So the previously mentioned 3 months is just a guess?  It is random? Like it could be "tomorrow" or "next December"?  I am sorry if it is an idiot question... I am trying to figure all this out myself...

I started out joining a pool about a week ago myself.  I have netted about a whole BitPenny so far... so, at the rate I am going, will have a whole BTC in about a year...