Let no one suggest that I am not grateful for my nearly three weeks of vacation. I was so lucky to be able to take that much time to sleep, read, travel, fill my house with people and love, and catch up on all most some of the busywork from the year. It was a lovely break. But TODAY school started back up for my daughter. I'm heading out to teach again this afternoon. I'm playing Beethoven next weekend. I'm getting serious about the recitals I have scheduled for next month, I'm thinking ahead to some auditions the month after. I've been making reeds at a break-neck speed. I am SO EXCITED to be back in the saddle and back in a routine and SO READY to do this year even better than last year. I called 2018 my Year of Temperance, and I used it to back off, very intentionally, from many of the things that were keeping me busy and frantic. I did not accept new students. I withdrew from SEVERAL orchestra committees. I was far more...