Thanks pinklather for the tips as well. I'd like to think that the blade isn't dull already... I've only shaved twice and although I probably didn't have a great stropping technique, I did strop it only three different times, making sure to keep the blade very light and flat with the spine touching.
Thanks for the offer to sharpen it, but I actually live on the east coast, far away from Vancouver, although my barber told me yesterday that there's a guy called Mr. Edge that comes to the farmer's market downtown once a week that could hone my razor for a price. But I also have a coupon from SRD for a free honing when I do need it. I'm definitely not going to hone it myself until I really know what I'm doing and even then I'll practice first on a less expensive razor.
As for nicks and cuts, is a stylic pencil enough or should I put neosporin on it too? It's not like they hurt or anything and none of the cuts are deep at all. Just got kind of a lengthy one on my cheek when I was doing a pass against the grain and coupled with a slightly trembling hand and frustrations at the "pulling," I sliced into the skin a bit.
And yeah, you're right I did rush into the procedure and did about 90% of my face at first when I should have just done the side burns and cheeks, but going with the grain was so easy and the neck was way easier than I thought it would be - absolutely no cuts on the neck, I just didn't get a really close shave. So I'll ease back a bit and forget about doing the chin and some other problem areas until I get used to it more.
Also had an additional question about the lather, as I want to get it just right. I got one of those soaps from SRD and I have a mug, but I can't take the soap out of the plastic jar it came in and put in the mug like suggested, so what should I do? I've just been kind of making the lather in the soap jar directly and holding it so it drips in the mug, but that doesn't seem right at all.