I will not complain about being busy during the Christmas season. That would be absurd, because everyone is busy. And because for a musician to complain about working too much would be like a retailer griping that people just keep BUYING things in December. This season, for us, has enormous financial impact, and the fact that I haven’t had a day off since Thanksgiving is just one of those side effects. But I will admit that after playing three quintet concerts today (and having worked every day since Thanksgiving, did I mention? Plus every day but two in November…) I was DREADING tonight’s Holiday Pops rehearsal here in South Bend. Early in the season I was enjoying the effort, and challenging myself in every rehearsal and performance to improve even as I played through yet another schmaltzy or jazzy or cutely technical Christmas carol arrangement - but by this point I really don’t have a lot left. I kind of hate the oboe - I hate my sound - I hate other people’s sounds - and I e