Returning to Victoria, Canada(2) 2022/Carlos Pueblo

 Returning to Victoria, Canada(2) 2022/Carlos Pueblo

The cruise ship returned to Victoria, Canada early in the evening for our last stop before returning to Seattle, Washington. It was the end of our two weeks back to back cruise trip. I always have a feeling of lost of something like money yet with a rich memory of a repeated journey for this Alaska route.

We walked out of the ship toward the pier where we thought we could visit the busy night activity at the water front. Actually we reached to a different area of the pier full of fishing and leisure boats with some seafood restaurants closed for the day. The city is very considered to keep rest rooms open for tourists. We walked back toward the tower of Encore direction. I believe that the ship is much more active than the city pier where we visit.

It is in my memory that I have come to visit this capital city of the British Columbia many times. I have been three times from Vancouver, Canada; twice from Port Angeles down the south on the north tip of Olympia Peninsula; and twice from cruises. They are all in a brief visit to such a lovely city. It is in a large part of the North American Pacific Coast Line, from Alaska down to Baja California, another peninsula in Mexico. I have tried many times in my life to get familiar to this lovely area. Many cities to be remembered.

重返加拿大維多莉亞港（2）2022／莊峻華

 重返加拿大維多莉亞港（2）2022／莊峻華

因為是重複阿拉斯加遊，因此重返加拿大維多莉亞港，旅行已接近尾聲，船抵達碼頭已經是黃昏，也僅幾小時可以逛逛碼頭附近，上週是參加遊覽夜間花園，這次原定找上碼頭夜市，結果僅達碼頭和鄰近之住宅區。因為國內和加拿大郵輪旅行，較為方便，因此常常選擇如此旅行，連愛美都來過好幾次。

傍晚碼頭已經關閉生意，僅留洗手間供遊客使用，這是維港碼頭體貼之處，碼頭顯然十分忙碌，有魚船有商船有遊艇等，許多海鮮餐廳，但僅一兩家開放營業，我們逛上幾處就沿著郵輪方向走回，這是一幽雅之住宅區，夜晚屋簷燈光，都照亮前院花圃。

我並不後悔船程，其實一整日也只能觀看一個大概，我們來過維港好幾次，這是卑斯省，不列顛可倫比亞省，之省會，不是溫哥華市，加拿大人將城市蓋得美侖美奐，非常有特色，南部隔一海峽就是華盛頓州，我網球老隊長服海軍潛艇役，經常經此海峽回基地，或出太平洋執勤，我也曾經在此附近，加美兩國租車陸地旅行，都是美憶。

Drinking parties on sea days at Encore/Carlos Pueblo

 Drinking parties on sea days at Encore/Carlos Pueblo

Drinking on board at the cruise is very expansive and popular. People are used to purchase a package before or on board with a discount. If you are not a drinker regularly, it doesn't bother you at all. If you drink casually, a drinking party on a sea day is attractive because that you feel that you are saving some money. Encore is a newer ship and one of the largest with this cruise liner. I am very impressed with their drinking parties on sea days.

First party is usually held on the first sea day at noon. The Cruise Next department shall invite repeated customers for a drink. It is held at a large room with a bar bar waiters are summoned from bars from all the ship. You can have the wine and mixed drink in a short period of time. You can witness a long que waiting to get in before the opening. I usually grape one glass of red wine and take one out for my lunch thereafter. The alcohol is not good for all my diabetes pills yet I sacrifice them for my fun.

There is also another drinking party for platinum and above latitude class members. Before you reach the platinum class you must have the bronze, the silver, and the gold status which means you must satisfy certain cruise days. the general manager at Encore has a better budget and he is more generous; therefore, he holds one more party with a mixed drink and the wine party and a beer party saperately in a large restaurant  as well as the Brew house. Some older ship with a limited budget would hold a wine party only for the platinum members on the Cellar.

On our second back trip, in addition to all of those parties mentioned above, I received an invitation card from the general manager on my new room desk to a drinking party on the Heaven. The Heaven is the most luxury area on the top of the ship for the rich and dare to spend the fund. The frugal person like me always budget myself in a basic minimum inside stateroom when I purchase the cruise fare. It was the first time that I have the opportunity to see the set up of the Heaven class. It was on an observation lounge with an entrance of a swimming pool. It is identical to the commoner's observation floor on the 14th deck yet you don't have to fight for a seat of lying sofa to observe the glacier.

