To my adopted daughters and granddaughters on cruise ship Prima/Carlos Pueblo

To my adopted daughters and granddaughters on cruise ship Prima/Carlos Pueblo

I am so happy to meet you on my vacation to the Western Caribbean and have adopted you as my daughters and granddaughters. I am sending you our pictures together for us to keep in our memory. I estimate that I have had more than 500 plus such friends among the cruise liner. I have been busy renovating my house, fixing the foundation, replacing the PVC pipes underground, interior painting, replacing the hardwood floor on the first story, and the foundation company just finished pumping mud into the underground space to make it solid. Next week they will come back to fill up the yard with the dirt again. In March, we're going to repair the damage to the lawn.

I am leaving for Taiwan via Japan on March 5, 2024 to fix my fake teeth and on April 6, I shall come back to Tokyo to wait for my last minute opportunity to board the Jewel to Seward, Alaska. I shall go on for another two cruises back to back to Seward on the Jewel and fly back to Vancouver, Canada to wait for my chance to board on the Spirit back to Japan in May. I may go back to Taiwan one more time. It sounds very crazy, yet this is my retirement life nowadays.

Thank you very much for your friendship. I know that you all are very pretty and hard working young ladies and I am very honored to have you all as my family members. I hope to see you all again, of course, some of you in my limited lifetime. 

給普莉馬郵輪愛女愛孫女／莊峻華

 給普莉馬郵輪愛女愛孫女／莊峻華

元月十八日最後一分鐘，購得十九日自德州高維斯敦港出發之郵輪船票，普莉馬號是艘新船，美倫美奐。一上船我就遇見在帕洛馬海鮮餐廳櫃台的愛女葛莉，我們約四年前在布列斯號相見，而且在義大利餐廳共餐，我們均有美憶，她答應再與我晚餐，但需要經理核准。

不久，餐廳男女職員都知道我這號人物已上船，均來相認，我13年曾搭過470天郵輪，都是此家公司，認識許多人，認收500餘位愛女愛孫女，而且不吝寫推薦信，所以很多女職員都樂意跟我相認識，認收手續很簡單，就是與我合照，給我電郵址，回家後我再從電腦取下相片，一一寄回。

近來，因為諸碎事纏身，像這次住屋整修，我不過藉此西加勒比海行喘一口氣，回家後仍是魂不守舍許多書籍文件善後，親朋應酬，直到今日始得開始上傳相片，開始準備寄出。

我應非常感謝各位的服務，寢室整潔乾淨，餐廳食物清潔都是世界第一，井井有條，有問題都是100％解決，這是普莉馬號和公司之聲譽特色。

我在船上都是吃飽睡，睡飽喝醉是常事，很快就下船。我準備三月五日出發日本到台灣換假牙，四月六日回日本橫濱，準備購買最後一分鐘船票，搭珠寶號回阿拉斯加蘇握港，來回兩週，再從安克路治市，返回溫哥華，擬搭精神號回東京。

Pumping mud to the underground/Carlos Pueblo

 Pumping mud to the underground/Carlos Pueblo

The third step of the fixing house foundation is pumping mud to the underground. After the pier installations to jack up the slab floor, the workers removed all dirt away from our house. The underground is assumed empty and required to fill it up with mud, a kind of mixture of cement and sand with water. This liquid mixture will be pumped through a small PVC pipe directed to the back yard holes and injected into the underground. It's taken about one and a half hours to fill one hole.

I asked the foreman to give me any of the left over sand to fill the ditch after all digging and heavy rain. He told me his company would send out truck with some cubic yards of dirt to cover up all holes and lower ground which would help us to repair our damaged yard.

Now, the foundation is fixed and we anticipate that will last additional 10 years. The next step is the covering dirt for the yard and the lawn repairs in March this year. Of course, I feel guilty that I shall be away from home for almost 2 months. It's all up to Amy to handle the rebuild contracts.

幫浦混凝土入地基／莊峻華

 幫浦混凝土入地基／莊峻華

整修地基有三要項，第一，需要挖洞裝地栓，第二，需要換多氯聚乙烯水管，第三，幫浦混凝土入地基。挖洞裝地栓旨在架高房屋水泥鋪，我們室內打19坑，室外打幾大洞，一共埋下42支水泥栓，有鋼板架高一共5吋高，於是乎室內外諸門均可關閉自如並上鎖。更換水 管，多氯聚乙烯水管部分破裂，廢水溢出，堵塞水管，因此馬桶沖洗水不通，換新水管，可以再維持10年。挖出地洞泥土後，補上混凝土，但地下空隙仍在，因此我們在三週後，再幫浦補足空隙，待補滿後混凝土溢出，如此補滿兩洞。

如此合乎邏輯，地基於是乎實心，我們前任屋主，有過整修地基之歷史，保證期早過，我們重複舊策，著實無耐，但也無其他良策。

上週休市豪雨三日夜，我停泊高維斯敦的老車進水，水從天窗縫隙進入，填滿前座間小盒，地毯潮濕，天窗內部周圍有水痕跡，也甚無耐。

樓上書房角落天花板，也有黃色水痕跡，顯然是屋頂排水不通，老屋翻新不易，真有功虧一簣之感。

The dolphins show at Cozumel, Mexico/Carlos Pueblo

 The dolphins show at Cozumel, Mexico/Carlos Pueblo

The dolphins show at Cozumel, Mexico is quite new and attractive to me even though I have been to the island port city for many times via cruises. The cruise liner offers me a free excursion per port for under $50 and I select this one this time.

I was taken out to a backyard dolphins pools to watch many joyful dolphins playing with life jackets guests in the pools. Each poor, there is a trainer and three dolphins with a group of guests. The dolphins are showing their understanding of the instructions swimming around the pool and close to guests allowing guests to touch them. It's amazing.

The trainer instructs guest one by one to sign to the dolphin and the big fish responds it with a different signs, i.e. standing up and wave it's two fins. The trainer has a whistle in his mouth which I don't know if he blows it to show the dolphin instruction, the dolphin follows his sign or whistle to swim around guests allows guests to touch it. It's very fun to watch such scene which dolphins and human being can get along with each other so well.

The final show is the greatest among all. The trainer asks one of guests to swim across the pool, one at each time, to the other end and raises his or her left arm above the surface of water. Then, he shows a sign to the dolphin. The big fish dives into the water and after one second, re-appears by the waiting guest and without his or her notice. The dolphin is still waiting patiently and allows the guest to hold it's two fins and back stroke to the trainer in one second like a bullet boat carries a water skier. 

