I’ve never been much of an Aviv Geffen fan, and Tuesday’s performance did not change my mind. Maybe it was the location, or the company, but I’m quite sure it was the music and the performance itself.

The evening started as soon as I got out of the office. I was joined by a colleague, and we went to meet his friends outside the venue, just around the corner. The people were obviously quite interesting. I finally found someone I can talk to about music! It also turned out that my companions, like me, came to see Stuart Murdoch and Chris Geddes, and didn’t like Aviv Geffen much. Doesn’t matter what the music is like, I had an interesting evening ahead of me.

After a short queuing, we got in and were taken to a table right next to the stage. As could be expected, the Zappa is the sort of places where you sit around a table to watch a gig, with waiters moving around offering food and drinks. In these places the music often takes second place to the dining experience, giving an atmosphere of contempt. At least in this case they had the decency to stop serving before the gig, and collect all the empty plates before it started, just to make it all look a bit more respectable.

The gig started with a solo performance by Daniel Solomon, who was joined by Aviv Geffen for the second song. I did not count and could not give too much attention to the songs, as they all sounded the same to me. The subject seems to be relationship difficulties, the music was melancholic, and Aviv Geffen’s singing voice could cause anyone to consider suicide. It’s a good thing the Zappa is on ground floor and that the tables are cramped so close together making it very difficult to reach a window. My sanity was kept with the help of my companions, who kept joking about the proceedings. Actually, I felt a bit uncomfortable at some point, as they did not bother to hide their displeasure, despite sitting right below Aviv Geffen’s nose.

It was all worth it for the treat at the end, as Stuart and Beans were called to the stage. They started with “I Fought In A War”, which seemed quietly fitting to the tones that were set by Aviv Geffen, but I did feel that I needed something to pick me up a bit, and could think of quite a few other Belle & Sebastian songs that could have done the job much better. Still, I was sitting close enough to see the veins in Stuart’s muscles and could hear his lovely voice, and that was good enough for me. They went on to perform some of Aviv Geffen’s songs, written for his band Blackfield (a band he formed with Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree). Stuart and Beans looked a bit out of place at this phase. Stuart was looking at the notes page and singing with an uncharacteristically little voice. I think the only reason I could hear him was that I was sitting right next to him. This was followed by “Don’t Leave The Light On Baby”, which gave a lighter feeling, and for us this was over. A short peek into the playlist that was stuck to the stage’s floor next to us revealed that there was no chance for another appearance by the B&S members, so we made our way to the door.

I will not say I was disappointed, since I knew there were only two B&S songs to expect. I guess I did hope to hear other songs that might lift my spirit, especially after such a dull set by Aviv Geffen. Still, it is the presence of Stuart Murdoch and Chris Geddes which should be celebrated. Stuart did say during that gig that he had been having an unexpectedly good experience in Israel, and I am looking forward to reading more about it in his diary. May there be many more to come.

It came to my mind that with all the excitement of my course and the time it takes me, I forgot to write about the course itself. I’m learning so many interesting things, and doing thrilling exercises.

It started with the obvious boring theory and history lesson, but after that it became more practical, and things finally made sense. The technical lessons were not too difficult, but there were quite a lot of buttons to deal with. It will take a lot of practice to get it right. There were reading lessons, that were our first opportunity to hear our own voices through the earphones, talk to the microphone, and do it right ? from news to publicity, the right intonations, the right grammar, everything.

Studying became even more interesting with music editing. Learning what goes where, and that there are actually studies regarding the music’s energy level and the order of songs. I asked about getting hold of the studies and learning further, but I may have to wait for a bit until some emails that I sent will be answered.

There was even a grammar lesson. I haven’t done that since high school. I was surprised to find out how much my Hebrew grammar deteriorated since. It must be the years I spent away.

There’s also plenty of homework, which is something I didn’t have since university, and I need to get back into. Some is theoretical, and some requires studio time and recording. It’s fun, but time consuming, which explains my recent stress. It’s a good thing, and as such, it should be shared. More updates soon.

It’s nice to be wanted. The ego boost is unbelievable. It’s even better when it goes international.

I got a strange call a couple of weeks ago, with international identification. On the other side there was someone speaking in Hebrew, telling me that he is working for a start-up company in Florida, owned by people I used to work with a few years back. He needs a QA manager, and my name keeps coming up, so he wants me to come to Florida to work for him.

So tempting…

I thought long and hard about it. Someone really wants me to go all the way to the other side of the world to work for him. He doesn’t even want to meet me for an interview first; he just believes all the references he got. It is also a good opportunity for E. to come with me and start an academic career in the States, and an opportunity for me to get out of here. It also means packing everything up, finding a new home for at least one of the cats, while putting the other though a horrible move that includes a long flight. It means leaving my job for an uncertain one in another start-up company, which means going back a few steps career-wise.

For a start, I wasn’t sure it’s all true. Anyone could have called and tell me he works with people I know. How can I tell that it’s all valid? I asked to speak with some of his employees. He was happy to make sure they get in touch, and I had some long conversations with them, learning more about the company, the product, the people involved and so on. And in the end, got to the conclusion that the job on offer is just now worth the trouble of the move.

