參觀台中陳玉美在師大的畫展／莊峻華

 參觀台中陳玉美在師大的畫展／莊峻華

這次閒逛和平東路師大本校，巧遇台中膠彩畫家陳玉美在美術系的畫展，我很羨慕畫家，高中時就開始在師大參觀畫展，師大美術系每年都有師生畫展，我從師大美展看畫，看到全球免費或廉價門票之博物館美術館，近十餘年在郵輪旅行，甚至參加專題講習。陳女士是東海大學美術碩士，她一見面就自我介紹，膠彩畫顏料和一般油畫顏料有異，她在谷歌影展錄影中有說明，油畫顏料之顏色，有些是礦物金屬，像鉛之化合物，她說無鉛，基本上我看她的作品屬西畫，有她的意見，不是寫實派，而是印象派。

她的作品中，有許多高跟鞋，很是美麗，臨走前她還贈送兩具茶墊和一茶杯，都是陶瓷作品，茶墊上鑲有她的高跟鞋作品，非常別緻，我真想買些贈送給友人。

兩張女士巨畫，一張已出售是25萬新台幣，8千多美金，一張是姪女背影，十分迷人，後來觀眾陸續前來，我就不再纏她，拍上幾張相片留念。

回客棧查谷歌，感謝她贈品，我誤稱她為教授，她來信更正，非常謙虛。

Visiting several gardens in the city center of Taipei/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting several gardens in the city center of Taipei/Carlos Pueblo

Last month, I was in Taipei for my dental work and visited several gardens in the city center of Taipei. I have been very impressed. I stayed at a small inn in front of the main rail station very close to the Presidential Palace, the 228 Memorial Park, the small Chiang Kai-sek Birthday Park, the Freedom Square Park, the Da-An Forest Park, and a small Chian Kuo Holiday Flower Market, etc. They are all full of the spring flowers, gardens and market.

I walk into the 228 Memorial Park to have my breakfast of hot soybean milks both salty and sweet with a pair of clay oven rolls and fried dough sticks every morning. The park, with an old name of the New Park back to my school time, has been re-named in honor of the 228 Massacre to Taiwanese by Chiang's Nationalist Army who took over the control of Taiwan on February 28, 1947. Now, the city has beautified the park with the azalea and some new Japanese cherry trees. I can view the lovely blossom all the way through a small Chiang's Birthday Memorial Park between the First City Girls' High campus and the 228 Park. Of course, the distinguished building of the Presidential Palace is in the other side of the huge open square of the Katagalan Boulevard. Katagalan is a native Taiwanese tribe name in Taipei area. There are several small azalea gardens by the huge red brick Palace building. Japanese built this building as the Governor's office before 1945, 1895-1945. Chiang used it as his Presidential Palace.

Acrossing the old Eastern and the Southern Gates of the Manchu Dynasty, still in good shape, I came to visit Freedom Square Park. There is a huge area garden park with three distinguished buildings, Chiang Kai-sek Memorial, the National Music Hall, and the Peking Opera Hall. With the permission of Chiang's son and successor, Chin-Kuo, the city vacated several military compounds to the suburban areas and made the space available for his father's memorial and later two other buildings added. I see Chinese plum trees with fruits and Japanese cherry flowers blossoms are still on. Of course, there are still many well managed gardens spreading around the Square.

I need to take a subway for two stops to reach Da-An Forest Park and Chian Kuo Holiday Flower Market. Again, the Park was built after Chiang's death in 1975 when I left the country. Also with his son's help to vacate all necessary illegal occupants in the area to create such beautiful gardens and forest park for its residents and visitors. I like to introduce my worldwide readers to what I have encountered of the spring blossom in Taipei, the azaleas, the dahlia or the India Peony, the Spiders Flowers or the Cleome. I shall post many of my collections for you all.

台北市城中幾座花園／莊峻華

 台北市城中幾座花園／莊峻華

三月初回台灣整牙，住火車站前客棧，清晨散步到新公園喝豆漿，無意間遇到杜鵑花怒放，隨後的一個多月，我就陶醉於台北市城中幾座花園，比起當年，我說是上世紀中葉之榮星花園，更加有趣，而且更自然美麗又免費，我是位環遊全球，參觀過無數座花園之老遊客。我遇到的是台北之杜鵑花和櫻花，還有大理花，天竺牡丹，和一種俗名蜘蛛花之草本科，這三座花園是總統府附近的228公園，介壽公園，和總統府；自由廣場花園；和大安森林公園，當然建國假日花市也可以順便加入，我在1975年離開台灣，首次巧遇春天台北的花季。

