Good news all around! Glad to hear from you Zman, and to hear that you've rounded the bend on the health challenges AND gotten back into playing. I finally got tired of the lick-playing-only stage and started to be convinced that all of us git players like the idea of the 'screaming solo', but that the majority of playing in reality is rhythm. One great way into that, and into learning interesting and useful chords in a blues context (all of which combine a rhythm part and licks/solos) was lessons like Robert's 'Bar Blues', 'Hendrix chording lesson' and 'Rhythm-Licks 4'. Another favorite is David Hamburger's Truefire course 'Blues Alchemy'.

Rev - this says it all: "For the first time in a long time I really want to play!" Bravo!