The Windy Hollow

[DawningWinds]

Spoiler

I made sweet-and-sour porkchops! And regular porkchops because not everyone in my family likes/was willing to try the sweet-and-sour sauce. The sauce was surprisingly simple, just throw a bunch of things in a pan and cooking them for a bit, for some reason I expected it to be harder...
I've never had Chinese food before so I wasn't sure how I was going to like these, but they tasted pretty good! I also mixed some of the extra sauce into some noodles which I liked too. Younger brother and mom who have both had Chinese on several occasions say they taste how they should as well, so I'm considering this a success even though half the family didn't touch the sauce.

 

[DawningWinds]

I can't focus on anything at all today and its annoying the heck out of me. As soon as I start doing one thing I instantly want to be doing literally anything else. I think I'm just tired because I could focus fine on reading before I went to bed last night but. Ugh. I should not have stayed up as late as I did.

 

[DawningWinds]

I can't focus on anything at all today and its annoying the heck out of me. As soon as I start doing one thing I instantly want to be doing literally anything else. I think I'm just tired because I could focus fine on reading before I went to bed last night but. Ugh. I should not have stayed up as late as I did.

Apparently I'm a liar. It appears I can indeed focus on listening to the album Desperate Man by Eric Church. Which, something I guess. Really weird, because I tried to listen to several other albums earlier, including one I've listened to more and know I like better by an artist I've listened to more and know I like a bit better (I'd give the name but my fingers are failing me as I tried like five times to do so but) and could not focus on those.
I discovered this because random sections of "Hippie Radio", the 6th track, were playing in my head and I couldn't put them in order. I wasn't expecting to be able to fix this, but I got all the way through the title track before even noticing I wasn't having to much problem focusing on it.
So.
I'm gonna spend this post giving my thoughts on a 3 and a half year old album that I've listened to plenty because its literally the only thing I've been able to focus on for more that a minute at a time. This might be kinda out of any sort of order though.

For the most part, the arrangements of instrumentals are are a lot less loud than one would usually expect from Eric Church; especially since I believe the album directly before this was The Outsiders (don't quote me on this though), which is overall the album where he probably crosses into rock'n'roll and general hellraising and loudness the most. "The Snake", "Some of It", and "Monsters" are all excellent examples of how much less noisy this album is compared to usual Eric Church. "The Snake", I'm fairly certain only has one instrument; and it is indeed about actual snakes, for the record- but I'm like 75% its a metaphor for something. I thiiink about the fact there being no such thing as the lesser of two evils? ("Rattlesnake, copperhead // Either one of them will kill you dead"). Or maybe its just actually about actual snakes. At the end of the choruses he does a sound effect sorta thing that I think is supposed to represent a snake's tongue flicking in and out but human voices don't replicate that well- every time I listen to the song I flipflop on whether I hate that sound effect or love it. "Some of It" isn't super interesting by comparison but its alright and everything in it rings pretty true. Its not my favorite but I like it well enough. "Monsters" unfortunately falls flat- if you're directing people's focus to the writing please write a song I want to tear apart the writing of and still approve of; the transitions between the verses somehow don't feel forced, despite going from him being a seven-year-old to a seven-year-old's dad with absolutely zero warning. The song's about fact that monsters "ain't the ones beneath the bed" but he doesn't actually give any suggestion as to what he believes the monsters are. There's a line about a wolf and the devil but that never comes up again and I'm totally lost on if I'm supposed to think those are the monsters he's talking about or their just a throwaway line.

"Hippie Radio" is a quieter song as well, but it doesn't quite feel as not what I'd normally expect from Eric Church as the others. I think its the fact that its a really nostalgic song and he does a lot of really nostalgic songs I think ("Springsteen". "Talladega". "Heart on Fire". Technically that last one came after this but you get my point.), and its not as much quieter as the other ones. The story of it flows nicely, and I like the melodies pretty well.

The vocals on "Higher Wire" - especially on the chorus, sound strange to me. I go back and forth on if its a bad strange or a cool strange. I think there's some sort of effect that autotune was maybe used to make. I like the instrumentals. Totally lost on what a lot the line "snake oil lady" from the chorus means- the song is about being addicted to a love that's no good, and most things tie into this pretty well, but this. Is leaving me at a loss and will probably never not be leaving me at a loss. Outside that there were a few lines I really liked, particularly "There ain't no landing gear on this big jetliner"- that's a cool metaphor and does really make the intended point quite well.

"Solid" sounds alright, but I find it forgettable. The last time I was listening to the album before now, I completely forgot the song existed. It's not bad, but its not a standout song by any means. I find "Heart Like A Wheel" kinda boring and have nothing further to say about it.

