Music Monday: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - That's What's Up

I'll try to actually post this week. I swear.

I'll pull myself away from Lost and watch an episode of Buffy so that I can write about that. And stuff.

Anyway, this is the first day in forever that is warm and spring like. Which means I'm wearing a skirt and a denim jacket and feeling good about myself (other than my ridiculous bangs that wouldn't dry right).

Basically it's a great start to a week. A week that involves the end of a month and the beginning of another. It's all very confusing.

This song is one of those ones that makes me just think about summer and driving with the windows down and camping and drinking beer. That's a lot for a song to do!

Plus those hand claps at the end!

xoxo
Amanda

Music Monday: Iggy Azalea - Fancy

I've been sick for the past 4 days. So, now that I'm feeling a little better (by no means 100%) let's dance a little!

This song is pretty fun. So just listen to it!

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Amanda

"Out of Sight, Out of Mind" - The Great Buffy Rewatch of 2014

Okay, guys! Let's do this! Sorry for my lack of updates on Buffy. I was taking all of my free time to focus on rewatching Veronica Mars for the movie release. But now that I'm caught up we're back to business as usual.

Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer...

We learned about the dangers of online dating with Willow when a demon came to life in the internet! And fell in love with her! Then, the gang dealt with a living dummy during a school play. You'd think he'd be evil, but really he was a demon hunter! Surprise! Then, we learned about everyone's deepest fears when a little boy in a coma brought those fears to fruition.

Okay, it's Springtime in Sunnydale and I'm getting so sad that it's still so cold here! Apparently there's a dance coming up that Cordelia will inevitably be queen of. And then there's Buffy. Dropping a bag full of weapons. I don't understand how no one questions this with how often it happens.

Now we've moved to English class where Cordelia is somehow the teacher's pet. Despite being a moron. But, she loves this lady teacher so I guess it makes sense that she actually tries. So, she's setting up a teacher tutor session tomorrow after school. Remember that for later!

Moving on. Cordelia's BF is naked in the boys locker room. Making jokes about bedding her. Class-y! But karma's a bitch! and so is this invisible girl! Oh hey, this episode is about an invisible girl btw. She just took a bat to this guy. Oof!

If Cordelia is so effing popular, why does she need to bribe her fellow students with chocolate? I guess to show how much she seriously loves titles. And now we're learning that Buffy was Spring Fling Queen at her old school. Because of course she was. She's super attractive and nice! Too bad she had to get all weird and save the worldy.

I don't care how weird she is. Everyone would want to bang Buffy.

Oh hey! So Mitch isn't dead. That's a positive! But he's badly maimed, so Buffy needs to check out the floating bat anyway. She's not in on the fact that it was actually an invisible girl...yet. But this message ("LOOK") on the lockers might make her more suspicious! 

Here's Giles to explain things in a cute, Britishy way. Maybe it's telekinesis! Maybe it's a ghost! Maybe it's an invisible creature! Who knows! 

Cordelia is back to show her true colors. She's upset that Mitch is all beat up for their photos. And now there's a flashback! So we're introduced to the background of this invisible girl. OMG! She just shoved Harmony down the stairs! (she being the invisible girl) They're pretty tall stairs, but she just twisted her ankle. NBD. But it's giving Buffy the chance to follow the laughter of IG (invisible girl) back to the...band room? And confirm that it's IG and not some ghost. An IG who is obsessed with Cordelia.

Buffy is in the school hunting IG. And for some reason there are a bunch of girls there helping Cordelia with her dress. Under no circumstances would the cool girls hang out at school at night trying on dresses. But, there's flute music in the background so Buffy's off to find it's source!

Meanwhile, Angel is in the library talking about how much he loves Buffy. But he's tortured, so he can't see her. Brood brood. But he brings information about the Master. Remember him? He's the big bad for the season....but he's been sort of absent. I guess he'll be back soon! DUN DUN DUN Also, it should be noted that Angel can't see himself in a mirror, so chances are he has no idea how hot he is.

Another flash back! It's our first glimpse of IG in the flesh. She's literally standing right in the middle of Cordelia and her friends and they're being bitches and ignoring her. Girls, amirite?

Oh hey, Cordelia apparently won May Queen? Which gets announced during the school day...whatever! School seems fun! And now incognito Buffy has learned IG's name - Marcie. She disappeared! She played flute in band! This all tracks! (That's a thing Buffy just said...)

This is what Buffy looks like when she's spying.

Back in the band room, a dusty footprint has lead Buffy to the ceiling. Where Marcie (IG) has apparently been living. Right under everyone's noses! (or, you know, above their heads). I can't imagine her bringing all this stuff up here while invisible. What if someone saw her doing it? Just a floating teddy bear walking through the school! Buffy grabbed her yearbook and left.

