Changing the windshield wiper of my old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

 Changing the windshield wiper of my old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

My driver's side of the windshield wiper was broken loose and was very troublesome during a raining day or early morning to wipe clean the tree pollen. I decide to try to replace it by myself. Last time, I did make a wiper hang on to the hock on the passenger side and passed the annual inspection. I was aware that there was no click sound yet was still working better than the one on the driver's side. After on my way to add some air for my tires, I went to the store to get a new wiper; however, I couldn't get the old one out in order to replace the new one.

Roger, my tennis partner, arrived at the court at the same time and promised me to help replacing the wiper after the games. He said that should be easy. Our Captain Bill joined in afterward because Roger was not able to remove the old wiper. Bill asked me to start the engine, turn on the wipers and make a sudden off. Both wipers were on the middle of the windshield. He could then adjust the frame and take off the broken wiper. The hook was shown detached. Then he needed to figure out how to get the new one hooked into the frame. While Bill was working on the driver's side, Roger played the other one  and got the wiper off the frame because it was not properly assembled last time. Nimo just finished his ball machine hitting and coming out of the court. I asked him if he could replace the windshield wiper. He said that should be easy. I promised to feed him one hundred balls if he could help me. He started the attempt to put back the buckle to connect the hook and without success. Roger said that some part was missing. I was not sure if the one I put on was a right one. I gave Nimo the old one just off the hook and it worked. Both wipers were finally on the hook and stayed tight for wiping the windshield.

Usually, I get the auto mechanic to replace the windshield while the vehicle is on service such as changing oil or some other issue. Now I drive less and drive the older vehicle. I don't pay attention to what should do for maintenance only if it is urgent or necessary. This is an old car of 1998, in two years will be reached the classic vehicle.

換車雨刷/莊峻華

 換車雨刷/莊峻華

舊車駕駛座前雨刷，已經損壞，清晨刷不清擋風雨玻璃板，我決定自己更換，先前，我自己更換一具乘客座前雨刷，雖甚耗時，但我不喜花錢，於是在一大店，找到一具雨刷，呎吋符合，翌日晨步，剛好遇見愛琳先生，正在換兩雨刷，他示範我如何卸下舊雨刷，裝上新雨刷，看似簡單扼要，但回家後，我試幾次，都卸不下舊雨刷，於是我開車先赴網球局，球伴羅傑斯剛來球場曰，應可幫忙換上雨刷。

球局後，史單那老隊長，也來幫忙，他要我發動馬達，開動雨刷，然後驟然熄火，雨刷停在玻璃板上，於是他可以板動一中樞鈕，然後卸下舊雨刷，看似容易，但也費些時間，因為我們都交給車技工處理，老隊長正在設法裝上新雨刷，羅傑斯在板動另一雨刷，結果雨刷脫落，因我上次胡亂裝上，卻也通過年度車檢，樞鈕脫落，又裝不回去，他說是一零件脫落，我手上剛有卸下舊雨刷，於是我再卸下舊樞鈕，給剛結束練球之尼墨兄，他說換雨刷應是簡單，於是他開始研究方法，不久老隊長和尼墨都先後裝上兩雨刷，大功告成，我發動舊車，測試兩雨刷均可。

我最近幾年都開這98年之日產Q45老車，再過兩年就是古典車型，我還是需要稍微整理車身，始有價值，此車原是當年愛美座車，後來淘汰給元兒上班，開始老壞，於是再淘汰給賦閒在家之我，四年前，家人座車大調動，愛美換新車，其車給奧斯汀之琳兒，琳兒座車調回休市家中，我花上五千元，整修此價值一千元不到之老車，而且不包括冷暖氣，四年來我僅開此車打網球買牛排。

An article about our family by an attorney neighbor

 

• Village West residents Charles and Amy Chuang have lived on Del Monte Drive for the past eight

  years. Amy and Charles are originally from Taiwan and Charles tells us it was his childhood dream

  to live in the United States and something he finally achieved at the age of twenty-eight,

  after serving the required two years in the Taiwanese military and teaching for two years. His wife

  Amy originally came to help her sister with her new baby and decided this is where she would call

  home. Amy and Charles met in 1979 at a Taiwanese singles party; and to hear it from Charles, it

  was love at first sight for him. He proposed to Amy on the first call he made to her. Amy obviously

  saw something in Charles because a year later they were married.