安可號海上日酒會／莊峻華

 安可號海上日酒會／莊峻華

這次阿拉斯加郵輪旅行，幸好買到安可號，行程固定，重複一次，海上日酒會有趣，我喜歡喝酒，但因身體健康，強制壓抑嗜好，但免費酒會卻是例外，不可放棄，愛美不喝酒，只沾一口，剩餘者由我喝畢，但酒會氣氛愉快，郵輪亦甚誠意。這安可號係重唱意，音樂會有熱唱，應觀眾要求在結束後，多加一曲，安可號是此郵輪行18艘郵輪中最重最新之一艘，專門為阿拉斯加線設計，有一整層是專用於觀賞冰洲。

登船後首次海上日中午，就是首次免費酒會，在一大廳舉行，大廳原有酒吧，調來全船各處酒吧侍者來幫忙招待老顧客，約是銅銀金級等以上，是船票預購課主辦，站在門口歡迎兼查看，一般都很鬆，可以攜帶朋友進入酒會，所以規模很大，有時候幾百人出席，取酒要迅速，酒會致詞後不久就結束，就是侍者撤離，所以我大概可以喝一杯，帶走一杯晃蕩到餐廳午餐，許多遊客拿酒杯到處晃來晃去，很是瀟灑愉快，有的買酒票，甚至提酒瓶晃，表示肯花費，我愛女侍者告知喝不完酒瓶可標籤，下次到任何餐廳，有侍者可到酒吧酒庫領取服務。

鉑金級以上，尚有一專門招待酒會，老船是喝葡萄酒，品嘗六桌六種不同紅白葡萄酒，時間較長，也是中午，新船在大餐廳擺席，舊船就在葡萄酒地窖，其時就是葡萄酒屋舉行，因為人稍少，時間稍長，可喝上三，四杯，帶走一杯，主持人就是葡萄酒屋主，品嘗葡萄酒講習會主持人，該講習會喝6杯葡萄酒，加上幾片巧克力糖，要價$20，有人認為便宜。

新船鉑金級以上，還有一次免費啤酒會，在8層啤酒屋舉行，也是中午，啤酒屋船上名曰釀酒屋，這是郵輪總經理辦公室主辦，不僅是各種啤酒，連歌手都駐唱，我誇獎這位印度裔總經理能幹，武肺疏散員工有功，總經理大樂曰九月底他休假，我說無妨他秘書在，這美女是我新認義女。

還有一次是在天堂區舉行，天堂區是在郵輪頂樓豪華區，閒人不得進入，我稍遲到，客人不多，我拍攝一些相片，有一游泳池，有一觀賞大廳，喝酒坐沙發，我想是專門招待鑽石級以上，就是鑽石級漢大使級，我因缺23日晉鑽石級，人數少因此愛女將我邀請在列，非常感激，終於見識到郵輪富人居停處，這些乘客用餐也特別安排，在繳費牛排餐廳早餐等，十分有趣，他們一日費用高於我一週費用，包括機票，美國很多富人，毫無計較花錢，酒是一樣，都是免費招待。

Clearing my pension battle field/Carlos Pueblo

 Clearing my pension battle field/Carlos Pueblo

My pension savings are in the stock market. Recently my daughter Michelle asks me how much that I can loan her to build a new house on one of her old house in Austin, Texas; therefore, I must check on what I have had after the torturing crash of the market in 2022. I need to know what I have left in my accounts like clearing my pension battle field. I do have some cash after I have sold my long holding energy stock yet I can not loan it to her because my my share holder IRS will not allow it without me to file my income tax. I don't like to pay un-necessary tax of this kind. I can only thank her to get some interest of that cash.

Quickly, I find that how much we can loan her for the time being both Amy and I. We don't think that it is wise investment to tear down an income property to build a luxury home at the downtown area of Austin yet she is a smart and successful young professional lady that I can no longer say very much to her. Either I don't loan her the fund or loan her. Ya esta.

I have saved money when I work always. In 2001, when Michelle and Arthur were ready to go to colleges, I was out of work. I sold two rental property to get some funds at hand. I also withdrew my IRA to put into their Uniform Gifts to Minor Act accounts in case their education fee required. It was that the stock  market was very depressed at the time; therefore, it was not wise to liquid their UGTMA accounts to fund their college education. Once I took the early withdraw of my IRA, I had to continue to withdraw it until age 59 1/2 under a formula called the sum of digit method. IRS likes you to pay the income tax on the withdraw and I don't mind because my income is minimum. I converted the rest required withdraw years funds to my Roth IRA and paid my income tax on it. That is why I have some Roth IRA now. After graduated and worked for one year, Michelle prepared to go to the law school and moved her UGTMA fund to Arthur in order to apply the government loan. Later she changed her mind and asked me about that money. Lucky me, there was one UGTMA account with another company that I forgot to transfer at that time and grew to a considerable size and I give up my custodian and returned it to her for her wedding costs.

