Learning Photoshop

is WORSE than pulling teeth, but thanks to a great friend, I have gained my confidence to try my hand at photoshop. I thought it was going to be a piece of cake until (the first thing I learned) it DID NOT come with instructions! I was so frustrated that I wanted to throw my whole computer out the window. The wonderful phenomenon we call the internet was NO HELP either. I would research how to do something and it was like reading Japanese. I was starting to think I needing some sort of degree to understand this so-called great program known as photoshop. All the more deceiving-the box offered all these wonderful NEW tools available to use, but could I use them? Not exactly, until, that is, I met up with a lady that used to be in my shoes at one point and was so graciously willing to teach me. SOOOOO here's some examples of what I've mastered so far. I still have TONS to learn, (that's where that degree comes in) but so far so good.