欣賞海豚表演／莊峻華

 欣賞海豚表演／莊峻華

船抵墨西哥東岸卡斯梅爾市，我報名參加一海豚表演節目，地點是在卡市大街一大飯店背後幾座水池，我想有四座以上，每一池均有三隻以上大海豚，還有一海豚訓練師，還有一隊泳裝下水之遊客，身繫救生浮標，訓練師都是年輕人，兩小手提冰箱在岸上，是獎賞海豚用。

訓練師口含一口笛，不知何用途？海豚能看訓練師手語，指示動作，像直豎立揮擺雙鰭，沿遊客週圍環繞任由遊客撫摸，一個手勢，一個動作，我感覺比訓導犬更加動作複雜，訓練師不時扔下小魚給張大口之海豚，獎賞海豚完成任務，海豚在池中來去自如。

訓練師讓有興趣之遊客，遊上一段距離，平擺左臂於水面，然後指示海豚水底遊過，不些時，約是一秒餘，海豚已經背浮水面，雙鰭擺上，等候遊客雙手攀上海豚雙鰭，然後迅速背泳回訓練師位置，像汽艇小舟一般，滑過水面，訓練師馬上獎賞海豚。

Travel scare at Galveston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

 Travel scare at Galveston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

Last week, I bought a last minute cruise ticket to board on a cruise to the western Caribbean. I did run into a scare to commute from a parking space at a local motel to the cruise terminal. Let me describe what have been happened to an experienced traveler like me. I did purchase a parking ticket through a company called the Airport Parking which leases space at a local inn on 6107 Broadway St. The internet advertisement states a free shuttle ride every 5 minutes to the terminal and will send me an e-mail confirmation. Actually, the company doesn't provide both of them, e-mail the confirmation and free shuttle services.

There is a time constraint to get on the ship; therefore. I was forced to ask my daughter Michelle in Austin to book an Uber to the port. The Uber's driver came with pretty fast speed; however, she said that Michelle's order was only to a port parking lot and she couldn't make a change. She said that she couldn't contact with her. That was my first scare, I couldn't get off the car and asked for a taxi. Finally, she made a change and charged to Michelle's account and I paid $5 tip right away.

I asked the cruise guest service to write down the street address of the disembark on 1/26/24. It is cruise terminal 25, 2502 Harborside Drive, to 6107 Broadway St about 3.5 miles away. The designated drive couldn't find the location and finally approached to another location and only wished to wait for 2 minutes. I had no other choice but took a more expansive regular taxi to my parking car. I did have my second scare and anxiety all the week to worry about how to get back home on time to have a long planed lunch.

On my way to get my car, I did worry about my 4 tires if they were in drivable condition and that was number 3 scare. Finally, I did drive very careful through a very thick frog from Galveston to west Houston and that was scare number 4. 

有驚無險的高維斯敦來回／莊峻華

 有驚無險的高維斯敦來回／莊峻華

這次在休市外港高維斯敦搭郵輪旅行一週，遭遇到不同困難，有驚無險的來回，這次蒼促購上船票，吝嗇如我者，決定驅老車前往，停泊在高維斯敦市百老匯大街一旅店，結果惹出麻煩，驚動家人。原因如下；

我在網上看到一則廣告曰，泊車一日9元，七日加稅共七十四元，廣告上指有免費接送碼頭服務，五分鐘一班，此泊車行號名為機場泊車。當我提前到達時，始發現並無碼頭接送服務，旅店給我一電話號碼，打到一亞洲印度之電話服務，好不容易找到信用卡收據，仍舊爭執無效，只好找省錢之道，電話奧斯汀之琳兒幫忙訂烏伯計程車，計程車很快抵達，但稱琳兒訂車地址只到碼頭停車場，尚有四哩路程，她無法更改，又連絡不上琳兒，於是僵持不下，後來她在手機改上抵達碼頭，始能成行，我連忙奉上小費五元，安然抵達郵輪。

因為訂購郵輪是最後一日，週四買票，週五上船，非常刺激，郵輪不給網上報到，因此碼頭報到甚難迅速如昔，但也拿到室卡，進出無礙。但我是鑽石級客戶，福利卡不在室內，於是我到船優待票站索取，一週內有免費洗衣一包，和一搭車觀看海豚表演，都在帳單出現，都需要再次要求更正。

終於一週期滿下船，我在碼頭烏伯接客站，請琳兒再訂一車，結果烏伯司機找不到我，折騰一小時後，司機宣佈放棄，於是我只能找旁邊之計程車，送我到旅店泊車場，幸好四輪無恙，老車有信用，冒大霧開回家，還有時間更衣赴竇大夫之午宴。

Back to cruise again 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Back to cruise again 2024/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday, my cruise agent called to inform me there was one cruise met my category. I, therefore, booked a seven days Western Caribbean cruise embark at Galveston, Texas. I decide to drive my old Q45 and park on a local hotel no flying hassle. I think that I am deserved to have a break after three weeks home renovation.

The house is very nice after three major improvement, the foundation repairs and waste sewer pipes replacement, interior painting, and the new hardwood floor on the first story. We did have the exterior painting done last year. We are also going to repair the lawn on the front and back yards.

I shall take advantage of my healthy physical condition to do traveling. In March, I shall travel back to Taiwan to fix my fake teeth at the lower level due to a tooth nay fall out any time. I am going to wait a last minute deal on cruises until late May this year.

西加勒比海七日遊2024／莊峻華

 西加勒比海七日遊2024／莊峻華

今晨我郵輪代理電話來，通知西加勒比海七日遊，價錢合乎我的原則，於是我就訂妥船票，準備開老車到高維斯敦碼頭，當然泊車於三哩外旅店停車場七日。

今年郵輪船票上漲，幾乎船船客滿，船價比去年昂貴，我集中注意力於四月初的東京返美行，我已經買好三張機票，準備在東京等候最後一分鐘，船不客滿，我有機會。如我搭上此輪，我很可能繼續滯留阿拉加16日，再等另一郵輪從溫哥華出發到東京，我不相信可以再繼續，只好回家。

回家過暑天也無甚差錯，現在住家換然一新，新地基增高5吋，室內外諸門均可關閉上鎖，污水道塑膠管多氯聚乙烯，全部歡新，樓上浴室排水通暢，室內剛油漆完畢，去年完成室外油漆，也換新部分木板為水泥板，這次一樓地毯更換為木板，整潔乾淨，愛美和我均甚滿意。我們將重建前後院草坪。

Staying in Yokohoma, Japan/Carlos Pueblo

 Staying in Yokohama, Japan/Carlos Pueblo

Last year in December, our ship changed the route to disembark in the port of Tokyo instead of the original designated Yokohama; therefore, we had to stay in Yokohama hotel which we booked before the trip. It was alright due to the Japan Rail Pass we bought to get rides to Tokyo and Kamakura. We also had had the opportunity to visit the Yokohama China Town.