I am aware of my paper lost of 2022 yet I know that the stock market will eventually be back to normal. I clear my pension battle field and am still sitting very tight on all my investment. I believe Biden, his administration and the Federal Reserve are all on my side to see the soft landing of the economy. The market is coming back.

清理財務戰場／莊峻華

 清理財務戰場／莊峻華

昨晨琳兒來訊借錢築新屋，我剛好鼓起勇氣，清理財務戰場，去年股市崩盤，號稱下跌45％，慘不忍睹，我的儲蓄都在股市退休金帳戶，有些現金但大半是稅前存款，我想知道一共跌多少？

我工作時確實有儲蓄，但有投資失敗過，因此僅稅前退休基金倖存，54歲時失業，正巧琳兒準備上大學，這是2001年，小孩基金股不振，於是我賣掉兩棟租屋，取得一筆現金在手上，另外開始領出退休金，這是根據國稅局法令許可，就是有急需，可以有序紀律領出，領到59歲半，領多少不被處罰？處罰是10％，範圍是退休金當年全數除於壽命年數總合，國稅局有一男女壽命年齡，英語曰數目總合，就是年紀一年加一年，加到壽命年之總合當分母，租屋折舊算法之第二類。54歲開始領，必需每年領出，領到60歲，因為我失業無收入，因此無礙，前兩年我將領出基金股，轉入兩小孩之未成年基金帳號備用，大學學雜費由手上售出屋款支出，琳兒讀德大㑹計，更是青出於藍。

兩年後，四年領出退休金股就轉入我的羅斯帳號，時光飛馳，這兩羅斯帳號，多半是高科技基金，幾年前狂飆一陣，當然去年重挫，但仍舊可觀可仰望。

我知無法借琳兒稅前退休金，但也勉強籌出一筆數目，也多謝她的好意，她自己也可以向銀行抵押貸款，我其實也可以再入股市變錢，就是買低賣高，她也真正無需我的幫助。

Observing the current U.S. economy/Carlos Pueblo

 Observing the current U.S. economy/Carlos Pueblo

Our daughter Michelle asks for a loan to build a small mansion on her E. 10th St lot in Austin, Texas. I went out to banks and a security broker house to check if I could lend her the fund under my self directed rollover IRA? A nice broker tells me No that it is considered as a withdraw with income tax consequence. Both banks are all very busy and I must set an appointment to ask questions. I have a sense that the U.S. economy is moving out of the pandemic and is thriving again.

The U.S. stock market is up on the first week of the year. I am down about 43% of my peak in the near past so is the U.S. Government because IRS is another share holder of my portfolio, either the pension or the regular accounts. IRS has very much interest on my financial well being. The Fed Reserve is not going to drop the interest rate; therefore, it means the inflation is more on the Chairman's concern that the recession. Amy tells me that the fresh produce is more expansive than before, that is inflation indeed. I go out to cruise in order to save her some food cost at home that she is in charge of the grocery shopping.

Cruises prices are more expansive and there is no last minute deal nowadays. I still can buy some cheap and low quality steak on sale some weekly; however, the meat is not good for my health if I enjoy it too much. I learn it that farmers can be benefit from the inflation because their produce prices are up so is their income. Once the Dollar is diminished means the currency circulation is well and there is no contraction of money to the economic development. The U.S. economic engine likes the locomotive to move the whole world economy again and again.

I am optimistic in the future U.S. economy and it is a soft landing. The U.S. population are not afraid of spending no matter of the poor or the rich. That consumption will carry on the economy to move forward.

觀察美國經濟現況／莊峻華

 觀察美國經濟現況／莊峻華

清晨琳兒來訊借錢築新屋，問我們有多少錢可貸？我是有一筆閒錢在退休金帳戶，無息靜置，準備重入股市，借給她亦無妨，於是先到兩銀行詢問，退休金是否可以領出投資証劵銀行定期以外？結果是不許，即領出就需報所得稅，開車時我已經想通，21年前我離開保險業時，已經有此醞釀，自行管理退休帳戶，是否可以領出購屋？當然可以借出，借自己之退休金，交利息給自己之退休金帳戶，人壽險可以，但退休金不可，因為退休金國稅局是大股東，可以大到40％，州政府有的是10％，領出時兩政府都可兌現，政府不會輕鬆放棄股份。我有如此認識，實在是現在我的社會福利金所得，勉強交上國稅局年度所得稅，非常心痛。

