ネコペン １７０２ 東京マラソンとホットケーキ

Qwilleran selected an assemblage of rods and planes that seemed least likely
to assault his body and found it not only surprisingly substantial but remarkably
comfortable . The other two members of the party seated themselves at some distance
from each other and from Qwilleran . Space was part of the design in this cool ,
calm , empty environment .
“The service downstairs ,”Qwilleran went on ,“is excellent . Where do you find
such good waiters ? ”
“Law students , ”said the restaurateur . “I tell them to consider our customers・・・
as the ladies and gentlemen of the jury .”
“I'm glad you've hired Charlotte Roop as your manager . She seems very happy
and not quite so strait-laced .”
Mary said , “You can't give all the credit to the job . She has a male companion ,
probably for the first time in her life .”
“I know ,”said Qwilleran . “I've met him . Does anyone know what happened to his ear ? ”
“Dynamite explosion ,”said Roberto . “The poor fellow・・・is lucky to be alive .”
“He's had extensive plastic surgery ,”Mary added .

昨日は午前中は東京マラソン観戦、午後はホットケーキな一日だった
東京マラソンは、応援していた川内選手がわりと早いうちから苦戦していて、予想とは
違った展開になってしまったけど・・・快走していた藤原 新選手の２位でのゴールは素晴らしく、
ロンドン五輪での楽しみがまた１つ増えたって感じ
もちろん、言うまでもないけど、川内選手も引き続き応援していきま～す
陸上母の一人から「講演に来てた川嶋さんが実況しているよ！」と連絡が入ったのをきっかけに、
しばらくご無沙汰していたメンバー達とも久しぶりにメールで近況交換を交わした

そして午後・・・
パパが、いきなり「なんかホットケーキ食べたくない！？」ときいてきた。
「うん、食べた～い　・・・でも作らな～い。」と、食べたい光線を送りながら答えると、
パパもよほど食べたかったとみえて、すんなり作ってくれたラッキー
ちょうどいいキツネ色に焼きあがったふんわりホットケーキにバターをのせシロップを
たっぷりかけて紅茶とともにいただく　し・あ・わ・せ
人が作ってくれたのを、のんびりいただくだけって、どうしてこんなに幸せ（笑）

ネコペン １７０１ はまっているものと、はまりつつあるもの

The capet ended at the top of the stairs , and the floor from there on was
a glossy expanse of amber marble . Here and there on this mirrorlike surface
stood constructions of steel rods or tubes combined with geometric elements
of glass or leather , apparently tables and chairs . Roberto made his entrance
from the far end , where Qwilleran supposed he did his actual living in a baronial
snrggery furnished with cushioned couches and red velvet .
This attorney who preferred to be a chef was an impressive figure of a man ,
his shoulders rounded from bending over lawbooks and the chopping board .
In dress he was still conservative , and he still had a slow , judicial manner
of speech punctuated by thoughtful pauses , but he used his hands more eloquently ,
something he had not done before living in Italy for a year .
“Good・・・to see you again ,”he said . There was no effusive Continental
embrace ; that would be too much to expect from the former Robert Maus .
“Roberto , this is a great occasion ,” Qwilleran said . “It's been three years
since we last met , but it seems like three decades . Let me tell you that
your restaurant is handsome , and the food is superb .”
“I have learned a few things ,”said the host . “Sit you down . We shall have
an aperitif・・・and some private conversation・・・and then go down to dinner .”

今、はまっているのは、ちょっと変わったチョコ
パパがもらってきたバレンタインの義理チョコの中に、メリーの『キャンディーインチョコ』
というのがあって、ホワイトチョコに細かく砕いた色ガラスのかけらみたいのが、ザクザク入っていて
これが、口に入れるとパチパチはじけて、イタ気持ちよくってしかも結構おいしいんです
そういえば、昔・・・息子が幼稚園か小学校に通っている頃に、そういうキャンディー流行ったこと
あったな～なんて思い出しながら、パチパチを楽しんでまーす

そして・・・
はまりつつあるものは～～～「ツチケンのユーモアエッセイ」
まったくの初心者なんですけど、手始めに、読書好きな知人お薦めの『教授の異常な弁解』
を読んでみましたぁ　確実に笑えます（箸休め！？にもいいかも？）
普段、難しい本を読むことも多い（？？？）ので、時には、こういうサプリな本も読まないと
体がもたないんです・・・な～んて信じてもらえるでしょうか？（笑）

ネコペン １６０５ 土曜日のこと

Qwilleran thought , What if・・・？What if someone on the roof had witnessed
the murder of Di Bessinger and knew the true identity of the murdere? Why wouldn't
he come forward with the information ? Because he would fear for his own life ,
or because he would recognize an opportunity for blackmail ? But that was the
way it happened in mystery novels , not in real life .
The skylight held no attraction for Koko , who preferred to walk on the low
parapet that edged the roor . Together they made one complete turn around
the perimeter befor going downstairs for the next activity , which was Scrabble .
Hardly had the game started when the telephone rang . Qwilleran hoped it might
be Winnie Wingfoot ; he had a hunch she would follow up their brief acquaintance
of the evening before . Instead , it was the disappointing , reedy voice of Charlotte Roop .
“Are you busy , Mr. Qwillera ? I hope I'm not interrupting anything .”

