Any Double Reed players on the site?

[Snap!] Just remembered: I have VSTHost on which orchestral Edirol is loaded where I have a wide variety of orchestral instruments: flute, strings, oboe, you name it.

^ I play those classical instruments on my Yamaha keyboard from time to time, although I wish I owned the actual ones.

OK, I have no idea on where I should post this so go ahead and move it if it fits somewhere more nicely. Or inform if there already is an active thread for the subject somewhere.

I have played the oboe for almost 11 years now, and I've got a deep love-hate-relationship with the thing.. when I'm in good fit and things go well, it sounds like an angel but if anything goes wrong or I'm too lazy to practice then the Hell is on the loose. Not to even mention the reeds I have played in some nice amateur/semi-professional orchestras, and also added a bit of oboe to some of my more rock-oriented collaborations. I have gotten quite tired of doing only classical works, though so in the past year I haven't been as active as before. I also moved to another town this autumn so I haven't maybe found the right people to play with..

 In my perspective it's quite obvious that we, oboe, bassoon, english horn etc. players have something in common that other musicians don't have. Maybe it's the madness of choosing an instrument so #&¤# difficult to get a good sound from, maybe it's the obsession with wooden mouthpieces, or maybe just the amazement for having some of the most beautiful solos in the world to play. Anyway, I would love to hear some stories from other double reed proggers   What do you play, how you like it, what are your favourite pieces/solos for double reed instruments, do you have any good reeds at the moment, why aren't you out there making some more of them etc.