格，就是寫作文舒情，是有些人閱讀，而且遍佈全球，太史公曰，藏之名山，傳之於人，我也看書，現在看美國文學，進度稍慢，再來我要開始閱讀舊讀者文摘叢書，我一直排斥杜撰小說，現在要開始妥協。

我甚慶幸我無先父之拮据，當然他的時代和責任，與我有異，因為家政上軌道，生活無慮，又節儉儲蓄，所以無慮，也使頤養天年成真。

A letter to Ketsana/Charles Chuang

 A letter to Ketsana/Charles Chuang

Dear Ketsana,

Thank you for your effort to offer your program and I appreciate very much of your company's business. Based on my insurance sale business experience, I am fully aware of the through concerns of your company's concern of the privacy of your customers as well as your company's clients. For the fairness of the business, I shall obey your rules and make sure that our relationship shall be enjoyable to benefit for both of us.

In particular, I am very impressed that you dig into a dead case and pursuit it. I am very happy for you and wish that I have had 50% of your consistency toward your business. I was a sales person myself long time ago and I admired very much of a successful sales agent. You are the one indeed.

I do check on your company on the Google Search and am very impressed. From what your presentation and the service technician's manners and professionalism, I can tell that both of you are the best in the business. This is why I write this letter. Hope that you have a good career with this firm.

Sincerely yours,

Charles Chuang

Watching an old movie Kings Row 1942/Carlos Pueblo

 Watching an old movie Kings Row 1942/Carlos Pueblo

It is appeared on the You Tube recently and I am lucky to review this favorite movie once again. I must credit this movie as my motive to come to this great nation. I have been very moved ever since I watched it when I was at senior high school in Taiwan. I asked my eldest sister Mary for her comment and she told me the Chinese translated movie name in Taiwan and I also asked my teacher Tom Davidson and he told me English name, Kings Row. I have watched several times after I came to this Nation. It is about the life of a small northeastern town. One of the actors, Ronald Reagan, later became the President of the U.S. It is a very touching story and the movie is an excellent piece of art work including some stories of romantic affairs between two boys and four girls on a different stages of their life, about mental health, about different classes of the small society, about sadist, etc.  In my opinion, the movie has presented the best of art in a little bit of more than two hours.

I was raised up in an environment very much different from the style of the movie back to the late 19 century and the beginning of 20 century. Due to that bank default of the movie before the great depression, I grasped an opportunity to enter the security investment field and learned how to invest. I appreciate very much of a good traditional American family that parents love children and in case of family needs, not only children are taking care of their aging parents but also grandparents are taking care of orphan grandchildren like in the movie. I believe that is called the family value. I ask my line group of my old college classmates to discuss this move and unfortunately nobody response and I feel so sorry.

The movie is so graceful and I decide to write my opinion on this blog to express my appreciation of the American civilization. I am on my reading of the American Literature and I hope that I can read the comment from the authors if this movie is on the book.

觀看舊電影王巷城的故事／莊峻華

 觀看舊電影王巷城的故事／莊峻華

前夜搜尋舊電影，王巷城的故事，居然發現此1942年版黑白片，小時候在台灣看過此片多次，也和我家大姊萬里談過，王巷城是台灣漢譯，戴四維先生告訴我英語片名，非常有因緣，我相信這片電影，是我響往美國主因之最。此片耐心描述小鎮故事，舉兩幼童之童年遭遇，再到成年，兩位醫生，和他們的女兒，提到愛情，醫學，文藝，哲學人情，和當時的社會，其中一位男主角雷根，後來從政，當過美國總統。

這王巷城應該在美國東北，四季分明，建立在1890年，有很好的學校，十分美麗，我在台灣，早就憧憬這種環境，兩位小男孩，從小就有青梅竹馬小愛人，剛好都是小鎮上兩醫生之愛女，這兩位醫生，有絕然不同之風格，一位男主角的祖母，送他到這位小愛人父親處學習，準備赴維也納習醫，另外一位外科醫生，反對其女與另一男主角之愛情交往，此電影描述這段愛情小悲劇，也包括美國經濟大消條，銀行總經理，捲款潛逃，精神疾病，影響後來我從事股票基金副業。

我在大學群組，提到此電影，但無人有興趣，倒是我經常收到一些，我毫無興趣之推薦和傳教，我深覺這是一絕佳之文藝綜合作品，有人仍舊保存此80年老電影，給我很多肯定回憶，時代繼續演進，當年保守之社會，已經漸漸改善，社會越來越人道與文明，我甚為自己慶幸，早年就能享受如此世紀作品，老年甚至得以回憶。

Attending a pet dog friend Brandi's birthday/Carlos Pueblo

 Attending a pet dog friend Brandi's birthday/Carlos Pueblo

Last Saturday I came home early from tennis courts and decided to deliver two bags of used balls for my pet dog friends Brandi and Nickie on the section one of our subdivision. Brandi's owner invited me to attend her seven years old birthday party in the afternoon. I came home to have my regular nap after the morning exercises. It was a beautiful fall weather. It was a very simple party with neighbors, friends, and their fellow pet dogs a little bit of more than ten each at a time. The owners prepared some shew Stix for dogs, wine and beer for neighbors and friends, and also prepared grilled hot dogs for all dogs. American family treat pet dogs as their children, of course, some exception.

The lady owner brought out my tennis balls for dogs to play, only some interested. This Brandi is  a lovely one with a diplomatic still to associate to the human, dogs and cats. Even grocery clerks miss her as well and ask where she is when the owner is at the store without her. She came to me frequently and let me pet her that made some others jealous. Each time I would talk sweetly like a dog whisperer. I have enjoyed so much for this habit.

There were two guests from the daily UPS truck drivers. They are Brandi's friends as well. She is very nice to every body. I was so glad to see all the handsome and beautiful pet dog guests. I prepared my two cameras for this occasion. I shall up load them to my desk top computer.

At the same morning, I ran into my east neighbor's two dogs on our street. I stopped my car and came out to chat with the lady neighbor whom I spoke to a day before. I was out on the back yard and her dog Emma gave me a good morning bark and I responded it. There was another dog barked after that. I thought that was a guest dog and I walked toward the garage. The lady owner told me that was a dog whom she rescued. She temporarily keeping with Emma until she can find a new owner. I am very sorry for this dog that is what I mean of the exception. Obviously, Emma is getting along well the new one. My neighbors are young couples with two lovely kids. Emma is an Australian shepherd and this new one is a black puppy of a Labrador-boxer mixture.

愛犬白蘭蒂生日派對／莊峻華

 愛犬白蘭蒂生日派對／莊峻華

週六球場無人，僅史單那老隊長和我，打了半小時就結束，我攜帶兩袋舊球，散步到南村，準備贈送愛犬白蘭蒂和愛犬妮姬，兩愛犬喜歡網球，是我固定贈送舊網球對象，白蘭蒂主人給我一張彩色生日派對卡片，邀請我當日下午，參加其生日派對，我猜是盛會，蓋白蘭蒂是位可愛愛犬，與人和狗相處甚佳，於是我贈完舊球後，回家休息，準備下午前往。

生日派對在住家車庫前，已經有許多客人，多半是鄰居好友，兩位是遞送司機，白蘭蒂平時好友，再來就是鄰居和愛犬們，我算一下客人和愛犬各超過十位，女主人帶出一大袋舊網球，讓客人擲球近遠處，供幾隻愛犬玩耍，我帶兩相機拍照，回家時始發現，應該用手機拍照，我就可以轉送相片，分享大學同學，美國家庭生活，我在球場經常遇見小孩生日派對，非常熱鬧。我因為每日網球，佔據晨步時間，回家後甚少再出門，幾乎不見鄰居愛犬，十分想念。

幾日前，偶聞東鄰愛犬艾瑪吠叫，她回答我叫其名，又有另外一犬聲，走過步徑到其車庫側門，女主人招呼一小黑犬，原是走失者，她將其拯救留住曰，艾瑪不甚習慣，此鄰居甚年輕，有量幼年可愛子女，艾瑪是褐色澳大利亞牧羊犬，俊秀美麗又和藹，也善照顧小主人，新犬黑色，仍是幼犬，女主人開門，讓他自由進出，小犬終究回到鄰居家。今晨提早回家，在住家街道上，遇見女主人攜兩愛犬散步，我將車停在街道，出來打招呼，艾瑪直接迎來，小黑犬稍遲疑，後來始靠近，容我撫摸，我猜是拉布拉多幼犬，女主人曰有拳師犬混血，我驚訝為高大俊犬，女主人還是希望原主人能早日領回，抑或找到可靠之新主人。

Creating a living trust for my house/Carlos Pueblo

 Creating a living trust for my house/Carlos Pueblo

The other day my daughter Michelle sent me a message that I should create a living trust for the house which I own, half of it, to my son Arthur in case that I die to avoid the probation. I ignore it due to several reasons. First, the house is not that expansive; secondly, Amy owns half of it. If I die, both Amy and Arthur are still living in the same house, probate or not. The only objection will be from Michelle to contest my will that means my will doesn't divide fairly. I doubt that she will challenge it because that she is much better off than me. I have had a very simple family history that Arthur and Michelle are my only heirs and I don't generate too much of assets during my life time.