土曜日、息子が急に帰ってきた。
携帯に電話してきたので、なんだろうと？と出てみると
「今、下～」と。つまり車で来ていて、駐車場の鍵持ってきて！ってことなのだ。
しかし急すぎる！ご飯の準備もしてなくて、ちょっと焦った。
そういえば先日、電話で話していた時に
「用事があって埼玉に行くかも～」とは言っていた。
でも「時間ないから寄れないかも～」とも言っていた。
そこで一言。「え～、それって親不孝だよね～」と言ってみたのだった（笑）
きっと、その一言が頭に残っていたのだろう。。。多分。（笑）

慌てて夕食の準備して、２時間ほど団欒
ちょっと慌ただしかったけど、会えてよかった～　かな

ネコペン １６０４ バレンタインとチューリップ

True to his word he spent Sunday with the Siamese , first grooming them both
with a new rubber-bristled brush he had found in a pet shop . Then he read
aloud to them from Eothen , YumYum falling asleep on his lap during the chapter
on the Cairo plague . Around noontime he strapped the harness on Koko and
took him for a walk＿out of the apartment , across the elevator lobby , through
the door marked No Admittance , up two flights of stairs , and out onto the
roof , Koko marching withe soldierly step and perpendiculer tail .
It was glorious on the rooftop . There was a dramatic view of the downtown
skyline and the river curving away to the south . The cat sniffed the breeze
hungrily and tugged on the leash ; he wanted to walk to the edge . Qwilleran
had other ideas ; he pulled Koko to the skylight and peered down into the penthouse
apartment . Although the glass was clouded with age , certain panes had been
replaced in recent times , and it was possible to see the long sofa , the lared
paintings , and some of the potted trees . At night , with the gallery lighted ,
anyone on the roof could look down and see whatever was happening in the coversation pit .

昨日は、バレンタインデーでしたね
まあ一応、パパにチョコあげました質より量で勝負
スパーの特売のブルボントリュフを５袋買って、それらしくラッピングしてリボンかけたら
こころのこもったプレゼントに・・・なんちゃって
でもパパはと～っても喜んでましたので、よかったよかった
３倍返しのホワイトデーは何がいいかな～とわくわくです

そして、バレンタインデーと言えば・・・
今年も富山からチューリップが届きました
義姉からパパ宛に届くのですが、一番喜んでいるのは、もちろん私
お礼の電話をして、兄夫婦との近況報告に花が咲きます
昨日届いたチューリップ水揚げして花瓶にいけて、今朝見たら
１５本のチューリップが、競うようにおもいっきり背筋をピンとのばしていて
青く硬かったつぼみは、ふっくら淡いピンクに色づき始めていました。
見ているそばで、どんどん色づきふくらむので慌ててシャッターをきります
息をころして、チューリップの写真撮るこの瞬間ってホント幸せ～

ネコペン １６０３ リポビタンゴールドな日

Qwilleran strode to the housephone in the kitchen and rang the manater's night
number . Rupert answered .
“Rupert ! This is Qwilleran on Fourteen . We've got rats up here under the floor !
・・・Rats ! That's what I said . R-a-t-s! Yes , I can hera them under the floor in
the master bedroom. the cats hear them , too・・・Oh! Is that so ?・・・Hmmm , I see .
That's too bad・・・Well , sorry to botheer you , Rupert . Good night .”
He returned to the bedroom . “It's a plumber in the crawl space ,”he informed
the Siamese . “He's investigating a leak . Water's dripping down into the Coutess's
bedroom . Does that make you feel guilty , Koko ? ”
The cat laundered a spot on his chest with exasperating nonchalance .
If it had happened to any apartment but that of the Countess , Qwilleran
reflected , the management would have waited until Mondey .

