I see a couple of websites that explain some of this:

• http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1856/sql-server-query-execution-plans-in-sql-server-management-studio/
• http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/1873/how-to-read-sql-server-graphical-query-execution-plans/

I also see that Grant has a book on execution plans:

• http://www.sqlservercentral.com/articles/books/65831/

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Anyways, I've now got query down to 15-20 seconds; it looks like I've got some reading to do.

Rob