Dear Blog,

I have been awful about updating you, I know, especially since I've had some pretty exciting things happen lately, but I guess better late than never. I hope you haven't been feeling too lonely.

So first, my sight-singing textbook, the one I have been working on for the past several years, is finally out and available on Amazon! This has been a big and meaningful project for me, and seeing it finally out there is extremely rewarding. It is only the first of several books I intend to write on this subject, but it's really nice to get the ball rolling.

Also, something I should've mentioned a while ago - Akropolis has released its AMAZING debut album! They are such an incredible group and I feel so honored to be on that CD with my piece Fun Fun Fun Fun (honoring the legendary Rebecca Black, of course). This album also includes some incredible works by Garrett Schumann (who contributed the piece High Speed Reed, after which the album was titled), David Heedterks, and other awesome composers. 

This is it for now, but I have at least a couple of posts in the back burner that I plan to make pretty soon. Seriously, no joking this time. No, really! Fine, don't believe me...

Your (still) loving master,
Asaf

Dear Blog,

We've only known each other for a couple of weeks, and already I've been slacking off on giving you the attention you deserve. This is not a good sign, but I have actually been extremely productive lately, so I guess it was for a good cause... I hope you understand. I will elaborate on this spurt of productivity in my next post, but right now I'm here to tell you a story:

A few months ago, one of my good friends posted this interesting and entertaining video on his facebook wall. It's a lecture by the famous John Cleese from Monty Python about the subject of creativity. Being a composer and an Edward De Bono fan, I of course tuned in with great enthusiasm. At one point in the lecture, Mr. Cleese talks about a strategy to achieve the "open mode" - a mental state that fosters creative thinking. The strategy includes working in an isolated space with absolutely no distractions for about an hour-and-a-half at a time. He warns to expect some discomfort and even feelings of anxiety while the mind is making its way from the closed mode to the open mode.

I think I have managed to be creative in the past, but I would never miss a chance on trying to improve my creativity. I decided to give it a go - I disconnected my modem, and sat down to start writing a new piece. I wish I could say it worked for me, but it only made me that much more aware of what I already knew - I am an internet addict! It's hard for me to sit by a computer and not have the urge to check my email/facebook/youtube/etc... Mr. Cleese wasn't kidding. Discomfort? It felt more like drug withdrawal (not that I would know...). I became so edgy that even later on that night, when I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday, I was still extremely restless, and only after a couple of beers I managed to feel at ease again.

Moral of the story - Alcohol solves everything? Maybe...

The funny thing is, I never feel this type of restlessness when I am out and about and away from my computer. It's the fact that I am near a source of internet and have to force myself to not use it that's causing all the trouble. The internet is extremely addictive. It's becoming more and more apparent to me every time I unsuccessfully attempt to engage in conversation with a person who owns a smartphone.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that I am not getting a smartphone.

Yet!

Your adoring master,
Asaf

Dear Blog,

Today I finally created a website. I've been meaning to do it for about five years, but apparently I had to wait for the exact right moment, which turned out to be August 12th, 2012. In the process, I decided to create you as well, hoping that the right moments for updating you will come more frequently. I will try to make you interesting enough, so that other people will want to read you. Don't get me wrong, the fact that I want to share you with the world does not mean that I don't value the intimacy of our relationship. I do, very much. However, let's face it, I'm a busy man, and you will probably need some company during those times when I am not devoting my full attention to you. I know it's harsh, but we have to be honest with ourselves if we are going to make it work.

So, my dear Blog, now that our relationship is out in the open, I hope the world will accept us for who we are and embrace us. Here's to us!

Your loving master,
Asaf