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 08.14.2010
I’m amazed at how NOT HUNGRY I was today. I really had to force myself to eat today. I was hungry at dinner, but I ate a lot less than I expected to. I also chose not to eat a second corn tortilla even though I had planned my carb count to be able to have two. Instead, I ate only one.
WEIRD. I am turning into someone I do not know.
Then again, I was not given the option of eating tortilla chips as opposed to a low fat corn tortilla. I also was not offered potato chips or French fries or a bowl of fettuccine alfredo, so who knows if I would have still been this strange state of “not hungry” if given the opportunity to have a piece of French bread smothered in brie.
I’m also a bit concerned because I’m seriously under my calorie range today again. This never happens to me in my normal life. The thing is, I’m totally full. I don’t even want to think about eating more. If a pizza showed up in front of me, I’d have maybe one bite and then put it down. Seriously. (Did I mention I’m turning into someone I don’t know?) I have to do better about eating more often tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll intake enough calories.
Going low carb is HARD but it is not the seventh level of hell like I thought it would be. The first two days were torture, and I still think about carbs all the time, and last night I dreamed about potato chips, but I am also not clawing at the walls like I thought I would, nor have I threatened to kill Captain Caffeine (yet). He came close last night because he had this sudden craving for garlic bread (I mean, seriously??? Garlic bread???) and so he bought some on his way home from work! He escaped death by a mere thread, and that’s only because he never took the bread out of the package or the Safeway bag, just put it in the fridge. I never saw it or smelled it in all its buttery, garlicky, gluten-laden glory.
I forgot to mention that on this diet, I have to count the carb grams in my dairy, complex carbs (no refined carbs at all), fruit, and starchy vegetables, but I don’t have to count the carbs in non-starchy vegetables, so I’ve been eating a lot of veggies. I’m not as low carb as the Atkins diet because I’m allowed as much veggie carb as I want.
That’s really been my saving grace. I’m allowed tomatoes and cauliflower (oh my gosh, roasted—delish!) and bell peppers and all of my favorite stuff. I have a new favorite food, too—sauteed onions! And I’m not talking about a quick fry in the pan, I’m talking about onions that have been cooked over medium heat in olive oil for at least ten minutes until they’re golden brown and blackened on the edges. They’re fantastic!
What was also strange today was that despite my not being very hungry all day, I had a lot of energy. I got a lot of housework done today.
I also measured myself and for the first time in a year, my butt is half an inch smaller. Yay! Less of me! I’m not sure if it’s because of the low carb thing or if it’s simply because I’m just off my period and lost a ton of water weight.
I spoke too soon about the lack of detox headaches—I have one now, even though I ate the types of veggies I’m supposed to in order to keep my liver happy. Or I could be having a sinus headache from my allergies. Hmm.
I’m amazed at how NOT HUNGRY I was today. I really had to force myself to eat today. I was hungry at dinner, but I ate a lot less than I expected to. I also chose not to eat a second corn tortilla even though I had planned my carb count to be able to have two. Instead, I ate only one.WEIRD. I am turning into someone I do not know.
Then again, I was not given the option of eating tortilla chips as opposed to a low fat corn tortilla. I also was not offered potato chips or French fries or a bowl of fettuccine alfredo, so who knows if I would have still been this strange state of “not hungry” if given the opportunity to have a piece of French bread smothered in brie.
I’m also a bit concerned because I’m seriously under my calorie range today again. This never happens to me in my normal life. The thing is, I’m totally full. I don’t even want to think about eating more. If a pizza showed up in front of me, I’d have maybe one bite and then put it down. Seriously. (Did I mention I’m turning into someone I don’t know?) I have to do better about eating more often tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll intake enough calories.
Going low carb is HARD but it is not the seventh level of hell like I thought it would be. The first two days were torture, and I still think about carbs all the time, and last night I dreamed about potato chips, but I am also not clawing at the walls like I thought I would, nor have I threatened to kill Captain Caffeine (yet). He came close last night because he had this sudden craving for garlic bread (I mean, seriously??? Garlic bread???) and so he bought some on his way home from work! He escaped death by a mere thread, and that’s only because he never took the bread out of the package or the Safeway bag, just put it in the fridge. I never saw it or smelled it in all its buttery, garlicky, gluten-laden glory.
I forgot to mention that on this diet, I have to count the carb grams in my dairy, complex carbs (no refined carbs at all), fruit, and starchy vegetables, but I don’t have to count the carbs in non-starchy vegetables, so I’ve been eating a lot of veggies. I’m not as low carb as the Atkins diet because I’m allowed as much veggie carb as I want.
That’s really been my saving grace. I’m allowed tomatoes and cauliflower (oh my gosh, roasted—delish!) and bell peppers and all of my favorite stuff. I have a new favorite food, too—sauteed onions! And I’m not talking about a quick fry in the pan, I’m talking about onions that have been cooked over medium heat in olive oil for at least ten minutes until they’re golden brown and blackened on the edges. They’re fantastic!
What was also strange today was that despite my not being very hungry all day, I had a lot of energy. I got a lot of housework done today.
I also measured myself and for the first time in a year, my butt is half an inch smaller. Yay! Less of me! I’m not sure if it’s because of the low carb thing or if it’s simply because I’m just off my period and lost a ton of water weight.
I spoke too soon about the lack of detox headaches—I have one now, even though I ate the types of veggies I’m supposed to in order to keep my liver happy. Or I could be having a sinus headache from my allergies. Hmm.
Comments
I think weight loss will be a benefit to going low carb! I know carbs and sugar are the main things that make me gain or not lose. Keep up the good work and maybe you won't recognize yourself!
And btw, I found a tea shop that sells loose tea. I think I'm becoming a tea lover. Think I'll have a cup now!