228公園過去是新公園，現在有許多杜鵑花，無需上陽明山觀賞杜鵑花矣，新公園內就有許多處杜鵑花叢，而且是五花八色，台北市政府培植幾色杜鵑花於一叢，花開時同時展示於一處，巧奪天弓，而且這些杜鵑花都是老株，花開時非常壯觀美麗，加上台北春雨。這些杜鵑花一直培植到介壽公園，就是北一女中校園和新公園之間，為紀念蔣介石生日而建。杜鵑花也種植在宏偉的總統府庭院，走過總統府都可以駐足拍照留念。台北市政府也開始種植日本櫻花，這是全球趨勢，櫻株尚且年輕，再過半世紀，必是蔚然壯觀。

過東門和南門，就是自由廣場，這自由廣場就是原中正廟，是1975年蔣薨後興建，後來加蓋兩座國家音樂廳和國家劇院，都是中國古典建築，中正廟比較像帝陵，但是自由廣場面積廣大，有很多花圃，也有梅林，梅樹都已經結實累累，顯然冬殘日梅花盛開時，必令中國人落淚不已，我曾參觀過日本大阪城之梅園和桃園許多次，都未遇梅花開，看到桃花和櫻花，大阪城規模更大更宏偉畢竟是三百五十萬石之大諸侯，豐臣秀吉，比蔣介石有實權。

再來就是大安森林公園和台北市之建國假日花市，大安森林公園座落於幾處台北市大道間，我誤以為只是原建國南路和信義路之國際學舍，讀大學時夏天，我常坐巴士到國際學舍看電影，所以不以為異，沒想到這是一座大花園，我看到天竺牡丹，就是日本秋田種，北市政府將它植於盆

中，現在是開花季中，非常美麗，而且有一種蜘蛛花，我在休市後院有種植，台北早開花，我贈送許多給球友兼花友，看了森林花園蜘蛛花後，明年春天她將旅行台灣拜訪大安森林公園之蜘蛛花海。

我原想走私幾顆大理花根來美國，後來在建國假日花市看到一小盆要價150元新台幣，我始放棄此念，美國兩塊花根是12美元，相差有限，但無海關麻煩，新竹大霸尖山軍營上廟裏庭院，也種許多大理花，花開四季，我將許多美麗花朵相片，分享全球讀者。

My headache is to keep on driving an old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

 My headache is to keep on driving an old vehicle/Carlos Pueblo

Living in Houston, Texas, you must drive a vehicle to go around in your life. The city or county can't afford to build public transportation like the city of New York or city of Chicago. I feel comfortable when I think of the city of Los Angeles, California, there is no effective public transportation for people to take either. Driving a personal  vehicle costs money and drains your personal savings as well. I have been driving a 26 years old 1998 Q45 ever since I lost my main job in 2001. I have managed to get by every year to pass the vehicle inspection and repair required. Recently, both my vehicle and my son Arthur's 2008 Camry have been adding to my headache constantly and I can't manage such a crisis even though I shouldn't have any issue. I can afford to replace them with new vehicles yet I can't do it.

Arthur can't drive a new vehicle to work. He works at a supermarket and the parking lot is not safe for a new vehicle. I owe him a new vehicle because I have promised him a new vehicle when he graduates from the University of Houston with a degree. After I lost my main insurance agent's job in 2001, there has been no need for me to drive to visit my customers; therefore, I have managed well to get by with old vehicles on our small fleet in the family. I let Amy and Michelle drive newer vehicles while Arthur and I drive older ones. All of us understand such savings, I mean real savings and investment of such savings in the current stock market.

When the old vehicle has been sent to a garage, it usually costs more than a thousand dollars to come back out. It has been very annoying now because there are two older vehicles now, especially my 98 Q45 which is now at the shop to replace a new alternator. The vehicle quits every month after the battery is dead. In January, there was a power steering pump to be replaced and also belts. Arthur's Camry has had an issue of wires bit by squirrels forcing the check engine light on. Once the mechanic opens the hood, he always reminds me to do the regular maintenance like replacing belts, etc.

It is a two car garage and there are three vehicles in the household. None of our vehicles can be parked inside our garage because our garage is full of old stuff which I can't get rid of. I have many reasons why I always keep on driving old vehicles because it is very difficult to get rid of any one of them. I go away from home quite often nowadays to avoid such stress.

