It was with great trepidation that I ventured into the section on MARC records, after my great confusion through the last lesson.  I have seen MARC records and they frightened me - all of those symbols... shudder, shudder!  To my great relief though, it actually seems pretty straight forward.  I flipped between the readings and sample MARC records for books at the GVPL.  I think it will take a bit of practice, but it seems to make sense.  I'm not sure about trying to make my own though.  Baby steps!