Friday, February 9, 2024

不忍其觳觫/莊峻華

 不忍其觳觫/莊峻華

今年過農曆年,邀請奧斯汀之琳兒家庭,大哥峻嚴家庭,和球友竇醫師夫婦,分三日來家裡便餐,我提意吃龍蝦和大王蟳,大家均曰可,於是我就分三日上午十時,準時到超市購買生猛龍蝦和大王蟳,首日我就遇到困難,這是我們佛家之忌諱,殺生,在中國孟子梁惠王上篇也提到,不忍其觳觫。

因為龍蝦遇熱爭扎,我剛好在廚房,但已經來不及取消飯局,這段原句是,君子之於禽獸也,見其生,不忍見其死,聞其生,不忍食其肉,是以君子遠庖廚也,當然前段講到牛羊祭祀之觳觫。我甚為難之完成庖廚工作,而且圓滿新年飯局。

佛家主張素食,避免殺生,印度人和猶太人也有類似主張,我曾素食11年以上,不是宗教信仰,而是閱得書籍曰全素食,有益糖尿病,當年失業無健康保險,血糖任其飆高,一直到65歲,自動進入老人健康保險,食素實在非常不方便。

下次,我們就避免生猛海鮮為食材,選擇新鮮魚肉,先遠庖廚一次,眼不見為淨。

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Three new benefit on my Medicare Advantage/Carlos Pueblo

 Three new benefit on my Medicare Advantage/Carlos Pueblo

This year there are three new benefit on my Medicare Advantage  coverage, first, $120 for copayment to visit physicians every quarter; second, $120 payment for approved over the counter items a quarter; third, a $225 limit a year for glasses purchase. On the first benefit, I did receive a credit card and activated it without any difficulty; however, on the second and the third benefit, I did run into very much difficulty to get them on board until the insurance sent me an additional email to remind me of such a benefit. I got two good help to get them on registration.

I went on the internet to purchase the OTC items without any difficulty. Now, I am waiting for the mail delivery. For the reading glasses, I did go to an approved eye care center to have my eyes checked. I have picked my favorite glasses; however, it was more than $225. I didn't like to pay extra. After negotiation, such as no other adjustment needed yet for the reading purpose, the price of a pair dropped to $261. I asked the technician to try my co-payment for the extra. We got the insurance company's approval.

I like my Medicare Advantage Coverage. I have both my diabetes and eye issues at my senior age. Medicare takes good care of them. I like to travel to Japan and would like to stay in Japan for a little longer; however, I can't quite solve the health insurance issue to live in Japan. Without proper health insurance, I don't feel comfortable living in other nations at my age.

新增老人健保三福利/莊峻華

 新增老人健保三福利/莊峻華

去年底,我的老人健保公司已經來信通知,新增三項新福利,一,一季提供$120,給付專科醫生之自備款或藥款;2,一季提供$120,給付一些藥局非處方成藥等物;三,給付眼鏡,上限是一年$225。這三款新福利,我都可以使用上。剛開始我需先注冊,但除第一項因公司寄來一張信用卡,注冊容易外,其他兩項注冊均有困難,於是我暫時放棄,一日保險公司,又寄信來提醒新福利,我剛好忙完住屋整修,又請畢三午餐,於是再申請注冊,這次終於通過。

除半年一次眼檢查眼球血結晶外,我目前無需手術,無需看眼醫,因此一年只需交兩次$80手續費,家庭醫生門診糖尿病藥等均免費,因此此福利,也僅能用到六分之一。第二項福利是需要合格之產品始可,我在網路上很快選妥$120產品。第三項是老花眼鏡,我早使用便宜之批發價老花眼鏡,最近老花遠視度數增加,我再增加一放大鏡幫忙,今日我到眼鏡行,配置金邊老花眼鏡,東扣西扣,還是超過$37,於是我請小姐試一下我的第一項信用卡,居然通過。

美國老人健保和貧民健保福利均佳,因此居住美國甚為放心,保險公司要求醫生定期檢查病人身體,預防治療並進,我旅行日本,甚喜日本環境,甚想久留,但就因無健保保護,僅能短期居留。


Sunday, February 4, 2024

Observing the Lunar New Year in Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

 Observing the Lunar New Year in Houston, Texas/Carlos Pueblo

This year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated on February 10th, Sunday. Our family is back to observe such a celebration. I had been very fond of the Lunar New Year before I came to the United States. We celebrate such festivals in Taiwan vigorously up to the day. We follow the American custom to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas and gradually ignore the Lunar New Year. It's very different this year. I have invited three families to come for luncheons, on the 3rd with Michelle's family, on the 5th with my brother's family, and on the 6th with my tennis body Tony's family.

I have designed a seafood menu for all three lunches. I provide every one a lobster, share two king crabs every meal, plus a piece of T-Bone steak, some braised beef, and vegetables. The main purpose is to have a long missed gathering with my brother and a return favor for Dr. Tou.

I like this idea to celebrate the Lunar New Year because we eat at a remodel home and I get a better control of the cost. Lobsters, king crabs and Xo are very attractive.

