修葺前院／莊峻華
前院聖奧古斯丁草坪有病蟲害，枯死一大片，我估計修葺工程巨大，剛好割草師傅和鋸樹師傅，都無興趣接此工作，於是我就開始土法煉鋼，自行動工，我年輕時有過這種經驗，草皮是可以移植，草坪可以維護改進，我曾經整理過租屋出售兩次，都是自己動工。
我先移植幾塊草皮，從後院到前院，能移植草皮太少，只好求助於大賣店，一大賣店草皮售罄，我到另一家購買25塊，此匹草皮已甚枯黃，未知能否順利，正好下雨兩日，草皮有些動靜，愛美從握爾瑪歸來曰，有大賣店草皮特價，於是趕去察看，大賣店新貨也售罄，僅剩一些，經理同意半價，於是我又買下15塊，這些是破碎草皮，但我覺無妨，只要我認真澆水，或者遇見梅雨，補上後，還是感覺不足，於是今日我再趕去大賣店，殘餘存貨草皮無幾，而且也無完整一塊可計算，所以經理就打一折賣出，我檢一堆回來，仔細的補上前院空隙，然後澆水，我等四日後下雨預告。
我估計約補上50平方呎，如果順利，幾年後可以長滿前院，當然我需要春夏秋冬勤澆水，春秋兩季定時施肥，注意病蟲害，莫等待到如今日之嚴重。
Re-visiting Portland, Maine 2022/Carlos Pueblo
Portland, Maine is a regular port for the New England and NE Canadian Provinces cruise route which I have taken regularly and also one of the main stop for the North Atlantic cruises. It is an old port for the European immigrants to be settled in the New World. I also am familiar with Portland, Oregon on the Pacific Coast that I like it very much. The New England cruises are my regular summer vacation to avoid the heat way in Houston, Texas. Usually I have made a back to back arrangement for such cruise trips to save some airfares.
The first stop was a cloudy day after a rainy day at New Port, Rhode Island. The port was quiet in compare to my previous experience. I got off the ship and walked into the harbor establishment. A lobster eatery on the harbor is familiar to me called the Porthole lobster restaurant. You can order a pair of small lobster and eat them outside on open seats by ships to enter the harbor. I have dined here twice even though I don't usually eat outside of the cruise ship. I walked into a familiar fish market to take some pictures of fish prices per pound. It is very nice to live here to have plenty of fish to eat. They are fresh and prices are reasonable.
I walked briefly into the city center in order to see if I can buy ear plug for my swimming on board. It was out of the summer season; therefore, I couldn't find it available. The city does have nice and classic buildings and looks rich and affluent. I can see that is a tourist city in New England.
Very soon, I returned back to the ship for lunch and programs in the afternoon. I get tired very easily nowadays. I went to swim anyway without ear plug and swimming goggles. It was not comfortable yet I did have some exercises.
重返緬因州波特蘭港2022／莊峻華
波特蘭港是新英格蘭老海港，和奧勒岡州波特蘭港，東西輝映，兩港各有特色，西岸波特蘭較新穎，東岸則是古舊，但仍具規模，我常郵輪旅行，橫跨北大西洋，新英格蘭和加國三省，都需經過緬因州波特蘭港，這次是來回倆次七日遊，因此是路過兩次。此日也是陰天，下船時街上，多半是郵輪乘客，我熟悉的摸上碼站龍蝦餐廳，此餐廳名曰港洞，1929年開業，我來過兩次，第二次帶愛美來，一份蝦餐有兩隻小龍蝦，可以在室外用餐，室外就是碼頭木板餐桌，小魚船靠岸卸貨處。
平常我不在船外用餐，況且龍蝦在休市東方超市，也有新鮮生猛龍蝦，價錢不比新英格蘭觀光碼頭餐廳貴，識者需要走出碼頭街道，尋覓當地人餐廳，或是華人餐廳，我搭之郵輪，早已取消提供龍蝦，節省成本，但是費用餐廳，仍舊提供鮮魚可口菜單。碼頭可以看到捕捉龍蝦鐵框，海面上常見浮球是標誌，為魚船收鐵框用，日本北海道火車經過，也可以看到這些浮球標，置放在村落民間庭院，我想魚船也可以網捕龍蝦，和網捕魚隻一般撈起。
我忘攜帶游泳用耳塞，想在市面購買，幾家店員均曰，並非季節，店無存貨。我喜愛郵輪旅行，郵輪生活熱鬧有趣，可以到處遊覽，食宿交通均包括，職員禮儀專業，女職員年輕，如花似玉。晚上我聽一節歌唱，然後結束一日。
Drive Amy to her jury duty/Carlos Pueblo
Amy received a jury duty summon yesterday and I waited until a night before to decide to drive her to the downtown. It is not that easy to go to downtown Houston and it is a fact. We got up early to prepare to make the arrival before 8 o'clock scheduled time. I learned to take an HOV lane to enter busy downtown streets.