Okay,  end of day. Time for Cordelia's meeting of the minds with her English teacher. But wait! That's not Cordelia! That's Marcie Ross! Oh no! She's killing the teacher! But Cordelia is back just in time to save the teacher and watch some chalk write another message - "LISTEN".

The Scooby Gang is analyzing Marcie's yearbook. And realizing she had no friends and no one noticed her. Apparently, ignoring someone can make them invisible! So, basically, you should pay attention to people. You never know what they could be going through. 

Pay attention - you never know who might become invisible and want to kill you.

Cordelia bursts into the library asking for help because Buffy is a total weirdo who carries weapons. Which is pretty smart on her part. Even though she's insulting them a lot. Which is basically the worst way to ask for favors.

Marcie is gearing up for something big! She's talking to herself - which I do when I'm getting amped up for a confrontation. Cordelia better watch out!

Buffy and Cordelia are roaming the halls in search of a closet to get changed in. And Cordy just said "I can be surrounded by people and be completely alone." Which is seriously poignant. And I feel like people don't realize she's insightful. Which is what I was doing in the beginning of this episode. Huh. Lesson learned.

Of course, now that Cordelia's alone in a closet she's going to get kidnapped. Because she's alone. And a target. DUH. And also, because Marcie is amazing at navigating the ceilings in this school. So Buffy's going after them. Because she's amazing at being a hero.

Oh, also, Xander, Giles and Willow are now trapped in the boiler room with a gas leak. So they're out of the picture in terms of helpfulness. Just wanted to make sure you knew what happened to them.

Back to Buffy. Cordelia's unconscious and Buffy just got her ass handed to her. And then drugged, so she can also be unconscious. They wake up tied to chairs and Cordelia has a numb face. I wonder what Marcie's thinking! The last of her one word messages is scrawled across the wall in glitter - "LEARN".

Craft-tastic!

Learn what? She's here to be sassy and invisible and teach us a lesson! A lesson in what everyone values in Cordelia - her looks. She's going to make her gross by cutting up her face. Gross. A face to remember! 

Thank God the slayer is here! She's so resourceful. She's cutting herself free while Marcie is distracted. Of course, it's hard to fight someone who's invisible. So Buffy will really need to focus (also, Angel just saved everyone who was trapped in the boiler room. In case you were nervous). 

Everyone shut up so Buffy can hone in on her slayer sense of hearing! It's one of those moments where she just looks like a fucking badass. Boom! Contact with the first punch! And Marcie is knocked out cold. And the FBI is here? To collect Marcie? WHAT? They've apparently known for a while and they want to take her somewhere to become a valuable member of society... creepy.

Cordelia learned a lesson and was just nice to the Scoobies. Aww. For just a split second we caught a glimpse of her good side. But the episode ends with Marcie in a room full of invisible children learning about assassination and infiltration. Totes creepy.

Next time on Buffy - we're gearing up for the season finale! I'm sure fruit punch mouth will make an appearance. And maybe Angel! How exciting!

Til next time!

xoxo

Amanda

Megabus vs. Amtrak

From the title of this post, you'd think that I was pitching a new sci-fi movie about a really big bus getting in a fight with....I don't know...a train.

And that's pretty much what this is. But it's not science fiction - it's HORROR.

Let's say you need to travel and you don't want to drive. What are you going to do?

A) Take the Amtrak
B) Take the Megabus
C) Not travel

I'm here to help you out with that decision! Sort of! I'm basically just here to tell you that I've traveled A LOT since living in Chicago. And I've learned that I don't love driving for 5 hours in my poopy little car alone. So I end up weighing the pros and cons of every possible option. And then, I do all of them in one trip.

Last weekend, I went to Michigan on a whim and I debated not going but that seemed stupid. So, I took the Amtrak to Ann Arbor and then the Megabus from Ann Arbor back to the city. Let's compare the two!

Amtrak

THIS WILL NOT BE YOUR VIEW

Pros:

• Space - When I've taken the Amtrak to Michigan in the past, I have almost always had 2 seats to myself. This means I can sprawl out like a homeless person and take up as much room as possible. Even when you don't have 2 seats to yourself, you have plenty of legroom and can fall asleep.
• Outlets - On Amtrak, you get to have power outlets to charge your shit!
• Snack Car - There is a food car on the train, which means you can get up and wander about all you want!

Cons:

• No Wi-fi - Yes, you have the power needed to charge your shit, but you still can't stream Netflix or browse the web (that's a thing still, right?)
• DELAYS - You will NOT arrive at your scheduled time. You WILL feel bad if someone is picking you up and your arrival keeps getting pushed back til 1am. And while you're delayed, you won't see views of mountains. You will see views of murderous rage.
• Cost - Amtrak is more expensive than Megabus. Because it's a train, you dummie.

