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.

散步草皮中／莊峻華

 散步草皮中／莊峻華

今晨起來，安排球局，僅來五人，剛好一場雙打，我當領導，自動退出，散步草皮中，這草皮在活動中心南端，大於一足球場，舖蓋美麗草皮，維護極佳，今年雨量充足，而且平時有自動噴水設備，碧綠如茵，帶給我許多人生美憶，我年紀越大，過去人生履歷，均甚感觸。先說我為何不打球？昨天游泳，好像感冒，清晨連忙喝熱檸檬汁蜂蜜去痰，再一匙京都川貝枇杷膏，找藉口等待愛犬新友，走近活動中心。

兩日前，我在草皮場散步，巧遇這黑色愛犬，她在街上等我，主人帶走，她又回我口哨，堅持等候，於是我開始甜言蜜語，我經常有此經驗，我的愛犬知己，遠多於人類，凡人類我都爭辯不已。這位黑色愛犬名曰迪克西，就是美國南部各州之別稱，她的夥伴更大方曰布林克力，和琳兒一愛犬同名，相識後我和男主人道別，相約明日見，昨日稍早，未見彼等路過，就被調回球場，今日再試，果不願違，主人告知此愛犬為人所棄養，於是我再陪走一段，相約明晨再見。

散步草皮中，有益於膝蓋，蓋草皮軟也，我當兵時，新兵訓練中心，不准踏草皮，蓋草皮維護不易，倫敦之皇家公園草皮，也有許多步徑可穿越，剛好我住在美國，沒有太多閒人，散步草皮中，夏天已過，我把散步當游泳，踏潮濕之球鞋，可以回家曬乾。

Make the beef noodle for Arthur Sunday/Carlos Pueblo

 Make the beef noodle for Arthur Sunday/Carlos Pueblo

Every Sunday afternoon, I make the beef noodle for my son Arthur as his dinner before he goes to work. He will finish the most of the pot on the next morning. I have learned and practiced this cooking for quite some time. The beef noodle is one of the Chinese cuisines which I love the most. I had it when I was about 16 years old when I was at the senior high school in the capital city of Taipei. This was a Chinese menu while we Taiwanese didn't dare to eat beef due to the farm work that the water buffalo shared with our farmers. The aromatic fragrant of the beef noodle soup has attracted many noodle lovers in the world. 

First, I buy whole bunch of beef while it is on sale. Amy will get rid of the fat and bag them. She would give me a small portion each Sunday with two pieces of chicken legs. I would seal both meats on a hot pan to make sure to keep some juice inside when boil in a pot. Second, I would pan fry chopped onion and garlic, sliced ginger with a help of the star anise to get rid of the beef smell. The added boiled water only covers up to the meat level. I shall let the soup keep boil under a slow heat to the minimum for at least two and half hours. Tomato and spicy red pepper are often added as additional ingredients to enrich the flavor.

While the beef soup is making, I prepare both noodle and Chinese cabbage at a boiling pot. Arthur can mix them when he is ready to eat it. Both Amy and I both have some concerned reasons like vegetarian diet and high cholesterol to avoid eating beef noodle; however, we still don't like to see it wasted. I take some left over and the situation has been improved as long as my cooking improved. 

製作牛肉麵／莊峻華

 製作牛肉麵／莊峻華

在家製作牛肉麵，變成我的家務事，每週日下午，我就自動準備一鍋牛肉麵，給上班的元兒食用，平常他半夜回家，清晨起來食盡一切，我因喜愛素食，非不得已，我避免肉食，這是件憾事，我吃牛肉麵，是在台北市，投考台北聯考，在師大龍泉街，嚐試牛肉麵，吃了約八年，就是三家，老董山東麵，四川老頭，和一潮州汕頭沙茶麵，當年都是美味無比，後來我自學製作牛肉麵，逐漸改進，現在很有頭緒，剛好元兒喜愛此味，而且也甚捧場。

