Ok so I got my Dubl Duck Goldedge (thanks rrp1501!), my C&E Best Badger, my kickass honeybee shave bowl (surprisingly they look like a matching set...) and samples of the C&E Nomad cream and the C&E Naturals cream. Also big thanks to gugi for all the advice in this process.

So my first try...I started on the left side WTG since I'm left dominant. I think I was too afraid so while I cleaned off the lather pretty well I shaved nothing. I was also a little off-put b/c I was using the Naturals cream and it didn't lather up very much at all...also my face felt like fire (if you like menthol good God try this stuff).

Second (and the actual real first) attempt: Used the whole sample of Nomad, since this was the appropriate amt. according to the wiki, also modified my hold on the razor based on the wiki.

First pass still a little nervous, don't think I stretched the skin well enough on this pass. Went really well on the left side on the second pass, felt much more confident and was actually taking off whiskers. Got a little dicey on the neck...definitely not a consistent result but at least I didn't cut myself (no real blood, just a superficial scratch) which was my most important concern.
My real problem was with the right side which I couldn't do worth a damn. I tried switching hands but that was a bad idea no soft control on the right hand; so I used the left hand but I felt like I was blocking my view I guess that will be an issue of practice. Got my chin and upper lip but definitely not close or well, just tried to get a feel.

Overall I felt successful given that the lather was definitely in line on the second go: thick and creamy, not runny but not sticky. Also, the shave on the left side felt as close as I would get with any other implement (i.e. w/o an ATG pass) and I got a feel for the right pressure level without cutting myself. So overall a pleasant and interesting first go at it.

Concerns:

My beard is thickest on the neck (if I grew a beard it would be a Jonathan Frakes neck beard hehe) so this may pose a difficult learning curve as I had a lot of trouble stretching the skin given the slickness of the cream / wet face. Also navigating the multiple growth patterns was tough.

Right side - not even sure how I will get this side shaved. I feel awkward reaching over with the left hand but right hand seems incapable of the soft motions necessary to not gouge myself.

Finally - afraid of stropping before my next shave b/c I don't want to screw my edge up....I wonder if someone in Boston would be willing to give a stropping lesson to a couple of newbs...