Dear hesperis:
I came very close to selling my Uilleann pipes and geting a job driving a cab, as close as I get to suiside, yesterday...no joke - totally serriously... but then, the bastards win and shut you up. If you have the music in you ... fuck em if they get in yer way. Keep at it, just to show em you wont say uncle. You'll get it together. Look, 25 buck Canadian? You maybe can make that busking, I've had a few good days busking north of the border. Keep at it, at all costs.
Larry