[ewile]

Hi,
Welcome aboard! I happen to like your avatar alot. Keep it.

Good post...good goals. Definitly a worthwhile persuit.
Here is my advice on how to learn this game:
Start small! I don't know what limit you're playing at Stars. But drop to the bottom of the ladder and play there, making it your goal to move up in limit at certain predetermined goals.

For example, for Limit HE the accepted rule of thumb is to move up when you have 300 BB for the next higher limit. So if you start at Stars .02/.04 move up to .05/.10 when you've won $30, move to .25/.50 when you've won $150 and so on.

This method reinforces diciplined, goal oriented play and forces you to get an enormous amount of experience at each limit.

It's a total grind but it's worth it. Many, many folks here including myself have learned the game this way. I started with Pacific Poker .05/.10 and now play 2/4 and 3/6 at Party. Get busy and good luck.

Oh, one more thing...posting hands in the micro-limit forum will be a very good thing for you to do also.