I have had a will which is subject to a contest. I am very happy that I still have some left for my children. I am very much better off than my parents. I don't think that there is too much to worry about the estate tax after all. It is more practical that I distribute some of my savings annually to my family members who are all younger than me with more time and less pressure to face varies taxes. One big factor that I need to worry about is the final medical expanse that is why I exercise every day and to do my best.

Amy has another idea which may help. She intends to sell this house after my death to move to a smaller and newer house to live that Arthur is easier to take it over. We don't know when it will be at least that is a good idea. It is nice to have something that we can worry about how to manage it than have nothing to manage and worry everything to make the end meet.

老年財務安排／莊峻華

 老年財務安排／莊峻華

琳兒電訊來，建議我寫住屋生命信託給元兒，大概是避免死亡後，一些遺囑認證費用，我想做一些研究，我是寫下遺囑，死後遺囑真僞，依法是需有認證手續，有人執行，遺產需要給付執行者費用，我生前節儉，所以才省下半棟住屋，另半棟屬愛美，元兒與我們同住，我死後愛美元兒繼續住此屋，應無人有異議，我遺囑自寫，好像是找琳兒執行，費用一部分給她，我無異議，大概是法院也要一些費用立案，這我是需要避免，住屋生命信託，大概是此意。

聽聞現金的部分是兩百萬美元後，開始扣遺產稅，這是聯邦部分，德州也扣遺產稅，何數開始扣？我需要請教球友，我大概無需憂慮，房屋固定，不做好安排，一時還跑不了。

愛美有想法，她認為我再年邁些年，可以先賣出此屋，然後搬到一稍新較小住屋，元兒較無需維護，我現在想來也是方法，也許就近搬到奧斯汀，琳兒可以幫忙照顧，她能管理住屋，這些都非憂慮才是，中文曰庸人自擾。

Vietnamese philanthropists/Carlos Pueblo

 Vietnamese philanthropists/Carlos Pueblo

The Vietnamese vlog which I have watched on the You Tube has enter another stage on her vlog. She has at least three videos about her efforts to help the needy neighbors at her community that I am very impressed. She is not only pretty, able, and also a philanthropist. This what she and her two fellow young and pretty lady friends as well as two young men to drive the light boat around the rivers to deliver goods for needy neighbors. What do they deliver? A small bag of rice and another bag of soy source, spices, and other dry goods. I can see the shy neighbors of their appreciation.

Van Nguyen Cuoc that I believe is her name because that I don't know Vietnamese language. It is easier for me to watch her videos and comprehend her skills to catch fishes in the rivers and rice field full of water, her tailor skills, and cooking. She is very pretty and slender full of energy and even can do carpentry work. She used to be by herself and a boy's help and now she has more help to do the show due to her successful vlogs.

Based on her videos, I can see that her family is a successful rice farmer with a nice residence with an outdoor kitchen and dining table. Now, there is another nice bamboo building built by her family as well as herself for a larger family party. I have enjoy very much for her skills to catch fishes, frogs, and rats on the rivers and rice field that is my dream life of my childhood. I can imagine that her family is well to do and self sufficient.

What I can't imagine is that she even go forward to another step to help needy neighbors. In Buddhism we call it the Bodhisattva, the step next to the Nirvana, the eternal world after the basic of self discipline of the Shravakayana and the Mahayana. In a simple word of the later two stages of our life, they are the description of a people to reach a meaningful life of his own by either meet a master to comprehend his teaching or reading his book to be enlightened. I am enlightened and yet I need to be a philanthropist like them.

越南農村善士／莊峻華

 越南農村善士／莊峻華

去年我介紹一位越南姑娘的農村生活，這是我每日必看之網誌節目，她的節目成功，目前已經邁向250集，內容多半是河川水稻田捕魚捕蛙捕鼠等，魚獲後烹飪分享其母，現在節目成功，有兩位閨蜜，參加節目，還有一位姪女，偶而也來，以我觀察，這是一很好的農村家庭，她的介紹南越農村生活，是我童年生活之幻想，當然台灣沒有如此環境，而且我們家住小鎮糖廠宿舍，沒有河川水利之便，但她的魚獲種類，有些我認得。最近，她開始有新描述，甚令我欽佩。

越南開始有武肺肺炎，鄉民開始戴口罩，她開始和家人閨蜜，整理物資，架輕舟於河川，遞物資於鄰居需要者，我看了三集，這些鄰居住在河川旁簡陋小屋，有水泥步徑，姑娘們分別提上米包和飲料瓶等，家家遞物，小心翼翼，非常禮貌，接物家主，頗感驚訝感激，小院裡常有瘦小愛犬，來回屋內屋外眾人之間。一盲者老人出迎，旁有一赤背青年，有氣無力，越南農村，甚是貧窮，糧食缺乏，主角姑娘看到老盲者，心生憐憫惻隱之心，安置老人入座小凳，掏出一張大鈔私房錢贈送老者，甚令我感動，路過一家非常篳簬籃縷，一閨蜜再三回首，令我鼻酸。

我出生家貧如洗，但先父有固定職業，家中至少得溫飽，飽是有些誇張，所以我長大來美國剛好，食量如牛，這位姑娘家善行，引得全球觀眾讚美，我閱讀留言，這善事非來自越南政府，而是姑娘兄長家人，她們務農，姑娘能幹美麗，能捕魚烹飪裁縫木工等，非常有趣，我將影片介紹給舊日大學同學，也給全球讀者知音，這是我們佛家之菩薩乘，人生最高境界。

Manchukuo at the end of WWII/Carlos Pueblo

 Manchukuo at the end of WWII/Carlos Pueblo

Manchukuo at the end of World War II was like this, a puppet state located at the northeast of China, isolated and surrounded by a strong Soviet force of 1.56 millions on three front. The Soviet force started the attack two days after the Nagasaki atomic bomb and occupied Manchukuo and Korea and that was in August, 1945. Chiang's regime of the Republic of China signed a peace treaty with the Soviet to yield the Outer Mongolia in order to ask the soviet force to leave Manchukuo. In 1946, the Soviet force did leave the Manchuria yet turned the area to the Chinese Communist rebel force. Chiang's force had never set a foot hold of Manchuria. Korea was separated into the North Korea and the South Korea according to the Yalta Conference. The Soviet force to attack Manchuria was the major reason why the Imperial Japan surrendered.

How big was the territory of Manchuria? It is about the size of Texas or a little larger than Texas. The population was more than 40 millions. Manchukuo was in between 1932 to 1945, an industrial and agricultural nation in Asia just next to Japan at that time. Their population were including Chinese, Manchurian, Korean, Mongolian, and White Russian, etc. also a few of Taiwanese due to the colonial rule in Taiwan by the Imperial Japanese government.

I am informed by my tennis partners who are either Manchurian or Chinese used to live in that territory. They tell me that current day Manchuria is no longer an advanced area in China and considered as one of the most backward area in China. It is because of long time neglect from the Communist Chinese regime. I understand that China is a failed nation no matter how impressive of their gross domestic product number. If China can not manage Manchuria, it should yield to the Manchurian to rule themselves. Let the Manchuria be an independent nation.

