Today I started down the road to getting CCNA certified. Just touching the edge, and it's the first real studying I've done in many years. I have to admit that it feels a little overwhelming. I'm generally a 'hands on' guy. I learn much faster through doing because I get to see how things work.

I imagine that's not all that unusual.

Funny thing is that I'm feeling like a complete newb and it kinda feels good. I like the sense of exploration. I know that I'm certainly not breaking truly new ground here. Any time there's late night infomercials staring Sally Struthers advertising products to help you get certified in the thing that you're studying, it's a safe bet that it's well covered ground.

But it's new to me. What's more, it's a branch of something that I feel somewhat comfortable with. Granted, I'm no jeremym or boutell, but there was a day in age when people all around me looked to me as 'that computer expert guy'. (This was admittedly a naive crowd.) I would call myself an Intermediate to Experienced Home PC User. As I see it, that makes me better than a majority of your average Joes at most things PC related.

When it comes to networking, I'm finding that I'm a little like an epileptic trying to do brain surgery with a crow bar. But I can get there. It's an eye opener, but I feel pretty optimistic.

Just thought that I would share.