Megabus

You are a billboard

Pros:

• Cost - The Megabus is cheap, cheap, cheap! You can ride for like $9 if you're willing to travel in the middle of the night. But even during the day, my ticket was half the price of Amtrak.
• Wi-Fi - There is free wi-fi on this behemoth. Which means you can freely tweet about how terrible your neighbor's dandruff problem is
• On-time!!! - You're riding on a bus, in traffic, which means you have to account for traffic delays but you would have those if you drove yourself too. But the bus won't be delayed due to cracked tracks or anything, so you'll most likely arrive on time!

Cons:

• Space - These seats are small. You will not have legroom, and the bitch in front of you will most likely lean her seat back into your space. You have the option of sitting at a teeny tiny table but it's not any better to have to stare at a stranger while you awkwardly kick their feet for 5 hours.
• Outlets - A power outlet is a "pro" you say? Not when none of the power outlets on the entire bus work! Then they're just taunting you! So, yes, you can stream netflix on your laptop, but you cannot charge said laptop. So, deal with it!
• Smell - I'm not sure if I'm crazy, but this bus SMELLED. We stopped for a rest and half the riders got fast food which just sat on the bus smelling the place up. I think it was because we were all crammed in there like sardines, so the smell just consumed me.
• Temperature - Okay, I was FREEZING on the bus. Like, my feet were just about numb. And I had a blanket on. 

So, overall, both options are FINE. There's not going to be a perfect option that makes you 100% happy. But, if you ask me, I'd prefer the Amtrak (albeit slightly). It all comes down to space, I'm willing to be late if it means I can lay down in my seat and read 2 books (you can read 2 books because you're late, duh). Now, if this travel is happening over a holiday, you may not get 2 seats to yourself. Which would mean you should take the bus.

But really, it also comes down to availability. You may find that a combination of the 2 options allows you to travel in the timeframe you're looking for, so BE FLEXIBLE.

Do you have a story to tell about Amtrak vs. megabus? Share in the comments! You might just save a fellow traveler some trouble.

xoxo

Amanda

Music Monday: Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang

This is a low key little number as I'm not feeling like dancing much today. Maybe you are? If so, check the Music Monday tag and look for a different song to listen to.

Otherwise, get on board with this!

I've just spent the weekend in Michigan with my bff and family. It was amazing and rejuvenating. Until my dad got me sick!

I've got a cold and a little bit of a sore throat now. :( But it's okay. Because I'm back in Chicago, being productive at work and dreaming about life outside.

Back to the song. Look at what a babe Nancy Sinatra is.

And am I the only one who thinks of the movie Now and Then when I hear her name? "How short are those shorts? How tall are those boots?"

(Btw, i thought they said "how tall are those boobs" when I was a kid. I was wrong. I think I have bad hearing)

Anyway! How was your weekend?

xoxo
Amanda

Music Monday: Pharrell Williams - Come Get It Bae

It's finally starting to warm up outside. At least a teeny bit. So let's get into the happy groove by dancing to Pharrell's new album!

Seriously, it's really fun. And upbeat. And makes you long for summer days that might never come. No seriously, I won't believe summer is real until I can put my coat away.

In other news, we bought a new coffee table and pillows for our living room. So I'm feeling a serious sense of renewal on the homefront. And also, I've spammed it like crazy all over social media. Because it's making me that happy.

Anyway, happy Monday, y'all!

xoxo

Amanda

Power Ballad Thursday: The Pretenders - I'll Stand By You

To answer your question, no I have not given up on the Buffy Rewatch. I'm just taking a break to burn through Veronica Mars before the movie comes out. I DO WHAT I WANT!

Anyway!

It's Power Ballad Thursday here on the blog you're reading!

Let's listen to The Preternders. And admire Chrissie Hynde's patriotic star t-shurt!

I'm pretty sure this video is about addiction? I dunno. This guy she's hanging on seems jittery. And then he takes off his shirt. But she stands by him! And mends his shirt! and blocks out the sun from him.

THEN THERE IS A COCKROACH ON IT'S BACK.

And okay, now he seems dead.

Oh, good, he's not. He's just almost dead. But she keeps putting water on him. I think it symbolizes holy water. Totally. But not really.

Whatever, this addict guy has beautiful hair and isn't dead at the end of the video. He's just unconscious. And that's okay! Because eventually he'll get better and leave her! It's cool guys!

Man, there's something off about the way my brain works.

Music Monday: Tegan and Sara - I Won't Be Left

I just bought tickets to see Tegan and Sara in June. Talk about planning ahead!

I listened to SO MUCH Tegan and Sara throughout college. So, it's really hard for me to pick a specific song to share today.

I went back to 2004 with this choice (I listened to it after that) and came up with "I Won't Be Left". It sounds so cute and I'm dancing in my chair. So it must be good.

But in all seriousness, you should listen to everything by them. No just their most recent album. So Jealous is my favorite if you have to pick just one record to play today.

I mean look at these cuties!

Happy Monday!

xoxo
Amanda