And why am I still surprised?!

yes, I painted that with acrylics, and no, I did not use a stencil! (pretty awesome, huh?)

Chuck's outdone itself again!!!!  Have I mentioned that I LOVE THIS SHOW?!?!?!?!?!  I think I have!  It's beat BtVS for the (to date) most mentioned thing I blog about and I'm fine with that!  Every week I expect it to be good, and it's ALWAYS better!  This week, after waiting weeks (and wearing my hand painted Chuck T-shirt) made me so darn happy!

K, recap.  Chuck and Sarah nearly run away together. Chuck flashes, Sarah suspects, and their spy sides get the better of them.  Casey and Morgan are sent to fetch the two adorable love birds while they are trying to get the bad guy who just happens to be not so bad.  Conversations about wanting to both be spies and date (unbeknownst to each other), a sullen Ellie at a goodbye party, more trying to run away, and Morgan and Casey getting got by the bad guys later we see some AWESOME couples cuffed fighting ("I can't hit a girl"  Bahahahahahaha) Chuck and Sarah finally admit to each other they want to be spies (which is surprisingly more comforting than if they had run away to some desert island for the rest of their days...who'd'a'thunk?) thanks to a little help from supposed bad guy.  And then the priceless line from Colonel Beckman after telling the two that it's probably unwise to date and that she doesn't want to know or see or anything (and I sadly will not be quoting it...cuz it's me, ultra conservative, old fashioned Manda), but I just about died with joy right there.  And then the scene at the end, complete with Chuck's ever present Tron poster...all smiles right here!

Well, I love this show...and there is no question, it's FAR better than Glee (and if you disagree, fine, that's cool, keep it to yourself.) Ahhh...Chuck ROCKS!!!!!

~Manda

Now that's more like it!!!

So, last week's Glee was rather lame.  The more I thought about it the more I disliked it.  And then, no Chuck again (but it's back next week!), so I thought this week would be just sad and depressing TV-wise, and compound that with the end of the semester and you've got a not so fun week.  But I was pleasantly surprised with this week's Glee...it was WONDERFUL!

Although I personally believe that Madonna is not the greatest role model for girls I really dug the feminist vibe of the show (there's a few people I work with that I'd like to share that little message with, but I digress.)  I absolutely LOVED that Mercedes and Kurt joined the Cheerios.  I've been so sad that they haven't been showcased as leads like Finn and Rachel have.  Me and my "Mormon values" were sad with the why and the how Finn lost his virginity, but it was to be expected...and man, they really need to get Santana a solo, that girl can wail!  I'm not completely sold on Jesse (just like Shaw in Chuck, I can't wait till they get rid of him...I want more than a glossed over relationship for Finn and Rachel!!!!!!!!) but that's a given cuz we all know he's evil.  I have to be honest, I was not at all expecting Jesse to switch schools...poor Finn!  (And poor New Directions...but, its a show, so it's ok!)  I loved Sue's rendition of "Vogue"...and when she added her name and then put "Will Schuster, I hate you" followed by the confused look from Kurt: PRICELESS!!!

So, Glee thank you for redeeming yourself!

On an unrelated note, I recently got myself a bit of a BtVS almost convert in the form of my roommate's fiancée.  Also, I saw How to Train Your Dragon and loved it...and want to see it again and again!

Adios!

~Manda

No Chuck this week :( ....But GLEE IS BACK!!!

Glee is back and I still haven't had any internal rivalry between my two favorite shows on air (I think Chuck would win!)  So sad that Chuck wasn't on this week, but the Big Bang Theory was back this week with some very sad development between Leonard and Penny, but other than that, it was great fun!  Monday night also showcased the heartbreaking season finale of Life UneXpected.  That show is leaps and bounds better than I expected!  People who know me know that I seldom cry in a movie, but I'm ALWAYS crying with TV, and I cried when Cate kissed Ryan after locking eyes with Baze who was trying to proclaim his love and stop the wedding....sooooo sad!!!!!

