afx – Buy a book on neat little electronics projects and try to build one of them. Little timer circuits, blinky lights, noise-makers, etc.
I’d say go to Gateway Electronics, but they closed and I forget the name of the place that replaced it.
The key to soldering is to not touch the soldering iron with the solder. Touch the wire with the soldering iron on one side, and touch the wire with the solder on the other side. Wait patiently for the wire to heat up enough to melt the solder. This way you know everytyhing is hot and melty and everythihng will flow really nicely.
