Thanks for the vote of confidence, Biondino. I really don't think I play too bad for a beginner, but at the same time I realize more everyday how much I suck and what I still need to learn to make it to the next level.

Let me ask a question. Do you think I'm safe enough with a $500 BR to play 10/25NL or should I just stick to everyone's recommendations and play another 20K hands at 5/10NL regardless if I'm winning easily and not seemingly learning much at that level? I can easily beat the 5/10NL game....proven that to myself already. To me, 5/10NL seems almost like playing a play money game...too many fish there that call anything and when you have good cards, you usually win hands, but you can't learn too much about the game because of the dumb calls that go on. I win very easily there, and maybe that's part of my problem. Winning easy there makes me feel I'm decent enough to move up and therefore I keep moving up. I don't feel out of place playing anything up to 100NL (the play between 25NL and 100NL seems about the same to me), but I know my BR doesn't support anything above 25NL right now.

As you can see, I tend to have a patience and discipline problem (I'm sure compounded being a newbie), and I know now that those are two HUGE no-nos in poker. I don't want to lack self-control....I have definite goals I want to achieve in this game, but unless I sustain an ever-growing bankroll, that will never happen. Other than walking away from the game, how do some of you all with the same problems keep yourselves in check?

BTW, thanks Taipan for the reposts....I read them both last night and the idea of walking away from the game for a bit is a big help to me right now.....though I'm already getting the urge to play again after only a week off.

Thanks for the input everyone.

-Steve