3, 2, 1, lights...

      tonight marked the 81st plaza lighting ceremony...the official start to the christmas season for us kansas citians. for those who don't now, "the plaza" is a high-end shopping section of downtown kansas city. lots of cool places, including some amazing eateries. the tower in the background of this picture is actually part of one of my favorite restaurants--the cheesecake factory. love that place. back in my younger, more rebellious days, this girl i used to date and i snuck up into that tower. we didn't get far before we chickened out, but it was still fun. the lighting is definitely a huge tradition, though. i missed it last year, but this year brandon and i went up. we kinda got lost on our way there...neither of us travel downtown very often. but with the help of a friend on the phone we were able to find the right road to get on, broadway (of course), which we were driving at just the moment when they turned on the lights and started the fireworks. we weren't going to miss out on the fun, though, so we found a place to park (took forever) then just walked around a few blocks taking it all in. saw several musicians and one street dancer, who was accepting challenges by some in the small crowd that was gathered around him. i wish i could say that i jumped in there and tore it up. alas, i didn't have my dancing shoes with me--or i would have. oh yes. but we were there for about an hour and a half--walking, talking, admiring the gir--er--scenery. lights. yes, the lights. best of all, though, was being able to spend some good time with a really good friend. i needed that. a lot.

     it was an awesome night, though. the perfect wind-down to a pretty darn good break, i have to say. i've accomplished almost zero and i completely passed up just about every opportunity to be healthy (man, starting monday i'm really gonna need to crack down). after i got back tonight i watched a movie with my mom and put up the lights on our christmas tree. i'm the only one that she'll trust to do it because i'm just that good. you have to look for the wires on that thing, i kid you not. no, it didn't snow (we actually broke the record for a warm thanksgiving today), but i was definitely in the christmas mood (hence the change of site).

     speaking of a change in site (or, rather, sight), i got a new pair of glasses this week. a very good thing, since i've had my last pair since my junior year of high school. yeah. my prescription has changed somewhat since then. took me seven hours to get the stupid things, though, and trips to three different places. got my exam at the first, who then said, "okay, that will be $270" (after advertising something closer to $70). that was a big "no, thank you" believe it or not, wal-mart was actually more expensive than them. the third place i went to, i figured would be even higher, but they had some huge sale. acually, the sale had ended the week before, but the girl told me that since it was their mistake (in telling me otherwise) that she would give me the sale price. so i ended up paying only $100 there, not including the $54 exam from before. it's really nice being able to see, though. wow. i can read now. haven't decided about the frames. a cute girl who worked at the place picked them out for me, so of course i went with it. still trying to get used to them.

     so i quit facebook. those of you who are friends of mine on there, don't worry, i didn't block you. and i didn't quit for good, but i've kinda grounded myself from it for a little while. i'm hoping this way i might spend my time being a little more productive. haha. no, it's not a perfect plan, but who knows. i only bring it up because brandon was upset (he thought i blocked him), which is actually sort of a nice feeling, being missed, but i didn't want anyone to go crazy on me. i have so much work to do, though. crazy. i bought a book while wandering the mall last night--the complete tales of peter pan by j.m. barrie. i really like it. and, yes, that's kinda taken the place of facebook, so it didn't do that much good as far as trying to get things done goes. oh, well. hey, i'm really tired, though, and should probably get some sleep tonight before i procrastinate everything tomorrow by doing almost nothing at all. man, i can't wait until christmas break. and i really hope this feeling lasts. hope you all had an awesome thanksgiving, though. please share. and i'll talk to you later.