舊車煩惱2024／莊峻華

 舊車煩惱2024／莊峻華

家裡開舊車，可以省錢，但是有無窮的煩惱，我們家有三部舊車，都是日本製造，一是98年，一是08年，一是18年，前兩輛經常有麻煩，有時候真是不知所措。舊車無需本錢，蓋車錢已付清多年，只有維護費，好車維護費低廉，尤其是日本車，但老車則不然，車壞修理費昂貴，因為美國工資昂貴，繼續開舊車，可以將新車車款繼續存在基金，年增值和股息來支付舊車維護，是措措有餘，我曾經算過，所以煩惱難過大約過了一夜長考就習慣矣。

我們家元兒需開車上班，他在超市上夜班，新車停在超市不安全，所以他早不想開新車找麻煩，我是欠他一輛新車，因為他幫我完成他的休士頓大學學士位，主修市場學，學以致用，在超市工作，起薪三元五一小時，現在年薪三萬美金，一年有4週給薪假日，修車我付錢，免食宿等雜費，有時候我還幫他繳個人退休金，他的儲蓄所得已經是年薪之兩倍，開舊車他好我也好。我開的是老車，我只開來打網球，開車載園藝花草肥料，老車給元兒備用，緊急可以開愛美車急用，如此安排也有23年歷史，而且我也無業多年，而且是雲遊天下，不能開車，只能搭郵輪和坐飛機。

舊車送人，人都不要，因為很麻煩，車停在路旁，風吹日曬，落葉堆積，松鼠咬斷電線，車庫累積一生廢物，而且倒車不易，隨時碰撞，板金花錢，有錢不敢花，就像乞丐一樣，都是煩惱，新車很貴，我的老車新版要價七萬美金，車險也不便宜，離群索居日久，都不知全險要價，賣保險也是煩惱，人生都是煩惱，生老病死。

Visiting NTNU my alma mater in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting NTNU my alma mater in 2024/Carlos Pueblo

The National Taiwan Normal University is my alma mater. I graduated from the Chemistry Department in 1971; therefore, I was eligible to apply to study abroad after my two years conscription in the Nationalist Army and two years teaching duty at high schools in Taiwan. The degree which I obtained from this University gave me the opportunity to have an assistantship to pay for my graduate study, then becoming an immigrant to the United States. I have always appreciated this opportunity and that is why I always visited NTNU campus when I come back to my home country. On the first Monday after my arrival in Taiwan, I did have a wonderful visit on both University campuses, the College of Science campus at Kongkuan as well as the main campus on the East Ho-Ping Road. After that, I did go back to visit the main campus again to refresh my fond memory dating back to 60 years ago.

I entered the Affiliated Senior High of NTNU and that was in the 60's of the last century. I was very familiar with the main campus area of the NTNU. Later, I passed the college entrance examination to enter the NTNU with a total of seven years of my young life plus a year of teaching at a junior high school at a suburban township outside of Taipei. I still visited the main campus often until I left the country in 1975.

I took the subway and exited at a station near an intersection of East Ho-Ping Road and Roosevelt Boulevard and passed by the same one story frame office building of the Taiwan Electrical Company. The entire East Ho-Ping Road are high rising buildings and can't resemble any of the bungalow frame ghettos in the past. I enter the Main gate and still see the distinguished red brick building of the original Taihoku Koudo Gatgo, Taipei Senior Academy back to the Japanese Empire Era, 1895-1945, the building was established in 1922. Now, the limited campus area is crowded with tall buildings for the expansion of the University. I still can tell those familiar buildings including classrooms, department offices, and protected classics, etc.

A mere three colleges University back then when I was on the campus for my degree, and now there are 9 colleges with 62 departments with a total 130 degrees offered. It is a major reason why I am not able to visit the University President this time. He is very busy managing the University affairs. I am going to see him in Los Angeles for the Global Alumni Meeting in June of this year and I shall visit our future University administrators in the future as long as I am healthy and appreciate the opportunity to study at this wonderful university in my life.

