游泳想起坐禪/莊峻華
最近開始游泳，社區有一座泳池，美侖美奐，我沿著池畔，徐徐蛙泳，就像一尾老魚，自由自在，最長一刻是三哩泳程，靜極矣，烈日烤黑全身，我突然想起佛家之坐禪，徐泳於池，像是冬日坐禪，在靜室內把煩心定下。
自幼先父見我急躁，暁以閒時坐禪，他信佛虔誠，相信禪定生智慧，高中時代，甚至箸我拜見菲律賓華僑劉梅生居士，後來之覺生老和尚，他更相信打坐曰，盤坐時，眼觀鼻，鼻觀心，心無雜念，勤唸佛咒，例如心經最後幾句，腳底血液，減半行程，循環回心臟，於是體溫稍増，有助於寒冬體溫，老居士甚至鼓勵我，搭公車時也坐禪，當然不是盤坐，而是心靜自然涼，暫時拋棄纏身碎事，我鮮少嚐嗜，但坐禪確是幫忙我渡過，幾次人生之挫敗，例如為雇主革職幾次，我都臨時抱佛腳，高誦心經和金剛經，然後坐禪些許，幫忙入寐。
現在，我已步入老年，沒有甚麼色受想行識之牽掛，游泳是為身體屢新，經常算錯圈數，於是任憑感覺，大概而已，我的頭腦也是空空如也，心亦無一絲雜念，於是我回憶到禪定，游泳比坐禪有趣多矣。
How to catch up at the school/Carlos Pueblo
Schools are the places where we learn the knowledge in order to face the future job related challenge; however, many students, including myself, fail to catch up with the progress. I always have had a nightmare about such failure which is built in my subconscious. As a student, it is very misery for not catch up in the class and there are many reasons. I believe that doing the reading of the text book and doing the exercises at the end of a chapter are the best way to catch up at the school.
All school have a curriculum to be followed and with a text book on a subject to teach. There is an examination to assess the learning progress. Back to the time when I was in Taiwan, we had to pass the entrance examination to get the permission to limited space available at a junior middle school, senior high school, and college, etc. A male student must pass such college entrance examination to get a seat to the college or you had to be draft into the military 2-3 years services which was my nightmare was built in. That was not it, if you couldn't make it and got kicked out of the college, you were also to face the draft issue. I had been in those situations for many years and I knew that to catch up at the school was very vital.
Actually, this is an advise from my elder brother Yancy who is a much better student than I am. After one of my major failure at the college examination, he advised me to go back to all the text books to review them and to do all the exercises chapter by chapter and repeatedly. I had had a better learning environment when I was at the graduate school, I could catch up with some of the study which I missed at the undergraduate study. After many years passed, I attempted to gt a teaching job at the high school after I lost my insurance company's contract. I went to review three college books, general chemistry, general physics, and physical chemistry and did every chapter's exercises and I felt good even though I could only hold that job for two months. I am still feeling good.
A time of computer has changed all the school learning which I admit it; however, the basic training of the logic is the same. We can't wait until that everything is right in order to learn and also, there are many good schools and bad schools in the world and we can only have one at a time to study. It is really doesn't matter for anything that how to catch up with our study is more important of all. i see most of the failed students are lack of self confidence and don't want to settle down and spend the time needed to read the text book and do the exercises. We must make up our mind in it to catch up at the school.
如何跟上學校進度？/莊峻華
多年來，我經常半夜，惡夢連連，幸好驚醒，我常夢到學校進度跟不上，有退學之壓力，在台灣男生考不上大學，需要當兵服役，大學退學，更是可惜，而且絕非坦途，我的初中，高中和大學，確是掙扎不已，跟不上之科目，包括英文，數學，和物理，到了大學，則是所有本科，普化，有機，物理化學，和儀器分析等，甚至到研究所，高等無機也重修過，我是屢敗屢戰，因為我無其他選則，在學校求學，貴於靜心，心無旁騖。
初中時，先父委請同事賴洋卿先生，指點我理化和數學，理科是有訣竅，他是台大化工畢業，我的困難是平衡化學方程式，居然一兩下就清楚，代數我不知進度，未曾請教到，因此在台北五省中聯考中，拉下總分，因為鄉下師資，參差不齊。美國也有此問題，但不若台灣嚴重，所以解決之道，在於勤做作業，就是將每章節後之作業，做過一遍，不會者請教學校老師，或是成績佳者。
上課聽課跟不上，不要氣餒，仔細溫習教科書，當然英文是最基本要求，從小一就要戰戰兢兢，一步一步上來，小學就要打下基礎，然後初中，高中，可以選擇工作機會待遇較佳之科系。小學時涉獵範圍較小，初中，高中，和大學，日後份量増加，就需要更加用心。
學生要盡力，家長也需要了解和鼓勵，千萬不能放棄，當然我們之看法，不一定跟上時代，也不一定適合時代，但需要關心盡力。我在大學時代，跟不上之化學本科，我在研究所設法彌補，後來保險失業，想當老師，又重新讀過一遍普通化學和理論化學，而且做了習題，當然教師職失敗，但也了上一心願，當年我也幫忙琳兒量化，但生化部份則幫不上，琳兒放棄理工科，從事商務會計，也走出一途，元兒落後，與我相似，但也大學畢業，安份工作，收入方面，我們來幫忙儲蓄投資。
The school education/Carlos Pueblo
The school education is vital important for a nation as well as an individual. It may not seem to be that important for the rich; however, it is the reasonable method for the poor to break their poverty class. I believe it from my own experience. I have had 19 years school education completed in my life while my father has had 10 years and his dad has none. Similar cases occurred in my siblings and we all come out of the poverty class.