終戰時的滿洲國／莊峻華

 終戰時的滿洲國／莊峻華

終戰時的滿洲國，是我剛發現之興趣，當然這要感謝奧勒岡大學陳準博士之興趣節目，她是研究滿洲國電影，我則是一生好奇，人活到老學到老，話說1945年八月，蘇聯依依雅爾達會議，從滿洲國三面俄境，三路出兵，進攻滿洲國，總共兵力近一百六十萬，這是從德國移動蘇軍最佳部隊，九十萬關東軍未加抵抗，因為兩日前長崎挨第二顆原子彈，五日前廣島第一顆，蘇軍攻打滿洲國，咸稱帝日投降之主因。

這時候蘇軍已經在滿洲國，也佔據北朝鮮，美蘇已經同意南北韓分治，滿洲國歸國民黨中國，蔣介石的代表，與蘇聯簽署同意外蒙古共和國獨立，以交換滿洲國交還國民黨中國，但是蘇聯在中國東北撤軍時，是交給叛亂的共匪部隊，當時的東北，從未在蔣之真正掌握中，蘇軍是在1946年撤出東北。此事實解釋一些中國近代史，這些都在谷歌的維基百科。

我在台灣偶爾聽聞幾位中國師長私語，例如新一軍從台灣調赴東北作戰，新一軍是孫立人部，在緬甸作戰有功，來台灣接防蔣先遣屠殺台人部隊，初中先師就是倖留台灣未亡東北者。另外一位大學先師東北人曰，陳誠見東北軍，人高馬大，心生畏懼，通通解役，東北軍全為匪軍接收，此為戰時閒言閒語，台灣國民黨不講中國近代史，後世者僅能臆測。

滿洲國變成中國東北後，已經有七十五年，從亞洲最先進之國，僅次於日本，淪落為中國最落後之地區，真是可憐，也是中國之恥辱，比不上南韓，也比不上台灣，當年滿洲國地比德州大，人口四千七百萬，輕重工業發達，農產富饒，真是可惜。

The citizen of Manchukuo program on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

 The citizen of Manchukuo program on You Tube/Carlos Pueblo

What is Asia? program director on You Tube interviews Yue Chen, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oregon to present the citizen of Manchukuo, 1932-1945. Manchuria has been a place in Chinese history with invading and conquering Chinese dynasties, i.e. the latest one in 1644 toppled the Ming Dynasty and set up Manchu Dynasty, 1644-1911. Japanese army after Russo-Japan War, 1904-1905, occupied Manchuria and eventually established a regime called Manchukuo, 1932-1945. Chen is researching the movies industry of this period. I am also interesting in Manchukuo because that I have learned very much even since my childhood in Taiwan. We all, Manchuria as well as Taiwan, experienced identical colonial rule of Japan with so kinds of impression very different from Chinese rule later in this century.

This area is also called the Northeast of China. It was with bigger territory than larger than Texas with more than 40 million population or citizen, Chinese Han race, Manchurian, Korean, Mongolian, White Russian, and some others like Taiwanese living in that nation. I check on the Wikipedia on the Google with a great impression. I believe that Manchukuo in the most advanced on just next below Japan and Taiwan. Taiwan was ruled by Japan between 1895 to 1945 with a little bit longer period of time. I am told that Manchuria is the most backward part of China nowadays. I am very sorry.

I like to see that one day Manchuria can be an independent nation in this world following Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, East Turkistan, Inner Mongolia, and others in China to be parted with China, a failed nation. I believe that that day is coming.

網誌上的滿洲國公民／莊峻華

 網誌上的滿洲國公民／莊峻華

昨日在網誌上看到一篇，滿洲國公民，這是甚麼是亞洲節目的一篇，我是第二名讀者，而且留言，主持人訪問一位奧勒岡大學博士生陳小姐，講述滿洲國和滿州利亞，她的研究是滿洲國電影史，滿洲國是帝日關東軍設立，1932－1945，剛開始電影有統戰成分，下半段提到滿洲國生活實體，她舉李香蘭電影為例，李就是山口淑子，後來的日本眾院議員。滿洲國有德州這麼大，主要居民是漢人，滿人，朝鮮人，日本人，蒙古人，和俄羅斯人等，當年的滿洲國建設，遠比中國首都北京先進，這是因為日本先進之故，日本人之效率，當年蔡英文總統之令尊大人，也住滿洲國，台灣人很多因日本移民滿洲國，戰後有些返台，有些滯留滿州利亞，現在之中國東北。

主持人問到如何增進滿洲國知識，陳回答可參考李香蘭電影，溥儀傳記電影，當然可尋找到之當年電影，我對滿洲國有感情，我的義母是滿人，家住奉天，滿清貴族後裔，我有一位義女，與她同姓，非常親切。舊旅順高等學校，有一寮歌曰北歸行，非常動人，我聆聽後查谷歌，加上我對台灣之戰前感情，於是我留言期待有一日，滿洲國將是一獨立於中國之外之自由國度。

The joy of reading a book/Carlos Pueblo

 The joy of reading a book/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I am reading a book called the Adventures in American Literature, a Pegasus Edition Which Amy gives it to me because that she has a hard time to follow it. In return, I give her my collection of the American History volume II 1850-1950 that she loves it. I know that both books help me very much to understand this great nation that I live. I have pointed it out on my blog about a point on American History about the inflation that we can use it now, for the time being. One of the reasons why some farmers like to have the inflation to increase their income and control their spending in order to come out ahead. I agree and practice it all my life.

The Adventures book is a senior high school reference collection. The senior high school released it due to aged. I am on page 128 now and I have read the Puritanism, the Age of Reason, the Great Awakening, the Beginnings of American Literature. I shall go directly to the Revolutionary period where we call it the progressive, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, etc. I like to go back again to read again to understand more. There is a French immigrant writing  letters from an American Farmer to introduce this great nation that I miss before and now I formally read it and fully understand. There was a girl wrote a poem to support the revolutionary war and was invited to visit Washington's camp. I read her piece.

There are many paintings on this book bring back my fond memory of art museums all over the world. I am now at Washington Irving. I have read both of his famous pieces when I was a beginner of English reader in Taiwan, Rip Van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and more. There was a young man went into a village to be a teacher and fell in love with a pretty girl student and agitated local male youth. Finally the story ended with a headless horse running away during a Halloween day. I walked and recited that short story to improve my English when I was at the senior high school. That is his piece as well. I thought they were Dutch American folk tales and there were German tales that the book said.

讀書的樂趣／莊峻華

 讀書的樂趣／莊峻華

從小我就很喜歡讀書，讀書不僅是學校教科書，而且是教科書外的閒書，這些閒書對科舉功名，向來無助，僅能幫助滿足心靈空虛，最近開始再讀書，應該是看書，看一本美國文學探險飛馬版，介紹美國開國前後，到1970左右，剛開始的美國文學記錄，是根據清教徒英文，以清教徒聖經解釋為本，到獨立革命時，已經開始離開聖經內容，開始有寫作者之想像理想，跳出基督教之枷鎖，開始美國獨特之文學，我只看到一百二十二頁，已經迫不及待寫下心得。

清教徒在英國，受英國國教之迫害，開始移民美國，開墾今日波士頓附近之新英格蘭地區，當時曰清教徒，清教徒有很清楚的定義，但是清教徒很迅速就消逝，因為有理性時代之出現，漢譯理性時代甚是侷促一隅，其實是批判基督教聖經教條，這一派之最為湯瑪斯潘恩，英國人與班潔民佛蘭克林相識，由佛介紹移居美國，他有論述懷疑聖經，影響到幾位美國創國始祖，當年歐洲同時也有理性主義，開始追求真理，於是造成工業大革命，牛頓，佛蘭克林，傑佛遜等人，都是代表人物，華盛頓出名非文學境界，但不願稱王，尊重憲法，已經不俗。

