Well I've decided to go to school. I'm going to go to Spokane Falls community college and take a two year coarse and get a degree in Graphic design/ Webpage design. I won't go till next fall, so I have some time to take some night classes and get all the grants/loans and housing squared away. I'm really stoked I finally found something intersting enough to go back to school for. I'm sooooo sick of doing construction crap. I bust my ass and make fuckin pennies and it drives me nuts. If any of you have any suggestions on anything I might look for as far a grants or anything I would really appreciate it. Finally a genuine smile on my face. 
pick up a couple of books and learn Flash and Dreamweaver. this will give you a real head start.
also, hopefully you have a Mac, that's what they usually teach on at real art/design schools, not sure what they are using at that school... but truth be known, PCs have all the same programs.
good luck. it could be a fun career, but most of the time you will be working for people who think they know what good design is and force you to do shit you don't agree with - but hey, they pay the bills so you have to deal with that sort of thing till you get established.
peace