ネコペン ２００３ 最終回

He said , “I wonder if poor Charlotte got out safely . I wonder if her ‘gentleman
friend ’got out in time . If not , he's lost more then an ear on this job .”
“Yow ! ”said Koko . He was sitting tall on the TV and washing up＿just
as he had sat tall on the volume of Van Gogh , licking his right paw and washing
his mask , his whiskers , and particularly his right ear .
“Remarkable cat !”Qwilleran murmured without elucidating to his skeptical friend .
“I've had all I can take ,”said Riker . “I'm going to bed .”
As soon as he was out of the room the Siamese engaged in a sudden expression
of joy , chasing each other wildly under and over the furniture; they knew
they were going home . Qwilleran propped himself against the headboard and
watched the steeplechase .
Eventually YumYum snuggled down on his lap . She had lost her apathy and moody
aloofness . Had she been affected by the “opalescence”that hung over the city
like a stifling blanket ? Did she find it unsettling to live on the fourteenth
floor (which was really the thirteenth ) ? Or was she simply using felin strategy
to get her own way ? Qwilleran stroked her soft silky fur and called her his
little sweetheart , and she responded by raising a velvet paw to touch his
moustache , all the while sweethzing her eyes and purring deliriously .
As for Koko , he jumped on the bed and flopped down in an attitude of exhaustion .
It had been a strenuous night . He had saved an estimated two hundred persons .

昨年の春よりタイピングしてきたCATシリーズの第三弾『ネコペン』は、
リリアン・J・ブラウンのネコシリーズの中からのPick upで、正式タイトルは
『猫はペントハウスに住む』でした
第一弾の『ネコバナナ』第二弾の『ネコバク』につづく第三弾でしたが、
どうにか予告通りに今月中に終了することができてホッとしています
１年かかちゃったなんて、ちょっと笑えますが、まあ楽しかったかな
お気に入りのミステリーだったし、打ち込みながら楽しめました

さて次はどうしようとりあえずあてがないのですが・・・
ま、いっか～。来週には新年度がスタート
また、新たな気持ちで新しいことに挑戦してみるつもりで～すp(^^)q
　　　　　　　　　　　　

ネコペン ２００２ ひとりでは出来ないこと

A cracked voice off-camera shouted , “He's tellin'ya to tear the place down ! ”
The video cut to a Red Cross van and then a bus being loaded with refugees
in nightclothes , some huddled blankets . Voice-over: “Survivors are being bused
to temporary shelters . Residents who were not on the premises at the time of
the explosion are urged to telephone the following number to assist in the search
for the missing・・・”
Qwilleran said , “There's Mrs. Jasper with Napoleon , boarding the bus ! ”
She raised the cat's paw to wave at the camera . “And there's Yazbro , the skunk
who let the air out of my tires ! ”
A man in a red golf hat was helping elderly tenants into the bus . Then ,
as the camera panned the windows of the loaded vehicle , showing strained and
frightened faces , Qwilleran caught a glimpse of plucked eyebrows , marcelled hair ,
and a head tilted prettily to one side . His sigh of relief was more like a groan .

ちょっと思わせぶりなタイトルですが・・・昨日の続編です
整形外科から帰って来て、それから近所の処方箋薬局へ薬を取りに行って
その夜にお風呂上りに、湿布を貼ろうと思ったら・・・自分で貼れるのは、
一箇所だけだと気付いた　全部で４箇所貼らなきゃいけないのに
でも、パパはもう寝ていて（夜中の２時）起こすのも悪い気がしたので、あきらめた
なので、昨日は早めにお風呂に入って（１０時！）バッチリ貼ってもらった
ひとりじゃ出来ないことってあるんだな～としみじみ思った。
それにしても、片手生活って大変だな～。少しずつ腕も上がるようになってきているけど
何をするにも時間がかかって

