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I got a Boss METAL ZONE II for Christmas and I don't know how I lived without it.  The sustain is out of this world...great distortion tone (duh) but it doesn't sound like just a fuzzy mess like so many distortion stomp boxes do.

Allen, you should absolutely go for it!  For what it's worth, I started when I was 40, self taught--just looked up some songs I liked on the internet and got a $6.00 book showing the chord shapes, and practiced.  I don't think there's any magic way to learn quickly, you just have to pick the thing up every day and play through all the nasty sounds you're going to make.  after looking at the songs I wanted to play, I saw for instance, a lot of songs went from G to C.  So when I'd watch a football game, I'd have the guitar on my lap and for three hours just switch from G to C--don't have to strum, just fret the chords.  Keep picking out common chord changes, and keep working.  I'd suggest not shying away from bare chords--practice them right out of the gate just like you do the open chords.  My story is, 6 yrs later I'm playing out a couple times a week--have a band and all that stuff--don't give up & practice!

Great topic--going off of southpaw's sandpaper idea, I have trouble with picks slipping, so I rough the surface with sandpaper and problem solved.

I didn't read all the posts, someone probably suggested this--but play the E with your middle, ring and pinky fingers, then just slide it down a fret and slap the index finger on the first fret--make sure your thumb is behind your index finger, and pinch the neck between them instead of just pushing down with your index finger.

Comedy has to be "Caddyshack"...Drama...have to go with "Cool Hand Luke"

I know you're a folsom prison blues fan--could go with the gool ol' E  A / A7  B7 kind of thing...

I went to a huge Christian music festival a few weeks ago--20-25,000 people, 5 stages, 3 1/2 days, 14 hours of music a day--and the variety of Christian music was incredible--rock, heavy metal, thrash, industrial, rap, rap-core, it was all there....incredible time. 
Our band actually played at an african american church this past Sunday and they were wonderfully open to the style of music that we play--sort of a light rock vibe.  This was the first time they had electric guitars & a full drum kit.  We played 6 songs, they have an accapella group that did 4 traditional / spiritual types of songs--fantastic harmony, and one guy did a solo piano piece that gave me chills it was so good.
I think a lot of churches realize that regardless of the style of music, if you listen to the lyrics, the songs deal with the same themes as the oldest hymms.

I've been using 12's--went down to 11's last change for no real good reason.  Think I'll go back to 12's--more volume and I want to say they last longer, but I could be wrong.

If she's played around campfires, the soot can get imbedded in the strings which will transfer to your fingers & turn them black--and KILL the strings.
There was a time for everyone of us on the board when we didn't know how to change strings--like Cytania suggested, take it to a shop and watch them do it, or find some instruction / video on line--that's what I did.
Dunlop has a good lemon oil / fret board product that I use--make sure you clean up against the fret wires real good.  gunk can pile up there if it hasn't been cleaned in a while.
And have fun--this may sound goofy, but I like changing my strings...it's like I'm taking care of my guitar...giving it some one-on-one time....
Good luck!

Zurf, for the fee, I will play, free of charge, a backyard party and the set will consist of:
Folsom Prison Blues
Workin' at the Car Wash Blues
Mercury Blues
Proud Mary
and just because the fan's will be screaming for it--we'll close out with a encore performance of....
Folsom Prison Blues...man I love playing that song!