 
Well, yes, Glee is back for the final nine!  Personally, I found last night's episode to be kind of a let down.  The music was great as well as the comedy and the introduction of  Johnathan Groff and Idina Menzel's characters, but I felt like the whole thing was a little choppy.  In the "previously" section it just went straight into saying that Rachel thought she and Finn were dating and that he felt kinda weird about it....WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?!  I think it's unfortunate that they pretty much completely glossed over that.  I did, however, end up liking Jesse Saint James a lot more than I thought I would...and now part of me is thinking that this whole Rachel/Finn on and off drama is feeling a little like Jim and Pam in the first seasons of the Office...but they move a lit faster (thank goodness!)  One more thing I just loved: Terry!!!!  She rocked!  She didn't seem quite so crazy, in fact I personally thought she made Will look a little crazier than we've seen him...she's what kept him sane!

As for the music...I love the Doors (absolutely love "Hello, I Love You" and Finn was AWESOME in it!!!) and the Beatles (so glad they didn't end up doing "Come Together"...only the Beatles can do that song, not Michael Jackson or Aerosmith! And the way Rachel pulled away from Finn and ran off stage at the end...she still likes him!!!  YES!!!!) and I think their Classic Rock songs are the best (especially when Mr. Finn is singing....mmmmm :)  wonderful!)  I hope that sometime in the near future they'll do some STYX, Foreigner, and something by the Cars.  Yeah, the main reason I watch the show: the music, most definitely!

So yeah, the choppiness is what I didn't like (and it's why, right now, Chuck is winning in the competition for my affections...cuz we all know that that's a REALLY important, cut throat competition...kidding!)  But that's all...excited for next week's episode and for when Chuck comes back again...I can't wait to compare the two on back to back nights!

~Manda

Guh, research! Yay, the O.C.

 So, I haven't even had time to watch Fringe this week...I'm afraid that I'm going to let my TV shows down and they'll start thinking I don't love them or something...but I will be back, and hopefully soon.  I've just been seriously SWAMPED with school right now!  This past week I realized I had a huge project that was due soon, so I've been spending every waking moment not at rehearsals, work, school, or performances working on this project.  But one thing happened this week that I'd like to share.

I was sitting in my now permanent spot on the couch working on said project and my roommate, Hannah, came in and saw I was listening to the commentary of an episode of the OC.  She wanted to sit out here and work on homework with me but she thought I was INSANE for watching (and loving) commentary (I really wanted to know if I'd enjoy Josh Schwartz's commentary as much as Joss Whedon's...still not sure, cuz I wasn't really paying attention), and said that the only way she would sit and work on homework with me is if I allowed her to change it to an actual episode...I reluctantly agreed.  Afterwards I told her how I hadn't posted in a while and the only TV I'd watched was an episode of Chuck and a couple episodes of the OC (which I'd already seen so I just had them playing while I researched)...and she said I needed to blog about our little conversation about commentaries...so, this is for you Hannah!!!

To everyone in school, good luck with the end of the semester and finals and stuff!  And to those of you not in school, hope you enjoy yourselves, and hope you all are looking forward to summer and the fun and joy it brings!!!  Love all of you who read this!  Sorry it's occasionally a little boring!

~Manda

Oh....My....GOSH!!! Didn't think it could get better...and guess what, it DID!!!!

 

CHUCKLOVESSARAH,SARAHLOVESCHUCK,S
HAWISDEADWOOHOO,CASEYISREINSTATED
,MORGANISASPY,CHUCKANDSARAHSTILLLO
VEEACHOTHEREVENAFTERHEKILLEDSOME
ONE,CHUCKFINALLYKILLEDSOMEONE,BEST
SHOWEVERINVENTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love Chuck...and am pleasantly surprised, nay, elated, that the show has the ability to keep getting better every week.  I see an episode and am so overjoyed, and I think, "I love this show, it just cannot get any better than this."  Then next Monday comes along and guess what, it gets better!!!!!!  Yeah...my reviews are highly lacking in the legit area, but I don't care, these are "my passionate ramblings" and I'm going to review my shows however the heck I want...and yeah, AWESOME!!!

~Manda

P.S.  This was originally going to be the season finale before NBC ordered more episodes....it would have been a STELLAR finale....even for the series....but thank goodness that's not the case!

General Conference

My cousin Camilla and I at the October 2009 General Conference

(We saw David Archuleta backstage before this session...he wouldn't let us get a picture or anything...too bad)

Me and my friends, Shantel and Makenzie, at the April 2009 General Conference

So I've watched a lot of TV this weekend.  Now that's not a novel idea for me, but this weekend was special.  My church had it's General Conference this weekend.  This conference is where all of the members tune in to listen to the voice of our prophet and apostles and other leaders.  They give us council and specify their talks to focus on what they believe would be most beneficial for us to hear now.  There are six sessions, one the Saturday before the main five that is geared toward the women ages 12-18 or 18+ depending on what time of year, two main sessions on the next Saturday, one Saturday night for the priesthood of the church, and two on Sunday.  They're each two hours long and have amazing talks and music every time.  I absolutely LOVE General Conference.