拜訪母校台灣師大2024／莊峻華

 拜訪母校台灣師大2024／莊峻華

這次返台整牙雖是醫療需要，但非迫切更不是必需，主要是我有11年未曾返鄉，雖非落葉要歸根，但乘老身體尚可活動，經常長途旅行，兩次在休市遇見母校年輕校長和副校長等行政主管來訪，心生感激，眷念這栽培過我的好學校，沒有理由不能不專程拜訪，所以特別注意兩艘郵輪的橫跨太平洋之行程，一是四月十日珠寶號從東京駛返西雅圖16日，此行程早已售罄，因此注意到精神號五月八日，從溫哥華駛出東京之18日行，我在返台首行程中，得知我的牙醫再需要兩週，始能完成下層假牙，於是我在台北旅店，訂下今年第二次返台行的郵輪船票，就是溫哥華到東京這一段，其他的都是飛機票，也都順利購妥。三月初之首行，抵達台北是下午，連絡到我的牙醫後，當夜就有門診，陳大夫立即規劃新假牙製造過程，過了週末，我順利的和同窗班長黃瑞耀博士，約好拜訪母校公館理學院化學系，化學系是擺出陣仗接待，非常有趣，我有專文報導，呂主任專車載我們參加陳副校長之午餐招待，許多年輕教授陪席，下雨天我們又有呂主任趕到和平東路本校，拜訪校友會公關中心，非常隆重，不巧吳校長招待法國學者事忙，不然我們已趕到大禮堂會場，只待下次。

隔一週，我意猶未盡，在週六又搭車重返和平東路，這次未麻煩任何人物，我只是親自再訪問這座深具感情之學府。我在羅斯福路和和平東路交界下車，然後就慢步走向師大門口，我二姊惠美，當年就讀家政系，幫我安排在校門口一違章建築陋巷內，參加台北五省中聯考，我果然考上附中。剛才忘記交待那座台電木造辦公室仍在。師大校舍已經擴充幾倍大，但無需認真回憶，也可以認出當年幾棟台北高等學校之建築，我找不到樂群堂，約是11年前公關室美麗之淑媛姊還招待我一杯冰紅茶，樂群堂樓上是活動中心，我們辦過學術演獎，普渡大學諾貝爾獎布朗教授愛徒范凱達教授，在此發表其硼急進分子之研究，就是布朗之專長，幾天前我忘記提起到化學系之姚清發教授，他是布朗之徒孫。

過樂群堂需要走地下道穿過師大路，就是老龍泉街，師大校園美化許多年，我們的男生宿舍新蓋也有半世季矣，我們當年住的男生宿舍是台北高等學校之學寮，這是日治時代之學制，過去教育部不喜歡提及，其實日本帝國時代，高等學校有帝大般之地位，台灣有台北高校，也有台北帝大，戰後東京一高併入東京大學，二高併入東北大學，三高併入京都大學等等，日本也有師範大學，是高等師範升級，若東京高師改制東京師範大學，廣島高師，改成廣島師範大學，我相信北京師範大學，來自北京高等師範學校，明治維新，帝國學校制度，取自英帝國學制，二戰後，日本採取美國學制。

描述不完，以前我常參觀美術系師生畫展，每年台灣的重頭戲，這一次我巧遇一位東海出身的女畫家陳玉美，她在美術系有一畫展，是西畫，金屬顏料，別有特色，我將在下次介紹。

Visiting my senior high school alma mater/Carlos Pueblo

 Visiting my senior high school alma mater/Carlos Pueblo

Every time when I return to Taipei, I always find time to visit my senior high school alma mater, the Affiliated Senior High School of the National Taiwan Normal University. Later on I did enter Taiwan Normal as my another alma mater in Taiwan back to the 60's and 70's of the last century. I have credited all my alma mater schools to prepare me to immigrate to the United States and have changed my life completely.

Back then and now in Taiwan, we must compete to enter schools with distinguished performance to satisfy parents and students; therefore, we always are required to study hard to pass various entrance examinations to get the admission to study at certain schools on every levels, the junior high school, the senior high school, and the university, etc. After college education, many of us must pass another examination to study abroad in order to obtain a better future in their life. Of course, it has changed now that Taiwan is a developed nation in the world and you don't have to study abroad to make very much difference in your life.

The school was built in 1937 when Taiwan was still under Japanese rule, 1895-1945. It was named Taipei #3 Middle School with the Japanese majority of the student body. It was gradually changed to be affiliated to Taiwan Normal University after the Nationalist Chinese took over Taiwan in 1945. The size of the campus has been kept the same with some additional buildings in the front, the 1937 original Japanese built red brick building is still very attractive. The indoor basketball gymnasium was built by my classmate Kuo after he graduated from the engineering college.

There are two tennis courts added in the back field. We didn't have such a facility back then in the 60's. I was very good in Tennis when I was at the junior high school and was interrupted after junior high until 1996 when my daughter Michelle asked me to play tennis by myself and not bother her with tennis anymore.

One day, my old classmate, Mr. Kuo took me to inspect two of his big construction projects south of Taipei. He has become a very successful owner of a construction company. One of the two projects is a museum of the fine art for the New Taipei City at Yingke Township facing my grandparents' hometown Shansha Township. I am so impressed by his achievement after he graduated from our senior high school.