Hey Halcott, welcome. I'm in Evanston. Getting past an injury has me behind on work for the coming weeks, but later in the summer I'd be happy to help with some in-person practice. I'd consider myself an "advanced beginner." And, yes, have Gonzo add you to the Chicagoland group.

Be sure to hit the beginners section of the site as well as the Library. There and in the forums you'll find a lot of YouTube videos for us visual-learner types.