We had a day or two of sun, but now we're back to gloom and rain. Bob and I did manage to take our usual walk by Emery Bay. We usually enjoy the sight of the sailboats moored by the pier, but this time they alarmed us because of the tsunami that hit Japan after the 8.9 quake. Even in Santa Cruz, just south of us, boats in the Marina were violently knocked together and damaged by the waves, the moral lesson being that events have far-reaching consequences -- like building nuclear power plants in a major earthquake zone. Or building them at all. Not a good idea. On top of that, there were eerie sound effects. The wind blowing through the sails made a high-pitched whining noise and the clanking of the boats' metal parts added a ominous layer to the mix. This aquatic soundscape was kind of cool, actually. It would have been fun to record it.
Apart from worrying about The Big One hitting here and nuclear melt-downs, I had a nice day. I made Thai chicken soup with Forbidden Black Rice for lunch and we used the rest of the black rice for a stir-fry dinner. I love Forbidden Black Rice. Legend has it that it got its name because it was forbidden to the peasants in ancient China. Only the nobles were allowed to eat it. Eating it does feel sinfully indulgent. Even handling the stuff is a luxurious experience -- letting the glittering black grain with its sensuous texture fall through your fingertips as you get ready to wash it is almost as good as having sex. Bob says "almost as good, but not as good." He also says it's weird to talk about pleasurable things alongside horrible disasters. That's true, which is why I entitled this piece "Forbidden Pleasures."
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