New to blogging...a challenge

While I have kept an online journal of sorts for years, I have just recently created a blog. I'm amazed at how connected the blogging community is, yet I seem to find it hard to get fully plugged in.

Questions fill my head like:
Which blogs should be daily reads, and which are just filler?
How do I become connected into the blogging community?
Why do they add salt to my Smuckers "Natural" peanut butter?

So here is my challenge, I know there are enough long-timers out there like BlogMomma (Sue's place), Ed Cone, and many others that we can get a decent "how to" posting going. Give us the information!

I will at least keep a running post with this same title that will map my progress as I enter the blogging world.