starting programming

i've taken a passionate interest in programming and yet i'm having trouble getting started. i've learned quite a bit of basic C# (written a half-done Notepad clone, an email spammer, and an IRC bot) but now i'm stuck. i'm also taking a java class in which i learn noting because of the slow pace and outrageous similarity to C#.

1. what kind of programs should a beginner try making to further his/her skills without overwhelming him/her self?
2. should i continue to program C# and java until i've mastered them, or should i take the time for c/c++ right away.
3. what sort of goals should a programmer keep in mind from the start?

>>19
LISP? Because it's the cleanest, purest language to work with, powerful for abstraction, and because 90% of these programming features "modern" languages are introducing (Python, Ruby, Lua, etc.) were features of LISP decades ago.

A. Typing LISP is like typing MAC. Don't do it.
B. Smalltalk is arguably cleaner and purer, with abstractions that are nearly as powerful. You can't make it accept free-form syntax like in Lisp, but other than that's it's very powerful.