RC_LEW,
If you'd make the trip to my area, I would be happy to give you, for free, a few hours of instruction, with my trainers of which you wouldn't be responsible for any damage, should any occur. You can stay in a room in our new hobby shop. It shouldn't take you anymore than 3 days to learn how to takeoff, fly very smoothly and land within that time. No strings, just wanted you to know that there are alternatives.
All it would cost you is travel expenses. All I would expect in return is for you to describe on RCU what happened, good or bad.
Take care,
CCR
http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors