The worst unfilial matter is no posterity/Carlos Pueblo

 The worst unfilial matter is no posterity/Carlos Pueblo

Nowadays people delay their marriage and also delay bearing child at their marriage due to reasons of all kinds. According the ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius that is the worst unfilial matter, no posterity. Many young people are unfilial according to the Confucianism. Family trees are fallen most of the time and it is the fact. There was a nightmare last night which I could remember some in details involving my late father for his parking of a vehicle somewhere for me to take my son Arthur to his eyes doctor. I had to wake myself up in order to interrupt the misery. It is related to my life and my current days thinking that I do mention of my late marriage lately. It is very stressful when I think of my no posterity in actual life.

This is what Mencius famous piece of advise, " There are three things which are unfilial, and to have no posterity is the greatest of them." The next one is not that famous in China, yet he explained it as an example, " Shun married, without informing his parents, because of this, he is considered as no posterity, yet Gentlemen consider that his doing so was the same as if he had informed his parents." Shun is the legendary ruler of China that his predecessor Yao yields his ruler position to him voluntarily and also gives two daughters to Shun as his wives. It is a young adult's duty to get married and bear a child to satisfy the filial definition. I believe that the young generation have lost such steam nowadays.

You may ask what are the other two unfilial matters on Mencius' talking? According to one of explanation fo 13 famous Chinese ancient philosophers works. One of them explained it some two thousand years ago in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He pointed it out while Mencius talking was incomplete. According to the Chinese manners, you must critise your parents when they obviously make critical mistake to injure others. Secondly, you must work to make an earn income to help parents to avoid the poverty; however, no posterity is the worst of the unfilial matter.

I don't think that American are talking about filial or unfilial matter, yet I still believe that I have been affected by all three discussion on Mencius thought in my life. It is called a family value posted some time ago in the U.S. politic. Get good education in order to get a good income job. Respect the elders and help your own parents if you are financial able. Get married and have a child to continue your family tree. 

不孝有三無後為大／莊峻華

 不孝有三無後為大／莊峻華

最近偶有惡夢，夢見亡父，和家事牽扯在一起，我知道晚婚之遺憾，子女無後代，也是結果，這句著名中國成語，更加顯目，我查一下谷歌，原來是出自孟子離婁上第26章，原文是，孟子曰，不孝有三，無後為大，舜不告而娶，為無後也，君子以為猶告也。後代人多心疑問道，其餘二不孝為何？東漢儒家13經注疏，有人解釋，這是兩千年前古事矣，於禮不孝者三，事謂阿意曲從，陷親不義，一不孝也；家貧親老，不為仕祿，二不孝也；不娶無子，絕先祖祠，三不孝也，三者中無後為大。

再進一步解釋，父母犯錯卻不規勸，陷親不義一不孝；家貧親老，無能力供養父母二不孝；沒有子孫後代三不孝。原句中提到聖人舜，聖人堯將女娥皇女英，嫁給賢聖人舜，舜來不及鼎告父母，歷史亦未交待雙親是否當時健在？所以君子以為猶告也，不需要斤斤計較。

我又要有異議矣，孝與不孝，在儒家孔孟，非常強調，但西方宗教如基督教教義，上帝始為造人者，我們佛陀解釋人生是痛苦之開始，都避免強調孝順父母，我倒是覺得西方文明，至少美國，強調照顧子女之重要，優先於照顧老年父母。13經注疏中強調的其他兩不孝，應該是家庭常識，或曰家庭價值，要有工作收入，要是非分明，要自反而縮，雖小少如雙親，吾往矣，愛美非常同意道，其母抱怨兄嫂不孝，她都仗義執言，我說她無肚量，不准我娶小三多生子女，如今膝下無孫，她說不知我所云。

現代中國人，也已經不重視儒家教條，但是這原則，是可理解者也，俄羅斯普汀之子女，應該忠告普汀，不應攻打烏克蘭作孽；中國子女應該規勸習近平，中止犯台念頭，先好好治理中國內政，習這類人都很不孝，文化大革命中，都鬥爭過其父，共產黨都是一類。

Returning to Skagway, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning to Skagway, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

After the Glacier Bay, the ship sailed at night to reach to Skagway, Alaska early in the morning. This is also a small gold rush town near the Yukon Territory, Canada. There is a business for tourists to take a shuttle bus to Canada and back in a few hours. Usually, I would take three marches in a day, climb the lower Dewey lake, visit the downtown, and across a bridge over the Skagway River to the Smugglers point on the other side of a helicopter port. We met a pair of new friends on board and I volunteered to be their guide and I skipped the Dewey Lake.

They are Filipinas who live in San Diego, California. One of them is a nurse who is not good at the mountain road. We found the airport office and the bridge to across the river. It is a rapid current river with melting snow water from the mountain top and flow to a bay. A cemetery is on the right side and we made a pass. We turned to left to enter an area used to host smugglers. It is now a hill park for tourists. Several nice view points on the way surrounding the area. I was told there were golden eagles in the area when we first visited here in 2012. People kept on telling us the smugglers point was near yet we missed it. We came back on the same route instead of a short cut through an emergency road for vehicles. By that way, we had to slide down several times and I was afraid of not good for her.

We came back to the downtown and it was still crowded with tourists. I believed that there were three ships disembark her that day. Ladies were shopping at shops and I was sitting and enjoying watching people walking around. I remembered so mush on my past visits. I love the town.

You can take a train to a mountain top to visit an old gold mine. Helicopters are for tourists with interest to step on a glacier. You can do it with an excursion arrangement. Some retired people with good driving experience from lower states come here for summer jobs to drive tourists to Canada for visiting.

重遊阿拉斯加史凱格衛鎮2022／莊峻華

 重遊阿拉斯加史凱格衛鎮2022／莊峻華

史凱格衛鎮算是阿拉斯加手把壺端，再過壺端就是蘇握鎮，為紀念這位國務卿，高瞻遠矚，買下阿拉斯加州，當然沙皇若遲疑不賣，亡國後也將淪為蘇維埃，蘇維埃亡國後，也將為普汀再亡一次，也沒有我晚年之阿拉斯加郵輪旅行。這史鎮也是掏金古鎮，有班老火車可提供遊客上山參觀，也有轉車赴加拿大邊界，我都故意忽略，只遊史鎮三處，下杜威湖水源地，史鎮城中，和史凱格衛河口海盜角。

史鎮有兩處碼頭，這次離直升機場較遠，過去都停靠在機場旁，步行一小段到城中，我們很熟練，認識一對菲律賓小姐，其中一位體重，不便於行，我建議省去杜威湖，直奔海盜角，找到機場旁之固定吊橋，跨過史凱格衛河，右轉是墓地省去，直接左轉，此行讓我回憶到多少次，舊地重遊美憶，有一年一位珍珠號小姐曰，看到美國金鷹，我一直留意機會。這段還是有小山路要爬，於是我很小心謹慎，幫忙這位女護士上下坡，後來她感謝我幫忙，幫助我們登記注冊加拿大，武漢肺炎入境要求手續。

問幾位年輕遊客，均未找到海盜角，我們曾經來過多次，旁邊就有一行動廁所，海盜角不大，面對海灣，據說當年走私貨物交換處，小姐們也不堅持，我們忙著下山，幾次我們夫妻都順登山急救車道，這樣滑下山來，有這位護士不行，乖乖的小心翼翼下山。

再來就是逛街，史鎮有幾艘郵輪靠岸，非常熱鬧，大街都是遊客，物價也合理，愛美和兩小姐買些裡物，這護士收集洋娃娃，不知有否收獲？我多了一頂阿拉斯加帽，出現在相片中。

My planned family/Carlos Pueblo

 My planned family/Carlos Pueblo

During our family Thanksgiving gathering, I have an opportunity to explain my planned family. I am considered a married late person at age 32 plus and also have my first child late at 35 minus. I meet Michelle's grand mother-in-law Betty at this gathering and she is 76 and her son is 57. I have had my second child Arthur at 37. Both Amy's Dad and my dad were married at age 30 exactly, an age considered very late at that time for men.

I had to go to college in order to defer an Army draft at that time in Taiwan. Then, an infantry was two years draft while the others were three years. If I graduated at a college, I could serve in any unit for one year duty as an ROTC, reserved officer training corp, which was more attractive for a young man at that time; however, the draft rule changed when I was ready to be drafted at age 23, a change back to 2 years services.