高中摯友，河南臨漳人鵬霄兄令尊堂大人，屢招待我親手製作牛肉麵，我請教她作法，她先將牛肉炒乾，加入麻油爆香，此火漆動作，美國人也有，就是將牛肉表皮燒焦，封死肉面，使肉內保持濕潤，我現在作完火漆後，開始爆香八角蔥姜蒜，然後加入肉塊爆炒，加入開水，火漆肉中加上雞腿兩塊，這是鄧毛毛之家食譜，開水僅蓋肉面，熬煮約兩三小時，其間我開始煮麵和山東白菜。

偶而愛美會購買餐廳牛肉麵和水餃，水餃是週六元兒食譜，我也盡量不吃，有一段時間，我也需要製作水餃饅頭，真像一老芋仔，就是這些中國老兵，在台灣開餐廳小吃，當然我的手藝簡單，但也做得出來，現在我也不吃肉，但還是喜歡觀看烹飪節目。

素食缺乏蛋白質，有時候會餓皮皮挫，於是我就找一藉口吃喝牛肉湯和吃雞腿，愛美將油脂剔除乾淨，這種牛肉湯，亦甚乏味。

Sleep through the night/Carlos Pueblo

 Sleep through the night/Carlos Pueblo

Ever since I have had the diabetes, I rarely can sleep through the night without a toilet break. It has been a change nowadays and I credit it to my regularly exercises in the morning. This is what my understanding that the morning exercises exhaust my excess sugar in the blood and release the heavy burden of my kidney to gather water from my body to expel the sugar flowing through by urination. Too much urination shall affect my kidney's function and shall be shown on a blood test. This is why my physician wants to see me again for an additional physical within three months and I believe that I have eaten too much watermelon in the summer.

A night before, I went to sleep at 8:15 pm and woke up at 5:15 am on the next morning with a grand total of 9 hours without a toilet break. It has been occurred lately and I am so proud of myself. I really am believing that I live in a paradise. I select what I want to live my own way. I organize a large group of tennis lovers to play tennis every morning and I swim every day except on Monday when the pool is closed for maintenance. I don't watch television, don't read newspaper, don't answer telephone calls. I cook my own meals and prepare pan cakes for Arthur for his breakfast and a beef noodle on Sunday afternoon. I mow the yard every Monday. That's it, ya esta.

I am in exile in my paradise. The other day, Singapore Air informs me their promotion fare from JFK to Frankfurt for $599 a round trip. I thought of it and put all the Pandemic into consideration. I shall pass it. I live more comfortable at home that I can sometime sleep through the night.

一覺到天亮／莊峻華

 一覺到天亮／莊峻華

一覺到天亮是件好事，表示身體健康，睡眠充足，昨夜早睡，清晨起床，手機是五點十五，真是意外滿意，我睡整九小時，其間未曾起床如廁，早上全程運動，已經發揮作用，最近常有如此經驗，平常睡四小時許，需要起來小便，現在有時可以，一覺到天亮，我已甚為滿足，雖不敢妄言，反老返童，但身體健康，確是事實。

十餘年前，一位工程師球友，患病癌症，勤於網球，他認為時日有限，不如忘記一切煩惱，善用珍貴之沒一日，而且他住洛杉磯附近，卻常在休市上班，也不煩惱拿不到社會福利金，有人找打球，他必答應，他說一位台灣來之醫生，亦有癌症，如此建議，就是天天打網球，我一直印象深刻。

武肺疫情爆發，一時無法世界旅行，於是我開始籌劃天天打網球，申請社區中心門卡，夏天加上游泳，如此經過一年半，現在我早上起床甚早，忙完晨操，約是十一點，非常規律之老年生活，我不看電視，不接電話，報紙也不看，這世界已無甚可眷戀，我相信糖尿病已有控制，年紀越來越大，也不知如何煩惱。

