I did the research and it took me darn near a year and about 10 trips to the North Dayton Garden Center, but I finally picked out my Bonsai...... she is about 8yrs old, and I love her already.

I also bought a newborn to see what I can do with one "from the start".

Anyway, I look forward to learning a lot and sharing my progress with everyone. Here are some pics if anyone is interested:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aidenmichael/sets/72157629646893391/

One thing you might want to give a try to help you learn how to care for it is to do some bonchi as well.

http://www.fatalii.net/growing/index.php?option=com_content&task=view& id=95&Itemid=105

That site will give you the basics on it. Essentially though, you use fast growing chile peppers to get a good looking bonsai shape in a single season that would take a tree years to obtain. You can then tend it and shape it just like any other bonsai, use the same soil mixture, etc.

That way you can practice new techniques on the bonchi without risking the more expensive/time consuming/important bonsai. After all, if your experimental soil mix turns out to be bad, or the place you're keeping it doesn't get enough sun, etc, all you've really lost is a few month's of growtime. Just wait until next year and make a new one. Plus, you know, you get peppers to eat while you wait. ;)