The last time I freaked out, I just kept looking down, st-st-st-stuttering...

You guys, it's been a good week. It's been one of the coolest, most surreal weeks I've had in a few years. I can't get into too many details because doing that might involve unintentionally spilling the beans on a project at work. (And I like being on Business Affairs' good side, thank you very much.) But I can be vague.

Well, first of all, it started off awesomely because I had Monday off of work. Short weeks are always a plus. Plus, Maleficent's mom bought the apartment a new vacuum cleaner and I can't tell you how much joy the hour I spent vacuuming my bedroom floor brought me. (I wish I was kidding.) But then there was Wednesday...

Oh, Wednesday...

On Wednesday, I got to sit in on another meeting with one of my childhood heroes. I actually think I had a wee bit of a crush on him back in sixth grade. Not only that, but my boss asked me to bake cupcakes for this meeting.

I made cupcakes. For my childhood hero.

The best part is that this guy is super awesome fantastic. It's a sitting-in-a-room-with-my-dad kind of normal, which kind of makes perfect sense since they both hail from the same geographic area. I wonder if when he says "wash," it comes out "worsh." I may have to ascertain that at the next meeting.

There were leftover cupcakes once the meeting was done, so people from work grabbed them up. That afternoon, someone asked if I was willing to bake and sell them some cupcakes. This, of course, takes me one step closer to my eventual goal of supporting myself through baking and writing. That was my first sale ever and I might have been even more excited about that than the meeting itself. Might have.

And then yesterday, after running some errands in Santa Monica, I stopped into the Subway across from Santa Monica College. There was some kind of promotion going on for Land of the Lost (which I may see just to hear Will Ferrell scream "Matt Lauer can SUCK it!") -- and Michael Strahan and Zachary Levi were there. I go in for a turkey and avocado sandwich and come out with a picture with Chuck Freaking Bartowski. Sadly, I felt kind of like a spaz because I started talking really fast and turning pink and...that's never good. But he couldn't have been nicer to Spazzy McSpazzerson and I think I might have skipped a little bit on the walk back to my car. And I think I might have a little bit of a crush.

My mom pointed out that I didn't spaz with Childhood Hero, so why did I spaz at Subway? I think it all has to do with Home Field Advantage and context. Childhood Hero was in my office and it was work-related. The Subway incident was most definitely not on my turf and was not work-related. And my blood sugar was low.

Shut up. IT WAS.

Oh. Crap.

I just realized something -- I was being Miley.

(Like the song says, I'll redeem myself next time.)

But yes. It was a spaztacularly good week. I declare it MADE OF WIN.

Pretty Song of the Day: "Girls On the Square" - Dent May & His Magical Ukelele. Yes, I know this is the second Dent May of the week. Deal with it.

I hit the highway in a pink RV with stars on the ceiling...

Those are quite possibly the most important cupcakes I have ever baked. I won't get into the reasons here, but just know that the little sixth grader who resides deep beneath my oh-so-cool (bwahaha!) thirty-year-old exterior is a little giddy right now. Unfortunately, the eighty-four-year-old who resides beneath that same thirty-year-old exterior is really freaking tired and enjoying resting her back. But I think the sixth grader is going to win out in this case.

So this is not the most insightful blog entry of all time. Please accept my most sincere apologies.

And finally, this is a call to Momo and Andrew, my two winners so far. I need you fine folks to e-mail me at amandammason [at] gmail dot com. I'd like to get your episodes sent out to you.

Pretty and happy song download of the day: "Love Song 2009" - Dent May and His Magical Ukelele.

Are you with the bride? Or the failure?

You know, I haven't really watched this in its entirety since it aired in 1993. I have it on VHS somewhere -- I think it's either on the tape of me being interviewed on the news while taking drivers-ed (braces FTW) or on the tape of the 1994 Winter Olympics figure skating competition -- but I haven't really pulled it out in a while. (Partially because I no longer own a VCR...) So I don't know if it's still as funny as it once was or if I am just easily amused. (It's a toss-up.) Regardless, I still quote it in every day life... 

(sing-song) "He failed to bring back the sam-po! So we shall die of star-va-tion!"

"All rise. Santa Claus is now entering the lodge."

"Why is he wearing a Hershey's kiss on his head?"

"Failure! Failure! He is a failure!"

"Ever eat a pine tree? Many parts are edible." (Yes, I know that this one was a shout-out to something else...)