I graduated from a teachers university, Taiwan Normal, with a government waived tuition and fees program which I had to teach at a middle school for two years before I could apply to study abroad in order to defer a five years teaching duty to pay back such obligation. I made up my mind to leave Taiwan, I therefore considered that would be easier if I were a single person. It would be better for me just managing my own requirement in compare to carrying a spouse. 

Once I came to the United States, I had to satisfy the academic requirement at the school to study hard to keep my student visa active. That was two years for a master of science program. Lucky me that I failed my Ph.D. program when I was at age 30 plus. I began to work thereafter and took two more years to get married.

Amy and I did plan our family when we married. We had our first child after almost three years later with a satisfied income as an insurance agent. Two years later, we had Arthur. My life have been determined and planned by the society which brought me up in Taiwan. I have done my best and I have come from a long way.

晚婚／莊峻華

 晚婚／莊峻華

今年感恩節聚會翌晨早餐，我正在敘述遇見親家公母親蓓蒂，諸多感嘆，蓓蒂年紀76，與我相差一歲，感嘆到我的晚婚，我結婚時已經超過32，這是初婚，到近35始有琳兒，真是晚年得女，晚婚不是我的選擇，實在是命運之安排，我深覺在當年，我的命運受到社會之安排，我不過是一按照安排下，經過如此之一生，我想蓓蒂是早婚，她的先生應該是晚婚，於是我開始解釋我在台灣的近28年，和在美國的婚前近5年。

我出生在一貧窮家庭，父母指望我長大能有一穩定工作，惟一的途徑就是學校教育，先父也是因為有多5年的工職專業教育，始得一份糖廠工作，他也是到30歲始結婚。台灣當年在蔣家統治下，男孩20未進大專學校，需要入營服兵役，兵役有2年步兵役，和其餘兵種3年役，如讀畢大專者，可服一年預備軍官役，所以當年男孩都設法考上大專，暫緩入營服兵役。

待我大學畢業時候，兵役法改成服兵役需滿兩年，而且我在外島服役，有女友也不可能結婚，所以當兵回家時，已經25歲多，在加上我堅決來美國，所以無法結婚，我是師範生，需要教滿2年書，始能暫緩服滿五年教書義務，1975年教滿兩年，取得留學美國資格，已經超過27歲。

來美國讀書深懼不及格，喪失學生資格，也不敢結婚，兩年碩士畢業後，讀不成博士班，開始當實驗室技工，開始有人作媒，我也認真尋求對像，一直到1980年始結婚，結婚開始收入微薄，計劃生育，一直到兩年餘，收入穩定，始有琳兒，我已經接近35歲，家庭經濟穩定，勤儉樸實節約，兩小孩都能接受大學教育，琳兒甚至有碩士班教育，找到待遇優握之工作，愛美一直在家照顧小孩。

晚婚家庭是可規劃者也，如果我在台灣結婚，很可能我就留在台灣教書，不能如此自由自在批評中國國共兩黨，我也無法享受美國富裕之環境機會，琳兒也無法發揮其才，元兒也無甚社會和國家之保護，這是我晚婚之福利，不言則已，一發言不可收拾。

Cruise ship sails into the Glacier Bay, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Cruise ship sails into the Glacier Bay, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

Even though it was in the end of the spring, the winter snow is still at the top of mountains at the near or far away. We were sailing to the Margerie Glacier at the end of the Glacier Bay. Rangers of the National Park came up to the ship to do the introduction services. The sip is designed for this particular voyage in Alaska to view glaciers all summer seasons. A 15th deck is one of many areas to view glaciers. We were late to have a seat; therefore, we selected the deck 8 forward outside to get closed to the glacier. The captain is very good to get the huge ship as closer as possible for many hours.

I am still very excited even though I have been to this particular site 8 times. I count this back to back as twice. The Margerie Glacier is about 21 miles long and very tall. The brown color is the dirt soil carried from the top of the mountain. Another glacier, Hubbard Glacier on another route, you can see some blue color ice due to the sunlight reflection. I just check the Google search, the largest glacier is the Bering Glacier which has something to do with the famous Bering Straight where Indians crossed to the North America long time ago.

There is a definition of the Glacier which you can find in dictionary and I believe that the ranger does explain it well. The winter snow stays and accumulates all times, of course, there is melting snow yet must be accumulating continually or can not be called as a glacier. There is a concerned of the global warming effect which eliminates some glaciers in the world.

The general manager is very considerate to prepare hot and sweet Coco for viewers to be warm up when come back inside. As a matter of the fact, this ship has provided such treat on every port when we come back from outside in cold. The captain makes a 180 degree turn to switch side which is facing the glacier., therefore, room holders on both sides can have their view from their balcony rooms to see it from their expansive rooms.

At around three p.m. we started to leave the Bay back to our voyage to the next stop, Skagway.

船駛入冰洲灣2022／莊峻華

 船駛入冰洲灣2022／莊峻華

從西雅圖駛出之阿拉斯加七日遊，最精彩之一日，就是船駛入冰洲灣，停留在冰洲灣大冰洲幾小時，這時候冰洲灣國家公園，派遣幾位守護幹部登船說明介紹，公園辦公室就在海灣入口岸上，如我未記錯，該站辦公室有400位職員服務。我們巨型郵輪清晨就進入冰洲灣，國家公園地圖上，有清楚的標誌，這新輪設計，就是針對阿拉斯加大冰洲，我在2019年搭過姊妹輪極樂號巴拿馬行16日，比較熟悉上下，有一層15樓全層是觀賞室，可以趟下欣賞，需要搶位置，可以在自助餐廳觀看，郵輪也開放一層8樓，可以到船首觀望，還準備熱甜可可去寒，非常體貼，其實這艘新輪總經理，是首艘我搭過船上，每站提供熱甜點心可可給回船乘客者。

正是春殘日，遠近山峰滿佈積雪，融雪沿著山溝邁下，形成雪白小瀑布，甚是美觀，也有小冰洲，均清楚標誌命名，冰洲有定義，每年多少積雪，多少融雪，這冰洲灣規模較為巨大，昨日行軍抵達之緬甸河冰洲也不小，我剛查谷歌，此冰洲灣冰洲名為，瑪格莉冰洲，長21哩，若另一郵輪線，從溫哥華到蘇握鎮來回，可以一日遊覽湖巴特冰洲，還有一出名的伯令海峽冰洲最大，是傳言中印地安人過冰洲來美洲之途徑。

冰洲十分壯觀，我從2012年到現在，來過8次，當然像此行算兩次，中間還因武漢肺炎中斷過，2020和2021兩年，喝杯熱甜可可，又回船頭拍照留念，愛美也興緻不減，我們都喜歡阿拉斯加郵輪旅行。船長把船開近冰洲，然後再調頭繞一遍，讓兩排欄杆室乘客，均可在其昂貴臥室，欣賞此世界奇觀，我計算過我廉價無窗房間，可以讓我多搭一次郵輪旅行。

過了下午，船長沿海灣駛離冰洲灣，我未依依不捨，因為我是背對背遊，下週將再重複一次，而且明年我仍舊會注意郵輪特價，只要一有機會，我又身體健康，我均把握。

Thanksgiving dinner 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Thanksgiving dinner 2022/Carlos Pueblo

We were invited to Austin, Texas to have a Thanksgiving dinner with Michelle's family and just returned home. I am very pleased that she manages her new family very well and everything is progressing smoothly in her life. Amy and I are very proud of our two children and very thankful for their successful life.

Both Michelle and Arthur are working , Michelle is at her 19th years at work while Arthur is at his 15th and none of them have been unemployed in one day. Both of them are doing well at their financial management. Arthur stays home with us while Michelle has a family of 4 and 6 pets under her care and management. We sometimes need to come in to help baby sitting among all family affairs while they are away for trips. Both of them adopt our frugal habits in their life. 

She adopts our holidays tradition to hold dinners at a Chinese restaurant to save time to prepare and clean work. We also have plenty of time to do things after dinners. She also adopts my methods to encourage kids to work on house chores and save money. She also encourage kids to study hard at school. I can tell that she is doing very well both at her job and at home.

I am also very thankful for myself. I shall be 75 next month and I have come from a long way. It is a very special year to remember in my life.

