First topic on here

I recently started a new interest in chess back in May 2011 after reading (a hobby of mine) Endgame: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall - from America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness. I had a brief non-serious interest in 2004 (when I was 14).

I am very serious about playing chess, since I really like brain exercising activites (hence my reading hobby).I have thus far, finished the "academy" on Chessmaster, and reviewed alot of grandmaster games. Currently, finishing Logical Chess: Move by Move and have plans to delve into numerous other chess books. Of course, I played alot of chess against the computer. The highest rating I have beaten is 2143 (against computer)

I play against mostly older men (I am 20, most of them 40-60) who played chess for many years, in fact they play everyday. Kind of an obsession with them.What frustrates me is that I make blunders or I put up a good fight. I have beaten most of them once. They are older men. I lose most of them.

I have noticed that my understanding of the game has improved. I would often be defending layer after layer of attacks in the past. But now, I realized counter-attacking is the best defense.

Can anyone share me their stories of hard beginnings? Do I just possess no chess accumen? I got a 1365 rating according to some chess rating test.