What's the best pick for my first welder?

For a beginner the better machine you have the easier it is going to be to learn. You want something with infinite speed and voltage gcontrol so you can get it dialed in. Starting off with a machine that has only a couple of taps to select your range will make it difficult to determine if you really are that bad or if it is a machine.
Eastwood has a decent one for a affordable beginner price.
Eastwood MIG 135 110v MIG Welder - Eastwood