Hi Sheri,
You are not alone my friend! I did exactly as you mentioned and started a personal blog first through
www.blogger.com
I'm a very slow learner and I even know *some* html and I have just learned it along the way. I do however get very frustrated when I can't grasp things but I'm learning to get over that LOL
I am getting ready to start a Word Press blog and I am very intimidated with the WP back office but I'm just going to get in there and play around, hoping I don't mess up anything too bad.