[fpc-pascal] Starting out with Free Pascal

[Bill]

Hello,

I'm absolutely new to this list... and to Pascal. I was getting pretty 
good with Foxpro programming when MS bought and then changed the 
program, eventually to kill it.  I see the need to get back into 
programming and I remember a Foxpro instructor saying that Pascal was 
similar. So here are my initial questions:
Should I learn study FPC first and then move on to Lazarus, or just 
start with Lazarus?
What books would you suggest?
My interest is still in databases. Anything else I should know about 
pointing myself in that direction?

Thanks.
Bill
Minden, NV