Our hotel is near a train station closed to the Yokohama Garden, actually is a baseball park. I could have a nice view from my room to see the park, if there were games on those five nights, I should be on a good seat free of charge. It is also very closed to the China Town which is one of the large in size worldwide.

We walked to Chinatown on the first night to find a Chinese restaurant for the dinner. We got one with a special promotional discount, 50% off. It was a bowl of delicious noodle. We did ask more items other than the discount one. I didn't ask for a cold beer because of the price; however, our neighbor Japanese ladies did enjoy their fried dumplings and beers handsomely. I asked them if there were salary ladies. They couldn't understand what I meant. There is a vocabulary called salary man in current day Japanese to indicate to those Japanese gentlemen who always wear suits and take train to work. I figured these two ladies should be under that category. I can introduce myself well in Japanese yet I am still not able to command in advanced conversation. 

We went back to China town on the second night to find the same restaurant, yet we almost got lost because I didn't write down the street name, it was Hong Kong district. We met another younger pair of Japanese girls. They seemed to be familiar with Chinese foods. The younger owner explained to us what they ordered were  another discounted dishes like the buffet in order. I don't see that in Houston China town. You can order 5 dishes to eat with a fix price and the restaurant allows you to eat these five as long as you can handle.

We did try again on the day we left Yokohama for lunch. It was very interesting; however, I was not so much impressed after three days eating at the same restaurant.

日本橫濱行2023／莊峻華

 日本橫濱行2023／莊峻華

珠寶號原定從西雅圖出發，經阿拉斯加，在蘇沃港折向日本橫濱，於是我將五日旅店訂在橫濱車站附近，然後通勤到東京遊覽，我們都有三週日本鐵道劵，交通無慮。橫濱是我舊遊之地，我先後來過三次，旅店在唐人街附近，吃飯都在唐人街。我安排我們五人一日東京遊，一日鐮倉遊，一日逛唐人街，然後就搭車北上仙台。

橫濱唐人街非常熱鬧，是我遇到世界規模最大之一，到處是台灣和中國餐廳，我們在一小巷找到一家餐廳有折扣，於是進入用餐，後來又連續三日，都去報到，這餐廳有台灣料理擔擔麵，我又點一份鍋貼，一份水餃，不敢喝啤酒，因為價錢昂貴，約是十美金一大杯。

鄰座有一對美麗日本小姐吃鍋貼喝啤酒，很能享受，十元美金生啤酒是一杯接一杯，甚令我羨慕，於是我就試圖搭訕，我問她們是否為上班族？日文單字中有薪水男一字，就是穿西裝上班趕搭地鐵這一群，我逕自改為薪水女，於是小姐們有困惑，不知我所云，我的日語程度，可以自我介紹和問路，談情說愛則力不逮也，一說台灣人，小姐們更加親切。

翌夜，我們又想到這家餐廳用餐，因未記下小巷名，結果找了半天，正待放棄，卻又走入這家特價餐廳，這次旁邊又是另一對更年輕美麗的日本小姐，很熟練的點菜，不喝生啤酒，我就誇獎她們能幹會點菜，我的夥伴發現她們善訂餐廳另一優惠，像食自助餐一般點幾樣菜，比休市便宜，於是我們決定離開橫濱當日午餐，再來一次。

Visiting Asakusa, Tokyo/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting Asakusa, Tokyo/Carlos Pueblo

We were on our way from Seward, Alaska turning toward Tokyo on a cruise ship. The captain was concerned of the weather and went straight 8 days at sea to Tokyo and avoided Hakodate, Ishinomake, and Yokohama three ports, instead we stayed overnight at Tokyo Bay. We reached the port in the afternoon and once we left the ship, it was in the late afternoon. We di manage to get on two trains, one free and one paid, to go to a closed municipal for shopping in Tokyo. This is an area of the original Tokyo in the Edo era, Tokugawa's old down. The Tsukiji Fish Market and The Ginza District are nearby. I didn't dare to explore more and when we came back to the ship, it was late at night.

On the second day, we went out again to visit Asakusa Temple. Again we took two trains, one free to a nearby train station to transfer to another train, a Yamanote line, to Asakusa station. Yamanote is a loop to connect many area in Tokyo. Asakusa Temple is nearby the station for about 5 minutes walk. There are gift shops non-stop from the main street to the front of the Temple. There were crowded with full of exciting tourists. It's amazing that we barely were able to pass the crowds. two of us did go to see the beautiful pagoda and I could read the stone Kanji of the introduction. One of the first Tokugawa's elders contributed this pagoda. Again, it was rebuilt one because of an earthquake destroyed the original one.

I enjoyed taking photos of Japanese youngsters who dressed beautiful kimono. I didn't do any shopping. It was very time passing.

東京淺草行2023／莊峻華

 東京淺草行2023／莊峻華

淺草為日本東京都之鬧區之一，這次橫跨太平洋之旅，郵輪船長為避颱風，從阿拉斯加蘇沃港直奔東京港，八天海上日，省略北海道之涵館，仙台之石卷港，停靠在東京灣，因此我們下船後，仍需搭火車到原定下船之橫濱，在東京港郵輪過兩夜，郵輪退約20美元稅金，因為東京港和三省略日本港之差價。首日抵達東京已是午後，於是我們搭車到港口鄰近之市區逛街，我本想熬夜觀看著名之築地魚市，每日凌晨四時拍賣，但終究不敢，其實人地生疏，逛街畢搭兩班車回船上，已經是夜晚。

翌日，我就帶一群人逛淺草區，這裡有一座大廟淺草寺，是東京都之古老市區台東區。淺草寺有一雷門，有一寶塔，然後就是人山人海。我的老年離群索居，不甚習慣這種喧嘩場面，但看眾人歡心鼓舞，仍是新鮮有趣，淺草寺在車站附近，走近大雄寶殿，窄道兩旁都是禮品店，滿街都擠滿遊客，日本女遊客，逛街著美麗和服，足踩木積式布鞋，很是可愛，我們找一對青年拍照留念。

我們為節省，搭一線免費海關交通車到鄰近車站，然後就搭山手線到淺草，這三手線是東京都之大環狀線，非常廉價方便。                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Live in a meaningful way of life/Carlos Pueblo

 Live in a meaningful way of life/Carlos Pueblo

The late Vietnamese monk Thick Nhat Hanh says on his book, Jesus and Buddha are brother, about the path to the Buddha is to live in a meaningful way of life. Of course, you decide and define what is a meaningful way of life yourself. Buddha is a human being not the holly and almighty,

One day, the current day Buddha walked out of his palace home and saw the misery of the homeless starving by the street sides. He decided to live alone and sit to think. One day after a while of sitting alone, he suddenly, under a tree, understood the meaning of his life, we call it insight. He became a good teacher of the mankind. He advised his followers to live in a meaningful way of life.