稍後，美國南方開始有英國國教徒移民，這些移民和清教徒有異，清教徒在英國舊世界，為英國國教徒迫害，清教徒在新英格蘭需要群聚部落，英國國教徒富有，在美國南方，可以獨立經營巨大農場，蓄養黑人為奴耕作，理論和實際有別，現在的美國政治，仍然有脈絡可尋，美國幾近一半選民，都是種族岐視者，而且這些人都熱衷政治投票，看不起不守法之窮人，美國是如此，共和黨和民主黨之異。

此書一一介紹當年之代表箸作，例如傑佛遜之獨立宣言，除批評英皇喬治三世外，也加上當年的英國國會，蓋這些加諸於美國之惡法，完全來自英國國會，比諸今日中國席近平，鮮有人批評共產黨人，這是兩國根本之不同，中國人無法比較美國人之處。

從美國歷史和美國文學，來了解近代美國政治，最為貼切，而且因為了解美國政治，可以明確知道如何在美國有效之生存，達到成功之人生，過有意義之生活。

After all suffering comes happiness/Carlos Pueblo

 After all suffering comes happiness/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday there was an article on the Wall Street Journal about the readiness of Taiwan's defense if China attacks. There is a photo of the frontier Kinman with a photo of a soldier about 1.9 kilometers away of Chinese offshore. It brought me my sad memory of my younger days. I was draft to Taiwanese Army and stationed to that island exactly half a century ago. Our division was off duty to the Capital city of Taipei and ready to be sent to the island for the frontier duty. It was because of Nixon's visit to China we had had some extra time waiting at Tao Yung on the site of current day TPE airport.

Almost all my life in Taiwan was very hard except that I had a dream to go abroad to study and found a way to leave Taiwan. At that time, Taiwan was under Chiang Kai-sek's Nationalist Chinese authoritarian rule. All male citizen must be draft and serve two years in order to leave Taiwan. One of the few ways to exit Taiwan was to study abroad. In my case, I had to get a college's permission, of course, with a financial assistance. I passed that gate as well. Since then, I receive monthly amount of money to maintain my cost of living till now with all kinds of money management via personal savings.

All what I ask in my life is very simple that I have a house to be my shelter, that I have enough money to support myself and my family, that I don't need to worry about my living while I am out of work or earning income. In addition to those, I make some improvement of my senior life that I get up early to play tennis. Except my diabetes, I am basically healthy that I am not afraid to get up to the up stair to my library for most of my day after tennis.

In compare to my miserable past in Taiwan, I am happier in my senior life in the U.S. I appreciate that I have had this opportunity to prevail in this great nation after all suffering comes happiness.

苦盡甘來／莊峻華

 苦盡甘來／莊峻華

剛才看到今日華爾街日報消息，有張金門相片，講到台灣戍守金門的故事，五十年前的現在，我正在小金門烈嶼后頭村服兵役，是有想到來美國，天天都在想，服兵役是一大關，當年出國留學，是要過五關斬六將的大事，沒料到苦盡甘來，現在在休士頓享福，過一樂園般的老年生活。昨夜，也觀看一台語電影，在室男，我曾拜讀作家楊青矗，也在華府台灣人公共事務會見過面，電影是首閱，很是感慨，我們都是那苦悶時代，為中國人統治的受難人，就像現在的中國。

我因為學分不足，仍舊不能結業，錯過分發學校，因此要求提前入伍，開始兩年之兵役義務，這兩年泰半是在小金門烈嶼島，當年也和國際局勢有關，部隊因尼克森訪匪，國民黨不敢動防，於是我們在桃園下湖營區，等到四月始分三梯次，換防金門，退伍時，因國民黨要接收越戰損壞戰車卡車等，調用運輸艦，延誤兩個月退伍船期，在后頭仍舊穿兵服輪站衞兵出操等。

我回想起在台灣的日子，真是痛苦，還好我在台灣喜歡看美國電影，憧憬在美國的生活，我在台灣算是認真讀書，一關過一關，認真準備來美國，當踏出台灣國門一步，在飛機上，仍舊領著國中教師津貼，九月一到，就領助教金，一直有收入到現在，現在更是苦盡甘來，還有退休金可以領，銀行一直鼓吹要借我錢。

我了解為何全球許多人，希望移民美國，因為美國實在是一理想國，我的要求不高，美國已經可以提供我想要的一切，我們家愛美，家境亦是赤貧出身，有今日之經濟獨立，亦甚感激，都是苦盡甘來。

Neighborhood gardens tour/Carlos Pueblo

 Neighborhood gardens tour/Carlos Pueblo

There was a neighborhood gardens tour held yesterday between 10 am to 12 pm for eight houses. Six of them  were covered the front and back yards while two only showed the front. I came home from my morning tennis to attend this activity. We walked the entire route of lovely gardens presented to us. Most of our houses at these two neighborhood are about 0.2 acres lot and were built in the late 70's and only one street, Del Monte Lane were in 1982 . Yet none of houses  were participated on our street. It is the first time garden tour within our community.

American family are multi interests oriented and fully expressed at their living. These are not fancy houses and yards yet very attracted due to the homeowners' pride. Most of the participants are the winners of the yard of the month honor. Even during the fall I still notice how distinguished the owners have put up their efforts to keep their yards beautiful. Most of them are with small lots of flower beds that I can imagine the fully blossoms in the spring. I have noticed the fact ever since I have moved to this subdivision. The homeowners also pay attention to year end light decorations and there are contests of many kinds every year.

It is very small and real to me to call a garden tour. I am used to the Royal Gardens and large Metropolitan Rose Gardens all oven the world, yet these gardens are very kin to me for that I can related to. I attempt to keep my front and back yards neat. I grow some flower like roses, cook's cum, amaryllis, oleanders, and Craig myrtle trees, etc. Flowers come out during the year until the year end.

Most of the six back yard designs are without a grass lawn except one. I understand that is due to the difficulty to maintain plus tall trees cover the sunshine. They build a pavilion at the center of the back yard with chairs and bricks lay on the ground with some flower boxes. This is a typical city subdivision and I know some of the owners not included do have big ranch outside the city.

I ran into some garden tour houses which I have previous experience to visit. I am very sad at the last house belonged to my favorite pet dog Scott who was deceased three weeks before. I have written several times about Scott on this blog. It is because that I change my regular routine after the Pandemic to play tennis every morning. I miss him very much.

兩社區庭院花園展／莊峻華

 兩社區庭院花園展／莊峻華

今日有兩社區庭院花園展，一共有八處展出，其中六處前後院，我深覺有趣，而且主辦人是我兩愛犬知己女主人，於是我邀請喜愛家庭園藝之愛美同行，我們足足步行兩小時，從十點開始，走到第八棟結束，已是中午。這些展覽庭院，多半是最近歷月最佳庭院獎得主，活動甚新，主要是讓鄰居欣賞，家庭園藝之優雅，這是秋天，如果是春初展覽，更是不得了。

我們兩社區房屋庭院大小，約是五分之一英畝，主力在前院，這些出示展覽者，多半是前院花園，後院主力是涼亭，有一家是小游泳池點綴，都有巨大亮窗，我因為經常散步社區，認識很多鄰居，也喜歡體會美國人家庭，生活幽雅環境。

布萊爾羅斯街，是最後兩家，有一家女主人，曾經邀請我們參觀室內外，也介紹過她自己，這次我們再參觀前後院，仍舊是非常美麗，她是非常用心，庭院整理完美，這次未遇見女主人。另一家是愛犬知己史考特主人家庭，主人見到我，立即通告史考特耗訊，就在兩三週前，史考特因喉瘤過世，我聽聞後毫無心情，他是一長毛黑犬，非常友善，其半奧迪斯尚在，只甚孤單，主人準備再領一犬為其伴，史考特年僅十歲，他常伴男主人打獵撿鴨，我曾為文描述這位愛犬多次，只因網球，已經快兩年不見，平常他在鐵跚門內等我路過，如我僅管注意對面路克巨犬，他會吠叫提醒我注意。

The renovation of our neighbor's house/Carlos Pueblo

 The renovation of our neighbor's house/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday day after my morning tennis, I was chatting with one of our neighbor, a Korean American lady while she was doing her front yard work. She mentioned the renovation of our neighbor's house on her next door of the cul-de-sac. During our last winter storm early this year, there was a severe damage caused by frozen pipe and busted pipe. The previous owners decided to move out and sold the property to a new owner. The new owner has started the renovation in August and almost finished. We are permitted to take a look of the almost completed new structure inside and out.