天気がいいと、やっぱ気持ちがいいな～。
リビングの窓際ののあたるところに足をのばして座りこみ
ひなたぼっこしていると、暖かで春みたいな気分になる

そうは言っても、午前中は頭痛で寝込んでいた。
この冬は、「身にこたえる寒さ」という表現がいつも以上に耳に残る。
やっぱりそういう歳になりつつあるのか？うんん。まだまだ負けるわけにはいかない！
というわけで、そんな時には『リポビタンゴールド』p(^^)q
田舎の母が宅急便を送る時には必ずリポビタンゴールドを一箱入れてくる。
すぐに溜まるので、いらないと言っても、また次の荷物にも入っている。
親にとっては子供はいつまでも子供なんだな～。
ちょっと体が弱っている時には、リポビタンゴールド片手に母を思う

ネコペン １６０２ 雨も好き

It's my fault , Qwilleran said to himself ; I dragged them to the city
when they wanted to stay in the country .
Koko was waiting for him when he returned with the pail of wet towels .
“I'm sorry , old friend , ”he said . “Tomorrow's Sunday . We'll spend the day
together . We'll find something interesting to do . If the weather permits , how
would you like to go for a walk on the roof ? ”
“Yow , ”said Koko , squeezing his eyes .
He gave the cats a bedtime snack＿a morsel of smoked salmon from
the deli＿and was getting into his pajamas when he had reason to pause and listen .
Something could be heard crawling under the floor .
“That's no mouse , ”he said alound . “That's a rat ! ”
The cats heard it , too , Koko scurrying around with his nose to the floor ,
and even YumYum sniffing in a lackadaisical way .

この冬は、雨の日が本当に少なくて、乾燥が気になるし（パチパチ静電気も恐いしぃ）
野菜や植物への影響も心配していたので、昨日今日の雨は恵みの雨って感じで
ホッとしています
しかし今日は・・・天気予報の言うように暖かかったのだろうか？？？
うちにいて、暖房も普段と変わりなく使っていたり、ベランダにも出ないでいると
気温がイマイチわかりません
読書と、あとはちょっと感想文的な書き物をしていると一日があっという間です
ツイッターが・・・これがなかなか書けなくて～
ちょっとどうにかしなくっちゃ・・・って思ってま～すm(__)m

ネコペン １６０１ 絶好調(^O^)v

WHEN QWILLERAN RUSHED into 14-A and found the bathroom flooded and
the culprit sitting on the toilet tank , he had no time to analyze motives .
He tore off his shoes and socks , threw bath towels on the floor , then squeezed
them out＿a performance that Koko found diverting . Qwilleran growled into his
moustache but realized the futility of a reprimand . If he said “Bad cat !”
Koko would merely gaze at him with that no-speak-English expression .
The mopping job finished , he took the towels to the basement to put in the dryer ,
but the laundry room was locked for the night . It gave him time , however , as he
rode down on sluggish Old Red and up again on laggard Old Green , to think about
Koko's misdemeanor . The cat had rubbed his jaw against the lever-type faucet .
It was obviously neurotic behavior ; he was bored and lonely and wanted to
attract attention . With YumYum in her indolent mood , Koko missed the chasing ,
frolicking , wrestling , and mutual grooming sessions that are so important
to Siamese pairs .

ハロ～２月に入ったことですし、気分一新！絶好調なスタートを切りたいと思いま～す

１月後半は、痛めた左肩がなかなか完治しなくて行動も制約されがちだったり、
おまけに左肩をかばった生活をしているうちに右肩まで調子悪くなってきたり・・・
極め付きは昨日の体調不良お決まりの頭痛に吐き気でお昼過ぎまでダウン
ようやく起き上がって朝シャンならぬ昼シャンしたのは３時過ぎでした！
吐き気が治まれば、憑き物が落ちたようにみるみる回復して、これで当分は大丈夫ってぐらい
イッキに元気になっちゃうところが、自分でも未だに不思議な感じなんですが・・・
う～ん女性の体って、ほんとデリケートです

精神的にも元気いっぱいでスタート切れそうな予感の２月は、英語生活も
これまで以上にカンバルぞって意気込んでま～す

ネコペン １５０２ ウォーキングp(^^)q

There was a long pause , Courtney pressed a button , and he and Amber
looked expectantly at their guest .
“It'll never play Broadway , ”Qwilleran said ,
“but you might do a season on the Casablanca roof .”
“The plot ,”the author explained , “is based on the Bessinger murder .”
Qwilleran was staring into space . He cupped a hand around his moustache .
He jumped to his feet . “I've got to get upstairs ! Excuse me ,”he blurted ,
heading for the door . “Great evening ! Great dinner ! ”He was out in the hall
when he finished his explanation , and he ran upstairs to Fourteen . A tremor
on his upper lip warned him of trouble .
As he unlocked the door to 14-A , he heard water running and splashing .
He dashed down the bedroom hall , flipping wall switches as he went . When he
reached the master bedroom he found the floor wet . The Waterbed ! he thought
・・・No , the gushing and splashing came from the bathroom . He turned on the light .
The floor was flooded ! The washbowl was overflowing ; the faucet was running
full force ; and there on the toilet tank sat Koko , surveying his achievement .

