It is going very slow...!

I have the set at my other place and I am there only some of the time, I need to set some time aside just for practice, as after a day's work, I do not have the juice to get to it.
I work on my rudiments separately, on a practice pad. I hit the local libraries and got me some fundamental DVDs from (the late) Joe Morello and Tommy Igoe to study from. Goal is to get the simple, rock beat down fairly well, natural, with punch, then add variations (4 on the floor, etc), flourishes, move rudiments around the kit.

I have not changed anything yet on the set, and still working on getting a comfortable position. I need a boom stand to bring the ride closer. Still not happy with the its sound (ZBT), so it will be the first thing to get upgraded.
I got and like the 7As sticks as you recommended, yet, I naturally go back to the 5As...

I now get a kick out of watching local bands' drummers working, specifically ignoring the (guitar) lead parts, which feels odd..!

EDIT to add: I just noticed that the stats say the thread was read 400 times! Odd.