The out red brick has been painted white now. The new white paint has no problem to cover the original red color and it is a white house, la casa blanca. The contractor explains his work from outside windows which are all replaced with the energy saving elements. The old chocolate color ceramic tiles replaced by a light pink brown ceramic tiles, shining and lovely. There is only a wood tile at the living room re-polished. We walk into a large kitchen with the shining tile and a large open view new window to see the outside garden. A worker is installing something under the large ranch and asking questions to the head contractor. He explains to me how they come to a decision to close a fire place in order to make the kitchen larger. He also closes some small windows to make the appearance more contemporary and smoothly. 

There is a rather large master bedroom with two separate shower and bath tap installation. They decide to get rid of the original Jakushi bath. Again, the window is expanded and new to view the back yard. The second bedroom is considered large to the regular with a full bath while a third room with a half bath is a guest room. It is because of the one story floor plan and the room is larger and less than our two story house yet it is beautiful and more logical for a family with small size.

Houses around our area have been in demand now. I can see more people are calling for house availability. I am not selling our house because we are still need a house to live; however, the house renovation idea is still in Amy's mind and I like her to visit more houses and have some ideas of what she loves the best. This renovation house is very impressive and looks like a million dollar level worth.

鄰居房屋翻新／莊峻華

 鄰居房屋翻新／莊峻華

早晨網球局回家，兩鄰居房屋翻新，工匠佔據我街頭停車位，只好暫停較遠位置，剛好一位韓裔女鄰居正在整理前院，我們談起這一大動工程之鄰居翻新，剛好是她隔壁，故事是今年初天冷冰凍一週，此屋有損壞，原屋主搬出賤售，新屋主在最近準備搬入，大事整修，已經三個月，我請屋內工頭讓我參觀，也同時邀請這位韓裔女鄰居，和也在庭院剪樹枝的愛美，愛美對房屋翻新很是興趣。

此屋係1982年後單一訂建，結構堅實，紅磚其表，一層樓豪宅，冰凍損壞，完全是原屋主手足無措之故，水管未關閉，亦或漏水，待溫暖時，未注意水管破裂，當然這和當時叫不到水管技工有關，於是原屋主一氣之下搬出，而且馬上有人購買，一切順暢。

這紅磚已經漆成白色，據曰女屋主反覆更改主意三次，油漆奏效，是美麗白屋，整個門窗更換，節約能源新窗，一進門就注意到亮麗之淡褐色瓷磚，這是新按置，原來是褐色，一整片包括全屋各室，除一廳保持原木板，非常清爽美麗。廚房廣闊，是封閉原壁爐，主人指導工頭更改原屋內設計，變的更時代化，此屋僅三臥房，主要是強調主臥室，有兩套半衞生設備，第三臥房較小為客房，後院廣大，原屋主早有花園設計，從室內多處，均有大門窗可欣賞後院花園，這是邊緣聽院，佔地稍廣。

我並非有興趣房屋翻新，只是欣賞美學，這是藝術，新屋主和工頭，都有美學，把舊破壞之舊屋翻新，外圍結構堅實不變，只是屋內翻新，完全按照新屋主喜愛，工頭告知花費，六萬五美金，真是好買賣。

Living in Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

 Living in Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

The weather in Houston, Texas is similar to Huwei, Taiwan where is my hometown of my childhood. There is a long and hot summer while a briefly spring and autumn. We do have some cold winter weather. I am used to this climate especially there is a well air conditioning invention during the 1960 while many people have moved to this area and makes Houston number 4 city in the United States and above 6 millions residents among 6 counties in the Metropolitan.

I came to Houston to join my brother's family in 1977 and married less than three years later. I have had my job and family in this city and now I plan to end my life here. I love the city and get use to live here where I consider as a paradise.

I go to bed every night about eight o'clock and have a toilet break during the entire night. It is a very unique life which I am describing now. I wake up at 4:30 am and start my routine. I shall check on the outside to see if the street is dry enough to play tennis. I therefore inform my tennis group of people whether to come to play tennis or not. Then, I prepare to make my simple pan cake for my son Arthur and myself for the breakfast. He drink the milk and the juice while drink my black coffee. If there is time enough I take an one hour nap before driving to a nearby tennis court to open the gate. I also prepare courts such as squeeze the wet spots. If courts are dry, I have time for walking on a small green lawn till my partners are arriving.

Now, I can't play too much and also I must avoid playing with players who are not my same level. I can excuse myself to walk again at the green lawn to meet some of my new pet dogs friends and their owners. I have had a very good relationship with dogs. One time, I even get to know a pretty young lady who I get to know her parents and their pet dog. I taught her one tennis lesson and expecting to give her some more. There are three groups of beginners hiring the pros to teach them lessons in order to get into the game.

Sometimes we finish the game at 10:30 am or even to 12:15 am. It's all depending on the showing up. I come home very tired and get myself ready for a long nap. I have Richard Clayderman's piano helps me to sleep. If you count it, there are more than 11 hours now in sleep, good and sound sleep. I must admit it that there is another nap after that and before my bed time.

This is all what I need in my life at this time. I think that I can make it to my 80; therefore, I don't have too ling to live and I must enjoy my limited life to last my meaningful way of life and Houston will give it to me.

休士頓居／莊峻華

 休士頓居／莊峻華

每日早起，開始一日休士頓居，我多次描述這一樂園般之老年生活，是我一生料想不到的幸福，世界諸事繁雜，無法兼顧周到，僅能享受現有樂趣，每日生活迅速渡過，非常規律，小時候看到中國書畫曰深山隱居，深山隱居，如何享受老年生活？

深山不若城市居，深山如何有近代生活設備？台灣深山有廟，大殺風景，我所不願為也，我說是到深山當廟公，我是已經識道矣，但日常食衣住行等，非常不便，深山無城市基礎設備，非常不便，居住深山，就無法照顧和被照顧家庭矣。

過去兩年前，我看到郵輪特價，機票特價等，我就簡單行李，搭市公車到機場，下機後也想辦法，搭公車走路到旅店或碼頭，休市有兩大機場，來往全球各地，飛往歐洲，甚至可搭廉價巴士到州府奧斯汀，一切都可安排負擔，節約儲蓄。

武肺發生後，一時旅遊受阻，剛好我組一網球俱樂部，每日都有球打，早晨約四點半起床，安排早點，就是美國人吃的熱餅，準備一份給元兒，他甚捧場，我喝熱咖啡，他喝牛奶果汁，然後我有一回龍覺，就是再小寐一小時，古代史記典故，一刺客見一晉賢大夫，回龍覺醒，正襟危坐門前，感動此刺客。七點未到，我就驅車到球場開門，簡單整理球場，像擠掉前夜積水，等候球友到來，現在我有四位球友準時七點半到，於是我可以逕赴草場散步，等候新鄰居愛犬知己，散步草皮上，帶來多少童年美憶。

第二球場缺人，我開始打網球，有一對球友一小時後離去，也有一些球友晚到，現在網球局較多，尤期週六，平常也有女士聘請教練教習練球，精彩時球局打到中午時刻，當然我需要許多休息觀看。

回家後，愛美幫我洗衣服球帽等，我之每日沐浴在此時，然後我又小寐，球畢老身疲憊不堪，我在里察特克萊德曼鋼琴曲下，睡上一小時，然後就是我休閒一日之開始。我看網誌節目，大部份是農村生活，烹飪，和時事評論等，我知到美國政治和世界政治，股市上漲，更令我幸福。

我寫部落格，而且也看書，最近看到班潔民佛蘭克林之座右銘，發現他很重視節約儲蓄，努力工作，而且他是一位很好之作家。

Saving with the stock market/Carlos Pueblo

 Saving with the stock market/Carlos Pueblo

This year's year end rally has begun at the mid of October to be rid of the fall back. I am back to watch the stock future to be happy at the start of a day. Saving with the stock market is my only choice, a successful one in my life. It has helped me to live through my depressed un-employed days since 2001. During these 20 plus years, the U.S. stock market has maintained upward except briefly downward in 2008-2009. We know the reason and the Fed moves in quickly to correct and make up the discrepancy. We are all very lucky.