我看網誌解悶，有些節目，帶來一些美憶，然後我書寫在部落格，分享全球知己，谷歌幫我分析，有時候我可以調出舊文，自我陶醉一翻。

Refreshing my good memory of Wusha Lushang Hot Spring/Carlos Pueblo

 Refreshing my good memory of Wusha Lushang Hot Spring/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday I flipped at two vlogs on the You tube about the once famous Lushang Hot Spring resort at the central mountain of Taiwan. It is such a wonderful video refreshing my fund memory of the resort where I first visited once at my early childhood. I was with my eldest sister Mary on the first group of visitors organized by my Dad's employer, Taiwan Sugar Corporation Puli factory to visit the old Fuji Hot Spring resort, the old name by the original developer, the Japanese imperial police. We stayed at the old imperial police resort inn later was grasped by Chiang Kai-sek for himself as one of the 27 villas in Taiwan. He re-named the area as Lushang for him to remember his favorite resort mountain in Chiangshi Province. It was because of high risk of the mountain road, my Dad decided to separate our family into three groups to go for the weekend in case. Mary and I were the first group and she also invited her classmate Hsieh A-Shing to come along. A-Shing later represented our prefecture to compete in swimming at the provincial events.

We passed by the famous Wusha township and turned into the dangerous two lanes mountain road. When we arrived, we had to pass a very tiny suspensive bridge in order to reach the resort. That was my first impression of Lushang where we attempted to hold out of our heart to jump out to the deep valley. The old suspensive bridge was rebuilt in October, 1977. At that time, Fuji Hot Spring resort inn was the only frame building in the area. Everything was very so attracted and beautiful. The entire population was about seven and half millions. Now, Taiwan is very crowded of 24 millions even the Hot Spring resort has become a small township full of buildings and exhausted the hot spring resources. The entire area was totally damaged by the earthquake, the mountain shifting, and flooding, etc. In addition to the Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic, now the prefecture authority has attempted to move the entire area to a new location, yet people are still coming in for a visit.

Mary and her friend took me to the outside hot spring pool to avoid the crowded inside facility. It was such nice experience later I did learn how to swim at a creek passing by a sake factory. It has been almost 67 years since my first visit. During these 67 years, I have been back at least 6 times attempting to re-catch my fund memory of that visit, I also try so many times while traveling around the world to see if I can refresh my fund memory of the hot spring. It is so nice to see it on the You tube even it is almost abandoned to use for that resort inn on the video.

埔里廬山溫泉美憶／莊峻華

 埔里廬山溫泉美憶／莊峻華

昨日翻閱網誌，兩篇埔里廬山溫泉，激起一生美憶，我出生於台灣中部山鎮埔里，一直到十歲，始隨先父搬離至虎尾鎮，埔里山明水秀，氣候溫和，我移民美國46年，旅行全球，均在追尋童年山鎮美憶，確實也找到，滿足宿願，廬山溫泉之氤氳，仍長繫我心，但這些都是過去之美憶，網誌看到者，均已消逝，兩位版主，携帶我走過吊橋，甚至逛到廢棄之警光招待所，因為地震，南投縣府準備遷村，廬山已經無法生存，溫泉亦不再，面目全非。

一年回虎尾，詢問萬里姊，旅行廬山溫泉舊事，是她携我上廬山溫泉，我們先行，她也憶得此事，我應該是七歲，她是初中一年級，她甚至邀請埔里街上同學蘇阿信同行，蘇後來是游泳省運選手。埔里糖廠安排員工到廬山洗溫泉，因山行危險，我們家分幾批，萬里携我頭陣，我們乘座糖廠有蓬大卡車，車爬山路經霧社到廬山，那時候之廬山，蔣介石已去過，我們住舊日日本警察招待所，蔣介石霸占為廬山別墅，但平時提供公營機構旅行住宿，此為廬山溫泉區，當年惟一住宿設備，現在此設備已經荒廢，但輪廓尚在，我仍然可以憶得當年，室內溫泉和室外泳池般大之溫泉。莫那魯道當年在此抵抗日軍，中國人在此立碑紀念，因此日人始知廬山溫泉，廬山名取自於蔣介石。