I am his follower and always find my way to live in a meaningful life after I read this piece on that book. Of course, I define my meaningful way of life. I agree to spend money to renovate our house. I tolerate the inconvenient yet I do see some old found memory by rearranging old boxes and drawers. I can enjoy more by living in the newly remodel house and I don't have to go out to a cruise ship that often.

I can do the garden in the spring and I can also play tennis and swim again. I am going back to Taiwan for a visit and re-build my fake teeth. I can visit old childhood friends and maybe I can catch on a last minute cruise back to Alaska.

有意義的生活／莊峻華

 有意義的生活／莊峻華

圓寂之越南高僧釋一行老和尚，在他書耶穌和佛陀是兄弟也中，提到成佛之道，就是過一有意義的生活，因為我拜讀該書是在上世紀80年代，書已贈人，有意義或有思索，英文接近，但有意義較妥且平易近人。如何定義有意義？就見人見智。

人生不滿百年，確是漫長一大段，如何渡過？要過一有意義的生活。佛是人，和你我一樣，一日他外出，途見餓莩，心有悽悽焉，回家後就閉關自守，一日頓悟於菩提樹下，開始宏法，過他有意義的生活。

最近，我們家住屋正在整修地基，室內油漆，和更換一樓木板，這甚有意義，地基下陷，以至牆壁破裂，門窗關閉不易，住屋開始老化不堪，愛美堅持要整修，於是我覺得有意義同意，剛好郵輪漲價，通貨膨脹之故，我不如在整修後住屋等待觀望，較有意義，況且春天藉修葺草皮，也可順便家庭園藝，恢復網球局和夏日游泳，離群索居不苦也。

當然，我是寂寞不了者也，藉整假牙之故回台灣故鄉，住屋整修中，我仍然有計劃的安排購買三張機票，一張到東京，第二張從東京到桃園，第三張從桃園回東京。我將在東京等候郵輪最後減價曰，最後一分鐘，此甚具意義，機票都是信用卡哩數和點數購得，都和住屋整修付款有關。

藉訪台北，我與一位大學同學，將拜訪師大校長和副校長，和公館之化學系，這化學系改變我一生，非常有意義，我能移民美國，結婚生子，改變階級，均因有化學系學位之故。

Consumption/Carlos Pueblo

 Consumption/Carlos Pueblo

When the recession is occurred, economists always agree to encourage the consumption. The increasing consumption will stimulate the slowing economic. We are the witness to the Covic-19 since 2019, the Federal Government to deliver a couple of $1,000 to recorded citizen. Recently, I watch Chinese economic reports on the You tube that China has a deflation instead of inflation because of the lack of consumption. Chinese people simply can't afford to consume because they loss their jobs and have no income.

It is very simple that the U.S. posts the tariff on Chinese goods which have been exported to the U.S. and Chinese respond to do the same on the U.S. goods exported to China. The U.S. start to increase import goods from Vietnam, India, and Indonesia, etc. in addition to Mexico and other American nations. China losses the largest export nation, the U.S. Foreign investors have closed their factories in China to avoid losses. Chinese workers have been laid off. People can't find jobs. Yes, China is a big nation with huge demands of consumption yet they are doing the basic needs to consume which can't make the nation great or rich.

Chinese Communist regime don't know how to respond for the crisis. Of course, they are soften their tone now to beg the U.S. to left the sanction and tariff. yet they can't purchase what they agree to the U.S. demands for the sake of the trade imbalance. They don't have the money and the entire nation is in the brink of collapse. We are going to see huge Chinese refugees to be flooded all over the world, not only Asian nations. It's been occurred in the past many many times.

I believe that China is not been well managed. The Communist regime has been among the worst Dynasties in Chinese 3000 years history. There is no freedom to speech, no freedom of religions, and an incomplete of free market systems.

消費／莊峻華

 消費／莊峻華

剛才觀看幾則網誌，講到中國之市場消條，人民無法消費，市場經濟緊縮，物價下跌，一點都不奇怪，我一直都不覺得中國有強盛之條件，我所聽聞中國富裕者均是騙人，我先說近因，再談遠因。

美國和中國有一關稅戰，各課25％進口稅，於是消費者如我，想了四個月，還是換不掉我打網球之折椅，一年前是十元美金一支，現在網上是二十元一支，十元店一支甚至還不願進貨，剛好我整修房屋，暫停網球局。關稅戰後，美國一般消費品上漲，消費者開始謹慎購物，當然進口商，開始從越南印度印尼等國進口，中國是束手無冊，眼睜睜的看外商撤廠關閉在台投資，中國國民大量失業，沒有收入，如何購物？美國在香港，武漢肺炎，高科技晶片為中國盜版，出入超不平衡等吃大虧，當然要報負，中國共產黨政權先踞後恭，但已無法挽救。

中國共產政權，是一獨裁專制之政體，現在全球僅存中國，越南，古巴，白俄羅斯，和俄羅斯等經濟弱國，富國三條件，法治，自由經濟，和宗教自由，中國沒有，中國一直都靠統戰來自我壯膽，中國一直抱殘守缺，圖維護一黨專政，遲早要走上滅亡分裂之局面，俄羅斯一例也。

1040ES 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 1040ES 2023/Carlos Pueblo

It's time to pay 1040ES for 2023. I know that I am late, today is 01/16/2024; however, I am doing my best that everybody wants me to pay nowadays. I wrote a check of $10,000 to IRS and previously two of my pension funds withheld above $4,000 from my minimum distribution retirement funds. I still need to pay the balance once I file my income tax before 04/14/2024 when I shall be in Taiwan, Japan, and on the ship across the Pacific Ocean. If I don't make it, I shall be penalized for the delay and interest.

I am not complaining that it's better to make more money to pay taxes than make no money to worry about insufficient funds to make the my ends meet and pay no taxes. Last year, the IRS charged me $500+ for the interest acuminated for the tax I owed. That is the reason why I pay attention to the 1040ES, of course, I am still not paying enough of it. I always try to keep my money in the market to make more profit than the tax interest burden.