We all have to answer the jury duty in the United States until age 70. It is a civic duty. Both Amy and our son Arthur are not familiar with the Houston downtown traffic; therefore, I volunteer to be their chauffeur to rid off their headache.
In the afternoon, she found a time to call me what the procedure was. She was on the second run with a number of 11 of about 60 or 70 left. She also picked up a fellow jury prospect for a ride to get her home and I didn't mind at all. I managed to prepare a simple dinner for Arthur for his night shift work. At about a quarter to six p.m., she called for my picking up. I was at my last three dumplings at my dinner.
There was a terrible traffic on I-10 toward the downtown. She calculated my time to reach our point of pick up was about 45 minutes. I found out the rider's home area and decided to take I-59 instead of I-10. I entered another HOV lane which was my first time to be aware of, to be out of Harris County. It was very lonely lane with a speed limit of 60 mph. I was not used to be alone on a single lane with a vehicle behind me. Finally, I exit to a park and ride area and the rider directed me for the rest of direction to her house. She said that she took the same route with an Uber Taxi in the morning.
I managed to make it home on a familiar street yet I was not sure of the north or the south bound. Amy explained to me what di happen at the jury room. She had to excuse herself out of the final selection with insufficient English ability. I read about the story and also recent continue civic education with Donald Trump's facing the law. I understand a little better with the U.S. legal systems.
專送愛美上陪審團／莊峻華
愛美有陪審團義務，詢問我幾次如何搭公車到城中，最後我決定專車送她，因為陪審團集結時間是上午八時，搭公車時間甚難掌控，何況我也閒來無事，幫她解決交通問題，也是一件有意義之事，於是我按時早睡，清晨六點半就出發，七點就抵達郡中心，美國是法治國家，許多訴訟，訴訟需要陪審團，公民到七十歲，始得免除陪審團義務。
選上陪審團，很不容易，因為選擇人選甚是豐富，我一生都不曾被選上，最接近者是第二輪，約有五十位可選出幾位，然後就被遣送回家，按兩造律師解釋，人選約是前十位，後面者輪不上。被徵召召者，可免費搭公車，還有贈送四元美金車馬費，有時後法院還節省下來，我甚吝嗇，但也不曾計較過。
最近，我常觀看川普的面對司法，陪審團之調人應訊，這和選擇陪審團程序稍後，陪審團成立後，檢察官開始調察案件，愛美這責任，是已經開始要審判矣，選上就當場上法庭聽審，所以我在家等電話，準備再回城中，接她回家。
有一年，約是1980年代，我應一客戶請求，當他民事訴訟之證人，我當日也出庭，準備作證，證明客戶之性格，是一守法者，開庭時鄰居原告撤除告訴，他甚無奈，律師費用已經達20萬美金。
Repair damaged front yard/Carlos Pueblo
Our front yard has been damaged by a kind of bug laid eggs on the lawn. The St. Augustine grass leaves turned yellow plus some dry summers. New leaves have never been able to cover the damage. We have asked two lawnmowers to give us estimates. Both won't take the job to rebuild it. I am forced to do it again. I did have once to repair a small area on our back yard with identical damage which is very common lawn disease.
I first drove to the old landscape store on Highway 6. I made a wrong turn and missed it. I turned to a garden shop nearby our house. They ran out of sod inventory. I decided to remove some portion of the healthy lawn from our backyard to put in the front yard. It was too little to make it up and I was very tired due to my age. I need about 100 pieces of one square foot sod to make a difference.
The following day, I drove back again to another store near by our old house north of I-10. I bought 25 pieces for $3.50 a piece. The sod were not good looking, obviously were there for a while and I have no better choice. I laid down all of them on a little bit soften damaged ground. Neighbors passed by and curiously asking me what I was doing. I explained that I did build my hard working chores habit some half of a century ago when I was in Taiwanese conscription. The only difference is that it is very hard for me to do this kind of hard labor.
