My old suits/Carlos Pueblo

 My old suits/Carlos Pueblo

Yesterday, I was doing some sorting of my old suits from two closets in the house. I have kept most of my old suits since I lost my insurance agent job in 2001. They are old yet freshly dry cleaned and I love to wear them when I go on board cruises because cruise restaurants are fancy and formal. I am going abroad again next week for a little bit more than a month and I plan to visit my Alma Mater, the National Taiwan Normal University; therefore, I get an opportunity to dress up.

The man's suits can be worn for generations because the fashion code is slightly changed, not like the female dress. A commoner wearing suits can only express neatness and cleanness in his appearance. That is why I always wear a suit to meet people in a formal gathering. I helped my English teach, Mr. Yu-Wen Shen of Shanghai, China sent his suits to a dry cleaner in our sugar factory's residential area. Mr. Shen was my elder sister Amy's English teacher at a girls high school across town. He didn't get along with the lady principal; therefore, he came to our boys high school to teach at a much junior English class of mine. He spoke fluent English with idiomatic grammar all the time. He always dresses up even at our class. I adored him and he was my role model.

I worked study during my college life and my first major purchase was a brand new suit made of the wool material imported from Hong Kong. The tailor was from a small township south of my hometown Huwei on another county. His main job was as a cleaner at our male dormitory in the campus as an ironer to press clean clothes. I continued to have my suits made by his tailor shop after I returned from my conscription and teaching in Taipei. I even brought suits from him to Auburn in 1975.

I started working in Houston and I found suits from department stores. I found what I liked, the inexpensive products from Eastern European countries. I wear suits to schools, work, and visit my clients. At least that I have shown my respect for what I am doing.

Recently, I have earned some compliments on the board of ships. They tell me that I am well dressed up that is the only thing to impress them. I am going to take one of my favorite suits to wear in Taiwan.

舊西裝／莊峻華

 舊西裝／莊峻華

行將遠行，整理行李箱，兩衣櫃內有11套舊西裝，均乾洗完畢，我一一歸套，重新置入衣櫃，有一套上衣袖裡襯脫落，愛美將它縫妥，這是一套西裝我帶先岳母大人所得贈與，都30年舊衣，我仍喜愛如昔。最近，我經常郵輪旅行，都帶西裝上船，出入餐廳酒會，非常整潔，頭帶德州牛仔草帽，蓋住禿頭，和義女義孫女合照，不易樂乎？

我從小就喜歡西裝，先父家貧，未有機會西服，我從初一開始就幫英文老師沈鈺文，送西裝到糖廠乾洗店，沈師系中國上海人，戰前有著西裝經驗，糖廠乾洗店是日本設備，我深有印象。讀師大第一年，我就在外家教，家教費除日用外，省錢訂製西裝，西裝師傅是男生宿舍乾洗店燙衣師傅，當年只有僑生始有送衣服到洗衣店，後來宿舍改建，不再有洗衣店設備。我在虎尾教書，也在台北訂製西裝，師傅曰甚至可寄送到美國。

結婚後，體重劇增，舊西裝已不合身，於是開始就地取材，剛好美國大城市有大購物中心，其中有很多成衣西裝可選擇，這些西裝來自東歐國家，價廉物美，服裝店尚且幫忙修改合身，我就穿西裝上班上學，後來從事銷售業，西裝成為我的製服。我喜愛純毛織品，我甚至遠行到蘇格蘭愛登堡，追尋西服材料大皇冠，當年洗衣店暢銷港貨，愛登堡毛衣店員博學曰，蘇格蘭著厚毛衣物，若輕裘毛衣物，應為義大利出品馳名全球。

中年失業，未曾再有機會著西裝，但我仍舊保存舊西裝在住屋衣櫃，後來子女均長大成人，我開始出外旅遊，郵輪是我最佳機會身著西裝，我很喜歡旅行日本，日本青年著西裝上班，日語西裝為西服，整個國家乾乾淨淨，非常整潔有禮。

The primary/Carlos Pueblo

 The primary/Carlos Pueblo

The primary is usually in March in an election year such as this year, 2024 before the general election in November. There is a National President election this year, both parties must hold a primary to select their representatives to compete in November. We all are aware Biden will represent the Democrat while Trump shall represent the Republican for this year's contest. This primary shall reflect some of voters' tendency toward the general election.