"Jukebox and a Bar" is among a lot of country songs about jukeboxes and bars. It's both exactly like all of them and fairly different at the same time. It starts by talking about self-driving cars and time travel. Acknowledging that yeah, scientists can make those happen, but they still haven't found a better cure for a broken heart than a jukebox and a bar. Instrumentally this is probably the most standardly-country-sounding of Eric Church's (note: exclude & as I am not an official member of the Church Choir and thus haven't heard it). As a fan of that, I really like it. As someone who knows the majority of the people who read their blog are probably not country fans- this song might not be for all of you. "Drowning Man"'s pretty similar in sound, though ever so slightly different in topic. I really like that one as well. "Don't tell me about your beach / Don't wanna hear about your mountain / How the good life is a peach / Drink your sunsets from a fountain" is probably my favorite section of the song; I really like the fourth line in particular, but right off the bat it really tells you that he just wants to be left alone with his broken heart.

"Hangin' Around" and "Desperate Man" are both really fun songs. I'm not really sure what else there is to say about them other than that their fun. I think "Desperate Man" has been called sort of funk-sounding? I can't speak as I haven't listened to funk music really but regardless I always have a lot of fun listening to both of them.

I think that's the whole thing. Maybe I'll be able to focus on something else now.

 

[DawningWinds]

For some reason I kinda worry that my blog's vibe gives off the impression that its only for me to talk? Maybe just because I haven't done a good job getting to know a lot of people so they don't want to hang out here, but I look at a lot of the other similar-ish (but more active) blogs and its like, they constantly have friends hanging out with them there. I don't really have a lot of friends here or anywhere and definitely not as close with people here as everyone else seems to be, so I guess its probably just because everyone just kinda wants to hang out with the people they know. I'm probably overthinking, I doubt I've done anything to make the blog seem unwelcoming reasonably speaking... though maybe I've made myself seem unwelcoming elsewhere on the forums? Maybe I'm just overthinking and if I'd actually branch out and talk to people outside of vague F&G interactions I'd have more friends.

Why is people-ing so confusing?

(Please don't feel like I'm trying to guilt you into talking to me. You are under no obligation to do so. I just had to say some at least some part of this feeling somewhere.)

 

[Blanc]

I haven't gotten to know you yet Dawning, but I'd love to! And no, I'm not here cause I feel obligated. Hope you don't mind this train passing through! I understand the feeling, but I can tell you're a wonderful person who just walks their own path, and I admire that. I doubt it's that you're unwelcoming at all. I'm here for you!

 

[DawningWinds]

I haven't gotten to know you yet Dawning, but I'd love to! And no, I'm not here cause I feel obligated. Hope you don't mind this train passing through! I understand the feeling, but I can tell you're a wonderful person who just walks their own path, and I admire that. I doubt it's that you're unwelcoming at all. I'm here for you!

Hey Blanc, welcome to the Windy Hollow! I'm not sure what there are for train stations in the Hollow, but I'm sure we can find somewhere for you to stop the train whenever you feel like stopping by.
I'm not sure how accurate your description of me is, but thanks! I appreciate the compliment. You seem pretty cool as well, and I'd be glad to get to know you!

 

[takoyaki]

For some reason I kinda worry that my blog's vibe gives off the impression that its only for me to talk? Maybe just because I haven't done a good job getting to know a lot of people so they don't want to hang out here, but I look at a lot of the other similar-ish (but more active) blogs and its like, they constantly have friends hanging out with them there. I don't really have a lot of friends here or anywhere and definitely not as close with people here as everyone else seems to be, so I guess its probably just because everyone just kinda wants to hang out with the people they know. I'm probably overthinking, I doubt I've done anything to make the blog seem unwelcoming reasonably speaking... though maybe I've made myself seem unwelcoming elsewhere on the forums? Maybe I'm just overthinking and if I'd actually branch out and talk to people outside of vague F&G interactions I'd have more friends.

Why is people-ing so confusing?

(Please don't feel like I'm trying to guilt you into talking to me. You are under no obligation to do so. I just had to say some at least some part of this feeling somewhere.)

bonk!!

sorry dawning! I did kinda think that it was more of a space for you to post reviews of stuff you like, and for that, I'm sorry about that!!
but as for thinking you're unwelcoming...I don't think that's true!! I'll make more of an effort to talk with you in the future~


How's today been!? Are you doing any plays soon?

 

[DawningWinds]

bonk!!

sorry dawning! I did kinda think that it was more of a space for you to post reviews of stuff you like, and for that, I'm sorry about that!!
but as for thinking you're unwelcoming...I don't think that's true!! I'll make more of an effort to talk with you in the future~


How's today been!? Are you doing any plays soon?

Nah, it's fine, I can see how you'd get that impression.

Today's been kinda meh, not feeling too great... Might be doing a play in early June? A nearby town is gonna be doing a production of Peter Pan. How have you been doing?

