Perhaps I should explain myself. I do love programming, but compared to many of the programmers I see, I don't think I would be too successful in finding a job as a programmer. I do well in the programming classes, and at home, I just really do not know how much I know because I have never really create programs in a working environment. I am planning on taking the java certification test in late August, though The networking comes about because it fascinates me. That is the area I would like to go into is to write software for networking. However, I feel I need to know the in's and out's of different networks to be able to accomplish much. I have a small network at home, and as the funds allow, I do try to grow the network to learn different things, i.e. Samba, NFS, and the next thing is to set up a Gateway. The only thing about this is at home, with just me being the user, I don't know what type of things happen in the "real world" with different users. Another thing is the network sitting at home does not help me get a job. This does not seem to help too much as experience. The employer doesn't know what is going at my apartment. The other thing is the fact that I want out of the hotel industry and into the computer field. That is why I said any computer related job would do. Sitting in a back office doing upgrades would be better than what I am doing. The main point is that I am an older man, and I would really like to get to the point that I can get a job that I enjoy and pays reasonably. A few months ago, someone sent in an e-mail asking how someone could get experience. Someone replied to find someone that is doing what you are interested in and try to work with them and learn the "ropes". This was just my way of doing that. Sorry for the long e-mail, mike __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com