I bought a new camera: A Nikon D40.  It’s essentially the cheapest “good” digital SLR I could find.  I haven’t used it much yet, but I’m hoping to spend some time playing with it in a couple of weeks when I visit Chico.

I’m a little scruffy (and my hair is longer).  The story there is that I have a bet with some of my co-workers; the first of us who shaves during the month of September has to buy the others lunch.  R pointed out that I have an advantage in that I don’t have to worry about career-related repercussions, because I’m quitting in mid-October.  (Yes, I work at a company conservative enough that people think about these things.)

So here’s the plan.  I quit my job in a month.  A couple of weeks after that, I move out of my apartment and spend as much as a month driving up and down the west coast, visiting friends and family in the San Francisco bay area, Chico, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver.

After that, I stay with my parents in Chico between trips to New York, St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), and probably a couple of other places.  I’m planning a trip to Europe at the end of all this, probably in late January / early February.

And then?  I’m not sure.  I’m moving.  I’m not sure where yet, but it won’t be Los Angeles.  I’ve been here long enough.

Any of you who live along my route (or anywhere, really) and would like to see me, let me know.