Henry B. Eyring, President Tomas S. Monson, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Our prophet and his two counselors

Right now (as I'm waiting for my next class) I'm re-listening to some of the talks that I didn't pay very close attention to and listening to some from the Priesthood Session that I've not heard.  The one right now is actually by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf on patience (which is something I REALLY need to work on).

My friend, Shuey, and I at the October 2009 General Conference

My amazing cousin, Rachel, and I at the October 2009 General Conference

So, like I say with all the shows I like, if you haven't seen General Conference, try it out.  It might seem a little boring because it's a conference with a bunch of old guys giving talks, but if you listen there is some great stuff to learn and there's always great advice, so really, try it out!

~Manda

P.S. If you haven't seen it and want to, or have seen it and want to re-watch, it's here.

You can't be a huge fan of BTVS without rooting for girl-power!!!

So, it's 2 am and I can't sleep (mostly because I accidentally took a four hour nap today).  Well, my brother down from Idaho today and came to see me.  He mentioned something while I was working on my last post that made me think...he said that he's been skimming all the latest posts because they're all about guys...so I thought, "hey, what if I dedicated a post to him about all my girl-powery girl faves of my favorite TV shows...that'd be fun."  So, that's what this post is gonna be!  This is for you De-bi-su!!!!!

Buffy Summers - BTVS

The reason for this super-powered chica is pretty obvious.

Giles: Into each generation, a Slayer is born. One girl in all the world, a choosen one. One born with the...  Giles, Buffy: -strength and skill to hunt the vampires...  

Buffy: To stop the spread of their evil blah, blah, blah, I've heard it, okay?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 1, Episode 1: Welcome to the Hellmouth

Yeah, she's the most girl-powery icon...she saves the world all the time and makes sure she looks pretty while she does it!  Hero, right there!

Rachel Berry - Glee

She'll win, and be the best.  She has a great voice, can dance, and takes charge.  Yes, she can be abrasive and annoying, and her storm outs are ridiculous, but she'll grow out of that (hopefully).  She's a girl who's not afraid to take charge...and therefore, hero!

Kate Austen - Lost

Yeah, she was a fugitive, but she is so awesome!  After the crash she was right there with Jack et al. taking care of everyone and exploring the island for new places to live...and she still somehow manages to look pretty after weeks and weeks and weeks of no real showers and dirty clothes...I don't know about you, but I'd be a mess.  And then again it is fiction, but that doesn't take away the inherent awesomeness!

Sydney Bristow - Alias

She was able to do the whole able to be anyone thing a lot better than Echo and she doesn't have to have her memory wiped all the time or be somewhat of a prostitute doing it!  Yeah, she's awesome...shutting down SD-6 and finding all the Rambaldi artifacts and stuff...what a great little CIA agent!

Robin Scherbatsky - HIMYM

She's got sass, confidence, personality, she's pretty, and she can be totally butch without seeming overly manly!  She was Robin Sparkles, with her Canadian pop music and music videos, she gave Ted a chance even after he blew it with the opening line of "I love you", and she has been the only woman to get Barney Stinson to actually settle down and have a girlfriend...that's one powerful girl!

Sarah Walker - Chuck

Besides being perfect for Chuck (which would in and of itself be reason for me to put her on this list) she is another AWESOME CIA agent.  She can do practically everything, she takes care of Chuck, she can beat the heck out of Nichole Richie (as well as any other foe that comes her way)...Agent Walker is pretty darn awesome!

River Tam - Firefly

I almost put Kaylee, Zoe, and Inara on here too, but I thought I'd just stick with the most iconically Joss Whedon girl-power chica and that, hands down, has got to be River!  Not only is she so crazy it makes you smile (and occasionally feel chills from the creepy factor) she can FIGHT!  She's a crazy genius with some mad martial arts skills...the scene where she kills all the Reavers at the end of Serenity......WOW!