I was a trained middle school teacher when I was in Taiwan. It was a public service position employed by the government. If I don't make an outrage mistake, I shall have that position till my retirement with a handsome pension. I don't see any burden of myself to the society as well as the government. Of course, none of my ancestors were a burden of any governments because back then there were no obligation from the rulers for any of their slaves. I consider my ancestors are the slaves of the Manchu Dynasty, the Japanese Empire, and the Nationalist Chinese Regime. It is similar to what happened in the old North America.
My father was very fortunate to have his mandatory school education when Japanese applied their education law in Taiwan to make the elementary school compulsory. He did well and was encouraged to take an examination to go further. He has had another five years school education at a technology school to be trained as an engineer. Once he completed the tech school, he found a job with a sugar refinery plant. Two of my uncles with no records at all and I assumed no school education at all. It is very sorry and there is none to be told at all.
The only interest of my dad is to support all his children to get a proper school education and the most important matter of his life is to see all his children to make it in school. He doesn't have money enough; however, he can tell how proud he is of his children to get a good school education. He was so proud of me when I taught at a provincial senior high school and hand over my salary every other month for 6 months. He attempted to see me off at the airport when I left Taiwan.
I have had two children in my family. Again, the school education is very important for my children as I have learned it from my dad. I can even tutor both of them in math and physical science. They all finish their college degrees and work alone with a very good attitude of working, saving, and investing. Like me, they all make hays while it is sunshine.
The U.S. job market has changed dramatically due to the development of the computer technology. The school education is playing a major role of learning to use that tool. I know that may not be the only way of life; however, it is nice to know how to operate a mobile phone and to send an e-mail. I must have a help from Arthur, my son, when I encounter some difficulty in computer. He learns the knowledge from his schools.
學校教育之重要/莊峻華
最近美國因中國武漢肺炎肆虐未解，封閉半年之學校，是否準備開放，引起爭辯，愛美每日與我討論，因她每日均聆聽紐約科莫州長之疫情詳述節目，紐約，紐澤西，和康乃迪克三州，疫情有效控制，因此學校準備在這個月開放，學生和教職員之安全，有盡力之維護，例如學生分匹回校上課等，戴口罩，我們休市疫情嚴峻，學區仍不敢宣佈何時恢復上課，但是民間企業，已經開始準備恢復辦公室上班，時間在月底或是九月一日，這是我晨步夥伴之消息。我說學校恢護上課，至少可以解決一些貧困學生之營養早午餐之問題，這很不幸是事實，美國雖是富裕之國度，仍有許多窮困國民。
我曾在高維斯頓包爾高中，教高三，四化學，學校要求出席率，剛好有營養早午餐，於是學生均設法趕來上學，午餐過後，就有學生離校，美國家庭重視學校教育，程度有別，一般學區較佳者，房價也貴，蓋無需送子女上私立學校也，私校可以比較嚴格，甚至天主教修女，可以體罰頑劣之紈絝子弟。美國學校義務教育將近十三年，聯邦政府，再幫助兩年大學一年兩千元學費，還有以後之終身學習助學金，就是鼓勵學校教育，現在電腦發達，若未習得網路，甚難生活，何況找到好工作。
美國許多無需高深知識之勞力工作，都已經遷出國境，國內僅存工作機會，都需要一些專業知識，或是可以接受訓練者，都要有一些稍多於義務教育程度者，否則只好當侍者，餐廳都關閉，侍者也失業，這是一社會問題，誰人不曉？小時候，我尚銘記大姊一句話，打鐵要趁熱，年輕時要把握箸珍貴之學習機會，習得一技之長，及得工作，奮力以赴，節約儲蓄，養成財務獨立，這是人生之目標，也是有意義之生活。
My leisure life under the Pandemic/Carlos Pueblo
It has been more than 6 months since I schedule a leisure life to face the lock down of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus Pandemic. Actually, it is a four to 5 hours exercises in the morning to lead a much relaxing daily life with plenty of naps, internet watching, and writing throughout my daily life.