當年舊吊橋，非常驚險，和今日吊橋不同，拿是真吊橋，晃來晃去，底下是萬丈深坑，當年有綠色小鳥，仍有印象，因為室內溫泉人擠，所以我們使用室外溫泉泳池，網誌看不出尚有溫泉痕跡，僅曰可煮蛋，我看網誌描述廬山溫泉，非常傷心。

離開埔里後，我一直設法重返埔里，高中一次，大學一次，來美國後一次，每次都設法搭車上廬山，埔里有客運上山，最後一次是2008年，我們租車上山，回來後，峻嚴告知廬山地震山崩淹水之消息，非常遺憾。

美日兩國均有溫泉，尤其日本，溫泉設備普遍，美國北加州，科羅拉多州等，都有溫泉，我不是很迷溫泉，尤其我甚節儉，不喜花錢洗澡，尤其我無法分辨熱水之不同，但是溫泉氣氛，確實迷人。

Enjoying the community center facility/Carlos Pueblo

 Enjoying the community center facility/Carlos Pueblo

There is also a community center nearby ours even larger in size which is accommodated to our tennis courts need. Other than the tennis, there is a a small soccer field and swimming pools and playgrounds in between. We use tennis courts every day and I promote the group; therefore, I sit down sometimes for people to play according to their tennis skills. Once I find parents are waiting outside of the gate, I always volunteer to open the gate for them to enter the facility and begin to enjoy the facility. I like little kids and their parents to take advantage the nice facility. People are using the out door facility to have birthday parties or to use the playground to play with some other kids. If kids come by the court and watching us play, I would ask the parent's permission to give them used balls. If I have had grandchildren, I would be now taking them the junior tennis tour in Texas.

There are three groups of kids playing in the summer, one is here to swim in the summer, the second group is for parents with their own kids to play among their aged group, and the third group is for the nannies taking care of little bit younger kids to play separately. I love them all. American kids are like dolls and very lovely. Blonde kids are always with lovely blue eyes. If there is a non stop crying, I believe that the kid is sleepy or hungry that my bribe of used tennis balls won't work.

Singapore Air sends out a promotion to fly from JFK to Frankfurt and I think of it. I have to fly from here to NYC, taking another flight to and from Frankfurt to Athens, then board on a cruise ship for a week. I have to go through all the pandemic procedure to prove and test and the worst is to leave home with my routine life with the community center.

社區活動中心2／莊峻華

 社區活動中心2／莊峻華

最近發現社區活動中心一項清晨活動，引起我注意，就是社區小孩們，在他們家長帶領下，前來社區活動中心玩耍，活動中心幅員甚大，包括我們網球場，一游泳池，一足球場，其間有些綠地遊憩場所，每天清晨陸續到來，這是鄰村核桃果彎社區，我們開始使用他們三座球場，我當領導安排球局，經常幫忙無門卡家長小孩們，進入活動中心，可愛小孩接近球場觀看，在家長許可下，我就贈送一些淘汰舊球，讓他們玩耍，美國小孩們非常可愛，就像洋娃娃一般，有時是在中心，舉辦生日派對，也有一些是保姆携帶前來，這些小孩們更小，和上述者不同一群，更是可愛。

我沒有孫輩福氣，所以學會欣賞鄰居子女，有些鄰居也幫忙子女，照顧孫輩，非常福氣，我常常回憶過去照顧子女的時代，我曾夢想再度陪伴孫輩，參加少年網球賽，就像携帶琳兒一般，也不巧我無此緣份。我們西村面積較小，所以活動中心不熱鬧，一般我都是打完網球後，回西村泳池游泳，如此也游畢一夏天。

星航有廣告來，提供特價到歐洲，我開始動心，我開始注意安排，這是一可行活動，我可飛經紐約市，接上直飛法蘭克佛市，再飛雅典，接上郵輪一週，再原程反方向回家，武肺旅行規定，令我住足，而且我也不知，離開社區活動中心之生活，能否適應？