So now that I have been riding for almost 4 months, I have begun to feel comfortable.....feeling comfortable about tackling some bike maintenance type issues. Notice I am not sounding too fully committed?
I decided I wanted to do a complete cleaning, so I found a GREAT article on TE:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/articles/asa_happy.asp
and decided to give it a try (to my BF's dismay of course). But I come from a long line of mechanics, so I'm not too afraid of taking things apart etc. Don't always get them back together....but I digress.

1) Anyhoo - I got the bike on the stand: CHECK
2) Got both wheels off: CHECK
3) Take chain off of bike and let soak: CH- um...I need a chain breaking tool? new pins? huh?
3a) I send IM to BF who is working late - "Do we have a chain breaking tool and new pins?" Response - "Yes, have tool - No, don't have pins - Why are you taking off the chain? It's not dirty enough. Please wait for me to be home."

3b) Go to LBS (whom I purchased bike from), ask about chain breaking tool and new pins - get question "why do you want to take your chain off? Probably don't need to yet"
LBS guy gives me a left over power link from Sachs chain - quick lesson on what a chain breaking tool looks like/ how it works - and I go home.

That's as far as I've got. Why am I getting this reaction? How often am I supposed to do a thorough cleaning? Is it bad to clean your chain too often?