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, Supplemental
Continued from last week about my favorite new diet book, French Women Don’t Get Fat.
The author says to eat smaller portions of meat and fish (4-6 ounces per person per meal). For me, this works. I tend not to like large meat portions—I’m usually happy with 2-3 ounces. This is just the way my body is. I feel heavy and sick if I eat too much meat.
This wouldn’t work for some other people, but that’s why the South Beach diet or the Atkins diet works for them but not for me.
She doesn’t discourage eating pasta, rice, and bread (she writes: “Life without pasta? Perish the thought.”), but she warns about portions and says to savor these dishes slowly so you end up eating less.
This has totally worked for me. I have been making vegetarian pasta dishes—interesting dishes, some a little higher in fat, but most very low fat because the recipe calls for a simple sauté in olive oil.
I have been eating pasta almost every day, but smaller portions, and I have been losing weight.
In order to make my taste buds happy, I have been choosing to cook unusual pasta dishes, like fava beans with marscapone cheese, lemon zest, a splash of marsala wine, and pistachios over linguine.
It’s so flavorful! And I am learning how to savor it, so I don’t even notice I’m eating a smaller portion than I would have a month ago.
I think this has been the key for me—flavorful, interesting dishes so that I savor it but don’t eat as much.
She also encourages “compensation”—meaning, if you indulge a bit too much one day, just go for an extra walk the next day, or eat a salad for one meal, or whatever you can do to balance it.
This has worked for me because it’s reduced the guilt factor. I feel like I can “make up” for eating a bowl of popcorn one day with an extra 30 minute walk with the dog the next day. I find I don’t mind eating a salad for lunch the next day if I’ve had a gargantuan piece of tiramisu for dessert the night before.
She also supports exercise, but nothing strenuous. Walking an extra 20 minutes at work, or to and from work, all in your work clothes, is adequate. She encourages extra exertions like taking the stairs or walking a little further rather than long gym sessions.
I like this because my joints simply cannot take anything too strenuous (I inherited my grandmother’s bad knees—she’s had both knees replaced). Walking fits my lifestyle and my body. Other diet books have been about people becoming marathon runners or some type of athlete, and that just really does not appeal to me.
Her philosophy for everything—learning to eat smaller portions, learning to exert yourself more, losing poundage—is “little by little.” In typical French fashion, it’s all individual and it’s all at your own pace. I’ve lost about 0.5 to 1 pound a week in the past four weeks.
This isn’t really a diet book. It’s more like a lifestyle book. The principles have resonated with me, and made me change what I eat (more flavorful, interesting dishes) and how I eat (slowly savor, which is easier if the dishes are flavorful and interesting).
So, it might not work for everyone else who wants to lose weight, but it’s certainly been working for me! I haven’t felt so positive about my weight loss before!
Continued from last week about my favorite new diet book, French Women Don’t Get Fat.
The author says to eat smaller portions of meat and fish (4-6 ounces per person per meal). For me, this works. I tend not to like large meat portions—I’m usually happy with 2-3 ounces. This is just the way my body is. I feel heavy and sick if I eat too much meat.
This wouldn’t work for some other people, but that’s why the South Beach diet or the Atkins diet works for them but not for me.
She doesn’t discourage eating pasta, rice, and bread (she writes: “Life without pasta? Perish the thought.”), but she warns about portions and says to savor these dishes slowly so you end up eating less.
This has totally worked for me. I have been making vegetarian pasta dishes—interesting dishes, some a little higher in fat, but most very low fat because the recipe calls for a simple sauté in olive oil.
I have been eating pasta almost every day, but smaller portions, and I have been losing weight.
In order to make my taste buds happy, I have been choosing to cook unusual pasta dishes, like fava beans with marscapone cheese, lemon zest, a splash of marsala wine, and pistachios over linguine.
It’s so flavorful! And I am learning how to savor it, so I don’t even notice I’m eating a smaller portion than I would have a month ago.
I think this has been the key for me—flavorful, interesting dishes so that I savor it but don’t eat as much.
She also encourages “compensation”—meaning, if you indulge a bit too much one day, just go for an extra walk the next day, or eat a salad for one meal, or whatever you can do to balance it.
This has worked for me because it’s reduced the guilt factor. I feel like I can “make up” for eating a bowl of popcorn one day with an extra 30 minute walk with the dog the next day. I find I don’t mind eating a salad for lunch the next day if I’ve had a gargantuan piece of tiramisu for dessert the night before.
She also supports exercise, but nothing strenuous. Walking an extra 20 minutes at work, or to and from work, all in your work clothes, is adequate. She encourages extra exertions like taking the stairs or walking a little further rather than long gym sessions.
I like this because my joints simply cannot take anything too strenuous (I inherited my grandmother’s bad knees—she’s had both knees replaced). Walking fits my lifestyle and my body. Other diet books have been about people becoming marathon runners or some type of athlete, and that just really does not appeal to me.
Her philosophy for everything—learning to eat smaller portions, learning to exert yourself more, losing poundage—is “little by little.” In typical French fashion, it’s all individual and it’s all at your own pace. I’ve lost about 0.5 to 1 pound a week in the past four weeks.
This isn’t really a diet book. It’s more like a lifestyle book. The principles have resonated with me, and made me change what I eat (more flavorful, interesting dishes) and how I eat (slowly savor, which is easier if the dishes are flavorful and interesting).
So, it might not work for everyone else who wants to lose weight, but it’s certainly been working for me! I haven’t felt so positive about my weight loss before!
Comments
Since we joined our organic coop, I've also noticed that the veggies are sweeter and better than the Safeway stuff. Even the Captain, who doesn't like veggies in general, likes the green beans and broccoli.
I've also been creative about how I cook my veggies so that I actually enjoy what I eat versus just eating lots of boring salads. I'm always on the lookout for more interesting cooked veggie recipes.
Camy
Thanks! I received Symphony of Secrets (won in your drawing) and plan to take it with me on a trip next week. Glad you're giving away books (like gold and jewels to me).
Blessings from Costa Rica