Reflecting on Web Design

My goal in web design is to become more knowledgeable in the field.  At this point I have no real interest in becoming a professional web designer but do think it is important to have a background in the field.  On the other hand, I do want to take the leisurely approach to web design to create my own websites or blogs. 

At this point I have several interests in web design.  I would include graphic design to my list of interests because I believe that visual design is a weak area for me and I must improve on it.  Therefore, having the opportunity to improve my visual design skills through web design will only help me to improve in the area.  I would also like to include Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to my list of interest as well because of its relation to graphic design and also having consideration to how the web page will be viewed.  I recently learned that a web designer must remember their audience and how the audience will view my web pages, whether that is from a computer, hand held device, or cellular phone. 
One more area of interest in web design is also JavaScript. I want to continue to learn and implement diverse forms of interactivity and behaviors into my web page.  I will continue my research into this area because the viewer of my web page could disable the JavaScript on my page through the use of their web browser.

My current skills that I have that will be useful for me creating web pages are my openness to learn web design and my general interest in it.  I would also include some of my experiences using Dreamweaver and different graphics software like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Elements.  But as I stated before there is more that I can learn even with the programs I do have experience with. 

The skills in web design that I need to brush up on is, as I stated before, graphic design.  I never had a real interest in this area and now starting to learn the importance of graphic design. 
I definitely need to improve my skills of HyperText Markup Language (HTML), eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML), and eXtensible Markup Language (XML).

The hardware tools that I already have for web design include:
            -  A solid, up-to-date computer
            -  Extra Memory (4 gigs)
            -  A large Monitor (24in)
            -  A scanner and/or digital camera

The only software that I have is the default program that came with my computer (Microsoft Windows Movie Maker)

The tools that I need to buy to help improve my web design skills include the software of:
            -  TextPad
            -  Adobe (Macromedia) Homestyle
            -  Adobe Photoshop
            -  Adobe (Macromedia) Flash
            -  File Transfer Program

The tools I would like to buy eventually includes:
            -  A second computer (MAC) as my test computer on a different platform.
            -  Adobe Photoshop Elements