Those PDF's are really good.
I remember going through them when I was learning about LCD's.
They tought me everything i needed to know.
I would recomend them too.
I still refer back to to them.
Get your self your breadboard, 44780 type LCD, bunch of resistors, and PIC. Go through those 2 PDF's and you'll be laughing.
Nice circuit Jake! Might I suggest with controlling the LM317 you could have used 2 transistors and a default resistor, instead of 3 transistors.
Besides being simpler it would have a safety advantage, as if the PIC fails or resets (any condition where PIC pins go open circuit) the voltage would be fixed at 12v. With your 3 transistor system the LM317 goes to max output voltage if the PIC is in reset or glitched as it's adj pin loses any reference to ground.