Postcard From Austin

Having now been here a couple of weeks, I can say that Austin is possibly the best place I've lived--or at least ranks alongside New York. I'll wait a few months to decide for sure, as it doesn't count until I've made it through the summer heat. So far I've been exploring town on foot and meeting all sorts of friendly people. Breakfast tacos are the staple and there are fresh avocados everywhere. Dogs and bicycles are popular, flip-flops are 'the Austin work boot', and wildflowers abound thanks to Lady Bird Johnson. I've been hanging out with a lot of great folks involved in energy and recently toured a coal power plant. I also visited Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge which offers great birding opportunities. And since it's Austin, it was easy to find a group of talented guys to play music with. Something about this place already feels like home. CM's on the way over to visit, so I'm hoping the city inspires him to pick up his guitar again...