whoah, thanks for all the positive feedback, guys!
no previous experience, consulted sheldons site to double check the leading/trailing elbows in/out stuff and verify that i was doing everything right. really wasnt too bad. for the front at least, i just popped in Blade Runner and kept alternating between radial and lateral truing, and before i knew it it was looking pretty good. mmm, blade runner. the back was a little more challenging, stress relieving the spokes and all (again, thanks sheldon) and there is still a little irregularity by the seam of the rim, but ill live with that.
I was going to put these on the Fuji road conversion (and probably will) but am somewhat apprehensive about exposing these babies to the snow and salt just yet - my current rear wheel and chain are getting eaten alive. everything is brown and noisy. I would love to put them on the steamroller i will probably be getting soon (thanks, you know who) although that will need some cranks too...
i didnt have a tensiometer - it would be nice, but i did it by feel. if the wheel collapses and i die, ill know i did something wrong. or at least the emt's will.

....was that coherent? seņor corona and his friend jose cuervo partied with me this evening. quite the fiesta.