美國就是一十分上軌道，制度完整之國度，我正在等專家分析川普如何報所得稅，川普在六年中未領薪水，沒有交社會福利金稅和老人健保稅，他的收入完全在投資公司收入，投資失敗款，可以抵來年收入，我們若有生意年度損失，無法抵銷其他利息等投資收入，國稅局不許可，我已無力氣去追究，讓眾議院去立法補正。

美國是經濟大國，真實不虛，國家實力堅強，我很清楚去年經濟大跌，股市崩盤，通貨膨脹嚴重，連愛美均曰蔬菜水果昂貴，今讀汽車銷售量，各廠商均下滑，美國市場從小卡車獨秀，輪到韓國現代和其所屬起亞，因為價格便宜，所以我的本田股票套牢幾十年。

美國股市可以預測半年後經濟實況，美國央行不願放寬利息，仍然強調扼殺通貨膨脹，無懼於經濟蕭條，主要是看好美國新年新經濟，這是復甦前兆，美國經濟仍舊是世界火車頭，琳兒願斥資新建豪宅，我看郵輪無廉價最後一分鐘，經濟已經開始恢復運轉。

A minor auto accident/Carlos Pueblo

 A minor auto accident/Carlos Pueblo

Amy was driving north bound on the right lane on Wilcrest approaching I-10, a driver made a sudden change lane from the left lane to the right and hit her left fender above the wheel. She woke me up on my nap to ask if she should release her insurance to the other party who admitted his faulty. I knew that I had to help her to file a claim because she helped me to purchase some health supplement products from Costco and kindly excluded me due to my left knee hurts.

She had all the information which I needed to file a claim to another carrier. The other party's insurance office switched me to their insurance claim office line to take my report. I was familiar to all the auto claim procedure under my previous work experience. The first line adjuster took my report quickly and verified with their insured right away. A claim number was issued and quickly set up a dealer's body shop of Amy's choice as well as a reservation of a rental car for Amy to use. I was very impressed that the entire procedure was completed within an hour. No wonder it has been the number one auto insurance company in the nation for all the time.

It is very difficult to avoid auto collision of some kinds. I had one last year when I scratched my old Q45 to a brick wall at the entrance of tennis courts to avoid a heavy traffic during the morning rush hour in from of an elementary school. We drive very less therefore we don't get accident often. Auto accident can be an anxiety with stress in our mind. It is why I drive less and less. Now, I am worry about my only driving to and from the tennis court will be ended due to my left knee. 

小車禍／莊峻華

 小車禍／莊峻華

愛美上卡斯可大店購物，不巧遇車禍，有人超車換線，撞到愛美左前方，因為她幫我買護膝營養粒，因此我更需要幫忙處理理賠，我坐在案前，了解狀況，時間就像回到幾十年前的保險代理業務。

我是首先申請理賠者，因為對方已經認錯，於是對方代理辦公室助理，馬上幫我接上保險公司理賠專線，此公司係美國最大車險業者，其第一線職員，幾分鐘內就應更改我電話紀錄回電，問題和幾十年前問題相似，就是原因，實地物，有否受傷等等，然後就是與愛美對話求證，結束後就是掛斷電話，求證其客戶，我們的報告是否屬實？很快就有電話來，討論理賠詳細程序。

愛美喜歡送到售車車廠，於是訂下時間，理賠公司更進一步安排一租車給愛美，他們公司有專人與車廠視訊估價，和我過去經驗有異，但更有效率，租車辦公室就在住家附近，我們很方便接駁。

原來是件頭痛車禍，處理完畢，前後不到一小時，堪稱小車禍，愛美開車小心，幾十年無甚車禍，因此都開新車，我現在開車更少，尤其不打網球後，更不需開車，上飛機場，我都搭免費巴士。

Left knee is injured/Carlos Pueblo

 Left knee is injured/Carlos Pueblo

My left knee is injured; therefore. I must quit my morning tennis exercises in order to keep my body balance. The pain is not severe, yet the left foot can't withhold its share of my body weight. If I don't behave properly, I must have a surgery to replace my left knee. My neighbor Mike shows me his knee replacement which has taken more than a month to be recovered. I don't want to do that way. 

I am going to do the Tibetan dancing from now on. I may go back my morning walk on the neighborhood. In the summer I shall swim. My life will still go on meaningfully.

