hey. thanks again for the tips. Right now I probably have less than 100 miles on the bike/saddle so obviously I should give it some time. I went to the bike shop yesterday and the wrench there was very cool, very helpful. I noticed that the saddle was all the way up on the rails...thus, in my 'normal' sitting position, my sit bones where really just hanging off the edges of the nose (right about where it starts to taper into the body of the saddle.)
I've moved it up a bunch and it's already much better. I think I could stand to move it up a bit more but I will make microadjustments as needed. Sure, the saddle is still hard as a rock but now i'm more willing to give it a shot with my sit bones on the wider part of the saddle.
If, after a while, I still feel it's just too much, I'll look into another saddle. I think it makes sense to try adjustments before shelling out $100 on another part.
now i need to get myself a cyclocomputer....!