なんと！この寒さの中、３日連続ウォーキングがんばりました～p(^^)q
がんばったと言うより・・・がんばらざるを得なかったと言うのが本当のとこですが
金曜日は銀行とＴＳＵＴＡＹＡに用事があって３km、
土曜日は北浦和のコンタクト屋さんとモスで４km、
日曜日は強風の中、与野図書館へ２.５kmどうしても早く読みたい本があって
でも、こんなに歩いたのひさしぶり～

ネコペン １５０１ 『ラーメンツアー』

Winnie , upon finishing her drink , uncrossed her incredible legs and rose ,
saying , “I regert I must werncg myself away from this stimulating group , but I
have a dinner date . ”
As the host escorted her to the door , Qwilleran remarked quietly to Amber ,
“I imagine she has no trouble getting dinner dates . ”
“I'm in the wrong business , ”she whispered .
Courtney lighted candles at the dark end of the room , where plaks were laid
across columns of concerte blocks to form a long narrow table .
“Hopkins , tell Cook we wish to serve now , ”he said .
The seats were upended orange crates , each with a velvet cushion weighted at
the four corners with tassels . “Watch out for splinters , ”Amber warned Qwilleran .
For a table centerpiece white carnations were arranged with weeds from
the parking lot . Pewter service plates and goblets were set on the bare boards ,
and there were four tall pewter candlesticks .
“Where did you steal these ? ”Amber asked , and Countney reproved her with
a withering glance .
The soup course was cream of watercress , followed by crabcakes with shitake
mushrooms , baby beets in an orange glaze , and wild rice . A salad of artichoke
hearts and sprouts was served on Lalique plates as a separate course , and the meal
ended with a chocolate souffle . Not bad , Qwilleran thought , for a crate-and-block
environment .

昨日、『ラーメンツアー』ついに決行！
あれは確か・・・一昨年の秋だったか暮れだったか・・・
すみちゃんとラーメン食べに行こうと約束してから、足かけ３年
２年越しの約束が、ようやく叶った。（って、ちょっと大げさだけど）
『ラーメンツアー』と申しましても、女子二人のツアーですから・・・ラーメン屋さんを
はしごするような、ハードなものではありません
○○が気になるお年頃の女子二人ですので、２杯なんて食べたら死んでしまいますし～
シーズン中に予定が合えば、何度か行きたいな～と思っての企画でしたので、
『ラーメンツアー』と名付けました本当は、もう一人メンバーいるんですが、
今回は予定が合わず欠席でした。実際、私を除く二人は、とても忙しいので・・・・
案外、年に１回の超ロング？ツアーになるかもしれません（笑）
まあ、気長に楽しみたいと思いますすみちゃん来年もヨロシク

昨日は、すみちゃんの紹介で赤羽の『金字塔』へ行ってきました。
ラーメン屋さんには、１時間もいませんでしたが・・・そちこち散策した後
スタバで２時間余りお茶してました～話すことはつきないのです～。
帰りに、更に何軒かショップを覗き、スイーツのお土産買ってツアー終了
女子二人の『ラーメンツアー』は、こんなかんじで～す(^_-)

ネコペン １４０２ カラー写真

Immediately the delicate thud of velvet paws could be heard , bounding out
of the bedroom , and YumYum , the sleeping beauty , made a nosedive into the
wastebasket to retrieve the crumpled clipping . The crumpling of paper was
a sound she could hear in her dreams . Qwilleran took it away from her , not
wanting her to chew it and ingest printer's ink . As he did so , he had another
look at that arrogant face and woudered where he had seen it before .
YumYum was peeved , and to assuage her ruffled feelings he stroked her fur
and paid her a few lavish complinents on her pulchritude , her sweetness of
disposition , and her nobility of character . She purred＿and went back to bed .
Why does she loll around so much ? he asked himself . Is it the smog ?
Or some kind of stress ?
Meanwhile , Koko was waiting for action on the Scrabble table , and he won
the first few draws so handily tha Qwilleran changed the rules to permit proper
nouns , slang , and foreign words . Even withe a handicap the cat won , but the man
had the staisfaction of spelling such words as IXION , MERCI , CIAO , and SNAFU .
Toward the end of the game he spelled a word thet proved to be prophetic : OOPS .

先日、広報誌が一部届いた　
一瞬目を疑ったのは、写真が色鮮やかなカラー写真だったこと
手違いで１ヶ月遅れで手許に届いた広報誌だったけど、待った甲斐がありました
ホントに嬉しいサプライズでした皆様ありがとう『夢広報』を見せてもらいました

それから、もう一枚の感激写真は～
友達から届いた成人式の晴れ着姿の写メ（友達：二十歳）
とっても綺麗で、大人になってて、感動だった～
友達というより、二十歳の娘を持つ母の気分を味わわせてもらったって感じかな
こっちも、ありがとう