股票買低賣高／莊峻華
昨午愛美告知，石油股沖高，於是我上書房，一一售清庫存石油股，今晨油股股續漲，我已無能為力，賣出兌現是保證手上現金，免得拮据不堪，一般股市仍然不見起色，因為通貨膨脹是將步入經濟消條委縮之結局，無人能清楚判斷。
今年通貨膨脹，尤其是汽油零售價，拜登總統努力，汽油價在休士頓，回跌到一加侖3美元，如今石油產國聲稱每日減產兩百萬桶，是為日後消條減產？抑或維護高油價高收入？我想是在警告美國石油公司，切末增產石油，輕舉妄動，還是強調環保，鄙夷化石能源為是，我是如此想，沙烏地石油政策如此，已經超過70年。
我年紀已大，體力無法繼續工作，倖好年輕時有儲蓄，現在退休金賺錢，只要身體健康，老人健保可維護，又因糖尿病改素食，開車僅在附近社區球場來回，物價是上漲，但是我消費少，不受大影響，郵輪旅行，都是精打細算過，這是財務稅務之安排，股票買低賣高是變錢，無中生有。
The mid-term elections between Taiwan and the U.S./Carlos Pueblo
The mid-term elections between Taiwan and the U.S. is one of main issues in my current days life in Houston, Texas. It will be on November 8 for the U.S. while November 26 for Taiwan. The U.S. mid-term election shall decide who will control both houses while in Taiwan, there are many local positions will be decided to influence the future national election for Taiwan in 2024. It is more interesting for me to follow the one in Taiwan than the one in the U.S. Of course, I don't have very much to say in both elections. I don't have the vote in Taiwan and I am a minority voter in Texas most of the time because I vote the Democrat and Democrats are the minority in Texas even though we do start voting Democrats in Houston area lately.
I have followed Taiwanese politic for a long time especially after I immigrated to the U.S. since 1975. Taiwan has been changed to a real democratic system governments since 1996. I is still very short yet very interesting. The new local party, the Democratic Progressive Party, is the incumbent in the national level both the executive and the legislative branches. The DPP has defeated the old Nationalist Chinese Party several times and forced the KMT become the second large party in numbers while there is another local party, the Taiwan People's Party, is joining to take their share of the national resources. I am against the KMT myself and prefer DPP or Taiwan People because both parties are clearly preferring that Taiwan is an independent nation and has nothing to do with China.
I prefer Democrats to Republicans in the U.S. elections. I don't like Donald Trump and the conservative. I believe that the Governments can do more for the poor and the needed. Of course, people must help themselves simultaneously like that I help myself. I have no complaints ever since I come to this nation.
年底的台美地方選舉／莊峻華
美國是在11月8日，台灣是在11月26日，兩國均將舉行地方選舉，比較上，台灣地方選舉，較為熱鬧，台灣有三大政黨互相競逐，非常劇烈，美國民主選舉超過246年，已經相當習慣，連參衆兩院是否換手？我們德州居民，甚難使力，這是事實，我在選前一日，旅行回家，趕上投票，這是我的興趣，我雖非台灣國公民，但從小關心台灣政治，而且津津樂道，我有我的看法，這個看法，真正傳承於先父，十分有趣，他出生於大日本帝國，接受過日本教育，我出生時台灣已是中國殖民地，一直到離開台灣21年後，台灣人民始能票選，正式授權統治台灣之政府，地方政府選舉，也比較有趣。
最有趣者，為首都台北市政府之選舉，台北市長和台北市議會，此次台北市長有三大政黨角逐，其實有12人參選，民進黨提名陳時中醫師，國民黨提蔣萬安美國律師，民眾黨提親民黨籍黃珊珊律師掛無黨籍參選，我以專業判斷，加上個人喜愛，我看好黃珊珊，也認為她是最佳後選人，民眾黨之議員後選人，也將有所斬獲。
八年前，柯文哲醫師入主台北市，執政有業績，而且是例年來之最，陳水扁僅4年，國民黨中國人馬英九和郝龍斌各8年，卸任後有五大弊案，官員鋃鐺入獄，主要是中國官方衙門貪污之傳統，柯市長有日本家教，台北帝大醫科之傳統訓練，日本精神，講話算話有紀律，台灣民進黨媒體分辨不清，我能了解，看不出柯執政8年政績和建設，黃珊珊副市長，建議大家參考各位連任議員政見，了解這些議員任內之代表作，都是議員爭取，柯市府執行完成，柯絕對不是共匪同路人，他們夫妻都是台大醫科出身醫生，都不做生意，她可能誤入基金，投資中國，這是證券股市非醫學專門，我不能笑她，我過去服務之壽險大公司，亞洲太平洋基金，僅指日本一國而已，我勞記在心，幾十年後，看看中國，香港，和新加坡，投資者慘況。
