* downloaded and installed MySQL
  * bought a book about MySQL(by Paul Dubois - excellent
    book) and read the online MySQL documentation, which is
    very good - I think it's at www.mysql.com(it's been a
    while - not sure about the address of that site)
  * learned enough SQL to be able to interact with MySQL
    using MySQL's client command line interface
  * installed DBI and DBD::mysql
  * read the excellent DBI perldocs by doing

       perldoc DBI

    at a command prompt

  * read the excellent DBD::mysql perldocs by doing

       perldoc DBD::mysql

    at a command prompt

  * bought the book "Programming the Perl DBI" by Tim Bunce
    and read it

  * wrote my 1st basic Perl/DBI/DBD::mysql application