明日は、また診察＆リハビリ
あったかくなりますように

ネコペン ２００１ 頚椎後縦靭帯・・・

An announcer in a parka＿filmed against a backgroud of fire trucks , ambulances ,
and police cars＿was saying , “Firemen are still fighting the blaze at the Casablanca
apartments following an explosion at 3:18 this morning . The blast , of unknown origin ,
destroyed three floors of the building , which is almost a hundred years old .”
The camera zoomed to the top of the blackened , smoldering structure , while
the voice-over continued : “Forty-two residents have been hospitalized with
injuries , and many are missing . No bodies have been recovered . Jessica Tuttle ,
manager of the Casablanca , says it is impossible to tell how many persons were
in the building at the time of the explosion .”
The face of Mrs.Tuttle , grim and managerial , flashed on the screen with
a microphone therust in front of her . “We have about two hundred tenants ,”
she said , “bat we don't know who was in the building when it happened and
who wasn't. We're grateful for the prompt rescue attempts . Everything's been
handled very efficiently・・・No , I don't know what could bave caused it .
Perhaps the Lord is trying to tell us something .”

１月の中頃に痛めた肩が・・・ここ２、３日ちょっと調子悪い感じ！？と思っていたら、
とうとうその左手が、ほとんど上がらなくなってしまった
「２ヶ月ぐらい治らないんだよね～」と息子に話していたら、昨日医者に連れて行かれた
息子のお気に入り！？の整形外科で受付をすませたのが９時半前。昼頃には終わって
息子に迎えに来てもらって、帰りにランチ～のつもりだったのに、想像以上に時間が
かかってしまって、終わったのは２時すぎだった　もうぐったり（＞＜）
受付して、血圧測って、診察受けて、レントゲン十数枚撮って、ＭＲＩに２０分入って、
電気治療してリハビリして、その後に、撮った写真見ながら詳しい症状の説明受けて、
ヒアルロン酸注射と炎症を抑える注射をして、会計済ませたらその時間になってしまった。
これだけ盛り沢山ならこれだけ時間かかるのもしょうがないかと納得の内容ではあったけど、
注射は恐かった～。だって、「結構痛いんで先に冷やしますね」と注射をする部分に
保冷材のようなものをあてて冷やすんだもん。どんだけ痛いんだろうと想像しただけで
とっても恐かった　　１本目どうにかこらえて、ホッとしていたら・・・
２本目、「こっちはもう少し痛いかもしれませんが頑張って下さい」と言われて・・・

でもリハビリは、とっても気持ちがよくって気に入った先生もやさしいしぃ
これからだんだん暖かくなるし、しばらくリハビリがんばって通います

タイトルは・・・いちおう病名。
頚椎後縦靭帯○○症、両肩間接○○症、左肩板損傷・・・
と３つほど告げられたけど・・・まあ言うなれば○十肩みたいなもの！？ガーン

ネコペン １９０４ 春休み～♪

Taking advantage of the distraction , Jupiter sneaked around the end of the bar ,
snatching a small tube from his pocket . As he raised it there was a click and
a knifeblade shot out . Qwilleran , without taking his eye off the knife , grabbed
a bottle by the neck . For one frozen moment they faced each other . At the same
time a blur of fur passed between the two men , landing on the assailant's shoulder .
A whiplike tail flicked twice .
There was a yell of pain , and the man put a hand to his eyes . The other hand
wavered , and Qwilleran smashed down hard on the knife , then brought the bottle
down on Jupiter's head . As he collapsed , Qwilleran kicked the knife away and
stood over him with the bottle .
The French doors burst open ! Two figures appeared on the level above .
One of them had a gun .
“Hold it ! I got you covered ! ”
Qwilleran started to raise his hands before he realized that the man withe
the handgun was wearing a red golf hat . The man behind him had the paunchy figure
of Arch Riker .
“Call the police ! ”Qwilleran yelled .
Riker's ruddy face turned pale . “Qwill! You're supposed to be dead !
”

大学の方は、もうとっくに春休みに入っていて、２週間ほど前に一度
帰って来はしたものの、一晩泊まってまた慌ただしくつくばに戻って行ってしまった息子は、
今度は「ちょっとゆっくりしていくよ」と、今日お昼頃に帰宅した
ところが、そういい残して、また慌ただしく友達ランチに出掛けて行っちゃうんだから・・・
まったくもう～～～　天気荒れるって言ってるのになぁ　し～らないっ！

