Installing new shocks questions/tips???

Breaks are next. Thanks again for being helpful and not teasing the new guys. :)
No point served in doing that. All of us were newbies at some point. I'm glad that you want to learn and that you've come here for a little schooling.

Definitely use jackstands when working under a lifted car. Suggest that you lift the entire rear of the car when doing the rear brakes. Pull both drums off, but only work on one side at a time. The other side is a reference for the inevitable WTF does this go question.

Same deal on the fronts if they are drums. If disks, remember to leave the calipers on the car until after you retract the piston(s) into the caliper before removing the caliper. Finish the job on one side and at least get the caliper with new linings over the disk before going to the other side.