I start my morning walk before the day break at about 5:30 am. First, I go north round alone streets of the section II on the side of our house, then, I come back from the north down to the south end street one by one. I run into my fellow morning walkers and the most pleasant matter is to greet my pet dogs friends alone the walk. Most of them are insisting on waiting for me or coming forward to meet me. Both the dog owner and myself are very touching. I have had such luxury for years. Now, I have had at least three owners allowing me to walk with their dogs for a short distance and I also have several walk friends stop by for a brief chat.I feel so lucky to have a friendly neighborhood. The morning walk if complete on every street would be about 5 miles and three hours of time.
After the walk, I would have a breakfast and a long nap to recover my exhaustion which I understand that I am an old man already and I must be nice to the old body. Our swimming pool is well maintained two cleaning services a week. I have had an article to describe the facility and not many neighbors to take advantage of the facility. I have three routines to follow, a 15, 20, and 25 counter clock circle laps to make about 1, 2 and 2.5 hours of time. I swim like a fish.
There are two tennis meets, on Friday and Sunday morning at 7:30 am. I would keep my morning walk on schedule for 8 streets and meet my other three partners who are at my age. We have had two competitive sets of double last about 1 and half hours. Since we have had so much fun, we are going to add another meet on Tuesday night.
I help Amy to do some cooking and the pasta making on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday is only for a clam soup making accompany with her shrimp noodle. Saturday is the pasta day that I make the dough from the all purpose flour and roll the dumpling skin for her to make the dumpling. It is because of the Pandemic which has caused to closure of a dumpling restaurant. I also make some steam bun for ourselves because Arthur doesn't eat it. Sunday is a day of beef noodle soup for Arthur, as a matter of a fact, all three are for Arthur, the clam soup, the dumpling, and the beef noodle and I come to release three dinners making for Amy and I enjoy it.
I have some yard work done regularly. I mow the yard every other week on Wednesday after the morning walk and a nap before the swimming. It is the best for my old body. My yard looks good because of the rain and the full grown of the St. Augustine grass. Even my edge work looks nice and neat. I am very proud of it and save a little bit of money. My second season of the Korean melons are coming out now. This year, I have had a harvest of seven melons and some long beans.
疫情下之閒居生活/莊峻華
中國武漢肺炎肆虐下，我的閒居生活，已過半年有餘，每日都有固定之課程，又身處德州休市之熱浪襲人雙肆虐，仍是需要按部就班，管理每日生活，我不厭其煩之分享，這段幾近單調，又甚無變化之閒居生活，包括的是，清晨散步，游泳，和網球三項運動節目，三個主助理製作晚餐，互聯網新聞節目，還有幾乎每日之部落格寫作。
因為天熱，所以我再清晨五點半，就需出門散步，我先從二區五街來回，信否我已經開始遇見散步和晨跑夥伴，跑者為愛犬史考特和奧提斯之青年主人，散步者為伊蓮和她愛犬可口，凌晨靜極了，只有週五清晨六時正，一割草師傅，開始發動機器，蓋其有整街草皮需要清理，多半屋主要求一週割草一次，我持異議兩週自理一次，我認為草需長滿兩週，始易顯出草皮厚度，而且可以節省澆水次數。走到第一區，開始天亮，散步者漸眾，我搬居此村已近八年，多與散步者相識，尤其半年來，増加路程，走遍十二條街來回，已經有固定愛犬群，需要打招呼，一些早起鄰居，其中陪伴三位鄰居太太遛走愛犬，她們也讓我有機會案內其他路過愛犬，或等在門內吠叫之愛犬，我有幾隻愛犬，等我多年，甚具深情。
走了三小時餘，回家後到景瑛府採無花果，然後早餐，看股市新聞晝寢，恢復體力，約十一時正，開車游泳去也，看體力與意志，我游，1.2哩，2.4哩，和 3.0哩不等，分別是10圈，20圈，和 25圈，這游泳池是我使用過中，管理最佳者，若是網球局後，幾乎就是我專用，非常滿意。週五與週日清晨有網球局，我仍是早散步暖身，網球局我亦甚當真，夥伴有趣，正想再増一次。
疫情中，不便購買水餃，因此我們在家自製，週六我就準備麵食，發麵醒麵和趕麵，愛美調豬肉餡，然後我們分工包水餃，及早讓元兒吃畢水餃上班，午夜返家，尚有一份水餃為早餐，元兒亦甚捧場。週日，我需要準備一大鍋牛肉湯，這是元兒之兩頓，我在午後開始製作，配合他之工作時間，我在家製作牛肉麵，已有多年歷史。週五是新増菜單，愛美買上半打蚌，我將蚌煮成薑絲湯，元兒澆到炒麵上，我們家琳兒，未成有台灣人喝湯習慣，比較難款待，吾少也賤故多能弊事也。
如此隔離閒居生活，讓我忘卻夏日避暑旅行，我也習慣休市之熱浪襲人，我能做甚麼？水盆內之新苗已冒出，我大概有香瓜長豆之第二季矣。
