Sometimes I take for granted where I live. I am surrounded by pretty carved rocks and shit, and yet I rarely notice them. I sort of lump all that stuff into the "touristy" side of DC, and ignore it, sadly.

Most people fail to realize DC is full of beautiful neighborhoods too, all unique in their own way; lots of amazing architecture, outdoor cafes, fine restaurants and theatres, etc. All the happenings in the government, and the stuff you see on TV, tend to overshadow the actual "city" of DC.

It's rare to spot a tourist in my neighborhood, except, of course, for the gays; they're easy to spot: rainbows on clothing and/or HRC store bags.

I did all the touristy stuff when I first moved here; now when people come to visit, I tell them to enjoy the sights and call me when you're done.

My parents came a couple years ago, so I took them to see the cherry blossoms. Of course, a huge wind storm hit the city a week earlier. I still took them down to the Tidal Basin to admire all the pretty twigs. When we were down there, we stumbled upon something called the FDR Memorial. Who knew?!?

I live a mile away from the White House, and a couple miles from the Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court, all the museums, the Vietnam War Memorial, WW II Memorial, and the Eagle; yet I never visit them anymore. I probably should.

The Washington Monument is a sight to behold when you're returning in a plane from a long trip. Nothing says "Welcome Home" like a giant, rock hard dick pointing up to the sky.

The FDR and Jefferson Memorials are my favorites. The Jefferson Memorial is so beautiful at night. It's kinda romantic there, a great place to go on a date and get felt up, fyi. I hear there are lots of boys holding hands and pot smoking.

Anyway, I wanted to take some pics of the new MLK Jr. Memorial until I realized, it hasn't been built yet! Rob broke the news to me when I asked for directions. What the dilio? Shouldn't they wait to bus in all the celebrities until it's time for the big reveal?

I'm glad I didn't go down there. I would have been like, "Oprah, so where is the memorial, and why are you holding a shovel?" And she would have been all, "It hasn't been built yet, dumb fuck." And I'm all, "Don't get snippy, Oprah."

So you won't see any of my photos until 2008, should my blog last that long. Perhaps I'll take some photos along the way, but that would mean I have to venture, like, a mile away, into tourist land.

I guess I need to observe my surroundings more, cuz I do live in a beautiful city (despite, of course, all the gang-bangs, murders, corruption, thefts, rapes, parking drama, cab drivers, angertwinks, mismanagement, DMV, pollution, STDs, George W Bush living down the street, whores, property taxes, crystal meth, attitude, bitterness, bad public schools, high cost of living, traffic, humidity, and the vast multitude of weiner dogs)!

So in the immortal words of our dear Star Jones:
"Take a little time to enjoy the view."