キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 02.11.2006
Book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway (SAVANNAH FROM SAVANNAH) is here.
My Thursday book giveaway (A HERO FOR DRY CREEK) is here.
You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts.
On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for SAVANNAH and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Random thought--ramen: What is it with my fascination for Asian noodles? I love bread, don't get me wrong--especially if it happens to be toasted with butter and garlic--but the thought of a bowl of thin wheat noodles swimming in MSG-spiked soup makes my mouth water.
The last time my parents flew up to California, they brought me frozen ramen imported to Hawaii from Japan--not the dried Top Ramen or Sapporo Ichiban sold at Safeway. This was the expensive, authentic stuff. The frozen Asian noodles are soft and yet firm, which is opposite from Italian pasta--cooked fresh pasta is often softer and more supple than cooked dried noodles.
But the best part is the soup base. Japanese know how to craft salt, spice, soy sauce, sesame oil and MSG into culinary masterpieces. I have no clue what's in those soup bases. I don't care about anything except the fact that the ramen soup rolls off my tongue and it's lovely.
So despite the fact I decimated my diet yesterday with a massive ramen lunch, I'm not entirely guilty today because the stuff was so darn good! I must be addicted to the MSG or something.
Bible in 90 Days: Day 34. Job is a deep book. I think it's deeper than my brain can think. This reminds me of how I felt in Philosophy in college. The one thing I can take from the book is that God is not subject to a set of rules about right, wrong, justice, injustice. He is the highest standard, and we don't need to understand why anything happens, whether good or bad. We have to trust Him and in His justice, and praise Him for His grace and love.
Writing: Got a little done today, but hopefully I'll get more done tonight after we get home from church youth group.
Diet: Well, I did get that drink I mentioned yesterday--a glass of some really pleasant French red wine that I picked up at Trader Joe's. I can't believe the quality for the price. So enjoyable. Only 100 calories, too. I think I ended up with 1700 calories for yesterday. I went to PT but I didn't go walking like I said I would--got too caught up answering Genesis emails.
Today, my husband surprised me with a cheeseburger and fries--who would be heartless enough to turn down a gesture of love like that??? I restrained myself admirably--700 calories.
Book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway (SAVANNAH FROM SAVANNAH) is here.
My Thursday book giveaway (A HERO FOR DRY CREEK) is here.
You can still enter both of them. Just post a comment on those blog posts.
On Thursday, I'll draw the winner for SAVANNAH and post the title for another book I'm giving away. Stay tuned.
Random thought--ramen: What is it with my fascination for Asian noodles? I love bread, don't get me wrong--especially if it happens to be toasted with butter and garlic--but the thought of a bowl of thin wheat noodles swimming in MSG-spiked soup makes my mouth water.
The last time my parents flew up to California, they brought me frozen ramen imported to Hawaii from Japan--not the dried Top Ramen or Sapporo Ichiban sold at Safeway. This was the expensive, authentic stuff. The frozen Asian noodles are soft and yet firm, which is opposite from Italian pasta--cooked fresh pasta is often softer and more supple than cooked dried noodles.
But the best part is the soup base. Japanese know how to craft salt, spice, soy sauce, sesame oil and MSG into culinary masterpieces. I have no clue what's in those soup bases. I don't care about anything except the fact that the ramen soup rolls off my tongue and it's lovely.
So despite the fact I decimated my diet yesterday with a massive ramen lunch, I'm not entirely guilty today because the stuff was so darn good! I must be addicted to the MSG or something.
Bible in 90 Days: Day 34. Job is a deep book. I think it's deeper than my brain can think. This reminds me of how I felt in Philosophy in college. The one thing I can take from the book is that God is not subject to a set of rules about right, wrong, justice, injustice. He is the highest standard, and we don't need to understand why anything happens, whether good or bad. We have to trust Him and in His justice, and praise Him for His grace and love.
Writing: Got a little done today, but hopefully I'll get more done tonight after we get home from church youth group.
Diet: Well, I did get that drink I mentioned yesterday--a glass of some really pleasant French red wine that I picked up at Trader Joe's. I can't believe the quality for the price. So enjoyable. Only 100 calories, too. I think I ended up with 1700 calories for yesterday. I went to PT but I didn't go walking like I said I would--got too caught up answering Genesis emails.
Today, my husband surprised me with a cheeseburger and fries--who would be heartless enough to turn down a gesture of love like that??? I restrained myself admirably--700 calories.
Comments
I've been doing the 90-day thing, but hitting the references and cross-references have slowed me down. But what fun, not to be on a schedule, just absorbing. Like it took three-plus tons of gold, not to mention silver and bronze, for the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.
I saw a beautiful model of the Tabernacle at the Holy Land Experience in Orlando. The side walls were muslin so we could see the priest in the Holy of Holies. Wow!
I do love the end of Job--he ended up with more than when he started. God is good.