I believe that Trump will get less and less votes than his previous 2016 as well as 2020. Voters for Clinton didn't vote for him in 2020 while more and more voters left him in 2020. I am sure again that even more voters will leave him this year, more than 7 millions. He had been impeached twice before he left the White House in 2021. Now, he is facing four criminal charges, one in New York City for the abuse of funds to cover his sexual misconducts; one in Washington, D.C. for his insurrection charge in January 6, 2021 to overthrow a real election result of 2020; one in Miami for an illegal taking and withholding government documents after leaving the White House and refused to surrender such documents when he was ordered to do so; one in Georgia for his harassment of Georgian election officer to change the election results in Georgia. Two of his many civil lawsuits have more than half billions judgement against him, one is about 88 millions for a sexual assault 5 millions while another is for his deformation, or loose mouth to deform the plaintiff. Another one is from the State of New York for his make up of asset values in order to get a favorable treatment for loans for many decades. There are some more lawsuits against him which are waiting in courts to fine him for his misconduct.

Can you believe that we can hand over a nation to this man again? Yet, there are many Republicans who say yes, affirmative. I am sorry that there are many of us in this great nation who think very differently. I am going out for a trip and will come back in June to wait and make sure that I shall help to prevent him from entering the White House again.

美國的初選／莊峻華

 美國的初選／莊峻華

美國政治是選舉官員來治理各級政府，因此有代表政黨的初選，我們德州選舉年是三月初選，十一月大選，一般說來我較重視總統，參眾議員，州長等職位，連休士頓市長我都常常忽略，更何況法官等職位，美國政治非常上軌道，只要按部就班者，在美國都有充分機會脫穎而出。我下週即將出外旅行，德州之總統局初選時，我已經在台灣，我連提前投票初選，都找不出時間，只好先做評論。

這次美國總統局，情勢泰半底定，民主黨由拜登總統出戰共和黨之川普，川普有民刑事訴訟案纏身，能否參選，都尚在最高法院待判，民事案已有兩案，強姦民女作家案兩罪，共判罰款8800萬美金加稅；私人公司造假不實，不法取得利潤，判罰三億五千五百萬加上利息一億，超過六億美金，上訟期間仍需繳利息，一日十餘萬。第一件刑事案在三月二十五日開始選陪審團人，開庭審理；元月六日主使華府叛亂案，開庭日上訴到最高法院，還有非法盜取國家機密文件案，喬治亞州脅迫官員作票案，華府受傷死警官民事訴訟案等等，他想再選上總統，一切都無事。

我的看法是，過去兩次總統未選他的人，絕對不會改投票給他，因為他當總統，我們都撈不到好處，為何選他？華府已經被暴民攻入，國會議員紛紛逃命，警察都被暴民毆打致命，他還在辦公室餐廳吃零食看電視喊精彩，只要一開庭，真相將更清礎。

川普有精神病，選川普的選民也不明是非，這種人可以交給他美國？美國初選如何淪落到如此狼狽不堪？

Rebuilding two small lots for roses/Carlos Pueblo

 Rebuilding two small lots for roses/Carlos Pueblo

During last year's drought and recent foundation repairs, we have vacated two small lots in the backyard for rebuilding our rose garden., Of course, after that we must rebuild our lawn in the front yard and the backyard. Our home site is smaller than a quarter of an acre about 8,500 square feet. A two story house is sitting on it; therefore, some space is left for the lawn and some garden lots. Previous owner planted some flowers and bushes around the backyard. Now, I have gotten rid of debris from bushes and stumps. I get two small lots with the sunshine to grow roses.