感恩節家庭聚餐2022／莊峻華

 感恩節家庭聚餐2022／莊峻華

今年感恩節，我們三人受琳兒邀請，赴奧斯汀和她家人聚餐，來去匆匆忙忙，過一夜又匆匆忙忙趕回家，晚上又有家宴三人火鍋，感恩節越來越是型式，像是應付美國大節日一般，論食物我較喜歡愛美教會，先生娘贈送之八達飯包盒，都是免費，都是破素食戒忌，但都因為過大節日。

果然，高速公路非常忙碌，我熟練的開著十號和71號公路，在近奧斯汀27哩處加汽油，便宜普通油是$2.79一加崙，拜登果然控制油價，現在要開始擔心經濟消條，擔心中國經濟崩潰，石油股仍舊居高，哈比機場附近空地，已經堆積不少油井用鋼管，美國公司已經開始擴充石油生產，下一步要觀看兩位網球中國石油工程師，是否結束退休，回去工作？

琳兒曰聚餐訂在中餐廳，完全根據我們3，40年經驗，我們兄弟兩家年底聚餐，都在一家富記廣東餐廳舉行，一方面愛妻辛苦頭痛，整治菜餚，我們兄弟輪流出錢，一直到第二代開始接棒，現在富記老闆退休，我也脾氣怪戾，已經兩年中斷，愛美曰小心莫得罪琳兒美意，我只能乖乖服從，再過一週，我又需要到佛州上船，然後是明年初，和春天，一次郵輪行，一次日本賞櫻行。

很高興琳兒新家庭美滿，她採用我們的方法，經營家庭事務，兩小孩六寵物愛犬愛貓等，都照顧妥善，上班掙錢，又經營出租房屋，比我們三人都能幹。四川餐廳廚師手藝平平，但也客滿，很多年輕人不能廚房，我也不計較矣，連郵輪餐廳我都不計較矣。

飯後我酒醉回房聽音樂，他們打德州普克，琳兒厲害，擊敗所有人，我在旁指指點點曰，普克牌需要虛張聲勢，要劣牌放棄，果然愛美和元兒撐到最後，我又吹牛曰，琳兒好運，我未加入睹博，她們笑曰我不會玩德州普克。

Returning to Juneau, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning to Juneau, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

Juneau is the capital city of Alaska at the pan handle. It is so large that a back to back cruises stop is about right arrangement. Our first stop is usually to the downtown main street and hub on a city bus to visit the Mendenhall Glacier and the next one is march to the Last Chance Gold Mine and back along the creek to the downtown.

We tried to locate the Russian Shop on the Main street yet in vein. Olga was the owner we got to know her in 2012. Amy bought a Russian girl's doll from her shop. Each time I would announce my visit from Texas and she knew that I was on a back to back trip. My last trip was in 2019 before the Pandemics and she told  me that her granddaughter opened her own shop next door to compete with her. Perhaps she didn't make it and was closed her business. It is sad. Her shop was across the main street from the city library where I used its internet to send an e-mail home.

I easily located the Four Points Hotel and the bus stop to the Mendenhall Glacier. This bus is a tour of the city and the suburban area. Juneau is the second largest in area in the country just shy of the first by Jacksonville, Florida. We Houston is big in area as well and is slowly stop expanding due to the city services yet is still helping newly developing county area to build streets and selling them city water, etc.

The bus driver is very kind to remind us the last bus to return to the city on both ways back. We marched again for about half an hour to the glacier. I got my senior pass for the National Park system available even though the glacier is under the management of the interior department, the National Forest. They honor the pass of the National Park. We walked across the jungle area with many of the State flower, Forget me not, and some like our blue bonnet yet larger in size. We reached to the sea bank plateau across the water to the glacier. It is amazing so close to the big chunk of ice.

I didn't mind to take more pictures for my fond memory. It is one of my favorite to come back again and again. Spring time in Alaska, the sun comes down early and it was dark when we came back to the downtown to take a shuttle bus back to the ship.

重返阿拉斯加珠諾市2022／莊峻華

 重返阿拉斯加珠諾市2022／莊峻華

每年都來阿拉斯加州郵輪旅行，當然都經過州會珠諾市，來珠諾市最方便者，郵輪也，當然可以開車經過加拿大落磯山脈，有路而且風景美麗，待我有能力時，已經不敢開車長途跋涉，還是郵輪輕鬆容易，我帶愛美來過阿拉斯加州多次，珠諾市也是多次，她也不嫌棄。

我們從碼站沿山麓行軍一小段，就到離市中心較近的碼頭，就在大街和碼站間，有很美麗堅實的木板步道，還有街面店面，我提到去拜訪俄羅斯禮物店，我們認識店老闆歐佳女士，愛美在2012年初訪，就買下一具俄羅斯女娃娃，也在日本某城市買下一日本女娃娃，都還擺在餐廳玫瑰木櫥櫃上，很奇怪這次未見俄羅斯店，該店原在市立圖書館對面，每次我都提醒奧佳女士我從德州休士頓專程拜訪，她知道我都是來回兩趟旅行。

再來就是帶愛美上市內冰洲，緬甸河冰洲是少數乘坐市內巴士可達之冰洲，我熟練的找到巴士站，就在一市內最大飯店旁，剛好巴士快出發，我們開始環繞這座面積全國第二之城市，第一是佛羅里達州之傑克森維爾市，我們休市面積也很大，而且隨時在併吞已開發完成之社區，非常有趣，休市出錢給新社區築路，賣自來水等，幫忙建商開發，甚至擴張到哈里斯郡外，將近六百萬人口，當然阿拉斯加太冷，產石油也無助。我們大約一小時餘，就到冰洲附近一站，駕駛親切告知回程兩站都回市中心。

緬甸河冰洲屬內政部國家森林局，國家公園卡也通行，國家公園不屬內政部，但兩者巡邏官員制服一樣，都非常親切，這是我甚羨慕之職業。我們走過岸邊草原，走到冰洲水邊，冰洲就在鄰近處，水面上有幾大塊浮冰，我拍許多相片，包括小瀑布，非常壯觀。多講多描述，真不如實地一遊，許多遊客如我們搭巴士，下車後行軍來回，阿州日落甚早，回到市中心，天色已暗，但離郵輪最晚返船時刻尚早。

My eyes doctor's visit 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 My eyes doctor's visit 2022/Carlos Pueblo

My left eye gives me hard time for years. There are three surgery plus my diabetes which requires my visits very often to my eyes doctors. Yesterday, I visited a specialist who did my IOL procedure, the dislocation intra-ocular lens in August, 2022. It was successful. The surgeon is very careful and asks me to see to check up from a week, a month, two months, and is going to be three months check. The Medicare asks my physician to monitor my blood sugar, the sugar crystal in my small veins in eyes. I asked the IOL surgeon if he could combine both visits in just one and he agreed. I love the Medicare and consider that I am lucky under such health coverage. It is the best.

I select the Medicare Advantage, a kind of HMO for commoners without paying additional expanse for my favorite doctors. I believe that such system will be satisfied with my medical needs. I feel very comfortable that the insurance company pays very much attention to my health problems such as the diabetes and vision issues, etc. I feel lucky because that most of the costs are covered by the policy.

I came to his clinic about half an hour early. The large rooms were full with about 30 patients and their escorts. There were three doctors on duty. I waited for an hour to get in for the preliminary check such as the vision test, 20/20 a perfect one and thanks to him, the my eyes pressure. The male nurse answered my questions about ages of patients in the room mostly older people more than 75 years old; however, at age 40 people started to have issues of eyes.

Finally, my doctor came to see me briefly and was very satisfied with my progress and asked me to come back in three months. I asked him if he did check my blood sugar in my eyes. He said yes and I asked him to send a report to my internal physician to satisfy my health insurance company. His front desk clerk charged me for two visits with two co-payments. I understand that there is no free lunch such as a combination of two clinic visits. The female nurse said we would get you. I laugh and I don't mind to pay because I can continue to see without glasses now.