I have had a good memory of my tennis hobby. I played tennis when I was 14 at my home town in Taiwan. We played Japanese Tennis with the bamboo made rackets and robber balls. I was very good and was on the school teams both at the junior high as well as at the college. The hobby was interrupted after I left my hometown to study in Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan in 1963. I picked up Michelle's old racket to play the regular tennis in 1996. I have joined captain Steiner's group Tuesday evening and Saturday morning . He is in his 80's and still playing with us, a new group organized by me, on both Tuesday and Saturday mornings. I am aware someone in his 90's and is still playing the league's matches before the pandemic. Of course, their knees are still not hurting.

I can also extend my summer swimming into the winter on board of a cruise ship. It is the cooling sea water from the engine room. I have done that on three ships this past 6 months. I can also swing golf sticks on a simulator on board.

左膝蓋受傷／莊峻華

 左膝蓋受傷／莊峻華

下午鄰居邁克溜狗經過家門口，閒聊到腳膝受傷，他展示其膝蓋手術疤痕，這是換膝蓋手術，需要一個月恢復，回室內後左膝蓋開始不支，無法站直，略有疼痛，晚上貼上一些成藥片，睡覺有困難，於是通知球伴更改清晨時間，我需要去球場開門，並交待球場門卡，可能我的網球生命，即將結束，我因擊球使用手腕切球，因此避過網球肘問題，多打幾年網球。

現在左膝蓋有問題，我還是暫停劇烈之網球運動，改步行，跳土風舞，和游泳，如有機會，也可開始打高爾夫球，避免膝蓋磨損，我是需要設法完成幾項新年度之旅行，馬上之郵輪旅和三月下旬之日本旅。

年紀大身體器官開始衰竭，也需心理準備，身體應變，想想看我的身體問題還真多矣。

Welcome 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Welcome 2023/Carlos Pueblo

2023 is here and I welcome it. I am up early to prepare for my regular morning tennis except I  scramble myself to re-arrange our 7:30 am schedule to 8:00 am due to a minor injury of a double partner who injuries  himself while at a New Year's Eve dinner at his friend's house by drinking liquor. We are short of one player to make a set to play. Lucky us we have an un-expected one to join us before a short Canadian game, one versus 2. Very soon, there are 10 total players to be at our New Year morning tennis. Real life is the same, year comes and year passed.

2022 was very unique in a way of life, the bull stock market came to an end. I lost a bunch on paper value of my savings, yet I liquid my energy stock after 12 years investment. I pretend that I don't see the market crushed. I shall rely on what I have had on the energy stock cash to live on. I believe that the U.S. stock market will not stay very long like 2022. I believe the high tech adventure and also I believe the world economic will be improved after 2022.

I am healthy in a way to compare to my age. I am very satisfied. I know that I can no longer have so much traveling due to my aging body. I have already prepared to read more new books. As a matter of the fact, I am reading about Putin's World now to understand this mad man's mind and prepare myself to the end of the Ukraine War. I don't want to pay too much attention to Trump any more. He is facing the U.S. Laws now for what he has done to the Nation. 

I shall have a very good 2023 as previous years in the United States. I am so happy to admit that I have made such an excellent decision to immigrate to this great Nation. I am paying it back through my income tax now. From the dollars point of view, I have contributed more and more to this Nation for what she provides me and my children such a wonderful opportunity to excel.

迎接2023年／莊峻華

 迎接2023年／莊峻華

很快今晨就是2023年，凌晨開閱簡訊，得知球伴除夕夜聚餐喝酒足傷，今晨不克球局，我連忙通告改打8點，這一年匆忙駕臨，也是手忙腳亂，2022年終於安然渡過，這是極其特殊迅速渡過之年，股市崩盤，通貨膨脹，川普面對美國司法，普汀揮兵入侵烏克蘭等等，塵埃均未落定，新年已悄然到來。

我仍舊需要平靜之晚年生活，馬上又要上船旅行，這是月中到過二月中旬，超過一個月加勒比海暨巴拿馬運河行，三月初答應北上奧斯汀，幫忙照顧琳兒家庭大小，三月下旬出發旅行日本三週，機票車票旅店均訂妥，居大阪，福岡，和秋田各一週，其中福岡居，將遊武藏決鬥海灘，出雲市；秋田居每日搭車逛五能線日本海岸，從青森搭新幹線回秋田。

我相信美國可以安然渡過，經濟盤谷消條危機，拜登政府確實有堅強內閣陣容，共和黨眾院，玩不出甚麼把戲，美國國力堅強，不是蓋者也。