Thanks madfastride!

I was able to get most of my issues sorted out and 1 of the issues was unrelated (an odd consequence.) Things are back to normal for the most part...

The problem seems to have stemmed from my calling the script before I had uploaded the SQL patches (still not sure if that function in Zen Cart is working as I haven't tried to apply a patch since.) For whatever reason it put a temporary whammy on my MYSQL database/s (must have been some kind of recursive issue that finally timed out, I suspect sessions may have had something to do with it as well.)

Thanks again for your help,

Gary777