臉書日記之四 2017.4.27—2017.8.5
———————————————————————————
2017.4.27
———————————————————————————
前年小兒子換新手機，簽約時送他一個可以上網的LG
tablet，內有一大堆apps附送。他轉送給我玩遊戲，我就開始玩上港式麻將了。玩得很爽，因為手氣很好，贏的分數居然是其他三搭子的十倍多。尋思我手氣為何如此好？技巧如此高？我開始懷疑apps設計者可能在作弊！！於是我開始留意其他人出牌的技術。早上，我八番聽糊一四筒，而上家打出一筒讓我糊了。翻牌後我發現上家也是全筒字，而手上拿著四隻一筒，一隻四筒，居然不開槓而把一筒打出來，讓我糊了。這不是作弊出貓嗎？老頭子這邊赢得高興，就玩得久了，廣告的出現就多啦。高明啊！這真是聰明人的世界！
———————————————————————
2017.4.29
———————————————————————
前天上貼了我對Tablet網上遊戲的幾點疑問後，得到了書友回貼解釋，又對這「如來神掌」多了幾分認識。的確這掌上神器太複雜了，若不花上點時間研究，誰能搞得清楚！
麻將這遊戲到了神器裡，也就更複雜了。據老牌骨說，牌打一生，也不會有兩次打到同樣一手牌。可既然如此複雜，寫麻將電腦程式的人，就非有上上的腦筋不可。在這我還是不恥下問，請教電腦專家，軟件程式既然已經設計好，在以後遊戲中，能否「出老千」，決定玩家摸牌的手氣？掌控誰輸誰贏？
———————————————————————
2017.5.4
———————————————————————
最近台灣一個家傳戶曉的名字，為了如何照顧末年老人，與家人發生了重大的分歧，不幸演成了公開的論戰。人生是每個人必走的一條路，沒有人能選擇是否要來到這個世界，誕生到那個家庭，是否到醫院破腹而出或在家姍姍來遲。但在人生的路上，我們都在讀書就業配偶置產退休做了選擇，可是面對人生的最後一站，大多數人都猶疑不決，橫不下心做個明確的決定，如何離開這世界。以為還年青，等以後再算。等到晚年失智了，留下這個自己該辦的事，給家人去代辦，這是個很沉重的包袱啊！
我自覺很年青，過去也不大願意認真去面對這人生終站的各種問題。等到上個月我意外從五呎的梯子上摔下來，摔得梯斷魂飛，老骨頭沒散，只傷了自尊，僥倖沒傷及要害。要是摔到腦袋，成了失智，那最後一站如何下車？沒有明確的交代，對自己是失責，對家人是負擔啊！
———————————————————————
2017.5.5
———————————————————————
Living a life as a senior nowadays, you have to be brave, independent and
thankful. After taking a fall two months ago, four people were in the know.
One, I asked my wife to be present next time when I get up on the ladder
again. Two, I asked my gardener to be on the ladder to finish my unfinished
work. Three, I asked my doctor to take a look at my bruises. Four, I told my
cousin who called me once a month Yesterday I mentioned my fall on my FB
posting, I got several likes and 8-9 responses with kind words within 24
hours. Most of them are over 60's who understand what it means to be a
senior. Thank you Facebook and FB friends. You connect our lives and warm my
heart.
———————————————————————
2017.5.6
———————————————————————
有兩個月沒整理院子，甘蔗的一角，野草橫生，今天趁天氣轉涼，有下雨的跡象，趕快清理一下，劃方地為界，蓋新土以杜草，使幼樹賺到個好環境，免得雨後野草更旺，與果樹爭肥。另外一角的茁壯桃樹，果子豐盛，也該搭個架子來支撐，否則大風一來，枝斷果亡。院子正中的桑椹，得天獨厚，地土潤濕，已擷下的紫實，早變成冰箱裡的果醬果汁，樹上還拼命地生長，纍纍成熟而下土，那只有聽天由命了。日與果樹為伍，以拍攝為樂，已是生活的一部份。而當中也體驗到不少的人生哲理。
———————————————————————
2017.5.7
———————————————————————
You
have got to be stronger as you get older because the path ahead is going to
become rougher.
———————————————————————
2017.6.19
———————————————————————
Among all the specialty shops at Ala Moana Center, this hat shop attracted
my attention the most. I thought of getting one. As I looked at the first
one I seemed to like, the price tag was $175. I flipped up a second one and
caught the price still the same. So I looked at one more and found the price
tag for $475. That was the end of my curiosity!
———————————————————————
2017.6.29
———————————————————————
For
almost a whole month of eating out in Honolulu, we have tried a wide variety
of international food, price ranging from $ to $$$$$. The food quality was
all good with rare exception. Two of them were outstanding that I would rate
them as $$ in price and $$$$ in quality. We were impressed and made several
return trips and found them full housed every time. Their specialties:
Japanese U-Don and the local ox tail soup. Highly recommended.
———————————————————————
2017.7.8
———————————————————————
I
am telling you, this is a wonderful world. It seems like that there are
people out there who think of you a lot and want to take care of you kindly.
