The summer shower/Carlos Pueblo

 The summer shower/Carlos Pueblo

The summer shower of 2023 is here. We have three days in a row with afternoon showers recently, not only release the drought but also lower the temperature by the heatwave. If the shower continue, we have to worry about the flood and the hurricane. That is Houston where I am used to. I am very comfortable to live in Houston, Texas because of my previous experience in Taiwan, a sub-tropical area island which is hot and humid with Typhoon and the threat of flood all the time.

I check the front and back yard several times in a day to see the repaired yard and favorited plants. We grow some melons from seeds gathered throughout the yearly consumption fo fruits, water melons, Korean melons etc. We also grow some squashes, pumpkins and even corns which were came from our neighbor's tree via squirrels. There are okras, bell peppers, and bitter squash which we have enjoyed the harvest. The space is very limited yet we still enjoy some flowers like the amaryllis, the cleome or spider flowers, the cockscomb, roses, etc. They all coming in order in the spring. Gardens spaces are small pots within a 0.2 acres home lot front and back where we rely on the shower.

Due to the regular physical examination for our three family members, I must stay home this summer. My next cruise trips will be late in the summer to Alaska and Japan again. 

時雨／莊峻華

 時雨／莊峻華

夏日時雨，終於到來，已有三日連續，觀看窗外傾盆大雨，擋住些許德州熱浪襲人，再過一週，我們又需要傳統憂慮颶風季，洪水氾濫，居住在氣候溫暖如休士頓，所需習慣之天災，還好我早年在台灣成長，不把颶風洪水，當作一煩惱。

細數庭院菜圃花圃果圃，我們即興之春夏樂趣，草坪若水稻田，蜘蛛花已謝，花實落地埋藏，香瓜花開，西瓜小粒果實，金瓜葫蘆瓜均漫延，雞冠花幾蛛已取代蛛蜘花，可盼花開數月。

是我遠赴避暑旅行季矣，今年特殊，兩週前自葡萄牙里斯本歸來，就持續忙碌，先是拯救新植草皮盆栽，然後是例行門診，恢復清晨網球活動和游泳，恢復家務事。

再來就是七月底一週，需要北上照顧琳兒住屋和幾隻貓犬寵物，我仍就觀看郵輪特價，今夏旅行者眾，無甚打折，所幸我在年初和阿拉斯加遊後，安排一重返阿拉斯加三次遊，再加上一跨太平洋到日本，重遊日本三週，一共52日，我是休假成性矣。

日前，我將三週日本火車旅行排妥，一共居停八處旅店，橫濱，仙台，秋田，弘前，札幌，釧路，熊本，大阪，然後在東京搭長榮飛機返美，長榮安排路過桃園機場五小時，我有機會打電話問候台灣親友

Expecting to have a shower/Carlos Pueblo

 Expecting to have a shower/Carlos Pueblo

Houston is very hot in the summer, we are expecting to have a shower to cool the temperature a little bit and also salvage the lawn and plants on the yard. I thought that I can get by with the air conditioning and enjoy the inside rooms, yet the compressor can't take that much of the heat wave either. There was a scare two days ago, the air blown inside was a warm air; therefore, we had to spread tap water on the exterior of the compressor in order to cool it down. We are advised to hire the mechanic to check to see if there is a damage of the compressor. You can imagine how hard it will be without the A/C for a day in Houston. 

Lately, I have discovered to escape Houston heat wave by cruising. I have found that cruising like to stay in a summer villa around the world. First, I must find some depressed routes which the cruiser can't fill up the ship then yield some inches in prices, not this year. Most of cruise prices are higher than previous years. I must wait in patience.

The weather broadcast indicates that there are showers coming in this week. We shall have plenty of rain and back to the stress of the hurricane season. The flood may be occurred. The Eastern Texas agricultures are relying on the hurricane to bring in much needed rain to water the field.

期待陣雨／莊峻華

 期待陣雨／莊峻華

剛才一陣陣雨，稍解休士頓地區幾週之乾旱，今年德州早熱，又乏春雨，庭院乾燥，草皮和花果均奄奄一息，雖然澆水急救復健之草皮，仍舊不起作用，於是開始看天，注意氣象預告，今日氣象預告甚為準確，果然在下午五時，打雷然後傾盆大雨，三刻鐘後雨停，烈日復出，我已收集十餘盆雨水，以供不時之需，當然，按氣象預告，下週均有雨，著名之德州颶風季已準時抵達。

我們鄰居，多半不惜成本，固定時間草皮澆水，因此庭院綠油油一片，非常美觀，我們省錢，避免使用自動噴水器，因此全靠雨水，有時候老天幫忙，我們種植之花果，春天確實成長，帶來許多屋主之愉快，例如喇叭花，蜘蛛花，和雞冠花等草本科，水果中的香瓜和西瓜，我們也種苦瓜，辣椒，和金瓜等，效果均不佳，雨水缺乏之故。

比較難過的是草皮，前屋主交給我們是一時尚美麗之庭院，十一年後，一切的一切都淪落不堪，而且也不僅是庭院而已，屋況如地基也有問題，我逃避現實，得過且過，真是束手無策。

The stock market was up last week/Carlos Pueblo

 The stock market was up last week/Carlos Pueblo

The US stock market was up last week a little bit to recover some losses on the previous week. It is the resilient of the US economy during the inflation and investors are still hoping our soft landing for the long growth of a decade. We all keep our life time savings on the market and we have a sign of release.

