Well... based on the advice I got from sndp, I got $10 free at pacific poker, and have been playing that for a week or so now. I know, without a doubt now, why you must have a bankroll appropriate to the tables you play. I've been playing my $10 at the $10 NL tables every time I play, as those are the smallest available. So, every time I sit, I am putting 100% of my money at risk. I've been up over $11 twice now, and I've been under $2 at least 3-4 times, and made my way back up again. Right now, after playing for about 3 hours, I'm at $10 and some change.

Anyway, my hobby allowance is coming in just about a week, so I'll have $60 to either buy in with, or buy poker tracker. If I've lost all of my money before payday, I'll obviously use the $60 to buy in (at PokerStars, where they have $2 tables). If I am making progress with the $10, I probably won't do anything with the money just yet. I'll wait until I bust, then buy in, or wait until I can cash out my Pacific money and transfer it over to Poker stars, then buy poker tracker.

Either way, I can't wait to actually be playing at a level appropriate to my bankroll. I'm having fun as it is, and I'm sure it only gets better when you're not afraid that you could lose your entire bankroll on any one hand you choose to play.