Welcome Michael! I'm a programmer who's decided this is the year to get really, really good at creating and animating 3D worlds, so our backgrounds are probably not that different. I will be doing the total newb section of the May 19 workshop. It should be particularly useful to anyone that has not used Blender or used it very little, so don't be shy. If you decide to attend, grab the latest Blender and bring your laptop. I think it will be a good learning and sharing experience!