ネコペン １９０３ あと５回・・・そして春

“How'd you find out ? ”The vodka was coloring Jupiter's・face to match
his moustache .
“I have a snoopy nature and a little experience in criminal investigation .
There are tenants who heard screams just before Ross landed on Yazbro's car .
Dianne's murderer tossed the artist over the parapet , after dragging him down to the dark end of the terrace .”Qwilleran kept a sharp eye on his guest and saw
his hand go into his sweater pocket . “Want any more ice ? ”he asked as he carried
his own glass to the bar . Feeling secure behind the massive piece of furniture ,
he went on .
“But here's the clincher : You see that skyling up there ? Someone was on
the roof when it happened . There was a witness ! ”
Jupiter struggled to his feet . Qwilleran thought , he's half-bombed !
The man walked unsteadily to the bar and stood on the dhurrie , his hand still in
his pocket . Wordlessly the two of them faced each other across the bar , until
the heavy silence was broken by a clatter of glassware as something dropped between
them . Koko had flown through the air , landing on the bar with arched back , bushed
tail , flattened ears , and bared fangs .

今回を含めて、あと５回ほどで『ネコペン』終了の予定です
ようやく終わりが見えてきた・・・と書きながら、ネコペンの後が決まってないので
４月から、どうしようかな～とも思ったりしています

３月、４月って・・・ああもうじき春だな～～～
でも今日って、日差しがいっぱいであったかそうに見えたのに、風が冷たかった
外にでたらブルッときて、やっと治った頭痛が、ぶり返しそうな勢い
ベランダでは寄せ植えの鉢にムスカリの蕾がニョキニョキ出てきて数日で紫のすずらん
みたいな花がかわいらしく咲き出して、そこだけは春～って感じなのに・・・。

でも、もうじきに春ですね

ネコペン １９０２ 卒業式日和

He walked home slowly and found the crumbling front steps a disgrace , the lobby
grim , the tenants depressing , and Old Red an affront to human dignity . Koko met
him at the door as usual and trotted to the library as usual , where he took
up his position on the Van Gogh volume as usual , tensing his tail like a corkscrew .
“What are you trying to tell me ? ”Qwilleran asked him . “Was that Vincent's
favorite perch ? ”The thought crossed his mind that Vincent had witnessed
the murder , and he had an irrational desire to visit the Bessinger-Todd Gallery
once more .
When he phoned , he was answered in a hurry . “Is the gallery still open ? ”
he asked . “This is Jim Qwilleran at the Casablanca .”
“I've just locked the door . This is Jerry Todd . What can I do for you ? ”
“I never had a chance to talk with you about artwork for my barn , and I may be
leaving soon . ”
“If you want to come over , I'll wait ,”the art dealer suggested .
“Be right there .”

友達から届いたメールには、昨日は中学生の息子さんの卒業式だったとあり、
そして今日は、息子の母校（こちらは高校）の卒業式だったようだ。
そういえば、ちょっと前に見た音楽番組でも卒業ソング特集みたいのやってたし
卒業式シーズンなのだわね～
天気予報では、今日は風もなく穏やかな一日になるようなこと言ってたので
午後から図書館に行ったんだけど・・・思ったより風がひんやりしていた。
まあでも、まずまずの卒業式日和で、よかったよかった。