We also are lucky because we are at the computer and internet revolution age. There are so much development in the computer world. We can only rely on the experts to select stocks for our investment such as the mutual fund for instance. My mutual funds investment are doing better than my limited individual investment. I feel that the gain from my retirement funds is better in average during my working years. I know that it isn't so rosy in the history of the stock market yet I can't find anything better than this.

The whole world has been facing the Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic for two years and I see the depressing news in the stock market. I don't know why the market is up; however, I have no complaint as long as the market is upward. I am still paying attention to my investment and tax strategy. I am still living in a frugal life. Saving with the stock market makes me very happy.

股市成長／莊峻華

 股市成長／莊峻華

美國股市成長不斷，觀看指數一路上昇，我非自號專家，但確相信股市，而且是美國股市，非常有信用，多少人投資美國股市，最近美國股市提早年底重振，十月中旬，就莫名其妙趕上來，一掃秋後落價，基金均恢復今年增值，連石油股和汽車股，均有起色，當然此與通貨膨脹，有些關係，為何有通貨膨脹？通貨膨脹與股市起伏有關？

幾十年來，我寫過通貨膨脹主題多次，無甚多人感到興趣，同貨膨脹是聯邦中央銀行，必需控制之主要課題，主要大概是維護美金幣值，政府若印鈔票過多，沒有經濟繁榮為背景，美金貶值，物價上揚，通貨會膨脹，最近愛美告訴我，菜價肉價等都上升，我已吃素，而且都吃特價食物，因此置通貨膨脹不理。

美國歷史1850－1945這本書，提到通貨膨脹曰，美國農民希望通貨膨脹，因為通貨膨脹，農產品會增高價格，農民收入增加，農民消費者，可以自行控制，像我一樣，等特價再消費，節約儲蓄，美國是自由市場，供需要平衡，供多於求，物價自然下降，當然需要住有其買斷之屋，有買斷之舊車可代行，有舊衣物可保溫暖，基本需求需要滿足。

最近之股市崩盤，是在2009年，因為小布希總統之攻打伊拉克和阿富汗兩國，軍費不勝負擔，和1987年代之雷根，減稅加上越戰負荷，國家和民間搶資金，利息高昂，美國政府學會印鈔票濟急，保羅克魯曼教授曰，國家負債可以達到多少總生產額之百分比，我相信他，因為他是諾貝爾獎得主，川普和共和黨人，喜歡替富人財團減稅，我也無法度，我深覺國民要自力更生，自己要靠自己努力向上，最為重要。

投資股市，需要有成本，需要有固定工作，需要量入為出，需要節約儲蓄，這些都是老生常談，最近我讀到美國文學歷史，班潔民佛蘭克林，也強調節約儲蓄。

Walking and reciting books of my youth days/Carlos Pueblo

 Walking and reciting books of my youth days/Carlos Pueblo

Recently I am walking on a beautiful green lawn of the Walnut Bend recreation center every morning before my tennis. The green lawn can be served as a soccer field reminds me my walking and reciting books of my youth days in Taiwan. I worked very hard as a student in order to pass all kinds of entrance examinations in Taiwan, junior high, senior high, college, and study abroad, etc. I have also worked very hard to learn English as my third major language. All of these were required to have repeated drills of all kinds. Mathematics and science needed to have a desk while the others would be more fun to walk and study simultaneously, i.e. I could pretend studying while walking around to see some pretty girls who also were practicing the same methods.

I didn't like to recite Chinese classical literature which the classes required yet I loved to recite English essay. Walking and reciting is like to speak to the audience regardless of the correct pronunciation. I could speak perfect Taiwanese because it was my mother tongue and I admitted that there was no way for me to speak a perfect Mandarin or English which were not important. Remembering English vocabulary took a lot of walking and reciting time during my childhood.

The place where I had taken my walking and reciting at my home town Huwei, Taiwan were the track and field ground of my elementary school and a beautiful garden park of my Dad's employer by a river. I had returned to my hometown to prepare those examinations and as a matter of fact, there were students had had the same habit to study.

I don't need to study anything now for any thing, otherwise the soccer field would be perfect for my walking and reciting Japanese, Spanish, and French languages, etc. My old brain is more solid than my youth days and I doubt the efficiency, yet I still enjoy walking on a green lawn better than walking on a concrete street.

少年時代之讀書／莊峻華

 少年時代之讀書／莊峻華

最近天天清晨打網球，經常開始滿四人，於是我堅持散步足球場，期待巧遇幾隻愛犬朋友，秋日到來，氣候涼爽，鄰居開始在社區散步，我是在活動中心觀看籬外，踩過草皮，讓我美憶少年時代之讀書習慣，台灣的學校生活。

 我是十歲搬到虎尾鎮，那是小學四年下，六年級畢業，就需升學初中，尤其六下，很多自習課，學生在課堂自修，當時升學考三科，國語，算術，和常識，常識就是中國地理和歷史，也有一些近代世界地理歷史等，除算術需要桌上演算外，其餘兩科，都可以背誦，誦就是朗誦或默念，朗誦可以邊走邊唸，我在小學就學會此習慣，一方面也顯示他人，我甚喜愛讀書。

初中後，邊走邊唸，加上英語，我喜歡背英語短文，而且非常毅力，對後來移民美國很有幫助，邊走邊唸，從安慶操場，走到糖廠公園，虎尾溪畔，家裡桌椅不夠，庭院也不空曠，讀書散步習慣養成，我的初中，高中，大學等過關，與此有關，來美國後，圖書館普遍，研究生有特殊小間桌椅，以供書寫論文，結婚後，連小孩們都有自己方間書桌，不需要邊走邊唸矣。

美國學校教育，不講究背誦，重視解題，解題包括作文，查資料，當然數理科學，仍舊是演算，我在美國考保險和證券代理執照，栽在法律甚多，這是因為我無此背景，最後一次考教師執照，也敗在教育法規，不是我不讀書，是因為我不再邊走邊唸，不再投資於散步草皮上，然我也無試需考，無關需過矣。

Self Reliance/Carlos Pueblo

 Self Reliance/Carlos Pueblo

Self Reliance is a goal for any person who desires to be financial independence. We have learned it from our childhood and we teach our own children to reach this goal. Is it very difficult? I don't know yet I like to discuss it. I was from a very humble background and we learned it very early in our life. When I was in Taiwan, I needed to borrow money from friends and sisters to help me through. Only after I came to this country and I quit such habit. I only spend what I have at hands and even started to save money. Now, I even borrow money from credit cards for a short term maneuver that I call it get something out of nothing. 

Let me give you some hint. I borrow some money from credit cards for a zero percent interest yet I pay three percent fee. I do nothing for the fund which I obtain as a cash flow and I pay on time every month. At the end of the term, it is between 7-10 months period, I shall get my RMD, requirement minimum payment. out to pay off the principle. All what I am doing is to let my RMD stays a little longer in my retirement accounts to grow more than 3%. Credit cards company love the fee, US government won't allow my deduction of fees yet love to split my profit under the tax law. Every body is happy. First we need to have the knowledge.

Therefore, we must pay attention to the school education. Don't harass teachers at the classrooms. Study hard can only help you to build your talent to know how. Only we can help ourselves and it is very true.

I always like to tell my story as a high school teacher in this country. I was supposed to teach chemistry and physics at a senior high school. It only lasted for two months because I couldn't manage the classes. It doesn't matter how good I am in chemistry and physics. Students like to get into medical fields such as the nurse or the medical technician in order to get a better income. You have to learn chemistry and physics. Most of the students are not prepared before they enter the junior and senior years at the senior high school. It is too late for them to make up. They must find another careers. There are reasons why we must learn something at schools. 

It is not to say to make a fortune yet to be self reliance and financial independent in our own life.