I was lucky of the rain. I hope that would help to make it work. After it works, I shall apply again some fertilizer on the surface and one more time for the entire front and back yard to strengthen our lawn grass. In case of the identical condition, I shall apply chemical immediately.
修葺草坪／莊峻華
前院草坪，每況愈下，搬來新居，已經十年，屋況不若購買時，這是因為我的維護不佳，我捨不得花錢維護，和我的鄰居有異，鄰居屋主有準備，有預算，隨時整理庭院，隨時整理住屋，四十餘年舊屋，庭院似花園，屋外粉刷美麗，屋頂隨時更換，我心甚懺愧，前院幾年前有病蟲害，飛蛾在草坪上置卵，枯黃一片，兩三年後聖奧古斯丁草皮枯死，週圍草皮無法補救，加上前院三株巨樹，遮蔽陽光，愛美先撤換我割草職務，新割草師傅，也無法改善，於是變成愛美心頭大患。
先後懇請兩家割草師傅估價，更換草皮都不專門，於是我又自告奮勇，先是開車到兩家大賣店，了解草皮價格，我想不是沃土流失，我無需再購新土，只需要鬆土，然後新舖草皮，草皮大賣店有售，現在約是一小塊三塊五美元，我先需一百小塊濟急，但鄰近大賣店缺貨，於是我想從後院石塊隙，刨除草皮補充，幾年前我是如此做，而且也順利補上一塊，現在後院石塊空隙又補滿，我分幾次移植若干。
鄰居路過詢問，我說是半世紀前服兵役，掃廁所的往事經驗，現在這種小事在休市，真找不到估價者，勞工之缺乏，我移植三小塊，已經精疲力竭，連續午憩多時，畢竟此非老叟所能為，剛好下雨，保證移植成功。我還是等待下次，購買新草皮，節省一些操煩，後院能補充草皮也不多，而且需要移植空地甚多，我這多年疏乎，損壞已形成。
一位鄰居有類似損壞，她就請專門園丁，約是三位師傅，開專車羣攜新土新草皮前來，整個前院都掀開，舖上新沃土新草皮，如此將近四日，前院草坪奐然一新，我路過觀賞，甚是欽佩，我的兩位庭院師傅，約識我節省，連報價都省下，若平日我認真灑水，說不定損害不至如此。
其實我的煩惱不僅止於草坪，地基，室內地毯和屋瓦等，都是舊屋問題，我道是人去樓空，我們家有二樓，美國勞工聘請不易，急的是愛美，她有遠程計劃，將來她計劃售出此屋，搬到一較小新屋，讓元兒好管理，當然這已不干我事矣。
Arriving at the Narita Airport 2023/Carlos Pueblo
After a 14 hours flight, we landed at Tokyo Narita Airport to join a over crowded passengers to flood in Japan. It was overwhelmed almost everywhere at the huge airport, the pandemic station, the immigration, and the Japan Rail Pass. Amy got a help to prepare our Covid 19 pass in Houston Intercontinental yet there was still a long line and the airport was ready to provide the necessary shot for those unprepared. here were not enough immigration officers to handle the overwhelming passengers. Finally, I had had a hard time to check in my JR Pass prepaid tickets due to the pass of three months without replacement. I was forced to purchase again with higher prices and got a 15% penalty refund when I came back home.
We took the Narita-Tokyo Express to Sh
The hotel is located at Fukushima. Yucari showed us how to walk to Fukushima Station to catch on a loop train to Osaka, on stop, then another train also one stop to Shin-Osaka Station to transfer to Shinkansen to another city of our choice. It is very convenient. I am going to introduce every day of our activities.
