[mixmax]

i'm pretty much in the same situation as you - just two months ahead. I found that the best way to learn is to find a simple project that you would like to do and do it. I am doing a web based project management site.

That way you will learn as you go, and have the joy of seeing something that works, and that you have built yourself. It will probably be buggy as hell, and sometimes you will want to tear your head off. But when you get it working it's great. And before you know it you have grasped the basics.

That's how it worked for me anyway.