I'm in D.C. and it's Monumental!

Jan. 6, 2007

I am in Washington, D.C., for a conference at the Renaissance, but have managed the following:

Tuesday: Tour of the International Spy Museum, assuming a "cover" and suspicious of everything since. You learn about dead drops and see weapons, disguises and surveillance. The pigeons used during the war were interesting.

Wednesday: Tour of the Capitol and Library of Congress (LOC for future reference). The White House Visitor Center is a waste of time. We were supposed to have a real tour from Congressman Charles Melancon's office, but the Ford funeral gave an extra federal holiday, so it was canceled. We missed all of the Ford fanfare unfortunately, but I got to sign his condolence book. Did you know the Statue of Liberty can fit under the Capitol Rotunda? That is how tall it is in there. There is a lucky star in the basement that indicates the center of the building and the center of Washington at one time. Of course, I stepped on it. The Hawaiian statue is somewhat interesting, in a remote spot because he doesn't have on a lot of clothes.

The LOC is awe inspiring. Forget the books, there is great architecture in the LOC. They thought of everything. Mosaics honoring painting, poetry, engineering, philosophy, science, music, religion, commerce, history, art and law. Cherubs with the tools of their trade--musician, electrician, etc.; the four seasons; the five senses; wisdom, understanding, knowledge and philosophy; fortitude, temperance, prudence, patriotism, courage, valor and achievement; adventure, discovery and conquest which lead to civilization; the evolution of the book from spoken word to the Gutenburg Bible, one of three vellum copies in existence; a statue with a mirror to show History Looking Back; doves, etc.There is an exhibit that said Thomas Jefferson separated his books into Memory, Reason and Imagination. You can use your cell to listen to that exhibit info. I thought that was way cool.

In the evening we went to the ESPN Zone to cheer on the Tigers in the Sugar Bowl, and I mean I showed them how the Tigers party. They have the hugest TV and 12 other feeds. I sat on a recliner on the front row.

Thursday: National Museum of the American Indian--lame; Oz exhibit temporarily located at the Air and Space Museum--also lame because it's only the Ruby Slippers, Scarecrow costume, the camera used and a piece of the script. A guy whose mother lives in Shreveport was the security check. Small world. Then it was back to the LOC to the gift shop because there was no time yesterday, but it was closed due to a reception for Nancy Pelosi--called "Celebration for a New Direction." It's a huge day on the Hill with the swearings in today. I wormed my way into her deal, kind of like I did at private parties at ESPN last night. Could be my Southern charm. I didn't spot her. Then I took a cab to the National Cathedral. Very huge and beautiful, but not as much so as the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, also here. The National Cathedral is nearing 100 years old, but some pieces were just added in 2002, is the second largest cathedral in the U.S. behind St. John the Divine in New York and sixth in the world. It is a cathedral because of the cathedra, a chair. Didn't know that. Woodrow Wilson is buried in here as are Helen Keller's ashes. There is an actual moon rock in one of the stained glass windows because Michael Collins went to St. Alban's school next door. I saw a book in the huge store called Cathedral Cats (they live in cathedrals in England). The bell tower is the highest point in D.C. and there is an observation deck, but I didn't have time for it.

Saturday: I had the best time, touring the U.S. Postal Museum, Union Station, the Holocaust Museum and the National Gallery of Art. Then, my friend Lee Ivory, who is editor of Sports Weekly, took me for a motorcyle ride and dinner at an Irish pub. He is going to take me to the National Press Club next time I come.

The weather has been great! Security is everywhere! Airports are really catering to passengers with massaging chairs and rapid cell chargers.