I found myself in a similar situation to you a while back, although granted I was a little younger, I used the All-in-One book but that is way too big to carry around, perhaps look on Amazon for the Sybex A+ Study Guide, as for the employment situation you appear to have a good level of experience and certs are just there to evidence that knowledge and experience, something to consider is that A+ is an entry level cert and as such that should be taken into consideration when looking at new roles, I recruit help desk staff occasionally in my current company, and when I see someone in your position who is studying or has passed A+ regardless of age I see it as a plus because it already shows me as an employer that this person is prepared to make the effort to improve themselves and is prepared to invest in their own future,
Comments
I found myself in a similar situation to you a while back, although granted I was a little younger, I used the All-in-One book but that is way too big to carry around, perhaps look on Amazon for the Sybex A+ Study Guide, as for the employment situation you appear to have a good level of experience and certs are just there to evidence that knowledge and experience, something to consider is that A+ is an entry level cert and as such that should be taken into consideration when looking at new roles, I recruit help desk staff occasionally in my current company, and when I see someone in your position who is studying or has passed A+ regardless of age I see it as a plus because it already shows me as an employer that this person is prepared to make the effort to improve themselves and is prepared to invest in their own future,
I wish you the very best of luck
Carl