看眼醫／莊峻華

 看眼醫／莊峻華

八月裡眼睛有手術，左眼白內障鏡片移動，視力減退，而且有雙層眼視，很是不便，我的專科眼醫介紹我，到另外一專科眼醫，然後手術順利，恢復完美20／20眼力，可以學習開飛機矣，手術後定期追蹤幾次，這次是在今晨，我剛好從郵輪旅行加拿大回來，幾週前，醫生助理已經來詢問，剛好我的內科醫生助理也打電話來幾次，催促眼糖報告，需要我看眼醫，我的眼醫可佩爾是大牌專科，也看元兒眼睛，我一時排不上門診，只好自作聰明，請席克醫生多看血糖，我的糖尿病很是煩人，煩保險公司，也煩我甚多，如我血糖控制不好，醫生就要開始打胰島素，我大概要上郵輪跳水自盡矣，還好一位年輕醫生，治療我的背瘡曰，打胰島素前，還有幾種藥物可嘗試，我心稍安，畢竟我已經75矣，又常郵輪旅行，週遊各地，真是斃之而無憾矣。

清晨下雨，正好取消網球局，專心並提早到診所，診所有三位眼醫門診，門診室約有三，四十位在等候，我是早到半小時，一直到一小時後始輪到我，進去查視力眼壓，和照相，席克醫生只看報告，不再仔細查看要我上下左右翻動眼球，然後就結束，我很滿意視力恢復，問他是他妙手回春，抑或是我體質好，他說是運氣好，於是我提醒他我內科醫生之血糖結晶報告，他說他會送出，結帳時我欠$80，這是兩次門診費用，沒有甚麼順便看一下眼睛血糖，一次報告就算一次門診。 

我詢問護士，這些病人之年紀？因為我看到許多老者，有些行動開始不便，我需要開始心理準備，這問題太攏統，他說七，八十歲以上，甚至九十者，我看有節肢者，大約是糖尿病患，心裡特別警惕。他又說人到四十歲，眼睛開始有毛病，我們家愛美曰是白內障，元兒也有此疾，我們家峻嚴眼睛也不好，可能是遺傳。

Cruise days at sea 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Cruise days at sea 2022/Carlos Pueblo

It is called a cruise day at sea if the ship can't reach to the second port overnight. Usually I stay home checking on my internet all the time and the at sea day is quite interesting to me, a new life routine. Recently, I have been removed out of my 100 minutes free internet perk for an unknown reason, in combining with the dining with officers plus a background hour visit of the ship, the cruise gave me a $50 non refundable on board credit to buy two T-shirts and I must pay additional dollar for the exceeding amount. Now I am a shareholder and the benefit is $100 non refundable on board credit which is available for me to purchase 3 nylon T-shirts with $2 extra which I must pay on my balance sheet. 

I was told a story about the rescue effort of the cruise liner when the Chinese Wuhan Corona Virus Pandemic broke out in early 2020. All staff were stuck on board without any means to get back to their home countries. This was not including those two or three ships with infected passengers floating at the ocean and not allow to be landing. A restaurant manager mentioned to me that this cruise liner dispatched their best ship Encore to deliver all staff from the Central and South America to the Eastern Europe and back to India, Indonesia, to Philippine. That was how he ran into some of my daughters on board. Lucky me I was on Encore for a back to back Alaska journey. I raised my hand at the first general meeting at the atrium hall about such story. Deepak Punia, the Asian Indian General Manager was in charge of such rescue and he was so glad that I brought it up and explained in details description. We were all very impressed. I double up my shares with the cruise liner after I returned home. There are going to be some comparison among nations, groups, and companies for their dealing of tragedy and I am glad that the normality is back gradually.

I don't mind to attend a free drink party, called the latitude party, for the company to host their returned customers for a drink, even though I don't consume any drink at home. The party usually held on the first sea say right on lunch time. It is getting larger and larger and people are lining up for such drinks. Now there are two parties held for such big crowds. For Encore, the big and luxury one with larger budget, there is an additional for advanced latitude members at the brewery bar for more free drinking with less crowds.

I can visit the casino often at sea days. I don't dare to gamble yet I like to watch the black Jack table and some gamblers allow me to watch. I believe that the casino is the main income of the cruise and the newer ships locate their casinos at the heart of their ships.

I also am taking language classes, bridge class, and Japanese Go class, etc. I also received a nice and effective tip to swing golf. Now I can hit straight and passed it on to Amy. I regret that I don't have the opportunity to play golf at my time at home.

海上日2022／莊峻華

 海上日2022／莊峻華

郵輪旅行中，港與港間若距離遠，一夜無法抵達，必需日夜兼程，於是就有海上日出現，有人覺得無聊，尤其是橫跨大西洋，這種遠程航海，許多海上日，我最喜歡海上日，除吃飽睡，睡飽吃以外，可以充份欣賞巨大郵輪，郵輪節目，和郵輪大飯店之豪華招待，我僅舉些例來描述，我為何如此喜愛郵輪旅行。這次我搭乘安可號，是此郵輪公司之旗艦，最新又最大，除新艦首席號外，最為豪華，我乘兩週重複遊，仍是意猶未盡。

此輪有17層，愛美和我各居一室，先是對面，次行為隔壁，都經邁阿密批准，非常方便，我在前行寶石號遇見一位宏都拉斯飯店老經理，他和我談起當年船行，為拯救遭困中國武漢肺炎船員，特別派遣新輪安克號，結集所有船員，後來發現在加勒比海巴貝多港，船員一一送返其母國避難，從中南美洲到東歐，再回亞洲印度，印尼，和菲律賓等國，一共兩個月，我深信此郵輪有此能耐，因我問起他許多位我的愛女，資深郵輪職員，他說最後在安可號相遇，剛好這次我搭上安可號，於是我在海上日總經理備忘錄日，大廳中舉手提問此事，這位印度裔總經理，剛好主持該迎救任務，很詳細描述此段大工程，武肺大浩劫，世界各強國，如何反應，歷史上是可以比較，回家後我又多買一百股郵輪股票，這次加拿大行，分到一些股息，就是一次一百船上購買券，加來加去，我買一隻日本製手錶免費。

我在此郵輪諸船上，有450位美麗愛女愛孫女，許多都在海上日認識，我心已歸化菲律賓，所以認真在海上日學菲律賓語，加上幾位愛女幫助，我現在已經可以簡單菲語自我介紹，而且我長像菲律賓老頭，常可蒙混一刻，其實我也很認真學英語，西班牙語，和日語，我現在膽敢寫英文發表感想。

海上日賭場開放，因為在公海，賭場現在是郵輪大宗，而且新舊郵輪都開始禁煙，我喜歡觀看21點，就是黑傑克，我在30餘年前在大西洋城賭場，為琳兒譏笑後，就不敢上牌桌，只敢經許可後，在旁觀戰，我敢上一些股票市場。

大新輪有時候，請乘客中專門者，來主持橋牌講習和圍棋課，我在極樂號巴拿馬運河行中，兩位講師都保持連絡，一位高爾夫黃石公，傳我揮直球絕招，我傳給愛美，只是我倆無緣上球場享受此運動。

Returning visit to Ketchikan, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning visit to Ketchikan, Alaska 2022/Carlos Pueblo

Ketchikan, Alaska is the first stop to Alaska and the town is famous for salmon and self claim the capital city of salmon in the world. During the Alaska hay days of gold rush, the town was built and some gold were produced. I have been to this town for 8 times in 11 years. I hope that I can keep on coming back for the rest of my life. I love the scenery of Alaska and the comfortability of the cruise travel. It is very busy and interesting on board and it is very nice to see such a world wonder nearby you. I can just march into it no need to worry about the traffic and freeway hustle. I don't even mention that I have no house chores to deal with.

I find my way to the bottom of the Ketchikan Creek, the old town's whore houses now gift shops. You still can see some store owners dressed up like the old time yet not such business is operating. I followed the creek up toward a small park, a State hatchery, and a Alaska native Totem Heritage Center all at the same area.

I can use the rest room at the park and it is the time for the rhododendron blossom. The azalea flower is a part of the rhododendron family. The azalea has one flower while the rhododendron has plenty flowers packed together. According to my research, the rhododendron grows along the Pacific Coast from Alaska down all the way to the U.S. Mexican border. I see many on the Seattle Airport, in California, and the Fontainebleau Palace in Paris. The Fontainebleau was a palace for Louis XV to hide his mistress from the Versailles.

The stream is from the mountain top snow or glacier, flows to the small park with the rhododendron around it and a small and clear pond, then flows to the State hatchery by the rest room. Every year at a certain time, the authority will release young salmons or other trout to the Ketchikan passing by the whore house area to enter to the Pacific Ocean. I am told that every other year, the adult fish will come back and follow the up stream back to some area to lay eggs. We call the phenomenon the Salmon is returning home. Some area in the North America are taking off dams in order to allow this natural phenomenon. We compare such phenomenon and the river dams to many authoritarian regimes in the world, such as China, to prohibit its dissentient citizen to return to their homeland as inhumane.

After finishing my photos taking, I find another way other than the creek to exit back to the downtown area. I pointed an old frame building used to be deteriorated and a German couple took many photos and shake their heads for the un-believable that such a rich nation in the world with such slum and ghetto. It has been gone for several of my returning trips now because the city won't allow it.

