Unless you want to learn both skills at the same time (honing and shaving) I highly recommend sending your razor to one of our honemeisters who will put the correct edge on it. Otherwise you will get into a quandry as to whether your bad shave was the result of incorrect technique or not having the right edge on the razor. Personally, I think the HHT test is used to impress your friends. The only true test for that edge is to shave with it. But, there are others who swear by that test. You will have to decide for yourself if it is worthwhile. I think, at this point in time anyway, you probably don't have enough experience to know if it works for you.

As to the stropping, that is also something you need to learn by experience. It becomes a question of the right pressure to use. You have to have the strop tight enough to not have it bow excessively, but you also don't have to pull it out of the hardware either. You should have enough pressure on the blade to hold it flat on the strop, but nothing more. It is better to start with slow speeds and get your technique right than to try and whip it fast. Sure enough, if you try going too fast at the start, you are going to cut into your strop.

The message here is to take your time. This is about enjoyment, not speed. Your speeds will improve in time...