自力更生／莊峻華

 自力更生／莊峻華

昨日有牙醫門診，診所內幾位女士小姐，和我聊天，但又值其午餐時間，無法詳盡，所以我在部落格補上一節，其中有涉及移民問題，我也有意見，而且涉及前總統和今總統，對美國移民的處理方法，移民問題非常廣闊，隨便舉例，都是一大堆，我也是新近移民，我在1975年，來美國讀書，根據美國移民法，按照規定，過五關斬六將，當助教讀研究院，認真課業，然後做事，結婚，生子，工作奔波，終於在美國定居下來，現在在美國享受樂園般老年的生活，我的工作是論件計酬，因此頻頻失業，也未曾領到失業金，而且有積蓄，也拿不到政府之貧民補助，我一切都是靠自力更生。

我對美國社會之資本論，資本主義，並不排斥，我相信美國稅務制度，較為公平，政府可以多方面，向人民徵稅，我也再三思慮節稅方法，但都很困難，昨日牙醫診所，我和診所主人，稍辯川普和拜登兩政府，主人不滿拜登曰，西裔美人投票川普者眾，我說川普是種族岐視者，美國幾近一半人口是，她說醫學院學生，都是外國人，我說當然是，白人男性多半讀書不努力，然後她被同事催促吃飯離去。

全世界聰明者，都想來美國，尋覓機會，改變社會階級，我說階級，就是地位，財務獨立，你不重視，在學校不守規矩，鬧老師，浪費時間，少壯不努力，老大徒悲傷，這是你家的事，你說川普好，我說拜登好，這是我們的自由，重要的是我們要自力更生，要利用有限的人生，賺錢謀生，過有意義之生活，你選擇放棄大好機會上進，是你家之事。

減稅是好事，有錢人多交一些稅，不構成生活威脅，住豪宅多交一些稅，也可享受，無甚不可，我覺得富者肩擔稍重之擔，亦甚合道理。

Live in a frugal life/Carlos Pueblo

 Live in a frugal life/Carlos Pueblo

We do our budget planning must pay attention to live in a frugal life. It is not difficult only if we believe it. We read and hear all the time that people are struggling to live on in a depressed era, too much debt and income imbalance, etc. It happens to us as well as to all level of governments and all kinds of nation.

First, we must work to keep a job to earn income. I admit that I haven't worked full heartedly after 2001 yet I have attempted several times to come back to work. I haven't declared that I am retired. At least that I have strictly enforced my frugal living in order to save money. The retired systems in the United States do help me to make it.

Ignore the media reports of the luxury spending of the rich and famous. Be yourself. I don't admire un-necessary spending in my life and I don't care what you think of me. I like to have money to pay back loans from banks or I don't even go to borrow the money to spend.

Once we reach the step of a frugal living, we have less stress in our daily life such as money issue. We eat more smartly and do more exercises regularly to keep a good health and live longer. Live longer to maximum our money saved. We can give our money left over to our children. It shall help some for our relationship with our be loved children. It is a meaningful life to live on. 

節約生活／莊峻華

 節約生活／莊峻華

自從武漢肺炎肆虐後，全球一片哀號，許多人失業，經濟發生問題，當然世界隨時都有人缺錢生活，因此我們需要節約生活，這是老生常談，不努力以赴者，一生都逃不出窘困，我連續幾十年，都隨時提醒自己和家人，節約生活，我把我先人貧困階級打破，變成家庭財政獨立，不受困於生活環境。

美國是一理想國家，46年前我終於離開台灣，前來美國，我是按照規定來美國讀書，讀書後結婚，結婚後申請居留權獲准，然後順利就業，按照美國法律，尊守美國法律，從來相信美國能給我，最佳機會，而且美國確實是全球最佳樂園，果然不負所望。我算是移民成功者，我的成功有些條件。

我有健康的身體，我在台灣有紮實的學校教育，我有謙虛的家庭背景，滿意在美國之一切，我努力儲蓄，努力工作，我到現在仍舊有些工作收入，當然已經領取退休金，一切都是按照儲蓄計劃。我住一二樓磚屋，非常結實，鄰居好，社區設備新穎，交通方便，休市是一大城市，全球旅行方便，物價也很合理。

最近物價上漲，尤其是能源，輿論又是一片緊張，我手握一些石油公司股票，已經壓抑十年，現在開始復甦，而且我會變錢，能買空賣空，或是無中生有，例如向信用卡借現金，交3％手續費，每月還錢一年還清，借款不花，賭的是退休金成長，將高於3％，而且在羅斯帳號可以免稅，當然貸款手續費，不能扣稅，雖然麻煩，但也值得。

我開始恢復素食，而且也不準備外出旅行，每天全勤網球，生活規律，等待圓寂。

Happy birthday to Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

 Happy birthday to Arthur/Carlos Pueblo

Arthur is going to be 37 years old at the end of this month. I like to celebrate his birthday and also mention to the fact of hard working and the smart management of our life in the family. He has a business degree yet is still working in a super market to earn a minimum wedge. I don't think that we're complaining about his income level as a matter of the fact that on the contrary his saving accounts are three fold of his earned income.

Early this year on the fiasco of the Game Stop, he earned $36,000. I believe that his 13 years tenure with his employer is about $20,000 a year. His uniform gift to minor account now under his full control is making par with his income and also his IRA and 401k account. He is only believe what the books say about the saving power. I can't say or take the credit for his achievement yet we do keep him at home and pay the extra living cost; therefore, he has the opportunity to save, penny to penny.

I am glad that he listens to us to save the money. It is not that difficult for him to know and to do. He doesn't have my experience of a humble childhood. He listens to us. We're going to give him this house when we pass away. Most of the American parents practice this way. We are also will pass on our savings to him and his sister Michelle even though she is richer than us. We still are passing on to her that is a meaning way of our life.

賀元兒生日快樂／莊峻華

 賀元兒生日快樂／莊峻華

月底元兒37歲生日，為父者諸多感慨，我們是苦盡甘來，37年歷經浩劫，總算克服困難，他在住家附近一超市工作13年，最近升為小夜班，下午三時至半夜十一時，首次每週分配40小時工作，週休六日，算是全勤店員，他的人生際遇坎坷，但我們都一一克服，我在這高興之日，來回想這艱難的過去。

元兒出生困難，六歲始能自然呼息，然聲帶已破損，聲音沙啞若老人，大學畢業，僅能在一超市工作，從最低工資開始，20小時一週夜班，逐漸增加到30小時一週，如此13年。我們將他留住家中，住屋均在其店面三英里內，包括食衣住行，除零用錢外，他全部儲蓄退休金，現在儲蓄增值收入，已經是工資收入之三倍，已經有可觀之儲蓄。

我甚自信我們是模範父母，他也是模範子女，這一年我常到其店面購物，和其同事聊天，同事們均甚喜歡他，他為人像其母，有禮貌不咄咄逼人，容易與人相處，為人單純，沒有世俗劣習，而且非常認命，不會自尋麻煩，有時候遇見找麻煩之客戶，他也知道如何保護自己。

我很清楚語他，我一生節約儲蓄，都將給他，他也無甚驚訝，不給他我給誰？每天我都看到許多人缺錢之窘況，我年幼時有此經驗，養成不喜花錢之習慣，元兒也感染此習慣，我們都是量入為出，避免拮据之尷尬，賀元兒生日快樂。

Manage my senior life/Carlos Pueblo

 Manage my senior life/Carlos Pueblo

It is very interesting to manage my senior life that I have had a similar schedule every day for nearly two years. At the beginning, I had had the morning walk before my tennis, then I extended a summer swimming after the tennis. Now, the fall weather is here and I walk on the grass lawn on the back of the recreation center and take time to play tennis and enjoy the fall breeze and the comfortable south Texas weather.

I go to sleep early at night and due to my morning exercises, some time I can sleep through the night without the toilet break which means very good of my bladder or my blood sugar is normal and my kidneys don't have to gather all body water to get rid off my sugar comes to kidneys. I have credited it to my exercises. I have put up the most of my effort to make it come true.

I make simple hot cakes for Arthur and myself as the breakfast before I take off to tennis courts. I also cook my own vegetable bawl food for my dinner. I have been free of everything between noon and eight o'clock at night. Of course, I take additional naps in between.

