Volleyballin Out

September 15, 2021 by Lostinthewoodz

I’m laying in bed in my tiny Airbnb typing away listening to old Kpop.

I’m feeling great these days. I’ve fallen into a steady rhythm of work, volleyball, music, and seeing friends.

Things are far from perfect but I’m certain I’ll look back at this time as a peaceful, free time.

I must have stopped myself at least five times this week to marvel at the fact that I’m back in New York, living in the beautiful Upper West Side, able to see close friends every week.

why don’t more people like UWS? It’s so nice up here

Volleyball

I’m getting the most physical activity I’ve had in years. Started going to volleyball last week with the theory that I needed one artistic activity (music), one physical activity (volleyball), and one social/(spiritual) thing (church) to round out my life/meet new people.

We meet Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday at the courts in Riverside park. It’s a large group of randos (20-40 people) centered around a core group of regulars.

First time I went I was kinda nervous. I had a vague notion of wanting to play volleyball because of Haikyuu but the doubts lingered. Would I be athletic/tall/fast enough blah blah blah. Would I fit in.

People were pretty accommodating and those doubts, like usual, turned out to be dumb.

I was trash the first few games I played. After having gone almost every day last week I think I’ve gone from 4 —> 6 out of 10?

I’m getting the most sun I’ve had in years. Playing till dusk next to the Hudson watching the sun go down. Diving for the ball into the sand. Walking to the upper part of the park to doze off under the trees, exhausted from hours of playing. Getting aloe vera to slather on my sunburnt face. Wrapping my bleeding body (thumbs, random scratches, scraped knee) in bandaids. The thirty minute walks back and forth across Upper West Side. Looking at the beautiful buildings on the way listening to Korean city pop feeling simultaneously jealous and blessed to see them.

Pretty fun.

I think this was one of the best decisions I’ve made since coming back. Why didn’t I do something like this sooner?

Friends

Caught up with a number of friends that have either completely moved here or are visiting.

Rupert hosted a Baklava/Turkish Delight tasting party. This was the first time I’d seen him since the pandemic.
- Met a bunch of his friends, ate a ton of Baklava.
Dinner with Peter at Soba Noodle Azuma. Also the first time seeing him since our Thailand/Korea trip Winter 2019.
- Was sleep deprived but had fun

Watched Shang Chi at a company hosted event with Rupert. Afterwards Rupert snuck into the Saks Fifth fashion week show
- Was also sleep deprived. Movie was gooood. Thought it was a little overhyped.
- I admire that about Rupert. Always finding his way into hard places.
  - I want to get better at that. Get out of my comfort zone. Go to places I can’t normally get into.
Hung out with Kelvin and Will! The old trio back again. Got dinner at Kaoru
- At Kelvin’s suggestion I went to New York Acupuncture and Chiropractic before dinner and had the best massage of my life (this was after hours of weekend volleyball).
- Kaoru was pretty cool. Felt very japanese. Low tables. Buncha Japanese businessmen(?) drinking their heart outs after a long day of work.

Music

I’ve somewhat consistently (4 to 5 days a week) been getting ~an hour of music practice in each day. I’ve been going to Kaufman Music Center and booking piano rooms so I can sing my heart out without bothering the neighbors.

Still practicing for Japanese Denim. Michelle wants me to customize the song with my own phrasings, pitch, etc. to make it more “mine.”

Besides that I’ve been prepping for an open mic I’ve signed up for this Friday!

Between work, music, volleyball, and friends I feel like I’m running all over the place and it’s simultaneously exhausting and pretty fun. Would love to have my own place instead of this little fifth floor walkup Airbnb (appreciate u tho for real) but that’ll have to wait.

I talked to Harry the other day and it seems like we’re both in really great places. Back in the city, everything building up to a crescendo. Finding new places, new friends, new activities. Not a care in the world. What a great time to be alive.

On the not so great side my sleep schedule and dating life could use some work but I ain’t complaining.

Also my diet is all over the place. I’m usually too lazy to cook or get anything so I usually skip lunch and eat a bigger dinner later. I’ve inadvertently started losing weight because of this (and the exercise) which is great. But I also wanna cut down on the edibles/eating junk food.

72 on 72

September 05, 2021 by Lostinthewoodz

I’m sipping cold brew and writing from Irving Farm. For the last ten minutes I’ve been zoning out and inadvertently listening to the girl at the window talk about some drama that happened at a wedding she went to recently. She went with a date who was more of a friend and he was acting like a lil bitch is what I’ve gleaned so far.

I’ve been entertained by her tale so far but at this point too many people have entered and her story’s been drowned out by the ambient noise. Sorry for eavesdropping, window girl. You just speak so loud.

Been recovering from last night. In a larger sense recovering from my first week back in New York.

I was so amped up to do stuff now that I’m back in the city and I think I went a little too far. Trying to strike that delicate balance of alone time, loneliness, sociability, social fatigue. Balancing work, music, making new friends, tending old friends. The never ending balancing act.

All things considered not a bad slate of things to worry about.

Will I look back on this period as an easygoing, mostly carefree time? I think so.

It’s 72 on 72. Took a few minutes to get this rare shot

Back at it

Korean Meetup
Joined a Korean meetup to 1. Meet new people and 2. Get better at Korean. I joined the zoom chat (Hurricane Ida forced us to go online) for the week. A surprisingly diverse crowd of Koreans, non Koreans.