ネコペン １９０１ 昨日のニュース

Qwilleran went to the deli for an early dinner . All he wanted was a bowl of
chicken soup with matzo balls , a pastrami sandwich two inches thick , a dish of
rice pudding , and some time to sort out his feelings about life in the big city .
The Press Club was not what it used to be . The staffers at the Daily Fluxion were
all new and uninteresting . There was no one whose company he enjoyed half as
much as that of Polly Duncan and Arch Riker , not to mention Larry Lanspetk ,
Chief Brodie , Junior Goodwinter , Roger MacGillivray , and a dozen others .
The Casablanca itself was a disater , and the Countess would never agree to sell
to the Klingenschoen Fund . And the last straw was the theft of his car .
Even the prospect of writing a book on the Casablanca was losing its appeal .
At this moment he had only one reason to stay . He wanted to have lunch with
Lieutenant Hames as soon as the detective returned to town . He wanted to tell him
about Koko's discoveries : first the bloodstain , then the bracelet , and finally
the confession on the wall . He would relate how the cat found the exact spot
where the artist was said to have jumped form the terrace . Then he would advance
his theory that special-interest groups were resorthig to criminal means to clear
the way for the Gateway Alcazar : knifing the heir to the Casablanca and throwing
her lover from the terrace , after drugging them both .

昨日のマラソン代表選手発表のニュース・・・いくつかのニュースを見逃して
最終的にちゃんと見たのは「報道ステーション」のスポーツコーナー
ＮＨＫの「ニュースウオッチ９」で、川内選手が選考から漏れたことはちらっと見たけど・・・
ドラマタイムで詳しく見ている暇がなく・・・「報道ステーション」まで、おあずけとなったのだった。
でも、報道ステーションで松岡修造の川内選手に対する好意的なインタビューやコメントや
フォローがとても好感持ててよかったナイス！松岡修造

川内選手が選ばれなかったのは、やはり残念と言えば残念！オリンピックの楽しみが
１つ消えたぐらいに残念な気分。でも、選ばれれば選ばれたで東京マラソンでの不調をネタに
たたかれかねないので、そうならなくて良かったというのも本音だったりする。川内くんは、
とっても生真面目そうに見えるし、精神的に辛い状態でロンドンへ行くのも心配だったし。
息子とさほど年も違わない川内選手のことは、つい母目線で見てしまう。
明るく元気に堂々とオリンピックに行ける時が来るまで応援し続けたいと思う。p(^^)q
昨日の川内選手の会見は、彼らしい、真面目でさわやかな会見だったと思った。
そうそう！川内選手の記者会見は仕事の休み時間に行われたそうで、取材が
終わると、ビューンと走り去って、それを追いかけた松岡修造が見た光景は・・・
ダッシュで職場に戻った川内くんが、何事もなかったように、すっと着席し、
何事もなかったように仕事を始めた！んだそうです（笑）
それをうれしそうに好意的に話す松岡修造が、なかなかナイスでした

ネコペン １８０３ みつばちの日

Both of the Siamese were on the waterbed .
“Everyone up !”he called out cheerfully . “Get your tickets for a ride in
the Purple Plum !”He made no mention of the clinic , and yet they knew !
No amount of coaxing would convince them to enter the carrier .
First he tried to push Koko through the small door , beginning with
the forelegs , then the head , but the cat braced his hind legs against the
conveyance , straddling the door and lashing his tail like a whip . Even
employing all his cunning , Qwilleran still could not engineer four legs ,
a head , a lashing tail , and a squirming body into the carrier simultaneously .
In frustration he abandoned the project and had a dish of ice cream , and
when he returned to the scene some minutes later , both animals were
huddled in the carrier contentedly , side by side .
“Cats !”Qwilleran grumbled . “CATS!”
He carried the coop from the apartment and rang for the elevator .
“Don't shriek when the car is in operation ,”he cautioned YumYum .
“You know what happened last time .”He held his breath until Old Green
landed them safely on the main floor .
“Bye-bye , kitties ,”called Mrs. Tuttle , looking up from her knitting
as they passed the bulletproof window .

