diff --git a/bigchaindb/block.py b/bigchaindb/block.py
index ed1257e9..144ebef8 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/block.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/block.py
@@ -5,10 +5,16 @@ import queue
 import rethinkdb as r
 
 from bigchaindb import Bigchain
+from bigchaindb.monitor import Monitor
+
 
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+# obviously the hostname should come from an environment variable or setting
+# http://i.imgur.com/qciaOed.jpg
+c = Monitor(host='statsd_1')
+
 
 class Block(object):
 
@@ -32,6 +38,7 @@ class Block(object):
         b = Bigchain()
 
         while True:
+            c.gauge('tx_queue_gauge', self.q_tx_to_validate.qsize(), rate=0.01)
             tx = self.q_new_transaction.get()
 
             # poison pill
diff --git a/bigchaindb/core.py b/bigchaindb/core.py
index 9981eaf2..c5221c26 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/core.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/core.py
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ from bigchaindb import exceptions
 from bigchaindb.crypto import hash_data, PublicKey, PrivateKey, generate_key_pair
 from bigchaindb.monitor import Monitor
 
+# obviously the hostname should come from an environment variable or setting
+
 c = Monitor(host='statsd_1')
 
 class GenesisBlockAlreadyExistsError(Exception):