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 04.27.2006
TMI:
Todai:
Todai is a Japanese buffet restaurant that serves sushi and other Asian-y dishes. I hadn't gone in a long time, but a friend suggested we eat there last night.
Now before Robin goes off on how I'm supposed to be writing, I was interviewing my friend for my book. She has worked with female professional video gamers. Yeah, way cool. One of my characters is a professional gamer.
Back to Todai. It's not bad, for the price. The raw fish isn't slimy or smelly. But you are talking to someone who grew up in Hawaii--read: surrounded by water--and who is Japanese American.
I try to visit Hawaii at least once a year partly because of the food. Mom and Dad take me (and my husband, when he can take off work to travel with me) to Kabuki, a Japanese restaurant in Pearl City.
We've been going there since I was in high school. Mom and Dad know the sushi chefs so well that they joke and laugh with them (and give them big tips--remember to tip your sushi chef generously).
The fish is super fresh. Firm, tender, clean-smelling. And as in authentic sushi restaurants, the slice of fish on the nigiri sushi is about the length and width of an iPod Nano or maybe a cell phone, and the thickness of a Sharpie marker. The rice under it is the size of your thumb. I'm not kidding, your thumb from tip to joint. That's it.
Okay, back to Todai. Since it's a buffet, the fish and rice are not the sizes I'm used to. But they are soft and not fishy smelling, so I'm okay with a few pieces.
Then I look at myself. When did I become such a snob? I mean, there are lots other Asian people in this restaurant, so it's obviously passed some kind of Asian test. Is there such a thing as an Asian test? I'm not sure. But it's kind of like how I know a sushi bar is good when I see Japanese businessmen (from Japan) sitting at the bar and drinking.
So I ate my okay-sushi and got great info for my book, and I'm counting the days for when I can go back to Hawaii.
Last day at PT: Well, yesterday was my last day at physical therapy for my knee (for those of you who don't know, I had ACL surgery on November 23rd, 2005). Now I'll need the discipline to exercise on my own. Good thing we bought that exercise bike from Goodwill--best $30 we ever spent.
TMI:
Todai:
Todai is a Japanese buffet restaurant that serves sushi and other Asian-y dishes. I hadn't gone in a long time, but a friend suggested we eat there last night.
Now before Robin goes off on how I'm supposed to be writing, I was interviewing my friend for my book. She has worked with female professional video gamers. Yeah, way cool. One of my characters is a professional gamer.
Back to Todai. It's not bad, for the price. The raw fish isn't slimy or smelly. But you are talking to someone who grew up in Hawaii--read: surrounded by water--and who is Japanese American.
I try to visit Hawaii at least once a year partly because of the food. Mom and Dad take me (and my husband, when he can take off work to travel with me) to Kabuki, a Japanese restaurant in Pearl City.
We've been going there since I was in high school. Mom and Dad know the sushi chefs so well that they joke and laugh with them (and give them big tips--remember to tip your sushi chef generously).
The fish is super fresh. Firm, tender, clean-smelling. And as in authentic sushi restaurants, the slice of fish on the nigiri sushi is about the length and width of an iPod Nano or maybe a cell phone, and the thickness of a Sharpie marker. The rice under it is the size of your thumb. I'm not kidding, your thumb from tip to joint. That's it.
Okay, back to Todai. Since it's a buffet, the fish and rice are not the sizes I'm used to. But they are soft and not fishy smelling, so I'm okay with a few pieces.
Then I look at myself. When did I become such a snob? I mean, there are lots other Asian people in this restaurant, so it's obviously passed some kind of Asian test. Is there such a thing as an Asian test? I'm not sure. But it's kind of like how I know a sushi bar is good when I see Japanese businessmen (from Japan) sitting at the bar and drinking.
So I ate my okay-sushi and got great info for my book, and I'm counting the days for when I can go back to Hawaii.
Last day at PT: Well, yesterday was my last day at physical therapy for my knee (for those of you who don't know, I had ACL surgery on November 23rd, 2005). Now I'll need the discipline to exercise on my own. Good thing we bought that exercise bike from Goodwill--best $30 we ever spent.