So that was it. I was offered a job that some people may dream of, and said no. However, I had to admit, the short glory did feel good.

There was much excitement a couple of weeks ago, when a colleague forwarded an article announcing that members of Belle & Sebastian will be performing just around the corner from my office.

Finally! After years of musical dryness in Israel, when no international artist would dare coming to this terrorism stricken part of the world, some people decide to make a difference. Moreover, they are people I really look up to and would enjoy tremendously. Despite the heavy ticket price, there was no hesitation when my colleague offered to join him and his friends for the gig.

It was clear from the onset that this is NOT a Belle & Sebastian gig, but an Aviv Geffen gig in which Stuart Murdoch and Chris Geddes will be participating. Still, (and despite the fact I don’t like Aviv Geffen much), it was not something I was going to pass by without my attendance.

Then came disappointment in the form of an email from the B&S newsgroup. I was not disappointed to know that there were only going to be a couple of songs, as I wasn’t expecting a full gig. I was upset to know that Stuart and Beans are only doing the gig on their way to a political protest in the area.

“…Stuart and Beans are off for a quick jaunt to Palestine and Israel. Although primarily there with the charity War On Want, observing and protesting against the Separation Wall, they will also be performing a couple of songs at a show by Israeli star Aviv Geffen…”

Their specific cause or whether I agree with it or not is of no importance. I have retired from politics years ago, and no longer hold any opinions in the matter. But, just as I thought that finally music mattered, and people were coming her for the sake of music and art and to revive our musical hopes, I find out that I was wrong. Personally, I was hoping to see the first sparrow that brings a spring of musical performance and opens the Israeli mind to the music I have been longing for. The sparrow had died before I had the chance to hear it sing.

Still, I will not give up so soon. I will go to the gig on Tuesday, and try to enjoy it as much as I can, while ignoring any political reference. Hopefully, I will be able to tell you all about it.

Dear readers,

To all of you, who may have been concerned due to my recent disappearance, fear not. I am alive and well (mostly), and working very hard these days. I am busy with so many things, I hardly get the time to stop and breathe, let alone post. However, there are many stories in my head, all ready to come out. Some even have sentences and words that start to form, itching to be typed. I hope to have a bit of time to let them out soon.

I have not forgotten you!

Loving you always,

Deviant

A day off was something I was looking forward to for quite a while. I had one yesterday, and it would have been perfect if it wasn’t for a bloody migraine that tampered my ability to do some of the things I was hoping to do.

Stepping out of the office on Tuesday night gave a sense of re-gained freedom. Finally, some time for myself. I started my break with a night out, going clubbing and meeting people. Can you believe I am capable of socialising?! I had a good time, despite the need to drive preventing me from drinking. I am guessing that it may be the noise and cigarette smoke around me which triggered the upcoming migraine, but it was still good.

I only got back home at 4AM, and by the time I went to bed it was about 4:30, but this did not disturb Sebastian’s decision to wake me up shortly after 9AM. Lack of sleep may also be a good reason for a headache…

The plan was to start at the gym, then go shopping, enjoy a sunset, and go to my course. I started at the gym, thinking that the headache will go away, but it only got worse and I had to stop half way through my training. Very annoying. Still, there was shopping to be done, and a day off cannot go to waste. Musica Neto didn’t have any of the CD’s I was looking for, which means I will have to make an order from Amazon soon, but I did not go out empty handed.

From there I moved on to the Tel Aviv Port, where my course takes place, with two hours to kill. There was a bit more shopping, coffee, and plenty of photography. Expect the photolog to be updated often in the near future.

All in all, it was a good day. My head still hurts (Sebastian kept disturbing my sleep tonight. I really should do something about it). Now I’m dreaming of my next holiday and other destinations…

It’s almost 2:30AM. I have to be up at six, and I can’t sleep. I went to bed a bit drunk, and woke up hung-over through a horrible nightmare in which I was watching a news broadcast showing pictures of a massacre. Now I’m shaky, and wish there was someone with me to hug me and caress me until I relax and sleep quietly. I’ll just drink a lot of water to make the hangover go away, and try again. I hope I will feel well enough in the morning to go through the long day.

What do you get if you mix E’s birthday, with strawberries, Lindt thins chocolates, champagne, a single rose, and me in my sexiest lingerie, and going easy on clothing? A weekend with not much sleep and too much exercise and a Sunday in which it is harder than normal to keep myself focused on work…

It was such an AMAZING weekend!

The other day I went past the playground on my way from the office to the car. There was a young father there, playing with a little baby girl. An uncontrollable thought ran through my head: “Cute”. Then I got scared. No, it cannot be that I thought a baby girl is cute! Ho no! Not me! The father was probably the cute one! I am not getting maternal!

(I told E. about it. He said I probably thought the dad was cute because of my feminine need to find a man who is capable of producing babies, and this ability proved by his current fatherhood. AAAAAA!!!!)