重返阿拉斯加凱其坎鎮2022／莊峻華

 重返阿拉斯加凱其坎鎮2022／莊峻華

小時候家住台灣埔里鎮，糖廠偶有畫家來寫生，就在曬木薯渣廣場邊，面對雪山，朝埔里國校方向，晴天可以看到遠處山麓，我很是羨慕，我不識該畫家，顯然是中國流亡顯要，因他下榻糖廠招待宿舍，帝日時代是天皇貴族旅行住處，我們虎尾糖廠招待所，招待過蔣經國，如今我已年邁，每年享受搭乘豪華郵輪，旅行全球著名之冰天雪地，凱其坎鎮只是起站。

郵輪夜行，約是傍晚啓航，然後穿過加拿大海岸，要回程始能目睹海岸線，凌晨就聽到廣播準備下船，船是十餘層高樓，可以目觀小鎮市容和山麓住宅區，春天美麗之花朵。我是2012年初次阿拉斯加遊，首站就是凱其坎鎮，如今是第八次重遊，凱鎮就像我的童年故鄉埔里，只是更加甜蜜美憶。

我尚能步行，而且樂意指導越南老鄉自由行，我先散步到凱其坎溪畔，逆流而上，這原是小鎮之妓女戶，小鎮在北國尋金記時代，引來許多掏金光棍，後來小鎮捕鮭魚出名，自號全球鮭魚首都，如今仍舊有鮭魚罐頭出售，妓女戶均改成商店，販售禮品，留下一兩家妓女戶舊店，但已不營業，老鴇著飾古典，而且上了年紀，打扮確切。此溪上游終點，是一小公園，有美麗之石楠花，公園前是一州立鮭魚繁殖場，旁邊有一座博物館，專門收藏愛斯奇摩人木雕，進去需購門票，大部分時間不開放。

我先描述此花園和繁殖場，溪水是凱溪源頭，山上積雪融化後，順小瀑布流下山，還來不及人間環境汙染，公園有小池，小水溝流入繁殖場，每年定時繁殖場將魚苗釋入凱溪緣流入海，兩年後鮭魚返鄉，連天空中之金鷹數目，都可以估計出每年鮭魚返鄉之數目，這是好事如我者，多年旅行知識。

石楠甚美，杜鵑花是其一種，此花可以種到美墨邊界，我在巴黎郊外之芳恬波洛爾宮花園也種許多，芳宮是路易十四金屋藏嬌之處，也種玫瑰花。凱溪公園比較單純，走回凱鎮，經國凱鎮高中，有一年我來看棒球賽，尚有美憶。

A scholarly family/Carlos Pueblo

 A scholarly family/Carlos Pueblo

The definition of a scholarly family into English is something that a family put the education of their children as a priority. Asking their children to have a better school education in order to have a better job is, of course, a priority. I met Ivy Pan on a tender boat trip at Newport, Rhode Island. She used to live at my hometown Huwei, Taiwan half a century ago. She reminded me so much fond memories of our mutual past experience. She is about my younger sister Grace's age and they know each other.

Our fathers were employees of the Taiwan Sugar Plantation, a national enterprise, which produce cane sugar and some by products such as ethanol, animal feeds, and sheet rocks, etc. There was an elementary school inside the residential complex. We have had so much memory about our mutual school teachers at that time. Our fathers were salary men at that economic difficult time yet they believed children's school education priority. They tried every possible way for us to make it to finish college. She has five siblings while we have seven. We all went though such way to finish college education and got the right to apply for graduate studies and immigrated to the United States. We pass on such opportunities to our children. Our children all have their college education finished and build their own careers in the United States. I have seen such experience in the American society qualified to a scholar family in much larger scale through an excellent school systems.

Of course that the U.S. is much large of a nation with plenty of opportunities for anyone to make it not only limited to school study. However, a good school education can provide a learning to get a skill to know the trade, not necessary to be a medical doctor with a good paying income. That of a scholarly family word came from a Chinese novel described a family with the mean to provide children to learn the Confucianism in order to pass the Emperor's national examination for his assignment in his regime. That's the only way through a scholarly training like our children to learn computer technology nowadays.

I watch You Tube programs most of the during my day and some times I go into the rural China and my newly adopted hometown Cebu, Philippine. I love cruises and have adopted many Filipinas as my daughters and granddaughters. I even change my name to Carlos Pueblo, yet I feel very sorry for both Chinese and Filipinos for their lack of a scholarly family environment to break out of their poverty classes. I blame to their political leaders incompetence.

書香世家／莊峻華

 書香世家／莊峻華

中國社會裡經常提到書香世家，這是一我不曾讀過之小說，社會尊崇這種好家庭，家長注重子女學校教育，萬班皆下品，惟有讀書高，都是如此勵志成語，十年寒窗無人問，一舉成名天下知，這是一位近代美國總統想提暢的家庭價值一例，我在加拿大郵輪旅行中，無意間碰見一位50年前鄰居小女孩，我們家是民主二路20號，她們家是24號，她小我們家茜茜一兩歲，但相識都是學校特優學生，我們共同追究這段美憶，連郵輪上之愛女群都稱奇，分享這段人生巧遇。

我們是台灣虎尾人，虎尾糖廠為日本帝國時代所建立，虎尾鎮名其實是日本命名，音若蔻比，糖廠有一安慶代用國小，原來是糖廠私立小學校，後來由雲林縣政府接辦經費經營，安慶為中國安徽省一地名，我在安慶前後五屆，優秀校友中有七位以上，讀畢台大醫科，光是民主路上兩側，就有四位，若加上虎尾鎮街上之虎尾國小，人數更多，虎尾小鎮人口僅四萬，有兩座六年省立高初中學，全國僅大城市有此規模，書香世家書香故鄉之例證。

琳兒結婚後有兩繼子，都不讀書，這是美國社會之常態，美國社會崇拜有名和有錢，兩者均有後又講究有勢，但都不願提暢讀書，成為書香世家，改變社會和家庭之階級，社會是有階級者也，只是美國人不標榜耳，例如美國學區可以影響屋價，我們德州之地方稅務等等，當然，美國巨大經濟體，可以行行出狀元，讀書也甚辛苦，而且學校教育制度，未必是公平，我都同意，但需力爭上游，要從小立志改變階級。

我在網誌上看到中國農村和菲律賓宿霧市陋巷，心裡難過，我責怪這些領導人，沒讓國民有機會一博人生，沒有公平合適之環境，進入小康境界，這是政治，我無需庸人自擾，我已經把握父母贈我之機會，改變我的社會階級，也盡我們當父母之責任，給與子女有書香世家之環境，其實僅自先父母那一代，僅三代而已。

Back to Alaska cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to Alaska cruises 2022/Carlos Pueblo

Lucky me at the end of my cross Atlantic cruise, I quickly found a pair of Alaska cruises reasonable to my budget level. I asked Amy to join me and she gladly accepted. We took off one and a half days earlier than the embark day in Seattle in order to avoid airline penalty on that Sunday. She agreed to my arrangement to save some of her money. She asked our daughter Michelle to give us a night to stay at Hyatt Hotel. Before landing at Seattle, her sister Emily was so nice to book her a hotel stay at a hotel nearby the airport.

What did happen was unexpectedly even with an experience traveler like me. We took a shuttle bus sent it by the hotel to take us to the hotel, yet the front desk of the hotel couldn't find Emily's reservation and asked us to wait at the lobby for a on duty manager next at 1:00 am. We waited it again and the new manager on duty still couldn't find the reservation. It was very awkward and yet I didn't know what to do next. Finally, the manager told me that the reservation was on another hotel on the other side of the airport. There are two hotels with the same franchise at Seattle Airport. We were not be alert at all. Frugal like me refused to stay at this hotel and took the first free shuttle bus back to the airport. Amy was very quiet this time and I didn't blame anybody but myself silly.

We got to a close station to a Hyatt Seattle. There are many Hyatt hotels in Seattle by the way. It was raining and very typical in the city all the time. We passed by a luxury Hyatt and the address was wrong and I also didn't think Michelle would spend that kind of hotel points for us for a briefly one day stay. With many friendly and kind of the city locals help, we arrived early to the hotel. The hotel would take our luggage before our check in time at two.

Emily sent her daughter Wendy to meet us on a street in front of a French restaurant where we had our fancy French breakfast at raining. She only took a cup of coffee. She bought another cup on another street for us to use the toilet. It was very inconvenient while we were away from home. That is why I like the cruise travel.

