Well look at that!

Charlotte is #10 on Outside Magazine's list of America's best cities and Boone is on its list for the best small towns!

I can't shake this state!

There's something about North Carolina. There's something about the quality of the light through the trees and the insufferable humidity that I can't let go.

I've lived so many different places, but this is the only place I haven't been able to turn away from. I'm in California now and I'm jumping out of my skin to get back to North Carolina.

The people there are humble, but smart as a whip. Folks don't jam their talent down your throat. I can't say I know many people there whose egos outweigh their talent.

So, I'm happily returning in about a week...

And as a little present to myself, for the first blog entry, I want to put a video up of the little band that could, from Concord, NC: the Avett Brothers. My friend Steve introduced this band's music to me a few years ago. I remember that he complained about the outrageous fees the Avetts were charging to play at parties...now they're about to release their first major label record, produced by this schmo named Rick Rubin. Love it.