初抵東京2023／莊峻華
去年底，愛美提議旅行日本，我隨意提到三月櫻花季，到日本賞花，於是當日訂下機票和火車票，日本剛開放入境，而且美金匯率一比一百三十元，一切覺得便宜，未想到整個日本，湧入許多旅客，飛機爆滿。
日本入境時，需要手機掃描武肺疫苗施打記錄，愛美在候機室，煩請一位日本青年幫忙，到了羽田機場，這是首關，大擺長龍，無法出示證明者，當場補正手續，當場補打疫苗，第二關是入境海關，人與行李，我被一年輕海關青年叫回排隊，他呼我奧吉桑，就是老叟意，我特別追問我貌似老叟？年輕人莞爾。第三關是日本鐵道劵，也是大排長龍，我們有遠程火車需趕路，結果預訂票超過三個月失效，需要重新高價購買，反正別無選擇，連忙上車赴東京品川站，日鐵職員幫我們訂下座位。
東京到新大阪時程超過兩小時半，抵達新大阪問路，問到一位住在旅店附近之緣姑娘，她帶路從新大阪搭火車到大阪，再換車一站到福島站，甚至帶路到旅店，她住在附近，我非常感激她的親切，特別邀請她翌日午餐，她也爽快答應，第二日剛好天雨，她帶我們到附近烤三重縣鰻魚料理餐廳，非常美味，我一直以為日本鰻魚來自台灣，結果不是，是日本土產。旅店職員聞我們台語聲音，前來相親，原來是新店同鄉，我說半世紀前，我曾在新店文山國中教一年書。
我們休息一日後，就開始一週精彩旅行，每日走路到福島驛，換車到大阪驛，再到新大阪驛換新幹線，東西奔馳，不亦樂乎？
The old and lonely life/Carlos Pueblo
After coming back from a three weeks trip to Japan, I felt my old and lonely life appearance. I was sick with a cold infection and tired with a jet lag. I was in an early morning six hours train ride from the northwest part of Japan to Tokyo Narita Airport. Then a 14 hours flight back to Houston that made me very fatigue. I almost forgot how enjoyable of the trip.
I always like to compare my life to my late father, as a matter of fact that I have outlive him for 10 years. He was not as lucky as I am in a different era. He lived in a hard time for all his life in Taiwan. He couldn't determine his life but facing it and manage it to his best. I am aware that I am old and lonely. I manage to go on my life that I must be careful when I am alone must of my life.
Amy's mother used to stay with us when both of our children were young. I had witness her old life yet not lonely. She had a busy senior life since her 60's. We used to be her chauffeur to all her senior activities. I am on the opposite that I am alone. I select to be alone. I go out to travel. I am still taking my continue education of the American law and order. I watch all Trump's legal issues and also I am watching for the international politic. I am still very lonely.
老年生活／莊峻華
不想我已邁入老年多時，每日親睹顏面多次，戴帽遮蔽禿頂，左膝蓋虛弱，食慾不若年輕時，每日不知所作為何？我甚感激無虛渡此生，比較我的父母一代，我是幸運，至少我是生活無慮。
我的晚年，都是離群索居，鮮少與外界往來，我和上一代人有異，幾月前我還晨網運動，膝痛後中斷，然後就無朋友往來，僅能閱讀球友，每日球局安排，每日均注意出外旅行機會。
每日24小時，是一慢長時刻，而且是日復一日，我不否認孤獨寂寞，還好網誌普遍，川普新聞，提供美國公民課，還有中國鬧劇，川普將破產，川普將鋃鐺入獄，中國將亡國，中國將四分五裂，這是我的老年結論。
這次旅行日本三週，有趣但甚辛苦，我們都感冒，而且時差，尤其是我，亦呈老邁，真是歲月不饒人，我只能善用時日，避免過分勞累，多活幾年。
Returning visit to New Port, Rhode Island/Carlos Pueblo
New Port, Rhode Island is on the lists of ports on New England/Canadian Provinces cruises which I select to take almost every year during the summer. According to my habit I only take a walk at the city by the port, actually it is the old town area. New Port is the home town of the late Senator Claiborne Pell who was a friend of Taiwan.
We took a tender boat to the shore. It was a rainy day which was very miserable. I am familiar with the port and decided to march again toward the right direction. The port was no longer as busy as before due to the pandemic; however, it was still maintained very well everywhere. We have already made the purchase of the cruise; therefore, we might just enjoy our limited time here to this lovely town. There is an harbor area with luxury yachts. This city is one of the host port for the famous America Cup racing. From the spot, we can view the bridge far away in name of the late Senator to connect the island to the Mainland New England.
I walked some more miles to enjoy the nice and quiet of a rainy day in New England. A mail man was following me along the way. I believed that I did enter a small museum backyard to see a lovely garden. I have learned how to enjoy my senior life by cruise ship traveling around the world. It is very nice that I don't feel a burden financially.
I saw some passengers were returning back to the ship. It was more comfortable and more interesting on the ship. I decided to end my leisure venture of the day.