I guess I should tell you what "this" and "it" is... Mystery Science Theater 3000's take on "The Day The Earth Froze." I was thrilled to find it online so that I can share it and watch it whenever I need a pick-me-up. Enjoy!

Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode 422: "The Day The Earth Froze"

(I should note that the episode starts off with a short film entitled "Here Comes The Circus," so don't be confused. Cheesy Swedish goodness will start shortly thereafter.)

Also, here's today's Pretty Song Download of the Day: Rob Dickinson's cover of "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want." Now go and purchase the entire album!

Los Angeles, I'm yours...

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the White Stripes had collaborated with The Decemberists on “The Crane Wife?”

Neither had I, but if I ever had wondered, I got my answer last night. That answer is The Decemberists’ latest album “The Hazards of Love.”

When I initially saw that The Decemberists were playing The Palladium in Hollywood, I didn’t give much thought to buying tickets. I enjoyed “The Crane Wife” quite a bit – it’s still one of my favorite albums to listen to when I’m unwinding after a long day at work. But that’s exactly the problem – it’s relaxation music. And after a long day at work, I didn’t care to stand at The Palladium while being serenaded with lullabies. I'm bipedal and it’s kind of hard to stand and sleep!

Then came this past Monday. I was at the intersection of Vermont and Wilshire when the first notes of “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid” began playing on Morning Become Eclectic. It sounded like what I consider a typical Decemberists song to sound like. I began picturing people in period hoop skirts in plantation houses with oil lamps – and then that guitar started. That guitar, people. Holy moly. I was caught completely by surprise. And just like that, I started to regret not looking for tickets.

I completely lucked out yesterday, though. KCRW was giving away tickets and I happened to win a pair. Truthfully, I was mainly calling for the Other Lives album – I figured the tickets would have been given away by the time I finally got through on the phone. Nope! I won a pair of tickets to the show and that Other Lives CD. Autographed, no less!

Other Lives was amazing and a perfect complement for The Decemberists. In fact, they might be my new favorite band of the moment. I’m a sucker for a band with a cello – I can’t help it. Starbucks gave away free iTunes downloads of their “Black Tables” single a month or so ago and it immediately hooked me. (It was even more gorgeous live -- true facts!) One of my favorite “Tweets” during intermission was that Other Lives had just sold 4,000 albums. Again with true facts. Had I not won a copy earlier in the day, I’d have bought it myself.

(Side note: I was very amused to learn that they’re from Stillwater, Okla., especially considering my deep affection for that other band from Stillwater, Okla.)

Having not yet heard “The Hazards of Love” (aside from the occasional song on KCRW), I was still expecting a mellow show from The Decemberists. I was wrong. Wrong wrong wrong. I wish I had video capability on my phone because, let me tell you, a mass of head-banging hipsters is quite a sight to behold. It was obvious that, unlike me, most of the crowd knew what was coming. What I later learned is that the entire first half of the show was “The Hazards of Love” in its entirety – with no break. That’s 58 minutes and 37 seconds of music with not one moment of silence. In fact, the band didn’t even introduce themselves until the second half of their set.

The entire set was awesome, but you guys. YOU GUYS. “The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid.” As fantastic and opinion-changing as it was on the radio that morning in K-Town, multiply that by 47. Y’all know I’m not a big fan of cussin’, but holy shit. Shara Worden hit all of her notes and she was jumping up and down and dancing and did I mention that she hit all of her notes? Mind? BLOWN. Head? Banging.

After the band wrapped up the album portion, they said they were going to take a break and come back for some more music. I figured it was going to be a typical encore of one or two songs. I need to quit assuming things. Once they returned, they played for a whole HOUR more with their older stuff – “Los Angeles, I’m Yours,” “July, July,” “O Valencia” and “Yankee Bayonet” just to name a few. And then they did an actual encore after that!

One of the last images of the show was a band member playing the bass – not the bass guitar, the actual bass – while lying on his back, Hendrix-style. That should tell you something. It was such a great show that I dropped $30 on the concert poster to commemorate. Actually, I would venture to say that it’s among my top five concerts of all time. Between the two bands, that was almost three full hours of live music. If they come to your city or even near your city, I highly recommend checking them out.