I don't know how the American rich to avoid paying taxes such as Trump. How could he pay not federal income tax for more than 10 years? How can the rich pay less than a regular citizen? I believe that the tax experts mention about the percentage of the tax not the total amount of taxes, It means that the rich pay less percentage of their tax versus their income, not means the rich pay less tax amounts than the middle income payers. Of course, lower income people pay no taxes period. I would rather paying taxes that be the poor paying no income tax.

Come to think about it. I was working in Taiwan when I graduated from the college. I was on the conscription for two years in the Army with very minimum pay and no need to file income tax. After my military service, I taught at a senior high school for one year, my Dad filed my income tax for me that I didn't even worry about it or knew if I had even paid something like 1040ES in Taiwan. On the second year, I taught at a junior high school and I didn't think that I was required to file an income tax at that time. It's all changed after I came to the U.S. especially after I worked. 

預繳2023聯邦所得稅／莊峻華

 預繳2023聯邦所得稅／莊峻華

剛才翻箱倒櫃找到信封郵票，預繳2023年聯邦所得稅，一張一萬元支票，看是否能免掉五百元之利息，去年我是領四萬餘元退休金，證券公司扣下10％聯邦稅，因此沒有不預繳稅之處罰，這一萬元是減少繳稅不足之罰款，待報完稅時要補交其餘，我一直自己報稅，是想節省一些時間和會計師費用，在美國中高收入者，甚難逃漏稅，想逃漏稅者需繳律師和會計師等費用，川普為例，川普最近有一三億七千萬之紐約州預定州稅罰款，雖然他十餘年不繳聯邦所得稅，我想學但不知其詳，那些承辦國稅局官員，也必需面對國稅局規定。

美國一直都有龐大聯邦支出，就是各州現在開始有盈餘，也不急還債，繼續花錢繼續建設繼續社會福利，社會安全經濟繁榮，股市上揚，投資者獲利，除繳重稅外，仍然可以整修住屋，可以外出旅行，頻繁舊車修理，也無壓力。

我甚難適應如此高賦稅，但想到我貧窮的少年時代，我真慶幸住在美國。我在大學畢業後，服務於中學，第一年教高中，先父幫我報稅，我忘記是否有預繳稅，第二年教國中，好像也未報所得稅，服兵役是義務，無甚收入，基本上我在台灣是免稅階級，難怪甚難娶親。

Live alone/Carlos Pueblo

 Live alone/Carlos Pueblo

Chinese scholar Confucius used to admit that he lived alone for a long time, such famous sentence has been last for more than  2,500 years. Lonely people always tease themselves with such sentence to express their no way out feeling at the old age. I have had the similar feeling myself, I don't even know how to get along with current day people. Two days ago, a hardwood layers demanded a $1,000 payment out front after their half a day work. I only had two hundred dollars in my wallet which was the extra cash from paying the interior painter. The bank was closed. 

The layer was hesitated and not ready to leave. Since I have lived alone for almost 24 years, I am back to my mood of argument. I told them, husband and wife proprietors that I was not informed to prepare such amount of cash ahead of the time and I didn't know if it was safe for me to give a half of labor cost to them after half a day of job. It is all a shake hand deal. Amy was embarrassed and comforted the contractor that I would pay on the next day or the day they would come back to work. I was very mean because that I had been alone for a while and also I was mad when I learned that Amy donated my three Afghan rugs long time ago. I can use these rugs for the new hardwood floor. I can dry them under the sunshine and dust off the mold. It is all too late.

I am much better off than Confucius because I have IRA, 401k, and annuity, etc. while he was in ancient divided China. There is no such pension system existed even in the current day China. I read some stories about Confucius's starving to death and I believe it. He mentioned that he relied his students to give him dry meat as tuition and he lost his tuition income when he was getting old and lived alone. I can imagine his misery. I also remember very well of his teaching that if you don't think far and plan ahead of the time, you would have an anxiety for the time being. I don't, my pension funds are doing well to support my live alone.

離群索居日久矣／莊峻華

 離群索居日久矣／莊峻華

禮記檀弓上，子曰吾離群索居亦已久矣，此為老人心境，我甚感觸，自中年失業後，獨居在家，閉門而居，幸好有網路部落格，文章訴諸於全球知音，有郵輪旅行，臥遊環宇，有股票市場，可運籌維握中而決戰於千里外，有網誌聆聽老歌鋼琴音樂。只要保持身體健康，夏日尚能游泳，平日網球局。

離群索居孤獨矣，避免寂寞，必需培養終身嗜好，渡過漫長之老年。幾週來，適應整修房屋之動盪，更加期待我的老年旅行，美憶我的部分世界遊，很快我將重返我的少年故鄉。

美國國家制度好，國民容易老年獨居離群，不為生活憂慮，在台灣養成之節儉習慣，可維持古中國之離群索居境界。

Our house is under renovation/Carlos Pueblo

 Our house is under renovation/Carlos Pueblo

Owning our house, a single dwelling, is not only to pay off our mortgage, paying the local tax and homeowners association fee, etc., we also need to renovate our house to keep it in a good condition. I finally agree to do the foundation repair, replace the PVC sewer pipes, interior painting, and to replace the carpet on the first floor to an engineer hard wood on the slab ground. We, therefore, continue to rebuilt the front and back yard lawn due to the hot drought summer and the current digging to damage the St. Augustine grasses.

It's very inconvenient for our daily life. We must accommodate workers schedules by moving around our house up and down stairs. I don't like to pay the extra and I am aware that the renovation benefits me few because of my age; however, I may enjoy more by staying home more after the job is done. I have owned houses since April, 1978 and most of the time I don't need to spend much for houses renovation. I did have someone in our community to do some veneer replacements before selling rental houses. I did my own cleaning and most of interior paintings. I managed to make them working.

First, I need to pass my frugal habit to pay my share of $35,000 to do the renovation because Amy pay another half. Our daughter gives us a $10,000 as a gift for the renovation. My retirement accounts did well in 2023 and I made some withdrawal early this year to meet payments. There is no need to involve my bankers. I withdraw the cash to pay painters or pay credit cards to the foundation company until I ran into a problem with the hard wood floor layers. Before they were leaving on the first half day job, they asked for $1,000 for the job and I couldn't locate my check book due to moving around boxes. I only had had $200 cash in my wallet. They couldn't decide what to do next and couldn't come back on the next day for the rest. I got mad. I also connect my upset to Amy who got rid of my Afghan rugs in the garage of which I attempted to lay on the new hardwood floor.

