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If you will need MFC etc then I suggest the following:

Split your studying in half.

First, capitalize on your strengths. Learn how to handle the following in VB via *API* calls:

Filling combo boxes
GetOpenFileName: Box that comes up when you click "Browse"
Messaging: Send keystrokes etc to other windows via API (not sendkeys command)
Window Manipulation: Move, resize, minimize the window, move the mouse, etc.
Callbacks: A good example is how to find the address of a function in VBA (an unsupported feature)
Memory Management.

This will give you an understanding of the underlying libraries / GUI.

The other half of your study should focus on the syntax and theory of C++

At some point you'll be ready to merge the two areas of study. Take the concepts you learned with VB and API calls and the C++ syntax and start working on writing simple applications in VC++.

I think this will be much easier then learing the C++ syntax and then trying to learn how to program apps with it. It will give you both C++ and exposure to the concepts of the GUI etc.

I am heading towards the windows mfc stuff, so I think I will try to learn C++ first.

Do you have a good understanding of Object Oriented Programming? It really helps to have the abstract concept (without necessarily having the programming knowledge) before trying to code C++. When I first heard OOP programmers talking it sounded like Charles Manson....inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, etc. But once the abstract concept is clear its easy.

I enjoyed MFC programming a lot. Its just a collection of building blocks that do handy things. Once you use one of the classes you know how to use them all. You just have to read the manual entry for the one you are using to see how to call it.

I was an old mainframe programmer (IBM 360/370 Assembler) and was scared to death of moving over. But I picked it up really quick and you should have a leg up already.

Good luck!