--- Quote Start ---
I'll give it a read. hopefully I can take something interesting away from this.
--- Quote End ---
You could also try and come up with an HDL design that you think is interesting, or is useful to you, and come up with a "design description", post that along with how you think you'd implement it either in HDL or a schematic. The ultimate goal would be to simulate the design in Modelsim as well as synthesize it in Quartus (along with pin and timing constraints). That'll give you a "real-world" reference design that is meaningful to you. Once you have your first design, and an appropriate design sequence, others will follow much easier.
Cheers,
Dave