March, 2006

IMG_0134.CR2, Originally uploaded by evancparker.

I rarely — if ever — venture into downtown D.C. when the Cherry Blossoms are in bloom, but something inspired me this year. Not only do you have to deal with city traffic, but tourists, and they seam to get stupider each year.

Not to mention, I honestly don’t like the look of a cherry tree in bloom … at least not up close. They look like a floral pipe cleaner. I like my blossoms a little more random and well spaced. Maybe a dogwood, or magnolia.

This time, I went down the day before peak … and did it at some obscene hour of the morning. The foot traffic around the tidal basin was predictably insane (and I hereby vow to never do it again, again) but the more remote groves — like this one, north of the monument — were just as stunning, and much less crowded.

Cherry Blossoms
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/…6218/

IMG_0076.CR2, Originally uploaded by evancparker.

I got tickets to the Washington, DC regional of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this year (“Oh, brother … where art thou?”) and watch George Mason rampage through the region from the nose-bleeds in the upper deck.

This particular gem of a picture was taken at the tipoff for overtime, with the score tied at 74. By the time it was over, Mason had upset Connecticut 86-84. Going into the game, I was actually a little apathetic, until I read Uconn coach Jim Calhoun shoot his mouth off:

“It’s going to be nice playing an away game,” Calhoun said. “I’m looking forward to that. I think that part of the system is really working out to protect the ones.”

Come on, Coach. Do number one seeded teams really need to be protected against number ELEVEN seeded teams? Oh wait. i guess they do …

NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unclevanya/sets/…8347/