Hi blazer7
I'm new to this forum, and it seems great. I'm not so new to brewing, been doing it for 4 years and making mead longer and my girlfriend has been a mead maker for 20 years. One thing no one has mentioned yet: take lots of notes. I have old fashioned notebooks and just do a new page for each brew. Keep track of ingredients, times temp, gravities: everything. I have never regretted writing too much but have regretted forgetting to write something down when recreating a favorite. Don't forget to write tasting notes when you try it and ideas for improvements. Also, its fun to buy a good example of the type of beer you are making and drink it on brew day and beyond so you have a good comparison when done.
Don't get stressed about sanitation, its easy. Clean everything well when your done and sanitation is a snap when your brewing/ bottling. The crucial point is when you are transferring cooled wort into the fermenter and pitching yeast. Other than that your dealing with boiling liquid and alcohol so, for the most part, no worries!
And as a Red Sox fan, the longer the wait, the sweeter the victory!