I don't think that I worry about my chronicle disease the diabetes. It is because that I exercise intensively that I can control body without the insulin injection. I believe that my heart beat is strong also because of my exercises. Not that many people can do so much exercises.

I am in self isolation or self exile. I don't mind that people don't call me because I am used to be lonely. Recently, I find my old love of pet dogs in the neighborhood. I can skip some early tennis and let some of my players who need to leave first to play early and I can come back from walking on the soccer field to play later.

I have enough retirement fund to support my frugal life style. I can compare various costs to make my senior life schedule. I believe that I have saved money during the last two pandemic years. Now, I have some concerns to see if it is worth for me to go out to the cruise while I can enjoy myself just stay at home with my regular senior life schedule.

安排老年生活／莊峻華

 安排老年生活／莊峻華

最近的半年，老年生活起息日趨穩定，每日有足夠睡眠，飲食簡單安定，藥物控制糖尿病痼疾，善用手上僅有住屋環境，交遊重於愛犬，一日復一日，當年老友兄長輩，漸漸離去，因為武肺隔離社交活動，避免愛親別離痛苦。

我在晚上八時前後入寐，清晨四點起床，開始準備早點，就是美國最平常之熱餅，剛好元兒不反對，離晨網尚早，於是我我又在沙發上小寐，過去古趙國大夫，亦有此習慣，救了他一命，七時開老車出發球場開門，整理網球場，我們球局七點半開始，球友陸續到來，先後離去，我都是堅持到最後，有時候是中午，因為天氣轉涼，我已經結束夏日游泳，如此算來，我也逼近八小時全勤活動。

回家後，開始輕鬆渡過剩下半日，我看網誌新聞，信件，部落格，網誌影片等，晚上我煮素食晚餐，現在愛美也跟著增加蔬菜食量，素食對我身體有益，有時候我也葷食一二，例如準備牛肉麵給元兒，如有小量剩餘，還有週六中午，愛美贈我刺身飯不拒，我的素食沒有宗教界之嚴厲。

我的血糖，血壓，體重等，都有好控制，沒有惡化，在球場也跑得動，因為都是老人對象，每天活動量很足。最近，我開始恢復一些清晨散步，散步在活動中心內之美麗草坪，認識一對愛犬朋友，每兩日可以碰面一次，如此，我可以更好安排球局人事，我能善用我充分的老年時間。今日球局間，我眺望前方高樹，和清藍天空，微風吹來，似有睡意，這是南德州最佳之氣候。

超過二十年之安排，我已經是離群索居，自我放逐，我沒有知己朋友，我只有全球知音讀者，美國，俄羅斯，羅馬尼亞，葡萄牙，印度，和台灣，他們讀閱我的短文，我真是藏之名山，傳之其人矣。

The traditional home remedy/Carlos Pueblo

 The traditional home remedy/Carlos Pueblo

Recently, both Amy and I have had individual health issue upon ourselves. She has a tooth ache while I have a cold. We have nothing at home to stop her pain and she can't get to her dentist and I refuse to take any medicine to cure my problem because I do have my traditional home remedy which I have learned it at home since my childhood. We're both from a very humble background and we didn't have the luxury to visit a doctor when we're young in Taiwan even in the U.S. I don't see my physicians very often. I am lucky that I have been very healthy; however, I still gt some issues that I must attend to. Finally, She agrees to try the Mung bean soup recipe while I use one of the home made remedy, the lemon juice and the honey in boiling water to get rid off my cold.

Both recipes are Chinese herb medicine oriented. Make a cup of boiling mung bean soup with a small amount of the salt and drink it can less the tooth ache to some degree that you can be tolerant before you reach the dentist for a pain killer drug. According to herb medicine, the mung bean is a cold material and tooth ache is because a part of our body is in heat and pain and must be cooling down. I have listened to my mother's advise for all my life and have learned it. I believe that many of my siblings are still practicing this remedy. Eventually I have had majority of my lost teeth coming out through this way and I have my fake teeth made to cover my lost function while Amy has gone through two root canal procedures to keep two teeth last a little bit longer.

I went to swim several times after September last week. It was not as hot as before. I got a familiar cold symptom cough which I couldn't get rid off. I know that I must act immediately with my home remedy. It is very simple that I pull the boiling water into a large thermal jar with the honey and lemon juice in it. I can feel the clearing mucus in my throat and I swallow a tea spoon of the honey and loquat mixture, it's a famous herbal medicine product, as my supplement.

During the winter while the grape fruit is abundant, we can drink the fresh juice to get rid off the cold or can simply purchase the juice made on the super market. It comes from my later mother-in-law and help me many times while I am away travelling around the world. I also pass on the remedy as tips to my beloved daughters on cruise ships especially hot lemon honey in the boiling water that are plenty at the cafeteria.

不聽老人言／莊峻華

 不聽老人言／莊峻華

在台灣學中國文化，常見一句曰不聽老人言，吃虧在眼前，我算是身體健康，在那貧窮時代，健康身體，是一好條件，可以專心學校課業，不受病苦折磨，平時家長也再三強調經驗，我一直當作祖傳秘方看待，最近，愛美牙疼，一時找不到專科牙醫，我就建議她喝綠豆湯，這是吾家秘方，把綠豆煮沸，淅出熱湯，加些鹽於熱湯中飲用，綠豆湯有退火作用，我們沒有牙險，看牙醫很貴，我一直喝熱綠豆湯，大概掉下十顆牙齒，愛美無耐，只好聽從我建議，暫時止痛，等到週一看專科牙醫，牙醫詳細清洗牙齦蛀掉中空處，然後兩週後，再回一般牙醫做牙套，就是金嘴齒，如此可以暫時保住該牙，我就讓它自行脫落，然後再做假牙，我現在有假牙十一顆，不太方便吃牛排。

昨天清晨開始咳嗽，我已久病成醫，立即煮沸開水置於檸檬汁蜂蜜中，第一口經過喉嚨，立即感覺去痰，然後再掏一湯匙京都川貝枇杷膏，已是萬全，如是效果不佳，我就需要買葡萄柚汁補充，這是先岳母大人秘方，我甚至傳給郵輪上之愛女，她們也會感冒，而且郵輪自助餐廳有材料，若嚴重，只好求助抗生素，這是醫生開處方。

這是一般家庭衞生常識，我感冒是因為天氣轉涼，我又鐵齒下水游泳，老身已不若當年，感冒是應該的，還好我已打武肺疫苗三劑，天天戴口罩，勤肥皂洗手，否則淪落到有體溫，上牙醫診所洗牙，量體溫後，真是百口莫辯。

The morning walk to a soccer field/Carlos Pueblo

 The morning walk to a soccer field/Carlos Pueblo

Other than a regular morning tennis schedule, I recently have developed the morning walk to a soccer field to meet a pair of new found pet dog friend, Dixie and Brinkley, at Walnut Bend subdivision. The lovely green lawn field is on the southern end of the recreation center by the swimming pools and the playground for children. There is also an office club house in the front. Our three tennis courts are separated in the front. Some times, I need to use the toilet by the pools and notice the big soccer field and always love to walk on it.

I was the morning before yesterday, Dixie stopped and looked at me on a street corner outside of the fence with her companion and their owner. She is little black dog while Brinkley is a white one. I whistled all the way to exit the gate and she waited for me. After my regular sweet talk to all my pet friends, the owner told me their names and I asked to see them on the next morning. Yesterday, I was 30 minutes early and missed them and I did try again again this morning and I was in luck. I have seen many lovely pet dogs who know their prospect human friends like me. I tell their owner about two stories in Czech Republic and Japan, of course, many at my own subdivision. It is why I call myself a dog whisperer and I have had more than 40 pet dog friends whom I can call their first names.

The morning walk to a soccer field reminds me my memory of my infantry training in Taiwan. I had been sent to an Infantry Army Training Center near by Taichung in the central west part of the Island. I was very un-lucky to have the training twice, once before the freshman year for 3 months and another one right after college graduation to the same training center. There was a grass field inside the center and we couldn't march on the green lawn due to the difficulty to maintain the field. People keep on telling me that walking on a lawn is much better than walking on the street. Of course, grass lawn courts like Wimbledon are much better than the regular hard courts for our knees.