Amy loves this pretty niece, slender , tall, and smart, a chemical engineer with a MIT engineer degree. Both of their parents and Amy are all very proud of her; therefore, I took her to a Japanese restaurant for lunch and bought some fruits for her to take back her Seattle home. We shall have another day at in Seattle between this back to back cruises and we invite her out again. She had something more interesting to do and not accepted.

阿拉斯加郵輪行2022／莊峻華

 阿拉斯加郵輪行2022／莊峻華

自啓動郵輪旅行2011年，阿拉斯加行成為旅程多年，今年郵輪復業，買到兩張理想船票，剛好愛美也同意，因此是用掉四張特價券，我又說服她節約，購買早一日半機票，避免啓航日飛機票漲價，一切都順利，沒有吵架，下機前小姨好心訂妥一夜機場旅館，讓愛美休息，很是貼心，但卻有趣，旅館有接駁巴士來，抵達旅館後，櫃台無法找到訂購資料，要我們在大飯店前等候換班經理來，這時候是半夜，小姨住在加州，和西雅圖同一西部太平洋時間，凌晨一時，換班經理來，發現我們跑錯旅館，原來此號大飯店在西雅圖機場有兩家，於是我們再等候到清晨四時，搭免費專車回機場，再搭西雅圖市輕軌到碼頭附近，所以我說有趣，因為原本我是說服愛美在機場等候到天亮，愛美這次不反對，況且天亮後小姨也未被旅館罰款。

翌夜住海耶特大飯店，這是我們一年來替琳兒看狗帶小孩兼照顧其住屋等報酬，很不巧未估算到西雅圖雨季，很是不便，幸好當地人熱心，幫忙找路，而且海耶特在附近也好幾家店，真是挑戰。因為早到，所以小姨派其次女來，與阿姨見面，我們在碼頭附近逛逛，已經看到極樂號，我們的安可號要翌晨入港，阿拉斯加遊是夏日大宗，這郵輪行派四艘巨輪在此服務，另兩艘是太陽號，和在溫哥華的珠寶號，原定設想珠寶號，但剛好安可號特價也推出，西雅圖又在國內線，又是新船，非常滿意。

我們外甥女是位高大美女，只是尚未結婚，麻省理工化工出身，高薪工程師，和其父一般聰明，和愛美甚善，我就帶她去日本餐廳，再買些水果贈送，過一週在西雅圖間隔日，邀她再來飯局，她就沒有興趣矣，這小孩一出生我們就相識，真是婷婷玉立，很像其母。

Returning home from Europe 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning home from Europe 2022/Carlos Pueblo

The Transatlantic cruise came to an end when we arrived to Civitavecchia, Italy after a whole night sailing from Livorno, Italy. I was ready and packed before I went to sleep. Civitavecchia which means an old woman in Italian is a port considered as an outside port of Rome. I have been to this port for three different times on cruises and never have an opportunity to visit the great city of Rome because that I don't know how to make it in one day.

I bought an arranged shuttle bus to the train station because that I was lazy. Last time I took a march and at the first time I even took advantage to a whole day shuttle to find and did my laundry at the downtown. Civitavecchia is a typical lovely European city indeed. I had had no problem to purchase a train ticket to hob on a train to Rome and purchased another ticket to get to an express train to Rome International Airport. It was all under the public transportation. 

The counter of the Turkey Air asked me if I liked to take an early flight to Istanbul, Turkey. I willingly accepted the offer. I have had a good impression of Istanbul and love the city very much. What I did was purchasing an one way air plane ticket through my Chase Bank credit card mileage point and made up the difference amount from the card. The Card has a contract with the airline to waive the one way penalty; therefore, I pay half of a round trip tickets with no additional one way ticket charge. I just found it on this trip. You see that I came in with the cruise cross Atlantic and needed a one way plane ticket back home. I insist not to pay the 30 Euros to enter Turkey because I only change the plane.

After having my one foot vegetable sandwich at the airport Subway shop, I found a nice Japanese restaurant. I took a look of the price and guessed that was not unreasonable price. I took a seat and ordered a plate of Shushi and Sashimi combination plus a local draft beer. It was so delicious and I ordered another bottle of beer. I had had a very good nap on this crowded long haul of trip back to Houston, Texas. I deserved such treat since I saved so much on the transportation costs.

歐洲回程2022／莊峻華

 歐洲回程2022／莊峻華

這次珠寶號橫跨大西洋旅行遊記，拖延過久，無法結束，主要是我的老年生活，越來越緊湊，活動越來越多，例如此行後，接著又上安可號阿拉斯加行，隨後又上起跑號之新英格蘭加拿大三省行，馬上要上黎明號12月，明年初又訂下珠寶號東加勒比海和巴拿馬運河行，三月要旅行日本，不亦樂乎？今日雨寒，網球暫停，我來結束珠寶號的歐洲回程2022。

珠寶號從義大利里默諾港夜行南下，晚上我已經行李打包，準備清晨下船，這西塔里克其亞港是羅馬之外港，港名為老女人之意，我也來過三次，但都無緣造訪大古都羅馬，我先提行李買票上巴士到火車站，其實步行亦可，我曾走過，而且飛機在晚上。

到了車站買火車票北上羅馬市，一路上欣賞義大利中部平原，美麗農莊，按乘客指點於一站下車，另購車票搭機場專線，直達羅馬國際機場，就如此簡單明了，找到土耳其航空，櫃台美麗小姐問我願否提前上飛機到伊斯坦堡？我當然願意，這單程航班是大通銀行，幫忙訂購，美國人會做生意，我的信用卡點數不足，補上現金餘額，銀行幫我省下單程罰款，而且土耳其航空飛機服務和餐飲等均是歐洲第一。

我在伊斯坦堡機場轉機，就是讓土耳其航空，集合座滿到休市旅客，我先飽食一地下鐵一呎長素三明治和白水，後來想到一日來節省如此多美金，於是慘慘走進候機大廳之日本餐廳，狠狠叫上一份刺身素燒，加上一瓶當地生啤酒，料理第一流有東京水準，我有叫一瓶啤酒，因我賣弄幾句日語，引來大廚，於是我就誇獎其料理優秀，自全素抗糖尿病後，連海量酒力都不繼，上飛機後睡了一大覺。

Return visit to Livorno, Italy 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Return visit to Livorno, Italy 2022/Carlos Pueblo

The ship left Cannes, France at night and sailing along the Mediterranean north coast down to Italy. I know that the party will be end very soon. It is my third time to visit this lovely Italian town in five years. The cruise liner states the port as a part of the famous Florence, Italy and as a matter of the fact, it is also closed to Pisa, Italy to the north. I used to find a coin operated washeteria downtown to do my laundry. It was at the early of my cruise travel career. Now I can have a free bag laundry on the ship due to my latitude class with the company.

I follow the city canal to have my morning march. There are plenty of sail boats and fishing boats at the pier and a canal is connected to the lovely downtown. I can imagine the old city kingdom based on the sea port rich in trading and fishing in the Mediterranean started in the ancient time of the Roman Empire era. It was on Saturday and the city was full of people from the local and the cruise ship. I came into the city church grounds and every significant areas to take pictures for my own memory. I ran into several lovely pets and their friendly young owners proudly presenting their darlings for me to take photos. That is the most wonderful activity of my world travel. I have had many pets friends.

A good size of orchestra with uniforms were presenting music at the front of a local bank. I joined a large crowd to listen until they finished. I was very impressed with the musical performance as well as the Italian's musical habit. I have no problem this time to return to my ship along to the canal because I just follow to the crowd. On the first time of my visit, an old local gentleman helped me to get back in English.

