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 09.15.2006
Blog book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway is JADE by Marilynn Griffith.
My Thursday book giveaway is SQUAT by Taylor Field.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for JADE and post the title for another book I'm giving away.
Warrior Princesses:
I liked the title of this chapter, but when I started reading it, I was confused about what she meant.
The chapter started off describing women who went to war or fought battles, taking on the roles of men. But then the chapter went into how we fight as women, and talking about fighting our spiritual enemy, Satan.
Okay, that’s fine. But what did that have to do with the physical warrior women at the start of the chapter? All Christians must fight Satan as our enemy. Spiritual warfare isn’t anything unique to women.
I’m wondering if she’s addressing women who feel they aren’t qualified or equipped to battle spiritual warfare? Who feel they’re too weak or helpless?
In my Bible studies, I always thought the passages on spiritual warfare were addressed to both men and women, and I’d never thought there might be women who don’t battle spiritual warfare, but maybe that’s what she’s talking about?
Then Stasi talked about her bout with depression and taking anti-depressants. I realize some churches don’t like the use of those medicines. I think they’re fine—I was a neuro-psychology major in college and understand the chemical imbalances in the brain.
However, the chapter seemed to veer off-course for a little bit to talk about how depression is terrible and anti-depressants are not bad.
“Another common enemy that often is at work in women’s relationships is a spirit of accusation.” I can relate to this. I have experienced it, and I see it often enough.
Is firmness in spiritual warfare the only way a woman is a warrior? In combination with the chapters on beauty, mothering and nurturing, it seems to give that message, although I don’t think that was the authors’ intentions.
TMI:
Writing: It is around 2 am right now and I’m trying to get my Marketing Info sheet done. I was working on it earlier this evening but THE POWER WENT OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! We were in the dark for almost 4 hours, during which I could have finished my Marketing Info sheet. Instead, I made cards.
Update: I’m done! It’s about . . . oh, 4 am. But it’s in my Senior Editor’s e-mail Inbox at 6 am her time, so I’m in good shape.
Cheryl might still send me "something dead" just to be a brat.
Today, I posted a query letter post at my Story Sensei blog.
Diet: I really need discipline. I didn’t exercise yesterday, too! This is pathetic. I think my calorie count was about 1600 so that’s not too bad, but STILL.
On a different note, I am trying to stay at home as much as possible between now and the ACFW conference to try to NOT catch any bugs before then. But I have to go to youth group on Saturday night, so I don’t even know why I bother. Those kids are germ incubators.
Hey all you moms, any advice to stay healthy besides washing my hands often?
Blog book giveaway:
My Monday book giveaway is JADE by Marilynn Griffith.
My Thursday book giveaway is SQUAT by Taylor Field.
You can still enter both giveaways. Just post a comment on each of those blog posts. On Monday, I'll draw the winner for JADE and post the title for another book I'm giving away.
Warrior Princesses:
I liked the title of this chapter, but when I started reading it, I was confused about what she meant.
The chapter started off describing women who went to war or fought battles, taking on the roles of men. But then the chapter went into how we fight as women, and talking about fighting our spiritual enemy, Satan.
Okay, that’s fine. But what did that have to do with the physical warrior women at the start of the chapter? All Christians must fight Satan as our enemy. Spiritual warfare isn’t anything unique to women.
I’m wondering if she’s addressing women who feel they aren’t qualified or equipped to battle spiritual warfare? Who feel they’re too weak or helpless?
In my Bible studies, I always thought the passages on spiritual warfare were addressed to both men and women, and I’d never thought there might be women who don’t battle spiritual warfare, but maybe that’s what she’s talking about?
Then Stasi talked about her bout with depression and taking anti-depressants. I realize some churches don’t like the use of those medicines. I think they’re fine—I was a neuro-psychology major in college and understand the chemical imbalances in the brain.
However, the chapter seemed to veer off-course for a little bit to talk about how depression is terrible and anti-depressants are not bad.
“Another common enemy that often is at work in women’s relationships is a spirit of accusation.” I can relate to this. I have experienced it, and I see it often enough.
Is firmness in spiritual warfare the only way a woman is a warrior? In combination with the chapters on beauty, mothering and nurturing, it seems to give that message, although I don’t think that was the authors’ intentions.
TMI:
Writing: It is around 2 am right now and I’m trying to get my Marketing Info sheet done. I was working on it earlier this evening but THE POWER WENT OUT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! We were in the dark for almost 4 hours, during which I could have finished my Marketing Info sheet. Instead, I made cards.
Update: I’m done! It’s about . . . oh, 4 am. But it’s in my Senior Editor’s e-mail Inbox at 6 am her time, so I’m in good shape.
Cheryl might still send me "something dead" just to be a brat.
Today, I posted a query letter post at my Story Sensei blog.
Diet: I really need discipline. I didn’t exercise yesterday, too! This is pathetic. I think my calorie count was about 1600 so that’s not too bad, but STILL.
On a different note, I am trying to stay at home as much as possible between now and the ACFW conference to try to NOT catch any bugs before then. But I have to go to youth group on Saturday night, so I don’t even know why I bother. Those kids are germ incubators.
Hey all you moms, any advice to stay healthy besides washing my hands often?
Comments
Well, a mom I am not *g*, but I keep a lot of vitamin supplements handy and they seem to help me stay healthy (or to get better quickly if I catch a bug). I keep Airborne tablets handy, and also Emergen-C vitatmin packets (powders that mix into water for a fizzy drink). I also take regular vitamins (multi, vitamin C, B complex)...but if I'm feeling rundown I'll cut out my regular B and take some Emergen-C or something. Also use a TON of hand sanitizer...and rest all you can.
Congrats on finishing your marketing sheet! Exciting!!
Have a great time at the conference! Can't wait to hear about it!
I make them drink water and eat fruit. I give them juices that have 100% or more Vitamin C. I buy V8, Splash, etc (always reading labels).
I don't let them have an enormous amount of soft drinks (maybe two in a week) because water is what the body needs.
I make them go to bed at a decent hour. Of course, I don't hold myself to that instruction - I like the quiet at night when everyone is sleeping. They let me sleep late on the weekends. =D
Maybe being a Warrior Princess includes defending ourselves against germs??? :)
Glad to see you know what to do when the power goes out: Make cards! :-)
Hugs, Sharon
(your fellow rubber-stamping junkie)
As for Chapter 11- yeah, I have to say...I wasn't quite sure how spiritual warfare was connected with the physical aspect of being a warrior either, but it was pretty important to touch on none-the-less. I don't think she meant to isolate men from the whole spiritual warfare issue; I jus think that since it is a book for women, that is who her comments are directed toward.
Glad to keep getting the Captivating updates. Still glad you're reading it and not me!
Can't believe I forgot to get Espresso with Esther from you at our photo shoot!