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You might think, after reading last week's column, that I am being less than pragmatic. So, to address that issue, I'll update you on my progress in dealing with that pesky point-and-click, visual environment.

Besides, as upbeat as I was last week, that part of my life is again up in the air. All good things must end and the same thing, as I knew would be true, applies to our regular Thursday night gig at the Beehive. "I thought last week was your last time," said Rich, the venue's owner, when we arrived last Thursday night. For whatever reason; the location, it being a Thursday night and people have to work the next day or -- God forbid -- it could be the music, but we never really drew much of a crowd.

This made me say to myself: "Don't quit your day job."

But I have to get a day job before I can think of quitting it, and in that spirit I am pleased to say, that the Visual BASIC class in which I am currently enrolled started out pretty shaky, but I caught up this week and am averaging 96.5%. While I am still experiencing some difficulties with some aspects of the assignments, I am beginning to feel quite comfortable with the object oriented, event driven method of programming.

In the last two weeks, I caught up on all of my assignments and the instructor, Morgan, administered two practice tests. The most difficult part for me is designing the screen, which is called the "form." For the purpose of those tests, Morgan had the forms laid out for us in advance; we had to do all of the coding to make it functional. I have a tutor four hours a week to help me with reading from the book and with navigating the Visual BASIC environment, but I completed both practice tests on my own -- and I'm looking forward to the real thing next week.

Monday morning I have an appointment with a counselor at NTC who will assist me in enrolling for next semester's classes. I know that, for one, I am taking the Intermediate Visual BASIC class. I'll probably just go with whatever other courses are recommended; I've already got the degree, what I need now are hard skills . . . marketable skills.

And even though I realize that I still need to find a "real Job," I am also well aware that a couple of hours in the spotlight is real work -- haul it in, set it up, have some fun, tear it down, haul it out. At least when I'm not studying, I'm getting a little exercise.

We'll find another place to jam, and I'll find another job; of both of these things I am sure -- and the only question, in both cases, is: where?