Advice for newcomer pre- bomb drop.

[SteveLW]

This is so good. Goes along with the not just reading the books but understanding them. So many of the newbies here struggle because the see this as a "follow the directions" exercise. "Here is what happened....tell me what to do."

I'll be honest, I'm so emotionally and mentally drained from this process that it'd be nice to be able to follow directions at times.

This is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life, by far....

I said the same thing....until we moved into piecing and Ring. THAT is the hardest thing you will ever have to deal with in your life. My point? It is going to get much harder.