I'm up for a trip to Cali. anytime
Here are a few things I tell my students:
If you have a camera that gives you a choice between total automatic (the green box on Canons) and some control, choose some control. Always. (P on a Canon)
Learn to shoot in manual mode by experimentation, but once you learn it, learn that you can shoot in any mode that will get you the end result you want and that allows you some control.
Learn about exposure compensation. When shooting in AV or TV modes, using EC makes it just about like manual mode, except you have one less setting to think about. I actually use Aperture Priority a lot because I have a lot of little customers who move FAST and dang if they won't stay in the same light I put them in! And I can change that exposure compensation setting super fast.
Learn to use your histogram. It REALLY helps! It tells you if your losing all detail in whites or blacks (clipping) and makes it easy to know how to adjust your settings.
But don't get so hung up on using manual, AV, etc. that you aren't having fun! Experiment and learn but don't miss the shots you want because you were busy trying to figure out manual.