Cousin Nod, may I offer my opinion for what it is worth. You seem to come back from time to time and continue to beat yourself up because you don't always have time to devote to your music. Well, so what??? You are doing what we all call "making a living" and I'm guessing you are not making a living at music so why beat yourself up if making a living keeps you from your music that you may never make any money at??? Cousin Nod, you are very talented and your true talents allow you to make a living even if your talents may be in another field other than music. Be proud that you can support yourself and your family and don't sweat the small stuff (as they say).
Keep your music as a hobby like you have been doing and enjoy it when you can, nothing wrong with that.. Even though this is a songwriting site and you hear from Pro's like MAB, he would be the first to tell you to make a living first and enjoy your music when you can.
MAB's Forum is not only for those seeking to make a profession out of music; but also for those of us that just enjoy it and want to get better at it. Even if our efforts may never make us professionals, we can learn to do better and become better musicians and songwriters than we could have ever been on our own, thanks to sites like this and a pro like MAB willing to work with us and share his knowledge. So quit beating yourself up because you don't always have the time to devote to music like you wish you did.
By the way, I'm happy to hear you have found a little more steady employment. Any chance you can loan your cousin OD a little money??? They have shut off my credit at my local Drive-Thru where I used to get my beer supply. They don't even believe me any longer when I tell them I have a cousin named Nod that is about to design the next big thing and make himself rich, then he will send me money to pay my bar bill.
Maybe if I explain to the owner you got a teaching job at a university, while you wait for your royalty check to come in, he may extend my credit a little longer. Also; I think him having to deal in Euro's makes him nervous, maybe if I tell him you will be sending me cash in American dollars may settle him down a little.
Now when do you think the cash will arrive from you. I used that old line "the check is in the mail" a few times and he no-longer believes me. I think if I inform him you intend to send cash in American dollars he may open my credit line again allowing me to put my beer on credit and keep him happy for awhile until you can send me some money. I sure thank-you cousin Nod.
OD
(of course I'm only teasing you) Just enjoy your musical journey when you can and don't worry about it if you don't have time because you have to make a living.