Ken-

I take you pet peeve to heart. I know that I don't have enough knowledge of
construction trades and techniques to be highly effective; however, as a
generalist, I have to often be a jack-of-all-trades. How can I, an unlettered
preservation yeowoman trained on the job, learn more (with the understanding
that I am not desiring to make myself a "craftsperson" but simply to educate
myself on the basics?) I never went to one of those fancy schmancy HP programs
(for pretty much the reasons itemized on this list, first and foremost being
the l  a  r  g  e tuition costs,) so I can't really comment on what they do or
don't offer; although I do try and audit presentations of people whose work I
admire when I go to conferences and such.

-Heidi