Thanks for all the replies.  The general consensus seems to be that I won't get majorly lost (picture cartoon character crawling through desert on Looney Tunes).  Time to start logging miles and doing a few multi day trips on the east coast.

2014 won't be my year.  My best friend and I have wanted to race the divide since 2004 or 2005 and the stars may finally align for 2015. 

Can one of the veterans give me some insight into navigation.  I can read a map (and have not seen the ACA map in person, just the cover of it), but wonder if one of you could give a general overview of how the cue sheets are written or how I actually ensure that I am still on the trail and haven't severely swerved off course.  I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out, but would love a bit of reassurance that it isn't too difficult.  Navigation is really my only concern since I just keep picturing myself helplessly lost.  Haven't fully planned my gear choices or food situation, but that worries me much less.