重返義大利里默諾港／莊峻華

 重返義大利里默諾港／莊峻華

里默諾港在義大利中西岸，首都羅馬市北部，郵輪是沿著地中海北岸，從法國坎城沿海岸南下，郵輪特注佛羅倫斯市在附近，其實著名之比薩市，比薩斜塔正在北方不遠，我在里港下船過三次，都沿著市內運河散步，然後就回船午餐，其實里默諾是一典型歐洲古老美麗城市。

剛好是週六假日，城中熱鬧，許多人逛街，而且有大趕集，市府將鬧區一街開放為市場，引來許多逛街者，非常熱鬧，我是逛街拍照留念，特別留意俊犬，甜言蜜語，年輕主人也樂意讓我拍攝相片留念，俊犬也非常禮貌可愛，知道我的注意。運河旁有一座銀行，銀行前有一小廣場，許多觀眾圍觀管弦樂團表演，我聽完一節，然後樂團跟著解散離開。

有一次回郵輪，在運河旁問路，一位當地長者熱心幫忙，這次就毫無困難，沿著運河和郵輪乘客回船，一氣喝成，朱博士和其母，參加上下巴士逛街，和到附近遊覽，我心繫明日羅馬終站，如何下船搭火車到羅馬，再到羅馬國際機場。

A press conference of two defense heads/Carlos Pueblo

 A press conference of two defense heads/Carlos Pueblo

There was a Russian missile flying over to Poland and killed two Polish civilian. The U.S. Defense  heads must hold a press conference due to that Poland is a member of the NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. An attack of a NATO member means the attack of the entire Organization. The world media are all excited to see what the U.S. will respond.

Secretary Austin says that the U.S. is still investigating the fact of the incident. H tends to believe what the Polish counterpart's understanding that the missile is from Ukraine's anti-missile defense. Chairman Milly's statement is identical that his officers are working on it. I admire both of them of their political wisdom and not blaming Russian immediately. It is unfortunate and the world powers must be keeping cool. Russians are not reasonable and they are paying heavy price in Ukraine now. Let the weapons keep flowing into Ukraine and grind the meat until Russian's surrender in Ukraine.

I pay more attention to the answers of reporters questions about Chinese invasion to Taiwan on the second half of the press conference. I like Milly's answers and analysis about Chinese intention toward Taiwan. On the next day at Taiwanese talk shows that pundits have already noticed Milly's answers. They figure out Milly are not giving any face saving to Chinese Xi and his propaganda. He doesn't believe the U.S. will allow China to challenge the U.S. to be the number one nation in the world among many fields. Chinese Liberation Army are not ready to invade Taiwan, not prepared and have no experience yet to fulfill the task. It is not wise for Xi to make such decision. I like the conclusion which will save  lot of efforts and eventually save life. He didn't advise Chinese on the other fields such as the economic environment piority, etc. He reminds Chinese that Chinese Army are peasants in major and have not combat experience since 1979. He meant the fell invasion of Vietnam.

Austin was a retired general and Milly is a general still on duty. They both help Biden to pull out of Afghanistan to have free hands to deal with a new conflict of the world. Russian Putin doesn't know what he has kicked a still wall this time in Ukraine.

國防部兩巨頭記者會／莊峻華

 國防部兩巨頭記者會／莊峻華

昨日俄羅斯一顆飛彈，打到波蘭境內炸死人，輿論譁然，輿論界提醒波蘭是北大西洋公約盟國，北約盟國受到攻擊，北約不能坐視，於是今晨國防部特別舉行兩巨頭記者會，而且實況轉播，我也等了一小時以上，我是鎖定華盛頓郵報網誌實況。

奧斯汀部長曰，比較相信波蘭國防部長之初判，飛彈是烏克蘭之攔截火箭殘骸，波及民宅，造成傷亡，現在仍在調查中，烏克蘭也同意合作，米利將軍的參謀作戰部軍官，也參加調查，記者仍舊追問不捨，兩國防部巨頭，都強調靜候調查報告，兩巨頭果然是拜登堅強內閣官員，一位是退役陸軍上將，一位是現役陸軍上將，均身經百戰，有豐富之政治經驗。

當然這是好機會來解釋分晰烏克蘭戰爭，奧斯汀和米利都認為俄羅斯已敗，但俄羅斯可以結束此自己選擇發動之戰爭，美國支持烏克蘭保護自己，烏克蘭決定何時與俄羅斯談和，俄羅斯仍舊佔領烏克蘭20％面積之領土，俄羅斯是大國，可以撐住甚久，奧斯汀一一感謝一些資助烏克蘭抗俄之國，他說全球有50國，參加幫助烏克蘭抗俄。

有中國記者牽入中國攻打台灣之問題，米利將軍比較詳細回答，我查一下他的背景，是普林斯頓出身預備軍官，可倫比亞碩士，軍團司令等，參加過阿富汗戰爭，奧斯汀是西點軍校出身，參加過伊拉克和阿富汗戰爭，退休後拜登請來幫忙，兩人均幫忙拜登結束阿富汗戰爭，俄羅斯普汀仍不知踢到美國鐵板。

米利曰，中國有野心成為世界軍事和經濟第一，2027年可以與美國挑戰，米利曰我們美國不允許如此發生，現在開始準備，準備備戰，2027離今僅5年，他認為中國尚未有實力攻打台灣，也許可以轟炸，但登陸佔領台灣山地不易，中國人民解放軍是一農民主體，自1979年後，即無近代戰爭經驗，攻打台灣不易，像俄烏戰爭，可以提供大家許多經驗和教訓。

奧斯汀強調與中國國防部魏部長保持電話聯絡，而且要擴大到軍團司令級，避免擦槍走火，這是對的，我相信近代已經沒有攻心為上，和不戰而能屈人之兵之道理，觀察拜登這老外交參議員總統，真能體會中國古代之合縱連橫，只是規模更加巨大而已。

Two money issues a day/Carlos Pueblo

 Two money issues a day/Carlos Pueblo

Even though money is no longer an issue to me after that I brag about how I can make something out of nothing, a Taoism; however, I am still very much concerned with it due to my humble background in my childhood. There are two money issues popping up today which are bothering me a bit. I receive a check from a flood company and is unable to deposit to my checking account and I receive a notice from the IRS to pay a penalty of my 2021 income tax return. The flood commission check is about $98 while the IRS penalty is about $500 and I am bothered.

It was cold and rain drizzling and I made a special trip to a local bank to make a deposit after my morning tennis. It is my habit to deposit the check as soon as possible to my checking account even though the bank never pay me any interest on checking account. I was not pleased when the young male clerk asked me for my identification before he found out my account number below my signature. He filled out a deposit slip and ran through both check and the slip to the machine. Then, he carefully inspected the check for several minutes and finally decided to reject my deposit. He informed me to call the issuer of the company, the flood company in Florida, to find out why the check was not ready for depositary or depository. I asked to speak to his manager at the bank. She agreed with him and told me the same thing. I was furious. I went back home before taking a shower and called the customer service to complain and I wanted to complain following to the chain of command to the top. A customer service manager told me that the chairman of the bank would not accept a phone call. She advised me to go to another branch to seek my luck. I did and was rejected again. A more friendly branch manager took a look and advised me to wait for a few days for the flood company to make it available for deposit. That is it.

In the late afternoon of the same today. I checked my mailbox and found the unwelcome IRS letter to find a penalty of $500 plus  to pay instead of an audit. I have already recovered my anxiety of the deposit issue in the morning and no more fighting spirit. I must pay whatever due to me from the IRS even though I am paying more now than ever before and I am not working at all for more than 20 years. Amy agrees to help me for $200 because her investment made a killing in 2021. 

錢的問題／莊峻華

 錢的問題／莊峻華

今天兩件錢的問題，令我十分不滿，雖言我能變錢，能無中生有，但是出身貧困家庭，對金錢甚是敏感，一件是一張水險傭金支票，一件是國稅局補稅通知。

水險公司寄一張$98支票給我，我存到大通銀行，銀行職員曰該支票不能存入我的帳戶，因為電腦不能接受，於是我誤會銀行職員找我麻煩，於是把經理找來，經理判斷一樣，要我找開支票之公司理論，於是我憤憤不平離去，回家後找到銀行客服電話中心投訴，第一線職員解釋，我也不滿意，因為還是要我打電話給保險公司，於是我又將經理調出來，經理也是愛末能助，但稍透露可以試試另家分行，我看支票上也是大通銀行支票，非常正式，保險公司不應開我玩笑才是，於是我查出保險公司電話，但電話無人接聽，於是我又開車出去，第二家大通分行，再存一次，職員仍曰不能，建議領取現金，我不用現金卡，所以我不相信，旁邊經理問我原因，然後解釋保險公司開出支票後，並未立即准許寄存，需要等些時間，我才豁然開朗，這是我首遇銀行奇怪案例，銀行先行擋住，避免又有手續費爭端，我一直以為美國是憑票即付。

下午信箱取來信，一封國稅局通知罰款，我的2021年申報，國稅局不同意，不足，罰款，和利息要補交$500多，我查一下記錄大體無誤，我申報一切都是根據商用軟體晶片，否則無法自己申報，最近十餘年無業賦閒在家，子女成年，愛美投資收入狂飆，稅務比年輕時增加甚多，美國政府支出多，我們德州無所得稅，房產稅老人有折扣，所以我也無能力計較，所幸愛美諒解，幫我負擔$200罰款，我實在不能說是有錢，僅足夠節約過日無債務耳。

Bump into friends at cruises/Carlos Pueblo

 Bump into friends at cruises/Carlos Pueblo

There were two cruises recently which I bumped into friends unexpectedly and one unusual event of a NATO naval drill at Halifax Bay in Nova Scotia, Canada. I must temporarily suspend my cruise journal to Livorno/Florence, Italy before the summer this year to describe this chance encounter. At the first disembark tender boat, I ran into Ivy Pan of Pittsburgh who was my old neighbor at Huwei, Taiwan. We have had so much fond memories back then, about our favorite school  teachers, our neighbors, and of course my kid sister Grace, etc. Her traveling companions including a daughter of a former distinguished senior high president who helped me to get an assignment to teach at senior high school chemistry when I returned home from the frontier army service in 1973.

