Hey there Cookieguy07!
I say, let your first ride be to your LBS and have them inspect your bike for safety. Next, I would suggest that you join the nearest bicycle co-op, so that you may learn how to fix, maintain, and upgrade your own bike.
Become familiar with bus and train routes, so that you can travel greater distances in shorter amounts of time using regional motorized transit options, besides an automobile. Many bus companies these days have bike racks attached to their buses front bumpers. This can be a really convenient way to commute!
Also, you may want to invest in a bicycle computer (a cyclometer) that can record your current speed, your average speed, your trip distance, and the total mileage your bike has traveled since you've owned it (an odometer). You might even want one that records your rpms, or cadence. Make certain that your cyclometer is waterproof and has a clock too!
Additionally, you should consider buying a helmet and some gloves too, just in case you should suffer a fall, or some kinda collision or mishap. The gloves will serve as both extra cushion for riding comfort and as a protective covering for your skin. It's better that your gloves get all ripped up, instead of your skin. Gloves are real skin savers!
Finally, you're going to need some extra added safety and emergency equipment. Therefore, purchase a tire repair kit, a couple extra tubes, a bright headlight and a flashing rear red light, just in case you get a flat near dusk and be forced to ride in the dark.
You really should practice replacing old tubes with new tubes, before venturing out. That way, fixing a flat while you're cycling won't be nearly as stressful!
Use hand signals, if riding on the roads, just as if you were driving...
Good Luck!
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