Rick … your question covers a lot of ground.
Before you get near a live table, you should have a basic game plan in mind. You do not want to slow the game down too much, or be too nervous. When new to live action stick to what is called “ABC Poker”, nothing fancy.
Bet sizing is one of the most difficult aspects, because it was not an option in Limit hold-em. Always know WHY you are betting, that will determine your bet sizing.
For example: Big pocket pairs play best short handed, so your pre-flop objective is to thin the field. Speculative hands want to see a cheap flop and should be played with multiple opponents. The point is, size your bet based on how you want your opponents to respond.
Pre-flop the majority of your hands should be folded – boring but true.
When you feel comfortable (don’t wait too long), then become aware of more advanced concepts and terminology — +EV, “m”, effective stack size.