重返羅德島州新港市2022／莊峻華
就在秋季結束前，我趕上郵輪最後兩班航次，旅行美國新英格蘭和加拿大東北三省，都是舊遊，但也無妨，我深自慶幸有生以來，如此機會，享受如此愉快之旅行，這次旅行是搭乘起跑號，屬於稍新大船，我剛提到過，一上船就發現舊識巴貝多火冰樂團，她們也憶得我這位粉絲，我們黃昏從曼哈頓啟航，經過自由女神像後，紐約已是萬巷燈火，船行一整夜後，帶我重返羅德島州之新港市。
很不巧登路日值天雨，新港市區不便於行，我是右轉開始逛街，熟悉街巷，碼頭景觀不變，新港十分標緻，是一富裕之小城市，碼頭有許多遊艇停靠，也是世界賽帆港口，碼頭有許多新英格蘭龍蝦餐廳，因為武肺剛開放，沒有昔日盛況，我在右邊市區閒逛些時，打發一些時間，遇見些花園，便拍攝相片留念，走回碼頭，正待繼續左邊市區，看到不少船客，已經開始排隊，等待接駁船，帶回郵輪，我想也差不多矣，於是結束逛街，一週後我仍有機會閒逛一次。
晚上我跟隨火冰樂團節目，八點許即結束當日活動，我的郵輪旅行，漸次頻繁，這算是一典型一日，這些旅程多半是重複，我不甚在意，凡是郵輪旅行簡單，重複也甚當然，重要的是舒適與安全。
Coming back from a trip to Japan 2023/Carlos Pueblo
Last Friday afternoon, we were coming back from Japan after 3 weeks cherry blossom tour around the nation. I was sick due to the fatigue and cold infection; however, it would not affecting my exciting of the trip. This trip is one of my many trips to Japan in my life time and is the best of all and I shall describe it to you.
We landed in Tokyo Narita Airport on March 25. It took several hours to go through the entrance procedure which was due to the overwhelming tourists and the Wuhan corona protocol, an internet verification for all passengers. After the immigration exit, I ran into another long line to get our Japan Rail Pass. Unfortunately, our paid reservation was passing three months limit and we had to purchase two new one in order to continue our journey.
We made it to Shinakawa station in order to get on a night train to Osaka. Upon arriving Shin-Osaka station, we were lucky to ask a right person who took us to two local trains to our hotel at Fukushima, Osaka. We were so appreciated of her kindness and treat her to a fancy lunch on the next day at a nice grill eel restaurant. She is a pretty young girl who makes two trip to Tokyo in a month for her business. We were on the same bullet train that night.
We stayed in Osaka for the first week. Five years ago, Amy and I visited Osaka together; therefore, this visit was the second time for us to Osaka together. I took her to Osaka Castle, Kiyomizu dera in Kyoto, Himeji Castle, Okayama Castle, and Fukuyama Castle. The next week, we were in Fukuoka/Hakata and we visited Kokura Castle, Mazumoto Castle, Kagosima city, and Hiroshima Castle and the peace garden. The final week, we were at Akita on the north west part of Honshu Island. We made a 6 hours costal line train tour from Akita to Aomori, we visited the Hirosaki Castle at Aomori, We went back to Aomori by the bullet train on the next day, we visit Sendai and the Tohoku University, and we stay two days at Akita to participate the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Japan is very beautiful especially during the cherry blossom season. We can see the blossom all over the country from the south to the north.
甫自日本旅行歸來2023／莊峻華
昨日下午，甫自日本旅行三週歸來，旅途漫長，幾近勞累，身體不適，連忙驅寒時差，我最近經常外出旅行，遊記落後許多，像美國加拿大東岸，東加勒比海遊，再一次東加勒比海遊，加上巴拿馬運河行，然後就是日本行，五月初再訪西岸阿拉斯加，溫哥華到蘇握港來回，十月初重複隨珠寶號經阿拉斯加回東京，今年仍舊甚忙，而且是有體力不濟之壓力。
我們在羽田機場下機後，遇到大量外國旅客入境之壓力，武肺檢疫證明電子版，海關，再加上日鐵帕司過期，臨時高價購買兩張，搭快車到品川，換新幹線直奔大阪，還好一位少女帶路上旅店。我們在大阪一週，每日都乘坐新幹線賞櫻花著名古城，我將一一介紹，一週後，我們遷移到北九州之福岡博多，也是到處逛街賞花，日本正直櫻花祭季，非常美麗。第三週我們再遷移至西北角落秋田市，翌晨我們搭乘特急到青森，就是五能線，也是到處參觀櫻行，此時日本櫻花，遍山遍野。
我計劃同時寫旅行遊記，還好我拍攝許多相片，幫忙回憶。