If you’re interested, you can check out the live sets that both bands did on Morning Becomes Eclectic: The Decemberists and Other Lives. And because this single was given away for free by Starbucks to promote the album, I don’t feel bad about posting it here: “Black Tables” by Other Lives. Now go buy the album so I don't look like too much of a pirate. Arrrrr!

Work on your mu-sic?

Who am I and what have I done with Amanda?

The following is an IM conversation I had with my roommate (who we will henceforth refer to as "Maleficent"*) this morning:

Amanda (10:29:48 AM): Well on iTunes, I downloaded the Kooks, which is really good. And on eMusic (which is mp3, and easy to share), I downloaded Passion Pit
Amanda (10:30:17 AM): And a couple of songs from Dent May and His Magical Ukelele
Amanda (10:30:22 AM): Oh and the Patrick Watson album
Maleficent (10:35:24 AM): i have no idea who some of those people are
Amanda (10:35:53 AM): I just read what I wrote and was all, "Whuuuuuh?" Jason Bentley has inspired me!
Maleficent (10:36:04 AM): tee hee
Amanda (10:36:06 AM): (As well as my eMusic account, which is probably the best $11 I spend all month.)
Maleficent (10:36:31 AM): good!
Amanda (10:36:48 AM): Bentley has been playing a song called "Big Bird in a Small Cage" quite a bit recently. First time I heard it, I thought it was an Alison Krauss duet.
Amanda (10:36:55 AM): It was by Patrick Watson.
Amanda (10:37:25 AM): So I did that. Passion Pit is kind of like Vampire Weekend and Little Joy (note to self - find that album) in that they're very upbeat.
Amanda (10:37:28 AM): With a hint of MGMT
Maleficent (10:37:44 AM): HEE
Maleficent (10:37:47 AM): you're cracking me up.

* Yes, as in that Maleficent. This was her choice, not mine. I'm not making any statements on her personality, as I don't make a habit of cohabitating with bitchy witches who morph into dragons. Just to clear that up... (Though now I'm imagining the real Maleficent saying "tee hee" and it's muy amusing.)

(Real) Maleficent: Tee hee! You fools crack me up! Thinking you could defeat me, *me*! The Mistress of All Evil! Well, here's your precious princess!

My favorite thing this morning was the realization that the cover of Vampire Weekend's "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" that was playing was being performed by none other than Peter Gabriel (with Hot Chip). Earlier in the conversation, we discussed how The Decemberists bring to mind sedate music, but that the single I heard this morning was "rocking." (That would be "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid.")

Don't get me wrong, I've liked indie music before. This is nothing new to me -- but never to this degree. Before, it was a little Band of Horses here, a smidge of The Shins there, with a pinch of Arcade Fire on top. Now, I'm actually talking about bands called Vampire Weekend and The Kooks and Passion Pit with a straight face. With the what now?

It's not like I spend, well, any time at the Echoes or the Spacelands of the world. Having a job doesn't allow me to drop into Amoeba for their live sets. No, this gradual adoration of indie music is due in large part to KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic, which makes my morning commutes somewhat enjoyable. (Sorry, Jason Bentley, but not even your fantastic music selection can completely negate over half an hour in my car.) The show is available for live streaming through iTunes on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon PST. You can also listen to the most recent show any time at KCRW's web site. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Other influences are television and the Interschnitzel because, let's face it, I am weak and quite malleable when it comes to product placement and music usage. In my defense, I've always been a soundtrack junkie. The first show that did music well (for me) was Alias. By the time that show was over, I had an iPod playlist long enough to get me through an entire eight hour workday. Now, there are shows like Chuck and Grey's (even though I haven't watched in two years), which have added about three more workdays to Telly the iPod.

If any of these bands intrigue you at all, I also have to use this opportunity to recommend Rockville CA, which is a web series streaming at TheWB.com. The afore-mentioned Passion Pit and The Kooks were each featured in webisodes of the show. Plus, it's very fun, so run along now and give it a look!

On a completely random aesthetic note, is it just me or does the cover for Vampire Weekend's album remind one of Hotel Hudson in NYC? That brings to mind bagels and Apple Jacks and Grimaldi's in Brooklyn and Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A. And oh I need to go back sooooon.

I shall leave you with my favorite quote of the day, brought to you by our dear friend Maleficent. I'm not even going to provide context, because it's even more fun without it...

Maleficent (12:20:50 PM): LOL, (my boss) just asked me to tweet about yoga and sex today.