Hi Kos:
You're going to get a lot of tips. I'll throw you to a couple threads that have a good summary.
Hobby terminology/acronyms, to help if you're confused:
http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=8752
First is the general thread for newbies:
http://eccie.net/showthread.php?t=178982
(This thread is actually a sticky in this forum, lolol.)
Second is a thread I started when I was a newbie about avoid LE/covering your ass:
http://www.eccie.net/showthread.php?t=308871
Third is the legal forums here. The stickys by ShysterJon are great resources for what the real laws are (in Texas at least) and what to do if you're stopped, etc.:
http://www.eccie.net/forumdisplay.php?f=7
In addition to the above, I suggest registering on one of the prescreened services outside of the US. (Because it's outside of the US, it is significantly harder for LE to compel information in a mass sting operation. P411 is preferred as they claim to destroy your information upon verification. They are hosted out of Canada.
http://www.p411.com) These services are a great way to schedule and search for providers. You can use their provider profiles on these services to see what services they offer and to see links to reviews. As a newbie, I would recommend to stick to well reviewed providers. Look for newbie friendlies. Once you have your first "ok" on the prescreened service, it is significantly easier to find new providers and your options open a lot.
Good luck!