No, not pathetic at all. Daniel Boone/ Davy Crocket freezing to death at 40 degrees with fire starting supplies might be pathetic, but taking more than a few min. to start your first fire is nothing to be ashamed of.

My "first fire" required "BoyScoutWater"!!! It takes a bit of knowledge and experience to become comfortable with firemaking.

You are off to a good start, unfortunately, without someone about to show you - you must learn on your own......Watching is magic, but learning from discription makes the knowlege truly your own. Just try..once a day, or once a week...Pretty quick you will have the knack, and will be able to start a fire with only the basics - wind - wet - cold - be damned..... You already know the basic principal, now put it into practice, and practice.......and then you can make a fire whenever, whearever......and pathetic can be reserved for other things..Ok?