The short term interest rate is mush higher than before because the Federal Reserve like to cool down the inflation. We pay more attention to what we purchase in order to make ourselves comfortable of fighting the inflation. Amy agrees to my purchase of on sale beef on Wednesday every week. I only buy steak on sale to cook beef noodle for Arthur on Sunday.

The short term interest rate is higher than the long term; therefore, our financial advisor tells us is a good time to get into bond. I shall let you judge if this is correct. She says also that the recession is not avoidable. The fluctuation of the market would determine my mood daily. Of course, I don't believe a wipe out market eventually because that will be the end of many people.

I know that the light bill is high during the summer in Houston, as a matter of the fact, the heating gas is about the same in the winter in Houston as well. We have to pay real estate tax and homeowner association fee every year like renting from the local governments. We have to pay IRS for what we take out from the RMD, the requirement minimum distribution, as well as the gains from our savings investment, now even our social security incomes are included. That's why I can get a relief feeling by shopping for grocery when it's on sale.

I am back to play tennis in order to keep myself active. I also swim. These physical exercises shall keep me healthy. As long as I am healthy, I should be able to enjoy my senior life no matter what the inflation or the market are doing.

股市微揚2023／莊峻華

 股市微揚2023／莊峻華

最近一週股市微揚，平常我們就隨時關注股市起伏，因為我們的退休儲蓄大部份，都在基金，一直都在成長，最近有通貨膨脹，央行升息，壓抑過多現金流通市面，這是制式總體經濟學，我看過多次如此操作，美國經濟也如此渡過難關，一般說來，美國是世界經濟大國，政治穩定，操作靈活，而且國民有自信消費，隨時帶動世界經濟火車頭。

美林證券公司代理，最近邀我們討論投資，希望我們讓她管理，我們在美林有自管帳戶，由她管理就需繳費，我們未曾有過如此經驗，她鼓勵目前是投資公債好時機，因為不久將面臨消條，兩種型式，軟著陸或是應著陸，這是教科書經濟學，無甚可議。

但是央行和掌管國家行政的白宮，卻不作如此想，央行調整利息，白宮推廣政策，現在講的拜登經濟，就是運用國家財力，不斷發展經濟，歷如穩定國家預算，推廣高科技製造工廠回美國，不依賴單一外國生產，維持世界秩序，因為生息抑制通膨，造成美金強勢，世界各國都搶購美金，無息貸款美國。

當然，這是我投資者之如意算盤，股市能起能跌，起也不敢兌現，因為有所得稅之考慮，也有錯失良機之慮，反之，套牢是股市投資之忌諱，有時候甚至有倒閉之憂，俗謂不入虎穴，焉得虎子？

US Dollars/Carlos Pueblo

 US Dollars/Carlos Pueblo

It is very interesting to think of US Dollars nowadays. The US Dollar is par with the Euro now. One Dollar is equal to 130 Japanese Yen. At Istanbul Airport, you can purchase items with US Dollars. Chinese National banks are paying higher interests for the certificate of deposit in US Dollars higher than their own RMB Yuan. In the US now, Banks are offering higher interests for money market funds or CD, i.e. a one year CD can get 5.4% interest rate. The US Dollar is very attractive now because the Federal Reserve Bank raises short term interest rate to above 4.5% in order to suppress the inflation.

I must pay attention to my portfolio now because that they are mostly in stocks or stocks mutual fund. Once the interest rate getting into 8% annually, investors like to sell stocks to purchase CD to avoid the stressful stock investment. I was happened in the 1980's.

I don't blame the Fed to manage the interest rate in order to manage the inflation. Most people have bad experience with the inflation which I understand; however, in history both side have argued. Some farmers can get better income of their produce because of the inflation. Last year my savings were suppressed by the inflation like 30% yet my oil stock shares were coming back from a 10 years slum.

I do mention of individual finance plan strategy, always working, frugal, savings by investment, and finally let it grows. During the inflation time, my worry is very limited. I live in a pay off old house and I only need to prepare for the real estate tax. I don't need to know the macro-economic theory. My pension savings can pay my frugal life, foods and shelter, even some traveling.