The format was to split up into small groups, spend ten minutes speaking in Korean, ten minutes speaking in English.

My first group consisted of a middle aged Korean man from Canada and a black woman in her 30s from the DMV area. The middle aged Korean man was an archetypal middle aged Korean man. Very heavy handed in steering the conversation. Kinda cheesy with a lot of dad humor. Got the idea that he probably went to Korean church. I accidentally cut him off in conversation at one point and felt simultaneously sorry and victorious.

The black woman was cool. She’d gotten into Korean through the usual route—K Dramas—and was planning on going to Korea at some point. We made small talk and taught the Korean dude some American slang (dead ass, ain’t, etc.).

My second pairing was with a Korean college student based in SoCal. We also made small talk (she’s studying nursing, her favorite gopchang restaurant in LA is Ahgassi Gopchang) until the time ran out.

I don’t know how much I’ll improve my Korean with this group but I’ll go again next week

Volleyball
Joined a volleyball meetup. This was my first time playing volleyball in years. I think I annoyed some teammates by not knowing any strategy but I had fun. I’ll watch some volleyball clips and be more prepared the next time I go.

Friends

Got soba and matcha beer with Frank at Cocoron. Got rice pudding at Rice to Riches. Cocoron had an interesting menu. Will go back again. Frank’s been working hard on some music. I want to keep up with him
Went to a picnic with Kelvin and his friends at Central Park. Met up with them again later at Kelvin’s place and drank a lil.
My dating life is picking up again

Music Update

Continuing Japanese Denim. Michelle says I need to enunciate my words more. Mom said the same thing to me before I left California…

I’ve started practicing out of Kaufman Music Center. I also bought a new mic (SM7B) and will start recording there.

Also wrapped up this demo song. Not planning on doing anything with it anytime soon but I’m glad I wrapped it up for now.

Departure / Back to New York

September 01, 2021 by Lostinthewoodz

I’m writing from the Joe and the Juice across the street from my Airbnb. i’ve been hanging out in UWS for the last few days and am loving it. Currently significantly sleep deprived and writing this post while I take a lil break from work.

Not much to report since the last post. The last week in California went pretty much as expected. Wrapped up a few things. Packed everything. Got ready to live out of my suitcase in NY for the next few months.

I remember laying on my sofa on one of my last nights in California. At that point I’d been living at home on and off since May(!!!).

Two thoughts on the eve of my departure

Probably won’t spend more than two weeks at a time at home.
- I think I’ll visit every quarter. Maybe one week in SF (or Seattle now that Andrew’s out there), two weeks at home, back to NY
I wish I’d treated/appreciated my family better. Not that I was constantly a dick or anything but I think there were moments of pettiness/jealousy/stepping on each other’s toes that I could have been better about.
- This hit me more right as I was leaving. The appreciation of what you have right as you’re about to lose it
- Just be grateful for what you have future Woody that’s all I ask

The last few days I spent walking around and singing karaoke with the fam.

Back to New York

My current living situation is a tiny Airbnb (150 sq ft) fifth floor walkup. The window is small enough that I yearn for more light during the day. Bright enough that it wakes me up when I want to sleep in. The toilet and the kitchen light stop working intermittently. There is a great rooftop to hang out on when I get too claustrophobic.

I love the location.

Upper West Side—the land of benches, cafes, and happy people. Sitting at Joe Coffee watching passersby through the window and struck with the thought that people here look so relaxed and happy.

Walking through the streets at night with Kelvin. Feeling that muggy, right after rain New York humidity on my skin. Seeing all these happy drinkers at the outside tables. Block after block of interesting restaurants and bars without the crowds of East Village. The sidewalks are so wide here.

The knowledge that Central Park and Riverside Park are right there.

Man I love it.

So far I haven’t done that much. Mostly settling in and seeing people again

Got dinner with Sylvia at Boka (the food was just aight). Talked about future plans/when she might move back to California
Finally got french dip sandwiches at Maison Pickle with Kelvin. This had been on my list from pre-pandemic. Sandwiches were great (and very filling… granted I was super hungry at this point). Also got drinks at Tiki Chick afterwards. Great outdoor seating, interesting drinks. Would go back again.

Besides that I’ve signed up for a few things

Volleyball meetup
Korean language meetup

I was a little concerned about living alone after spending so long with family. How would I spend my time? Would I get lonely?

My original idea was to marinate in that sense of loneliness. I’m so afraid of being alone but I want to embrace it. This poem always rattles around in the back of my mind:

Don’t surrender your loneliness
So quickly.
Let it cut more deep.
Let it ferment and season you
As few human
Or even divine ingredients can.
Something missing in my heart tonight
Has made my eyes so soft
My voice
So tender,
My need of God
Absolutely
Clear.

Bars.

In any case I’m having a pretty good time. A good amount of lonely. Good amount of social.

Music Update

Moved onto Japanese Denim in my singing lesson repertoire. Michelle wants me to enunciate more.

Besides that I’ve started reading Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison in the hopes of WRITING BETTER LYRICS.

So far it’s way too technical for my liking.

My question here is:

Do I power through with this book and start writing lyrics in a more structured way
Or do I just trust my instincts and practice writing more songs?

I’m leaning towards the latter.