 

[takoyaki]

Today's been kinda meh, not feeling too great... Might be doing a play in early June? A nearby town is gonna be doing a production of Peter Pan. How have you been doing?

Fun!! Good luck with that, do you wanna try to go for the main role!?

Doing well! Currently trying to do schoolwork, I have tennis in 20 minutes, and uhhhhh that's about it! Kinda busy because school is almost over~

 

[ConfectionerMari]

I will talk to you and you cannot stop me!

How are you dawning? It's been a bit since we talked outside of fun and games. Do you have anything you're working on currently?

 

[DawningWinds]

Fun!! Good luck with that, do you wanna try to go for the main role!?

Doing well! Currently trying to do schoolwork, I have tennis in 20 minutes, and uhhhhh that's about it! Kinda busy because school is almost over~

I'm hoping to get a major part, but I'm not counting on it or anything. Probably end up as a background pirate or Lost Boy, maaaybe like Smee if I'm lucky.

Yeah school always gets really busy towards the end of the year, I feel that. How's tennis been going?

I will talk to you and you cannot stop me!

How are you dawning? It's been a bit since we talked outside of fun and games. Do you have anything you're working on currently?

Hi Mari! I'm doing mostly alright this evening. I've been slowly plugging away at that comic I posted a page of a while ago which reminds me that I never posted the next pages, getting the first page drawn up in digital. How you doing?

 

[ConfectionerMari]

I'm doing pretty good, I'm trying to figure out some stuff before the summer! Also, I'm excited to see the comic!

 

[DawningWinds]

I'm doing pretty good, I'm trying to figure out some stuff before the summer! Also, I'm excited to see the comic!

Glad to hear you're well! I saw your post in your blog about that; hope you get that all figured out in time, but either way I'm sure your summer will be great!
Probably don't hold your breath over the comic. I'll see about getting the sketched out versions of the next couple pages up soon, but digital art has always been pretty slow going for me so I make no promises about the timeframe except "eventually".

 

[Blanc]

digital art has always been pretty slow going for me so I make no promises about the timeframe except "eventually".

I feel that so hard, LOL, but I’m also still really excited to see it!! I want to see lots more art around here from cool people like you! I’ve always wanted to make a comic but I don’t have the patience… I admire you!

 

[DawningWinds]

I feel that so hard, LOL, but I’m also still really excited to see it!! I want to see lots more art around here from cool people like you! I’ve always wanted to make a comic but I don’t have the patience… I admire you!

Thanks, I appreciate it!
Patience and time are definitely huuge when it comes to comics... but maybe if you wanted to get started you could try with like, some short 3-5-ish panel self-contained comic strips? That'd probably be a good way to practice without committing to something super time consuming (I can't speak for it though, I've never tried). Then work your way into bigger comics from there.

 

[DawningWinds]

Gonna be leaving in a few hours to spend the weekend in the cities for a school event, don't expect to see too much of me these next couple days. Not that I'm around a whole ton as of late anyway, but. I absolutely despise spending time in the cities because it's so crowded and so noisy but I'm thinking the event will be fun so hopefully that makes up for it.

 

[DawningWinds]

Add "too much goddamn dust" to my list of gripes with the cities. I swear every time I've stepped outside my eyes have been absolutely bombarded.

 

[takoyaki]

Add "too much goddamn dust" to my list of gripes with the cities. I swear every time I've stepped outside my eyes have been absolutely bombarded.

Dust!? Yikes, Minnesota is crazy!!

Gonna be leaving in a few hours to spend the weekend in the cities for a school event, don't expect to see too much of me these next couple days. Not that I'm around a whole ton as of late anyway, but. I absolutely despise spending time in the cities because it's so crowded and so noisy but I'm thinking the event will be fun so hopefully that makes up for it.

And have fun!! I bet the event will be great~

 

[DawningWinds]

Dust!? Yikes, Minnesota is crazy!!

It's not like a dust storm or anything (I don't think anyway-- I've never heard of those here), just a whole bunch of particles of stuff that I assume is a product of urban shit that we don't get in the small town I live in.

have fun!! I bet the event will be great~

It was loads of fun! Really glad I went despite how much I hate being in the cities! Gonna be spending tonight in a hotel because its late and spending a bunch of tomorrow on the trip home which is a bit less fun though...

 

[DawningWinds]

I'm really starting to appreciate how incredibly little functional difference there is between usage of "this" and "that", at least in most contexts.
"That is an old chair." vs "This is an old chair."
Fun fact absolutely nothing about the chair in question changes. The sentences do not imply literally anything different whatsoever.
Unrelatedly, if anyone has any tips for keeping straight which of あの/この/その translate to "this" and which ones translate to "that" it would be much appreciated.