I explained my concern to the contractor that I should be more concern of my risk toward them if they don't come back to continue the job. I am the homeowner who is unable to get away plus the job just began. Quickly they accepted my $200 and left, yet I was still mad at Amy to donate my rug long time ago to the charity which they claimed.

住屋整修中／莊峻華

 住屋整修中／莊峻華

自去念底日本行返家，住屋開始整修，先是鞏固地基，鑿洞挖渠埋新污水管，這是三日。隨後室內油漆開始十日，今日竣工，僅接是舖一樓地板，包工馬上來打碎瓷磚，舖平水泥，這些都是新移民師傅，美國本地人已失去如此技術。

過去，我整理出租房屋，約是一萬五美金之工程，油漆自己來，換外表鑲木板則由同鄉包工，現在同鄉已退休，無法承包，只好求助奧斯汀之琳兒，她在網路上找包商，包工一一來應試，愛美擇選其一，她有她的選擇要領，我都同意，這次我們住屋整修工程約是七萬美金，其中琳兒孝順慨贈一萬。

這油漆師傅是宏都拉斯人，帶來兩助手，師傅30歲有8年經驗，有條有理，補完地基下陷裂縫後才上油漆，愛美甚為喜歡，於是增加幾項工作，我相信油漆後可比美前任屋主，售屋前之整修油漆。

我不太喜歡包工費用加東加西，木板本來質料是合成板，表面是一張薄木皮，所以價錢便宜，包工師傅曰合成木板不能油漆，於是我擬置放80年代房客地毯抵押房租之阿富汗地毯，但愛美早已捐給慈善卡車，我甚挽惜，但也無法補救，這些都是身外物，非到此時此刻，始有價值。原來生活平靜，整修住屋，雖似耗費金錢，但股市增值，費用似乎無所謂，然而地毯因長霉而捐贈，節儉如我者，甚難吞噬也。

Going back to visit Taiwan in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Going back to visit Taiwan in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

Since we are doing the house renovation, I may just stay home to enjoy the fresh jack up sinking foundation, fresh interior paint, new hardwood floor, and new front and back yard in the spring of this year to avoid the inflating rate of a cruise trip; however, I still need to go back to Taiwan for my needed dental work. Two years ago, I was in New York City Chinatown to have a bite of a quava fruit and broke a small piece of a tooth at the bottom. About two weeks ago I had had an infection and my dentist predicted to make a new denture to replace the current one. I like to do it in Taiwan before the tooth is fallen out. It makes an economic sense to do it in Taiwan.

I did purchase my first leg from Houston to Taiwan on my mileage credit at the first, then a ticket from Tokyo to Taipei with another insufficient credit card points after making up the different in cash to avoid one way ticket penalty. I also have booked a five nights stay at an inexpensive hotels near by Taipei Main Rail Station. First, I need to visit my dentist cousin on the next day to meet the time frame to make a denture in order to have sufficient time to go back to Tokyo to catch on a Transpacific cruise back to Alaska on 4/10/2024. Of course, I must get the cruise rate without the single room penalty, otherwise, I shall fly back to Houston from Taipei. I shall keep my eyes on another cruise to Japan in May this year.

I also decide to visit Taiwan Normal University, my Alma Mater. Roger Huang, my classmate and a Ph.D. from Tokyo University, will join me to visit the Department of Chemistry and the senior executive Vice President Chen will receive us. I always like to visit Universities while in my worldwide travel. I also feel very good when I have the opportunity to visit scholars in my life.

返鄉行2024／莊峻華

 返鄉行2024／莊峻華

今年郵輪船票上漲，我遲遲不敢訂購，一月裡剛好家裡有整修地基，換污水塑膠管，室內油漆，一樓換新木板，還有前後院草皮等，十分忙碌，幸好愛美和奧斯汀之琳兒規劃一切工程，我僅能稍微幫忙搬些輕傢俱，付款和購買油漆材料等，傢俱移動天翻地覆，但也無礙我使用網路，觀戰台灣大選。我的牙醫發現一咬斷牙齒鬆動，下層假牙，必需重作，於是想到回台灣，找表弟重作，我的首付假牙在11年前，由他製作，約800美金，使用9年，後因真牙齒繼續脫落，被迫在休市重作一套，現在有時間處理，於是我買機票返鄉行。

我是使用信用卡哩數，先訂一張票到東京，然後約苗栗縣頭份的瑞耀兄，同訪師大化學系，師大陳副校長將親自招待，我旅行世界各地，最喜歡拜訪大學名校，剛好與師大有緣。同一日我再連絡師大公關室，看看能否拜望吳正己校長，和國語中心的蔡主任，還有一位2008年請我吃飯的音樂系溫主任和一位鄭教授，我想回請兩位。

十一年前，我常回台灣旅行，能夠自由行，所以我先在台北火車附近訂下旅社五日，先看牙醫和師大，參觀柯文哲的北門，大巨蛋雙子星，五大改建菜市場，他的社會住宅等，然後回虎尾故鄉，探望家人，我也希望回埔里鎮，訪問霧峰鄉和蘆山，不知溫泉尚在？

若假牙製作提前完成，郵輪讓步，我就提前回日本，準備在橫濱搭船回阿拉斯加蘇握港，然後再逗留阿拉斯加三週郵輪行，從溫哥華返家。

The election results in Taiwan 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 The election results in Taiwan 2024/Carlos Pueblo

The National Elections in Taiwan in 2024 are in now, Andy Lai of the Democratic Progressive Party, the incumbent, wins the Presidency and the Legislative Yuan are not that clear if the DPP is still in control. It is shown that Taiwanese voters are preferring to be an independent nation nothing to do with China.

During the campaign, the status of Taiwan has been a major subject to be debated. DPP is criticized too strong for Taiwan Independent from China which is threating to use the force to invade Taiwan in the case. I understand neither the Nationalist KMT party nor the Taiwan People's Party would like to be under Chinese rule, yet they do not like to agitate China. All three parties prefer to maintain the status quote; however, in their mind, Taiwanese voters, 40% strong  like DPP and feel more comfortable with its principle.

I am disappointed for Dr. Ko Wen-jer's number three showing result. He has about 26.5% votes. He is a good prospect to rule the Nation. Taiwan loss an opportunity to be advanced to another level of strength as a developed nation. I hope Lai can take this mandate to lead Taiwan for the next four years.