Chloe Sullivan - Smallville

If you read my post on Valentine's Day you'll know that I have this crazy soft spot for Miss Chloe Sullivan!  I've always loved the Lois Lane-y girl reporter thing...and Chloe epitomizes it...maybe even better than Lois.  First of all, she dresses soooo sharp!  Second, I like her hair.  Third, she has powers.  And fourth, she helps the pre-Justice League.  Yeah, she's a pretty awesome lady!

Penny - The Big Bang Theory

PENNY!!!  So, I just found out that her last name hasn't ever been revealed...that's weird!  But she is so cool!  She loves her nerdy neighbors, and that makes me so happy!  I love how when she feels dumb it doesn't exactly make her uncomfortable...she's pretty much always comfortable in her own skin.  I also love how she time and time again realizes that when it comes to real life, she's the genius!  Penny rocks!

Cyd Sherman aka Codex - The Guild

Well, first of all she beat Axis of Anarchy!  K, so she's not the epitome of anything but a gamer.  But she's so awesome!  And she's a favorite of mine even if she's not a real role model in any way, shape, or form...she's Codex, and that makes her awesome!

Olivia Dunham - Fringe

I think agents are cool.  Olivia is no exception.  This FBI missy is so smart and level headed.  She tries nearly everything, and never stops until the job is done.  She seems like a very quiet, level-headed person, which happen to be very admirable qualities to me due to the fact that I am loud, easily obsessed, and easily distracted.  Plus, she has those subconscious powers which is really kind of awesome!

Dana Scully - X-Files

Like I said, I like agents!  Scully, also FBI, has the same quiet level-headedness of Agent Dunham, but with a healthy dose of skepticism and an over abundance of realism.  Even after alien autopsies and massive amounts of evidence that would lead even the least "take me to your leader", "I've been abducted by little green men" types to begin believing in extra-terrestrial life.  But not Scully (for the most part...pre-no Mulder), she sticks to her no supernatural and no alien lifestyle pretty darn well! 

Kara Thrace aka Starbuck - BSG

I almost published this post without adding her for one major reason: she's not quintessentially pretty or girly.  But she does rock, and that means she belongs here.  She's butch, in a more manly sort of way than Robin, she shoots guns, drinks, smokes cigars, pilots Vipers, hits, kicks, etc. etc.  She's Starbuck!

So yeah, those are my top picks...tonight anyway...I think I'm getting tired now, so adios personas!

~Manda

My favorite guys from my favorite shows

So I was recently talking to a couple friends of my brother's and I was listing off TV characters that would be my future soul mate...yeah, lame and extremely girly, but ever since then I wanted to make a list of the characteristics and characters that make up my future husband.... (P.S. no particular order...but Chuck is #1!!!)

Captain Awesome - Chuck

Very attractive, awesome, doctor.

Simon - Firefly

Ok, attractive, awesome doctor that lives on a spaceship!

Jess - Gilmore Girls

Well read and has good taste in all media

Green Arrow - Smallville

Definitely super rich...and hot...and he'll take me to Comic Con and we'll dress up (hahahaha)

Marshall - HIMYM

The sweetest and most faithful guy ever!!!

Topher  - Dollhouse

Adorable.  Geeky.  Genius.

Leonard and Sheldon  - The Big Bang Theory

Make that Adorable Geeky Genius ^2

Peter - Fringe

Cultured, has seen the world, would do anything for me...and crazy smart doesn't hurt.

Vaughn - Alias

Hot FBI agent....I can dream.

Ned - Pushing Daisies

Owns his own business...and the occasional superpower isn't all that bad....I just hope I'm not dead when I marry the guy.

Clark Kent/Superman...just in general, but in this case - Smallville

Superpowered hunk with an awkward, adorable candy coating...and glasses!

Jim - The Office

So absolutely and completely in love with me!

Anders - BSG

Can fly a Viper and play a mean game of pyramid...I think I could take or leave the Cylon thing though.

Finn - Glee

Sings, dances, plays football....and TALL!!!!

Chuck - Chuck

Where do I begin?  Cutest guy ever, Stanford graduate, great with computers and video games, computer brain, occasional supernatural-esque powers, CIA agent...and AWESOME!

Seth Cohen (cuz with him you always need a last name) - The OC

Good taste in music and comics, mondo attractive, can draw.

So yeah, I'm such a girl...but that's alright due to the fact that I am in reality a girl....so yeah...if there is anyone I forgot, please let me know!

~Manda