kevj, you didn't mention your general level of electronics knowledge, and it would help us to answer you if you would share that.

Something I always recommend to anyone is: Get some good, fundamental reference books. They don't have to be expensive. You might find it handy to pick up a used copy of Grob Basic Electronics (Bernard Grob) and perhaps Digital Systems (Ronald J. Tocci). If you'd like a little more "meat" (a lot more, actually), you can't go wrong with The Art of Electronics (Horowitz and Hill), harder to find used, and expensive even then, but worth it.

Also, it helps if you tell us what your application is--what you are trying to do at any given point.

All that being said--dive in and have some fun!

Russ