台灣總統選舉前六小時／莊峻華

 台灣總統選舉前六小時／莊峻華

看畢台灣總統選舉前夜三黨造勢晚會，已經是投票前六小時，連美國雅虎新聞全球各大媒體，均連續每日頭條報導，台灣國民重視總統選舉，令全球羨慕，中國想武力侵略台灣，著實師出無名，台灣政府，早已由台灣兩千三百萬國民授權28年，台灣已經是一實質獨立自主的國家，中華民國絕不隸屬北京之中國，非常清礎，無甚多邦交國，也可以節省一些援助世界弱國之支出。

六小時後就開始投票，投票僅八小時，下午四時結束，許多人均需返鄉投票，我因返台投票機票太貴，只好寄託在台灣的選民，投給一號柯文哲醫師，我覺得他是最佳選擇，有他台灣可能有像日本的明治維新，台灣有可能像日本一樣繁榮。

為何如此多人欣賞柯？我已經說了十年，看了十年，他有許多著作暢銷書，其實他的演講稿，許多都是白話佳作品，而且他精通古漢文和中國儒家哲學，能將古哲學深入淺出，是當今難得之哲學家醫生政治家，中國五千年，台灣一萬年無文字歷史中第一人，連星加坡之李光耀都跟不上他，台灣選民識否，再等十六小時。

我因心儀柯文哲，為幾位台灣人痛罵，我心想我的想法比一般台灣人早30年，像我早年參加美國台獨聯盟，現在連中國美女船客都支持台獨，我討厭川普，川普現在是聲敗名裂，瀕臨破產，看到支持柯文哲眾，一生喜歡觀賞政治，總算不白費。

Try to remember my trips in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

 Try to remember my trips in 2023/Carlos Pueblo

After my returning home in December, 2023, I try to remember my trips in 2023. There were 10 cruises and two 3 weeks highspeed rail tours in Japan. I have been way behind of my writing in journal for my blog and I am aware if I can catch it up. I think that I still have some pictures uploaded in my computer and I may have the mood to look them up.

I booked a second leg of my flight from Tokyo to Taipei in March this year for my first yearly trip. It will be a long trip away from home and I hope that I can take it like the previous year. The difference is that I shall include Taiwan this time in addition to Japan, if everything is turning out as I expect,  I shall include some Alaska trips in April and May when I come back from Taiwan/Japan. Another wonderful trips to remember.

There is a whole month for me to wait for my new denture to make. I may have a better trip in Taiwan to visit many places which I have missed when I was young. I may go back to Huwei, my hometown, to play tennis for a week and I may take trains to visit across the island. It is very nice to visit Taiwan Normal University.

My brother Yancy and his family are going to visit South Korea and Japan in February. I am going to invite them for a Lunar New Year dinner and introduce Japan, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo.

回想去年之出外旅行2023／莊峻華

 回想去年之出外旅行2023／莊峻華

去年一整年，我出外旅行多次，一生之最，其中都是郵輪旅行，但也有一次是陸地旅行，搭飛機到日本，再乘新幹線週遊日本四島，年底又合併水陸日本行，現在我將集中如此之旅行，如今年三月一次，五月再一次，只要體力許可，旅費合理，我就成行。一般習慣是回家後寫遊記，但應旅行瀕繁碎事纏身，現在頗有力不從心之憾，我當努力以赴。

我可以憑記憶和相片，一篇接一篇，就是重覆也無妨，老年旅行確實幸福曰，遊山玩水，我也不計較非到那裡不可，只要滿足我的興趣，每年都有不同之感觸，只嘆歲不我與。

還是拾筆從最近剛歸來之橫跨大西洋開始。那天我們剛停靠葡萄牙里斯本，旅客中就傳來，郵輪將捨棄百慕達港，直奔紐約港，蓋為避免颶風之險也，郵輪準備多停一夜在紐約市，這對我也無甚作用，蓋紐約好友均出外旅行，何況多年未搭紐約地鐵，是有些緊張也，我其實僅下船到碼頭使用免費網路耳，連中午午餐都回餐廳用餐。

My first travel plan in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 My first travel plan in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

A few days ago, I booked a one way plane ticket from Houston to Tokyo on 03/06/2024 for my first travel plan in 2024. I ask my old college classmate Roger Huang to see if he would accompany me to visit the President Wu and Executive Vice President Chen of the National Taiwan Normal University, our alma mater. Afterward, we shall go to another campus to visit the Chemistry Department which we both graduated in 1971. He agrees to join in with me. I am very happy that I still am healthy to do such travel.

One of my teeth got infection and would be off any movement; therefore my bottom fake teeth would not be strong to hold any longer. I need to get it done in Taipei that would take about a month of time. I then shall wait for a last minute deal of a cross Pacific Ocean cruise from Tokyo back to Seward, Alaska and on for another 3 weeks if I may in Alaska. I hope that I still can squeeze a week in Japan to observe the cherry blossom.

The second trip in my mind is still on another cruise from Seattle, WA to Tokyo in May. I shall try to stay in Japan for two weeks and back to Taiwan for another week before flying back to Houston.

It is just at the beginning of the year and I am still monitoring all possibility of my travel plans. It is all up to last minute deal.

新年的旅行計劃2024／莊峻華

 新年的旅行計劃2024／莊峻華

去年搭乘郵輪從羅馬返紐約港，就開始著想今年的旅行計劃，我喜愛的郵輪旅行開始漲價，公司生意似佳，船價吋呎不讓，我尚有七張優待券，還有三年期限，一時不至作廢，於是我仍舊每日查看票價，我重點放在日本和美西兩地之越洋旅行，幾日前，我先訂單程機票到東京，這是三月六日。

抵達東京後，準備馬上轉機到桃園機場，投宿台北和平東路之師大會館，七日看牙醫製作下端假牙，因為吃蕃石榴，咬斷一牙，惟恐崩潰下端假牙，這耗時約一個月，老人台灣呆滯一月，甚是艱難，於是我想到回日本，再回台北取假牙。若等不到郵輪票，我就從台灣直接返家。

不然，我就四月十日，從橫濱上船越洋到阿拉斯加蘇握港，再阿拉斯加海岸遊覽三週。

昨夜，我和台灣頭份的瑞耀兄講好，三月八日或十一日，拜訪師大本校之吳正己校長和陳焜銘副校長，瑞耀是東京帝大博士，若隨行甚有顏面，然後我們再搭巴士訪問在景美之理學院化學系，學校附近有小吃，我就美金請同學吃臭豆腐。

Taiwan National Election has entered to the last week/Carlos Pueblo

 Taiwan National Election has entered to the last week/Carlos Pueblo

It is the last week for Taiwanese citizen to cast their votes to elect their National President , Vice President, and the members of the Congress, the Legislative Yuan. There are three major parties in this election, the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party DPP, the Chinese Nationalist Party KMT, and Taiwanese People's Party TPP. They are very competitive in the National President part while TPP is just enters their second time of the Congressional competition after their 4th years establishment. This election has been attracted all over the world. You can see the headline news on the world's major newspaper almost every day.