過農曆年/莊峻華

 過農曆年/莊峻華

今年農曆年是在二月十日,除夕夜是在九日,我是天天過年的人,平常不過農曆年,今年特別,提前過三個農曆年,就是邀請三個家庭來家裡便餐,琳兒家庭在三日,因她準備送來一隻調皮之小貓勝君,他在家裡欺負一隻老貓奧利佛;大哥峻嚴家庭約五日,我們許久未聚餐,十二日他們全家到日本韓國旅行,我可以提供一些日本地圖和經驗,關西和關東,主要是大阪和東京;球友竇大夫夫婦約六日,因為我們接受兩次招待,和許多禮物,藉過農曆年回請一次。

我的請法很簡單,就是煎牛排,滷牛肉,滷雞蛋,啤酒龍蝦和大王蟳,壓軸戲為我的法國漢那系極老白蘭地,我從郵輪購買三瓶回家,此酒甚貴,引人注意,客人都不喝酒,但均知我之誠意。我先購買梯骨牛排,幾大塊精細牛肉,早晨開始準備,我平日有煮清燉熟牛肉之經驗,駕輕就熟,醬油加水,蔥薑蒜八角橘皮,德州鮮嫩黃牛肉,不到兩時刻就爛熟,六顆滷蛋也一氣喝成。

上午十時,我上韓國超市,購買生猛鮮龍蝦,大王蟳,和解凍明蝦,這是給元兒添加一份。我家大鍋一次只能煮四隻龍蝦,龍蝦入鍋,加入一大瓶米勒啤酒,這是超市最廉價者也,然後大火煮開十午分鐘,旅行阿拉斯加胡娜島路上小餐廳外擺龍蝦大蟳,就是如此景觀。煮熟後之海鮮產品,置烘烤盤中,入烤箱保溫。琳兒臨時通知一隻愛犬蜂蜜長瘤破裂流血不止,已是生死交界,無法南下休市,所以我們馬上決定兩雙龍蝦大蟳置入凍箱,調整週一購買量,因為材料昂貴。我們品嘗龍蝦,確實好味道,我又多喝兩大瓶啤酒,兩鍋剩熱湯,也是啤酒,我怕浪費,早已喝盡,那是熱啤酒,嘗龍蝦時是冰啤酒,講了許多醉語。半夜醒來如廁,發現元兒之剝畢淨龍蝦肉和明蝦,完全清蒸無酒精者,他一口而淨,非常成功。我嘗滷熟牛肉和滷蛋,根本未浪費到白蘭地,已經非常可口。大哥和竇大夫兩飯局,想當駕輕就熟,豪無問題。

我不喜歡餐廳之小費15%,地方稅9%,還有開瓶酒費$10等等,若要上餐廳,我就上郵輪,何況寒舍剛整修完畢,美侖美奐,而且股市也上揚,我藉過農曆年,一舉償還多年人情。

Saturday, February 3, 2024

How do I know the National Economic?/Carlos Pueblo

 How do I know the National Economic?/Carlos Pueblo

It's very popular now about the U.S. National Economic because of the upcoming Presidential Election in November this year. All numbers are good for a booming economy in the U.S. I think that I am aware of it much earlier and you want to know how I know it.

I check on my portfolio when the stock market is up and ignore it when it is down. It's been up most of the time since Biden became President and I am much better off than before. I increased my leisure vacation spending budget and also engaged in major home improvement recently. I feel good about myself and I am lucky.

The U.S. is still the world locomotive engine to lead the world economy. I see most airplanes are full and cruise ships. As an individual, I spent more for the last three years and paid more federal income taxes. Amy tells me that her savings are up plus Arthur's W-2 numbers are all up, meaning the company has raised his salary plus the benefit. I am always alert and know ahead of the time.

As a matter of fact, the market has been on the bull side for a very long time. Of course, we do see some bear markets once in a while. The Federal Authority, the White House and the Federal Reserve know how to manage the National Economic and this is why the U.S. is the most powerful nation in the world. I have taken the most advantage of it, and of course, I also have contributed to the nation on my part as a citizen.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

個人家庭經濟和國家經濟/莊峻華

 個人家庭經濟和國家經濟/莊峻華

這幾日美國政論有線電台,幾位主持人均再三指出美國經濟狀況,我常觀看此台節目,因為此台專門評論分析川普,而且邀請法律專家給觀眾上課法律,時時分析國家經濟。我曾是一般證券代理人,專門出售退休基金,對一般證券有一般性之了解,美國在小布希總統時代,2008年股市崩盤,當時我們在夏威夷可愛島渡假,可愛島有一大海耶特大飯店,電視前的我們臉都綠了,股市資產蒸發70%,非常惶恐,美國汽車公司,通用和克萊斯勒均宣佈破產,比1987年雷根時代之崩盤更加嚴重,近代第三位共和黨總統之股市崩盤是在川普卸任前的武漢肺炎爆發,股市也一度崩盤,我已經很習慣,安慰自己,股票上上下下,只要沉著,終有回升之一日,領導美國經濟回升之三位民主黨總統,分別是克林頓總統,1993-2001;歐巴瑪總統,2009-2017;和當今之拜登總統,2020-迄今三年餘,他們三位都降低利息,不准浪費公帑,變像貪污,而不是為富人減稅。

股票崩盤,幾萬倍兇悍於所得稅。我在拜登初期任內三年,每年退休基金成長均在20%-40%間,年增值比年支出,高出甚巨,因為拜登延聘商務部長雷夢多,財務部長葉倫,國防部長奧斯汀,留任央行主席鮑維爾等人,為何奧斯汀也有關?因為奧斯汀行武出身,孔武有力,震赫中國席近平和其未有戰場經驗之國防部長,畏懼和他見面或熱線,當然不敢真正攻打台灣,俄羅斯普汀不信邪,武力侵略烏克蘭,直接幫助美國國防工業,幫助美國經濟,這就是美國經濟遙遙領先之故,再舉一例,美國現在石油年產量是世界第一,和俄羅斯,伊朗,及委內瑞拉石油禁運,很有關係,當然間接影響到我的石油股票投資。

這過去的兩年,我已開始增加消費,郵輪旅行,經愛美請求,我也看開整修住屋,這一下來是七萬美金之支出,增加家庭消費,直接幫助美國經濟,接下這些整屋工程者,完全是講西班牙語之移民技工行號,美國人早已無此建築能力。