On: I think it's the humidity...

DC is a dynamic place to live. This is true. I know we've raved about the beautiful views and fun outings, but for the sake of objectivity, I think I should share some of the more unusual elements of DC that we encounter more often than we'd like...

I give you:
the cicada. Disgusting, I know. They are everywhere... How do I know this? You can hear them practically anywhere you go (especially around heavily wooded areas). Cicada's sound like nature's sprinklers. It's not a terrible sound, and really, they can be very relaxing to listen to in the evenings. But, they sound a lot less calming after you see one... Seriously, this isn't an insect, it's an alien. Jon and I have only seen a few of them--all dead--most likely because of the next prehistoric-looking insect...

I have to scoot the lappy away from me, these things evoke a lot of anxiety... Meet the cicada killer wasp. This is an African breed of wasp that is commonly found in the Georgetown/Arlington area... Are these not the craziest beasts you've ever seen? Apparently, they're only deadly to cicada. Also, from what I've read, the males are harmless and the females will only attack humans if provoked. What a relief right? Next time I encounter one, I'll simply ask its gender, politely, in its native African tongue...

So there you have it... Some of the animals that, on paper, are completely harmless. If you were to ask me, I would insist that these things are waiting for the opportunity to attack us from the air and devour us.