Taiwan is in a democratic political system like the Western World. People have the vote to mandate their government which in the result to manage the Nation. It is very much different from the neighboring China. Chinese have never been able to enjoy such political system in their history as a Nation. I read the news reports on the world presses about the relationship between Taiwan and China. I don't know if the reporters or any of the people who are interested in the two Nations that Taiwan has never been in one day under the current day China. Manchu Dynasty had parted Taiwan to Japan in 1895. The U.S. assigned Chiang Kai-sek's Republic of China to take over Taiwan in 1945. Mao's People Republic of China defeated ROC in 1949 and ROC was in exile to Taiwan. In 1996, there was a first time in history that Taiwan to elect its first National President. This year on January 13 is Taiwan's 7th times National Presidential Election. It has been a mandate for the Nation of Taiwan. Taiwan has nothing to do with China, one Taiwan and one China period.

I like Dr. Wen-jer Ko of the TPP. He was a tow terms Mayor of the Capital City of Taipei. A very discipline politician and scholar in the field of the medicine. I have watched him for more than 10 years. I hope that he will be elected as the President of Taiwan and lead Taiwan for a new future like a Meiji Restoration in Japan and make Taiwan like a strong Nation like Japan.

台灣總統選舉進入終局2024／莊峻華

 台灣總統選舉進入終局2024／莊峻華

2024年之台灣總統局，僅剩八日，柯文哲醫師的團隊，已經分別車隊掃街，副總統吳欣盈小姐從屏東縣北上，總統柯文哲醫師從新莊市南下，吳車隊現在台南市掃街，柯車隊掃街到台中市，民眾黨有諸多異人路見不平，拔刀相助，在高雄，台中，台南等大城市，贊助大型造勢活動，一直要衝到選前之夜12日，聚集於凱達格蘭大道，凱達格蘭大道是紀念平埔族台北番名。

國外大媒體也開始不斷報導，這華人世界唯一之總統大選，台灣總統大選比美國有趣，我一直都在期待，盼望，和觀察，十年前我就注意到柯文哲醫師，從他之被中國國民黨政治破害，逼上梁山選上台北市長迄今，非常有趣，我早有看法和結論，他是有日本精神影響，因為他的父母曾是日本公民，接受日本教育，他又在台大醫科接受七年台北帝大醫科之訓練，在台大醫學院上班30年，日本精神訓練非常完整，他不貪污之廉恥來自於日本儒學，當然他精通漢學也有關，當今中國人和台灣人，均無此涵養，柯近日演講，偶提其受日本影響，約是受到我等之提醒，台灣迫切需要他來帶領台灣維新，類似於日本之明治維新，使台灣脫胎換骨。

總統局中討論到台灣國家定位，但不能詳述，因為中國不准談，美國也不想惹事生非，世界各大媒體也不能有邏輯之分析，我已年邁，漸次容忍，台灣是一主權獨立之國，去中國文化有益台灣近代化，韓國，越南，和日本等國，早就去中文，莫言文言古文，中國五四運動也去古文，台灣要加強英文學習。

台灣總統選舉令中國人羨慕，但我還是需要更正中國之統戰，也寄望歐美各大報，台灣在1895年被統治中國的滿清帝國，割讓給日本帝國，滿清被退翻於1911年，新的中華民國一直分裂到1949年，一部份之中華民國殘餘，逃到台灣，繼續強佔台灣，當今的中國從來不曾統治台灣一天，如何說台灣是中國之一省？此不要臉也。三位台灣國總統都承認中華民國，這是兩個中國，都主張台灣前途由兩千三百萬台灣人投票決定，這是台獨101，中國當然不爽，美國只能繼續關稅戰，逼中國就範。

Our home renovation has begun/Carlos Pueblo

 Our home renovation has begun/Carlos Pueblo

Our long expected home renovation has begun at the end of last year. There will be several sections of the remodel, the foundation repair, the replacement of waste sewer pipes, the new interior paint job, the new hardwood floor down stair, and a new lawn on the front and backyards. I have had some previous houses remodeling experience; however, none of them were similar to this time.

The first foundation repairs and pipes replacement were done in three days by a foundation company. We have paid off $40,000 in full. A final sandy soil injection to the ground under the slab after three weeks for an additional $2,500. Interior painting job is underway. We are very impressed to how the painter and his assistants to perform their job. It is worthy for us to hire painters to do the job. I used to do it for our rental property when I tried to sell them. The total labor cost for the painting is $6,500 in addition to the paints cost.

We are waiting for the synthetic wood or the engineer wood to come. A contract couple of wood floor layers are waiting to continue the job. Our daughter Michelle is very good at the home renovation and she find all contractors for us and we are very pleased. Michelle will give us $10,000 for the hardwood floor. It is nice to have a rich and generous daughter and she is getting more considerate as the time is moving on.

Amy likes to hire gardeners to replace the damaged lawn. She thinks that I am getting old and and not able to do the job. I believe that the lawn requires plenty of water which is also costing money as well as plenty of the rain.

住屋開始整修／莊峻華

 住屋開始整修／莊峻華

我們家住屋始建於1982年，地基開始崩塌，牆壁牆角破裂，門均關閉不上，愛美深以為苦，要我同意整修，我因耗費高，有所遲疑，一日想通答應，包商週前開始前來動工，先是挖17洞於室內，埋下地基磚，有方塊空心磚為底，圓柱實混凝土磚其上，再加鋼板撐起地基橫木5吋，果然裂縫癒合，諸門可開關，僅留一門有待調整，三週後包商再前來灌注砂土於地下，鞏固內空地基，如此費用是四萬美元，11年前購屋價是25.5萬美元。

地毯掀開後，已經有些腐敗，於是我又同意愛美，換上樓下新木地板，奧斯汀之孝女慨贈一萬美金，而且介紹工人來估價，她工程較熟，我專長郵輪旅行和國際旅遊，現在乘等候木板材料到來，我們先把室內粉刷一次，琳兒也安排粉刷工人，她都在網上看網評，然後請來估價，愛美選擇其一，然後就擇日開工，我估計琳兒將調我們到奧斯汀幫他新屋監工。

起先不太習慣花如此數目，上次賣茶花女街老屋給建商，無需整修，建商只買地，加上拆屋費，據估價也需幾萬美金，加上打掉舊地基，搬走地基殘廢墟，都要錢，於是我就心甘情願，這些整修期之不便，均可忍耐。