I'd start with C, and leave all the object oriented stuff out. C is a procedural language just the same as VB, so I think they parallel better. Then when you're comfortable with C, you can figurte out all the class stuff.
I learned C from the C for Dummies books (which I highly recommend). It makes it highly entertaining. Of course, you probably know most of the programming things it'll teach you already, you jsut don't know the syntax for them.