  Amy and Charles lived in Memorial Bend for over thirty years, but Amy was ready for a change.

  Their home sold quickly, and Amy found the place they now call home in Village West. Although

  Charles was hesitant to move, but with the help of Amy and the kids he agreed. He tells us that he

  fell in love with their home because of the citrus trees, the layout of the house and to him it was

  “better constructed” than his prior home. According to Charles, “I am very happy with the

  decision Amy made to move here.”

  Charles mentioned that his daughter, in particular helped convince him to move to VW. Charles

  and Amy are the proud parents of two great kids, Michelle, and Arthur. Michelle graduated from

  UT and lives in Austin. She is an accountant who will be starting a new job in the next few days

  and is excited at the opportunities for growth as a Senior Director. His son Arthur is a graduate of

  the University of Houston and is employed with Kroger’s in the Houston area. This dad beams

  with pride when he talks about their two wonderful kids.

  Charles tells us that Amy is a great mom and a terrific homemaker. Charles came to the US to

  study Chemistry at Auburn University and started working at the Johnson Space Center upon

  graduating. When he lost his job a few years later, he focused his sights in the real estate and

  insurance industries, eventually finding his niche in insurance. He scaled back from working so

  much in the early 2000s and he and Amy enjoy travelling. They have done numerous cruises, but

  have also travels to London, Japan, Germany, Argentina, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

  Charles tells us of all the places he has traveled, London is his favorite place to visit. Charles

  speaks multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, Taiwanese and Japanese), yet

  sadly like most of us that are multilingual Charles admits that lack of practice or opportunity to

  converse regularly has made him “a bit rusty”. He proudly states that English is his favorite

  language. With this couples’ love of travel, it is a good thing that Charles speaks multiple

  languages.

  One of Charles’ other loves is the game of tennis. You will find Charles out on the VW tennis

  courts almost every morning, playing a serious game of tennis with his friends. In Charles’ youth,

  Taiwan was under Japanese occupation and as a kid he watched the older gentlemen play tennis

  and it fascinated him. When a friend of the family moved, he left furniture and tennis rackets

  behind and Charles picked up the game and played it until he graduated from college. He is

  not the only family member who loves the sport. His daughter Michelle played in the Texas Jr.

  Tournaments at the age of 10 and was a Mixed Doubles Champion at UT for 5 years.

  Unfortunately, Michelle busy works life allows her to play the game occasionally nowadays.

  Somehow our conversation turned back to the subject of Village West. Charles tells us that he

  loves Village West because he finds residents to be friendly and well mannered. He

  is fascinated with the architecture of the homes and loves the variety of all the large,
• beautiful trees. If you know Charles, you will agree that his favorite feature of VW are the pets,

  especially the dogs. He jokes about being a dog whisperer, in part because there is not a dog in

  the community that Charles has not befriended. Although Charles loves dogs, at home the other

  member is the Chuang family is Madison, the cat. Madison has been with the family for 20 years

  and at home Charles calls this four-legged family member, Ayoko. Ayoko is a combination of

  three different languages, and it mean, “You are not expected, yet you arrived to the family; we

  love to keep you as our child,” and Ko means “girl” in Japanese. We are not sure how Madison

  feels about the name Charles selected; you see Madison is a boy. Upon arrival, the family

  thought Madison was a girl until the vet told them otherwise, but by then the name stuck, and

  Charles still refers to Madison as Ayoko.

  As our conversation ended, Charles told us this is the best time of his life. He is a man in his mid-

  eighties and life has taught him many things. He feels blessed to have achieved his lifelong dream

  of becoming a US citizen, living in the best country in the world. A common thought and

  appreciation most immigrants express. He is proud that he and Amy raised and educated two

  wonderful kids. He is also proud that despite life’s rather tough lessons, especially during his early

  childhood, along the way those lessons helped him learn how to manage his time and finances in

  order to have the great life he now has.

  You will know Charles when you see him walking the neighborhood in the early mornings before

  his daily tennis game... he is the gentleman you notice that stops to greet, talk to and pet

  every dog he meets as he makes his way back to the tennis court. Charles is always willing to

  strike up a friendly conversation on almost any topic, but look out, for despite his gentle

  demeanor, he is a fierce competitor on the tennis court. If you would like to read more about

  Charles and his lovely family, check out his blogsite at jienhua.blogspot.com.
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