We make some cuts from the original rose plants and stick branches to the ground to hope that we'll have some new plants coming out. We also bought 6 new rose plants to plant them outside of Amy's library so that she can enjoy the beautiful roses in the future. There is still space to grow a pair of the camellia. One of a pair does survive in the front yard and is blooming very well this year.

I have spread many seeds which I have collected throughout the year. I am pretty sure that I shall have some coming out later in the spring. I did have a small watermelon and a small pumpkin coming out last year and I was informed that both were not bear eatable fruits. It is always nice to view some crops growing out of our own yard.
It is not that easy to grow anything like a farmer; however, it is a good life to enjoy. Gardening can help us to be aware of the four seasons in a year.

重闢花圃／莊峻華

 重闢花圃／莊峻華

剛整修地基，庭院有些變化，後院空出兩小塊地，一在愛美書房外，一株老灌木為掘地溝渠拔掉，我們不再補上，原盆栽老檸檬株也枯死多年，地基工幫我們拆除原老天然氣烤肉架，於是我們決定重闢花圃。

我們到大五金行，購買6株插枝玫瑰花，我以前在茶花女街舊宅屋簷下栽培過，非常成功，拍攝許多相片，這些都是小孩們幼年時代。我將原土鬆動，按愛美指令，栽上6株，原地本栽一老屋薔薇，也修葺完畢，這是紅色小花，來自老屋鄰居，她搬家時贈我許多薔薇和喇叭花，我曾移植喇叭花到處去，甚至收集鄰居花子，在家播種如今已開花。

我們鄰居甚能享受園藝花圃之樂趣，社區協會每月固定表揚最佳庭院獎，許多鄰居都請專業園丁，主司其事，我們是最近一年始聘請割草，但因不勤灑水和夏季枯燥，聖奧古斯丁草均枯死，需要重新栽培，這是當務之急。我開始喜歡此屋，整修住屋，令我感覺此屋之價值，房屋格式週全，鄰居和睦相處，交通也方便，到各地都方便。

早上，我將玫瑰花苗種上，愛美找我再到另家大五金行，尋找山茶花，十年前我種兩株於門前，一株已遭病蟲害死，另株成長開花，但樹葉呈現病害，我應買農藥來幫助，五金行尚無貨，需待初春天暖後。

Preparing for a long trip away from the home/Carlos Pueblo

 Preparing for a long trip away from the home/Carlos Pueblo

After finishing our federal income tax returns, I am preparing for a long trip away from the home. I am leaving Houston in early March, 2024 for Taiwan via Japan for my denture repair, then, coming back to Japan to wait for a last minute deal with a cross Pacific cruise deal back to Seward, Alaska. If it is possible, I shall stay with the same ship for additional two weeks in Alaska. Then, I shall continue another last minute deal on another ship back to Japan and stay in Japan for three more weeks and fly back home afterward. Of course, if I don't get the last minute deal, I shall return home early.

I am afraid one of my left teeth will fall soon. This would endanger the structure of my bottom set of the denture. My dentist has alarmed me to prepare for a new set. I decided to make it in Taiwan due to the cost. I also desire to visit Taiwan after such a long time.

In spite of a month-long waiting, I do plan to visit my alma mater, Taiwan Normal University. I have an appointment with the senior executive vice president, Dr. Chen, at the Chemistry Department on the first Monday morning. I shall also plan to visit the president of the University, Dr. Wu in the following week when I plan to stay at the University Inn at the main campus.

 
I shall go back to my hometown Huwei to visit my sisters and brother. My stay in Taiwan shall end at the beginning of April. I have already booked my flight back to Tokyo to wait for my ship, If it's possible, it would be more than a month and a half cruise trip and my first three weeks journey back to Japan in 2024.