Thanks guys ... group hug all around. Thanks for letting me get it off my chest. I'm done feeling sorry for myself (hey, there are a lot more real problems in life to worry about). I did engage my brain and thought I'd go for a different approach. I wrote to Patricia Ridenour and we've exchanged a few e-mails. Nothing is final yet, but it looks like she may take me on in an independent study capacity so it would basically be me working on my form & figure photography under her direct one-on-one guidance. Now that would be cool. Will see. -=>Donald