And they don't give up on you! In my case, and some of yours too I suspect,
it all began when you applied for your marriage license. You were
immediately placed on the mailing list informing people of your wedding
date. Right away, people wanted to arrange your wedding ceremony,to help you
choose your wedding gown,to take photo for you, and to invite you to ideal
places for honeymoon. When your newborn came, they provided you with samples
of various baby products such as formulas, diapers, and so on. They reminded
you of the importance of taking portraits and having toys and birthday
parties. DIDN'T THEY MAKE YOU FEEL SPECIAL! Then, you purchased your first
home, you were informed of various products of insurance, especially life
insurance, to ensure the future security of your family. After you bought
your second home,you were informed of vacation packages and you were invited
to try them out like time-shares. HOW WARMLY YOU WERE RECEIVED! But
then,they became quiet though as you were going through vocational
disruptions, financial crunches, emotional turmoils, etc. It wasn't until
you got divorced that you found them again in the mailbox or your computer
screen that they wanted to help you out with dating services. HOW CARING
THEY WERE! You went on as usual with your life, worked hard and retired from
work. They knocked on your door again with fliers, and filled your mailbox
with official like letters advising you on assisting living and senior
homes. They told you how important it was to prepare for being incapable.
You ignored them and enjoyed your life eating out on senior discounts. Now
they have the nerve to tell me that inflation affects my life as if I don't
already know it and I'd better prearrange myself with my burial ground in
advanced payments. Since I haven't taken any action, they are now telling me
that time stands still for no one and I should take action to consider this
new offer. CREMATION IS A DIGNIFIED, AFFORDABLE AND SENSIBLE CHOICE. What a
wonderful life with these helping hands!
———————————————————————
2017.7.23
———————————————————————
老爺子網購記
隨著時代巨輪向雲端滾動，他也學會了電子網購，亞馬遜當然是首選，其他的 .com 消費，也有不錯的經驗。最近到一家大陸的號稱海外淘寶的網站去逛，說新客戶註冊後的首購可免國內外運費。於是登記開戶了。跟著選購了中國特有的文藝用品。下單付款的手續簡單，幾分鐘內
PayPal與信用咭公司就通知交割完成了。第二天網店來郵通知，該項產品不能寄運，請另選別項貨物或別生產商。没說理由，問也不答。只好再選了別家的類似貨物。隔天，網店再通知同樣情況，没說理由。投訴也不理。不奇怪，彼岸有投訴部門，但從來没人上班。於是又選了第三家公司的貨。又隔一天，網店來郵說選購貨品已準備寄運，請我到網站上處理託運手續與運費。怪怪！不是說好首購免國內外運費嗎？罷了，已經上鉤，就上網處理去。先交錢充值，再選寄運方式。等辦到最後一步，運費約為貨品單價的十倍。哇塞！坑人吧！就此打住。你有暗道，他老爺走陽關道。第二天通知信用咭公司去dispute。也許老人家信用好吧，不到24小時就消帳了。信用咭公司職員也不白幹，寄個問卷調查，老爺子當然給最高的評分與正面的評價了。
———————————————————————
2017.7.24
———————————————————————
在這動盪的大時代中，大半輩子過的算是流浪的生活，在不同的時間點，曾多次嘗試替自已人生，作個人歷史的定位。我是什麽人？該往何處去？二十歲前有過「漢賊不兩立」的定位。留學生時代，有過「雖信美而非吾土兮，曾何足而少留」的理念。在努力工作，賺錢養家熬,日子時，還有「身在曹營心在漢」的暗潮。在午夜夢迴的瞬間，又有過不祗一次的「我欲乘風歸去」的衝動。等到閒退之年，已植樹留根海外，自感歲月如逝波，則有「明朝遺老」和「時不我歟」之感慨。常在電子網上與環球詩友交流，相互寄情於少數人欣賞的唐宋格律詩詞，唱和清愁，自得其樂。日前這群詩友，得到南京許老喻為「病蚌之珠」。此語誠堪細味，蓋許老對海外老輩華人之國學定位，頗有深意然。
———————————————————————
2017.7.25
———————————————————————
出外旅行約一個月，自煮不方便，以外食為主。回家後，就回到老本行，當煮夫。今天咀饞，想吃廣式煎腸粉。可是要先蒸後捲再冷卻，然後再煎，功夫不少。於是決定就地取材，另創新法。用越南的捲粉成糊光煎試試。簡單的肉餡，老婆卻準備了五六種食材，只好弄成了五彩花式餡。這是前所未有的嘗試，小火煎粉糊成形，加上餡，上蓋慢蒸。開始有難度了，要在鍋上捲成腸粉，就講究啦！結果是出現了各種狀況，看圖就曉得了。最後粉糊用完了還剩點餡，就用
Tortillas
薄餅做個pizza吧！
———————————————————————
2017.8.4
———————————————————————
【浪淘沙】 「2016
重上擎天岡」
駕霧陽明山，倦鳥知還。
擎天岡上顧塵寰。
草屐雲肩風翼展，氣定神閑。
一眾向高攀，背作弓彎。
青春重拾現朱顏。
莫笑古稀郎逾七，老尚堅頑。
———————————————————————
2017.8.5
———————————————————————
從彈簧的觀察，思考到以下的道理：
①不是有靭性的金屬條造不了彈簧。
②彈簧的第一環決定了第②③④及後續的環的大小。
③底層環的圓週往往比上層環的大一些。
④環數多的彈簧比環數少的彈力強，彈得較高較遠。
⑤彈簧的上層環要靠下層環才能發揮彈力。
世人創業有點像造彈簧！創業者都是有靭力的人，創業者比承傳者優秀。中國人的事業是家庭承傳，造出來的彈簧不超過三環，所謂富不過三代。西方人的事業是企業化，由不同背景的CEO來承傳，所以通常超過三環，往往有過百年的企業。儘管如此，環數總會到極限，後續的環守舊，格局會越來越小，最後一環走到了盡頭，這也許就是宿命論。