我已經有8年餘，未曾回過台灣，剛好是柯執政後之8年，台北沒有地方便宜居，無法欣賞柯市長口述下之台北市容，市場更新，台灣要不斷之進步，要鼓勵年輕人參加公眾服務，民進黨黨比中國國民黨優質甚多，我相信民眾黨更好，就像美國民主黨比共和黨好，誰都比川普好一般的道理。
Attending two arts shows/Carlos Pueblo
During last weekend, we're invited to an art show on the Taiwanese Community Center for an alumnus personal show presented by his daughter. The opening ceremony was too long and I was bothered by my low blood sugar issue; therefore, I went out for a break then I found a second art show in the same hall. The second art show is products by Chia Yi Chen Chen-Po who was a famous victim by Chinese Nationalist during the famous 228 massacre in 1947. Both deceased artists are Chen in surname, the prior one is in water color while the later one is in oil painting.
Both of them are impressionists which are not the realists and their fine art products do have their own opinions in it. They all painted local scenery of which I am very much attracted to. I have left Taiwan for about half a century and Taiwan has been changed. I don't see those kinds of scenery and only existed in my mind in memory.
I attended all fine arts shows when I was a student in Taipei at Taiwan Normal University. There is a fine art department with annual exhibition of students and faculty products during the University birthday every year in June. It was on the third floor of the main building where the department located. Taiwan Normal is the sole college to provide teachers for secondary schools in Taiwan at that time. We consider ourselves as the best for such purposes.
I adore very much of an artist even though I myself have a difficulty to finish a painting yet I love to attend or visit museum of fine arts everywhere. There are two family members in my family who can draw, my son Arthur and my young sister Ru-In yet they both gave up paintings later in their life. I can tell what are my favorite paintings when I see at the shows. In a few weeks I am leaving for cruises again and I shall have plenty of opportunity to attend the arts auction on board.
參觀嘉義陳澄波畫展／莊峻華
休市台師大校友會與畫家陳榮和校友基金會，為慶祝母校百年校慶，在此地僑教中心，舉辦水彩畫展，我自高中時代，生活在師大龍泉街附近，每年校慶日，都參觀美術系畫展，畫展在台北高等學校三樓美術系普通教室，後來國文系也同時同地，舉行大一國文作文展覽，師大美術系獨步全台，當年師大畫展師生作品，以國畫山水仕女，較為顯赫，蓋為國民黨中國畫家掌權勢也，台籍老畫家受日本西畫影響，是有些油畫水彩作品，榮和先生其一也，他是水彩畫，台灣風景寫生，因為開幕式致詞冗長，影響我體內血糖，只好走出展覽室外，正巧碰上走廊上之嘉義陳澄波油畫展，我順便介紹愛美陳之二二八，也在谷歌查閱陳之介紹和作品。
我在郵輪上，參觀畫廊畫展拍賣，很多經驗，而且我喜歡參觀免費美術館畫展，僑教館澄波先生作品，是整理過之原作，郵輪上之作品都是複製膺品，澄波先生遇難時年約52，應該有相當成熟之作品，我想是印象派，按畫家施並錫之定義，印象派畫與寫實派有異，印象派畫中，加入畫家之意見，所以寫真大小比例，與真實未必相符合。
然後我們看到畫家之著色技巧，隨著時間歲月，顏料會退色，但近代科技可以補救，參觀畫展，可以調濟身心，是人生之樂趣。
Go shopping at Katy Mill Mall/Carlos Pueblo
During the Labor Days weekend, we usually go shopping at Katy Mill Mall for some shoes and cloths. The Mall is an outlet stores outside of Houston not very far from our house. I need a hiking shoes for my Alaska cruise trip and the current one pairs are too small hurting my toes. We need to purchase some underwear and short pans for Arthur to wear at home. Of course, Amy is very anxious to go shopping with my company.
