Dumpster Dive: retrieved the towell,SR, strop...2nd try

Armed with enough encouragement to last a lifetime (thanks all), I took the plunge. OK, not a dumpster, just the trash can. With my shave items neatly arranged back in the bathroom, I set out on a second try. Results as promised:

Both cheeks, upper lip (not near nose...to chicken) and some chin. No nicks, cuts or errors, and a great sense of accomplishment.

Chest swollen with pirde, cleaned up and went to strop....oops blade the wrong way...slice!!!! Idiota!! Fortunately it was on the practice strop I bought from Lynn!!

Now...I have even more questions than before.
1. Did slicing my strop affect the blade? Anything more than correct stropping will fix?
2. After my deft move, I decided I was going to practice stropping..and since I have but one SR (an Original Wap from Ken Rupkalvis) I practiced on it. Can I over strop? Tried to be gentle with the pressure...but gee, I am a beginner and I really have no frame of reference.
3. I noticed that when I tried shaving my chin, near end of my recent successful foray, the razor pulled. I didnt get agressive for, well obvious reasons. Didnt seem to pull down my cheeks. So, I wonder if I did this stropping and cutting my strop (thin slice and a few nicks at the turn around), and what do I do. Will try another shave soon. Ken gives re-hones in first 3 months (whatta deal) and I could send and ask him for feedback. I could buy some hones and really screw the thing up....but gonna do that eventually I figure (wanna learn the whole shebang like my shave idols here). Suggestions?
4. Gotta get another razor...figure I will send this for honing after I've....well, read above. Wanna keep at it while its in the razor hospital, so a 2nd sr (3rd, 4th, 5th.......) is/are needed? I've read suggestions before...but what should be on my list? Cant be too fancy or my wife will know that I didnt spend $25. Figure to spend $125 or less. Source for your suggestions (how I found RupRazor).
5. Any honemeisters in Central or Eastern PA?

Thanks again. Love the SRP and the fun I'm having.

Jim

If I had th cash I'd get this

Vintage Straight Razors - Joh. Engström - Sweden - 5/8 - Faux Tortoise

Do you have a microscope? It's pretty much impossible to determine the extent of any damage (if any...normally a strop nick doesn't hurt the blade too much) without magnification.

If not the only advice I have is to strop the heck out of it and see if it improves. I'd try 50 laps on the linen and 100 on the leather and see how it shaves. I'd try this twice before sending it out for a re-hone.

As for aquiring another razor I'd peruse the review section of the forum and see if anything strikes your fancy.