GRAVITY PROBLEMS -- off topic from {Falsifying a young Universe}

I really enjoy peaking in on your (cavediver and SonGoku's) conversations and I hate to intrude here but I am overcome with wonderment. I read a lot of pop science books on these topics and am always left feeling a little empty on any true understanding on the topics discussed. You have always said that a lot is lost in the translation and perhaps it sometimes does a little more damage than good in these books to laymanize these topics, but I just want a little guidance to point me in the right direction to having a proper mathematical understanding.I am still young, 28, but am in school and almost done with a Bachelor's and work full time. My area of study isn't related to these topics but is in engineering so I have some mathematical background. My mentioning of my age has more to do with the fact that I feel I have time to try to teach these things to myself given the proper direction and free time once I am done with my degree. It isn't practical for me to change my major to physics as I have already looked into it and it doesn't make financial sense for a person with a family considering how far behind in the game I would already be.It seems to me that you feel that without proper schooling, knowledge about space and time in regards to general relativity is basically overwhelmingly esoteric. I have up to differential equations but not including linear algebra as my formal education in mathematics. I have also had two calculus based intro physics courses that basically went up to special relativity. My question is whether or not I (obviously you don't know me or my potential, this is just generally speaking) have the capability of taking time myself to learn these ideas mathematically and where I should start.Anyone can get textbooks and you have mentioned "Gravitation" before, but all of the books I have seen in my schools library on relativity seem to be further along than I am. I haven't found a copy of Gravitation that I can look through (would like to before forking out all that dough, mostly for shipping ) does it start at the ground floor, or is there another recommended starting point for me like linear algebra, or some other mathematics that explain Riemannian/Minkowski/Lorentzian/etc. concepts and the like? I realize that it takes really smart people like yourself years to even intially understand these ideas, let alone a decade or so to be totally fluent in them. Am I doomed to failure and frustration trying myself or do I stand an outside chance at success?Thanks for any input you can give. I will not have to ask silly layman questions anymore if I am pushed in the right direction.

I really appreciate the guidance and refreshing reassurance you two have given me here. I will try it and use the texts you mention in tandem to try to understand these ideas mathematically. How far off after that is it to having such a commanding perception and interpretation of these things as you two have?

How exciting, I really appreciate your help, thanks.

I received both of the books you two mentioned, Schutz and D'Inverno, and have begun with D'Inverno because it goes over special relativity again. I certainly have not had the detailed explanations of the Lorentz Transformations and such before. I am trying to finish understanding the second chapter right now, not too bad so far. A little stuck on the k-factor, but I think I will get it eventually. Thanks again for the tips guys!

Cavediver: That is my method so far, I have derived all of the equations myself from the given assumptions regarding both the composition law of velocities and the Lorentz Transformations. Its easier to recall the specifics of a situation if you can derive it yourself from reasoning alone rather than just memorization. Thats what intrigues me most about it, it seems the sky is the limit after a good understanding of this material. A lifetime of constant developments and insights into how the universe goes about presenting itself to us.Thanks again both of you.