thanks so much for all of the replies! it is really great to know i am not the only one out here struggling along. anyway, i have decided to check into lessons. it seems that the vast majority of you think it would be a good idea.
as far as the music i like to play. well thats kind of tough because i enjoy a huge variety. i like heavy metal, alternative, country, and boy that classical guitar stuff is really cool. so i guess that is why i am kind of confused on which way to go.
one more thing though. a few of you mentioned that a key thing would be to get a "good teacher". anything in particular that i should be looking for? are we talking just experience teaching? should i worry about what style of music the teacher knows well?
p.s. to david c. i hear you about the tabs off of the net. my problem is that i will start to learn a song, and get past the first 4 or 5 bars, and then i like to mess around with those bars and by then i have been messing around for a couple of hours.
so anyway, again thanks again for the advise.