I found my gentry worn refurbish pairs with a discount to cover the value added tax with my re-applied membership of the store. The clerk explained to me that shoes were returned to the company from purchasers slighly worn; however, the factory could refurbish pairs with discount price to sell again. Frugal person like me care more about the price and don't mind at all. There is a market for it.
We went to another store for Arthur's need. We are lucky that the store is included in the Mall. We went to the clearance section to select three short pans and the underwear section to find only one bag with his size. The clerk reminded me to apply a new credit card in order to get 10% discount plus additional regular 5% discount. I agreed; therefore, I couldn't spend my other promotional new credit card limit. I applied two new credit cards to take advantage of their promotional credit if I spend $1,000 and $4,000 in first three months, It is designed to use them on my year end cruise trips originally.
On our way back home, we went to a drug store to pick up two drugs for my diabetes. A telephone clerk asked me if I would let her re-fill one of my drug and I said yes and checked if the other one was ready. She checked it on her screen and replied that was ready. I picked both up at the same time. I am very impressed of their efficiency.
As a matter of fact, I am very impressed of the American business industry how they know the business. American are good at business and that is why the entire nation is so prosperous and the number one in the whole world. They can move their huge inventory fast and effectively in time and make a profit.
I asked Arthur to help me to spend some money on my credit cards. He promised $200 and I got it on that day. I believe that he purchases his company's gift card for his regular purchase in order to help me.
勞工節凱蒂鎮購物記／莊峻華
每年勞工節，愛美均約我凱蒂鎮購物去，勞工節衣物有特價，凱蒂鎮在休市西郊，有大賣店，專門提供過時未售商品，給講價之客戶，愛美和女兒酷愛購物，逛大賣店，因此家裡穿著衣物充沛無慮新購，難得今年一家銀行核准兩張信用卡，給予購物優待，我藉此機會購置稍高統步鞋，當登山用途，順便買些內褲短褲給元兒，結果對新信用卡新購物優待點數，幫助不大，我們只購上$170，離目標三個月五千元購買額，尚差甚遠，需要繼續努力。
美國人能商也，鼓勵消費，這銀行准我兩張信用卡，一張鼓勵我三個月花一千元，回扣兩百元，另一張是商號信用卡，三個月花四千元，給回扣四百元，如我旅行一趟郵輪，大概甚易達成目標，如此，郵輪旅行又增加一折扣，對我也有好處，但現在郵輪旅行有好價錢，機票卻有困難，因此只能他算計為要。我看好一雙皮質球鞋，可供我登阿拉斯加史凱格衛下杜威湖山路專用，上次用一小號半統高鞋，腳姆指礙血，指甲終於脫落，很不好看。此鞋是有人訂購，又穿過但退還，鞋廠整修後，重新廉價出售，我最喜歡購此類物品，我又要店員幫我申請會員資格，再拿一些折扣，像是省下購物添加稅額，美國人能商也，我也興高采烈。
愛美熟悉店面，帶我到另外一家，專門男女服裝衣物，我們幫元兒購買內褲和短便褲，結帳時店員告知申請該店信用卡，可享受當日10％折扣，再加上5％例行折扣，於是我又申請，馬上核准，但只能使用該卡付帳，美國人真能商也，我看這些店龐大，貨品堆積，而且不僅一家，能售空存貨，真是本領。我只能使用不到百元，回家後請元兒幫忙，半夜餐廳相遇，他說已經買上若干，信用卡還在桌上。
我又想起史記太史公筆下之陶朱公故事，陶朱公一子在楚國殺人犯罪，陶朱公在遣使長子和么子間踟躅，最後逼不過長子懇求，由長子代理，結果救命失敗，陶朱公有預感理由，就是錢的觀念。
