Woot representing Canada!!
If you ever want a partner to BR with, I'm down, man. I was in the same boat as you, and just taking time off from PT and just drilling and really focusing on my mistakes has helped me tremendously.
Don't skip around. Some of the longer passages are actually easier than the shorter ones. Similarly, some of the science passages are easier than the law passages. Your best bet is to complete RC in the regular order.
I too will be 37 in November. Man, with a full time job and a life full of sh*t going on it's tough to put the 4+ hours a day I need to study... Anyhow, just venting.
Good luck man (or woman). Just make sure you update us at the end of November with your last 5 PT average so we can see if you lived up to your own hype. You'll understand soon enough
I would not skip around. It would just take more time for you to be using actually getting to work. And... either way.... short or long, you'll be shooting to read all of them regardless.
I would say go in order (save the best for last!). Alternatively, skip the first two episodes, but John WIlliams' music is just too amazing to skip episode III.