今日は３月８日でみつばちの日だそうで・・・
それにちなんだ蜂蜜の特価セールの広告が入ってきていた
“純粋アカシアはちみち花の露”の５００ｇボトルが、
なんと３８％ＯＦＦ！！！５８６円と、かなりお買い得これは見逃せない
外は、昨日とはうって変わって、真冬並みの寒さ　それでもがんばって、
北浦和のお店まで約２キロの道のりをはちみつの為だけに歩いた
と思ったら・・・途中にBook offがあったので、ちょっと寄り道してたら１時間ほど
ロスしてしまった

うちに帰って３時のおやつタイムには、さっそくはちみつの試食
紅茶とプレーンタイプのパイ菓子に添えていただく
春も近いことだし、はちみつで綺麗になるぞ！
と意気込んでいる＜相も変わらず…安易な私＞

ネコペン １８０２ 日光浴

“Water trees , change beds , put sheets and towels through laundry , turn on
dishwasher , push vac around , and dust a bit , ”she recited . “I don't do windows .”
She marched into the kitchen and poked her head into the dishwasher , which was empty .
“I take my meals out ,”Qwilleran explained . “That's the cats' plate on the floor .
There may be some cat hairs around the apartment . I have two Siamese .”
It hardly needed mentioning . Koko was circling the woman with intense interest
and sniffing her shoes .
“No bother . Miss Bessinger had a Persian , and I have a tom of my own , though
his tomcattin' days be over . You've seen Napoleon , like as not . We live on
the main floor , and he be a sociable critter .”
She headed for the gallery with the vacuum cleaner and attachments , which Qwilleran
offered to carry . Her regional speech reminded him of certain longtime residents
of Moose County . “May I ask where you came from originally , Mrs.Jasper ?
You're not city bred .”
“Aye , I come from a small town up north , name of Chipmunk . My paw had a potato
farm .”
“I know Chipmunk very well ,”he said . “I live in Pickax City .”

最近は雨や曇りがちの日が多かったので、今日は待ちわびたお日様
窓を開けて空気を入れ替え、それからちょっと気合をいれてお洗濯＆掃除p(^^)q

日光浴したのは私ではなく、カメのカーカン
冬眠期間中にも時々水を替えて、ついでに今日みたいにあったかい日には、
ちょっと日光浴
でも、カーカンには・・・ひょっとしたら迷惑だったりするんだろうか？？？
まあ、元気だからいいっか
息子が１歳半の時から飼っているカーカンも、この秋には２０歳
お店で買った時には、５００円玉ぐらいの小さなミドリガメだったのが、
こんなに成長してこんなに長生きするとはね～

ネコペン １８０１ 閏年のおかげ

For the cat's breakfast he minced baked shrimp stuffed with lump crabmeat and
placed the plate on the floor . “Gamberi ripieni alla Roberto ,”he announced ,
“with the compliments of the chef . Buon appetito ! ”The Siamese plunged into
their breakfast with gusto . Their current behavior might be abnormal , but
there was nothing wrong with their gustatory connoisseurship .
As he watched them devour the repast with gurgling murmurs of ecstasy ,
there was a knock at the door . Before he could respond , a key turned in the lock ,
the door opened , and a gray-haired rosy-cheeked woman in a faded denim smock
bustled into the foyer .
“Oh , you still here ? Mornin' to you . I be Mrs.Jasper ,”she said .
“Mrs. Tuttle said I were to clean on Mondays .”
“Happy to have you . I'm on my way out to breakfast , so I won't be in your way .
Do you know where everything is ?”
“That I do ! I cleaned for Miss Bessinger , and I handle everythin' careful ,
like she said , and clean the rugs with attachments , them bein' hand made .
You moved one ! ”she exclaimed with a frown , as she peered into the gallery
where the dhurrie covered the bloodstain .
“I prefer to have it there , ”Qwilleran said .
“Will you water the trees ? They haven't had any attention for a week .”

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
今年は、２月２９日があったおかげで、少し春らしい３月のスタートになったという
気がします　閏年じゃなかったら、昨日が３月１日で、あの雪ですもんね（笑）
北陸育ちの私は、雪が恋しくて、こちらで雪になれば子供みたいに喜んでましたが、
昨日は、午前中の降りしきる雪を見て、寒そうで思わず首をすくめてしまいました。
家の中から眺めているぶんには、ネコみたいにのんきにしていられるんですが・・・
昨日は外に出る用事があったので・・・（＞＜）
昨日は「ゆ～きやコンコ～」じゃなく「雪の降る街よ～」な感じでした