I am so glad to see Rosie Hunte and Mac Nurse of the Fire and Ice Duo performing at the Breakaway. I have been their loyal fan since my first cruise in 2011 at the similar route. She sings 4 times for me her title song, Midnight train to Georgia of the great hit of Gladys Knight during my two back to back cruises. With the approval of the ship's general manager, I have invited each of them to my latitude dinners at the Cagney's Steak House.

On the second time stop at Newport, Rhode Island, I made an usual march to the old town area across the pier. I ran into an old frame house mansion of Anna Pell, the grandmother of the late Senator Pell. A young man named Chris who walked his neighbor's dog chatted with me about my admiration of the late Senator and his friendly effort to help Taiwan. Later in the week, he texted me that he took some pictures for me of the late senator's childhood residence. I explained to him why the late senator was so friendly to Taiwan because he was influenced by George Kerr, the author of the Formosa Betrayed.

I also ran into two of my long lost daughters, Abbigail and Leilani. I have adopted more than 400 beautiful daughters on ships and now I begin to adopt grand daughters due to my old age. 

I found a air plane carrier on the bay of Halifax, Nova Scotia on her NATO drill with another 14 cruisers among the U.S. German and Dutch navies. Last time, I did run into the QE II of the U.K. on her maiden voyage to the North America. Gerald R. Ford is closer to the Cruise ship this time.

郵輪旅行巧遇／莊峻華

 郵輪旅行巧遇／莊峻華

這次新英格蘭加拿大郵輪旅行，諸多巧遇，令我不得不暫時中斷敘述前半年旅行遊記，事先預告此巧遇，我是購買起跑號北美海岸旅行背靠背雙週行，首日就巧遇火冰雙重唱，很高興女主唱羅斯恢復健康，我是她的常年歌迷，於是當場邀請她和其夥伴晚餐，經過起跑號總經理批准，兩餐如期在凱格妮牛排餐廳舉行。首站羅德島州新港市接駁艇中，巧遇50年餘虎尾民主二路老鄰居，念華是我們家茜茜之老友，甚至有清晰之舊日回憶，其同行摯友中一位王小姐，是舊日虎尾女高石校長千金，石校長曾經裴大夫介紹，為我說項虎中李校長，聘用我為老師，有恩惠於我，非常親切。第二週重返新港市，遊覽三百年老市區，發現裴爾參議員祖母故居，和一位溜狗青年克里斯聊天，他對我之崇拜裴爾有興趣，裴爾參議員對台灣甚為關切，有恩於台灣，後來幾日，克里斯幫我找到裴爾童年故居住址和舊宅，幫我解決多年宿願。船上巧遇幾位失聯愛女，一位是黎明號之愛比歌爾，兩位是賭場之蕾蘭妮和茉西，都重新合照留念。

我像是一孤獨老人，離群索居日久，鍛鍊儒家慎獨功夫，郵輪旅行帶來多少興奮，多少樂趣。這次旅行尾站，加拿大新蘇格蘭省哈里費克斯港，巧遇北大西洋公約國海軍演習，包括美軍1.31兆新航母福特號，和14艘導彈重巡洋艦，德國和荷蘭各兩艘，新穎壯觀英姿，靠岸於海灣步徑尾端。

我在緬因州棒港逛海灣，近愛克迪亞國家公園，第一日遭陰雨襲擊，但巧遇大理花開，甚是艷麗，翌次到訪天晴，大理花一週缺雨潤澤，花朵萎縮，而且是嚴冬到臨，郵輪旅行季節結束，許多大街店面均冬眠去也，前週忘記介紹一株路中之老蘋果樹，樹梢有些蘋果卻高不可攀。

My car battery was dead when I came back home from the cruise/Carlos Pueblo

 My car battery was dead when I came back home from the cruise/Carlos Pueblo

My car battery was dead when I came back from the cruise. Am I surprised? No. I damaged the passenger side door one day when I attempted to avoid an exit car from the tennis court at a peaking hour of the morning school kids delivery. I ran into a low wall and scraped heavily on the passengers side doors and since then the side door light was on all the time. I kept on driving for a month before I left for a half moth long cruises. The old car was parked on the street of my house and of course the battery leaked the juice and went dead when I returned. First, I like to see if I can jump the dead car with Arthur's vehicle.

I got both vehicles lined up face to face and hoods were open. I properly connected the red and black cables on both batteries. I asked him to add some gas to pump up some electrical current power to my car I guessed. It didn't work and I let him go back to the house. I continued to add some more gas on his vehicle to charge some more time and finally it worked. Then, I had to make a decision to do next. I drove to my auto garage McDaniel to seek a help. I explained my problem to the manager and he listened carefully and got a menchanic to come out to take a look. The mechanic rolled down the window and opened and closed the passenger's door. He went back inside and took a hammer out. I didn't mid if he hammered out the door light. Actually, he knocked down two or three times to the door buckle and closed the door. Amazingly, the light was disappeared and the door was properly closed and I didn't see the door not closed light on the panel. I thanked them for helping me to solve the issue and they didn't charge me anything.

I had had an identical experience in 2013 when I ran into the side bricks under the breakfast room window outside of house on the driveway. It was a new vehicle and costed me about $8,000 for the dealer to fix it. My old Q45 is about $1,000 value or less. It will be very inconvenient if I don't have it in my old life to drive to the tennis court every morning. I can also use the vehicle as Arthur's alternative to his old Camry to work. We can live more peacefully with both vehicles in working condition and that is why I am released.

Nissan make vehicles very reliable especially its luxury Infinite vehicles such as the Q45. I have had  it for 25 years. I believe that Japan cars makers can produce very good quality of army tanks if case of the war.

舊車熄火／莊峻華

 舊車熄火／莊峻華

北美東北岸郵輪旅行回家，發現舊車果然熄火，正想如何處理？元兒需要開車上班，只好等待其翌日週休，先開其車打網球，然後投票，再處理熄火舊車，我先借其車起動熄火電池，果然不久帶動，我讓我舊車發動些時，然後開到修車行，請求幫忙解決信號燈不關閉之問題。

約是兩個月前，我在網球場入口，因圖避免與出球場車輛碰撞，結果舊車滑撞球場矮磚牆，乘客門從中間滑上一凹，拖到第二門，很是難看，但舊車仍舊可駕駛每日，只是門底有一燈，關門後無法熄滅，而且駕駛盤指示燈，一直顯示門未關妥，我也弄不清楚如何處理，我也不想花錢整理，出門旅行半個月，是想到請愛美每日發動舊車，但又忘記交待，當然舊車必然熄火。

如果車行老闆不樂意幫忙，我只好開車去握爾瑪大店換新電池，然後下個月再外出旅行時，將電池接頭鬆卸，斷絕漏電，雖是麻煩，但也可行。老闆不在，我解釋給前櫃經理，他同我外出觀看，舊車仍在開動中，他開關前座雙門，然後請出一位年輕伙計，技師看過損壞部門，打開窗，這窗突然可以上下移動，然後他回車場帶出一鋃頭傢伙，我說敲掉燈也無妨，結果他是敲一重下門上固定之鐵扣，讓該前門可以緊扣關閉，然後語我燈已關閉。

日產豪華車像坦克一樣堅固耐用，我亦僅開車打網球爾，別無其他用途，此車也可讓元兒備用，開舊車可以節約省錢，何況年邁不宜駕駛，白日抑或夜晚。