Welcome to the forum, Doug. One piece of advice I can give you....learn your camera inside out, and read the manual that came with it! And of course, go out there and shoot some pictures. Watch some videos on Youtube, read books, magazines, and be patient. You won't learn everything in a weekend. It takes time and patience, and tons of practice.
In the meantime, have fun with it, and don't be afraid to ask questions. that's why we're here.