Wow what an experience.  
I had purchased my 96 Jetta VR6 GLX last week and its been sitting waiting to be picked up for the last few days.  I was fed up with waiting for my neighbor to help (was supposed to go with me today) so I went out there at 12 midnight, just a little while ago and picked it up myself.  I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE.
This is where the adventure begins...

I go to the driveway, grab my keys out of the secret spot and start her up.  Starts up fine, I throw it into gear and she pulls away nicely. Easy enough, this isn't hard.  I go to pull into a parking lot to install my plates and registration sticker.  
After putting everything in place I start her up again.  I try to backup so I can get out of this small lot.  The gear wont go in reverse.  I'm not sure if I had to do something special as the knob had on top R 1 3 5 and on the bottom 2 4.  She would not go into R so I had to throw it into Neutral, and push her in reverse.  The Power steering doesn't work unless the car is started so that made things even more interesting.
I get it where I like it and then I start it, throw it in gear and BAM stall.  Try again, same result.  Again, I think I have it.  Car jumps a bit then same old shit.  After 25 minutes of frustration I somehow manage to get it to work.
I thank god for letting me sort of figure it out and I begin to drive away.  Instead of taking the highway which would probably require no shifting once moving, I opted for the street.  Probably the better move because if I stalled out there I probably wouldn't be typing this right now.
I ride down old country road from Melville where it begins, and manage to hit no lights for a good 10-15 minutes.  Smooth sailing or so I thought.

I run into Newbridge road and my tactic of slowing down 1/2 mile before the red light and giving barely enough gas to run in 2nd gear isn't working.  The light hasn't changed yet.  
I sit for 3 lights to switchover before I finally get moving again.
This happens again a bit later at Glen cove road and old country road.  Stuck there till some guy who recognized me from school (never saw this guy before in my life) came over and sort of gave me a quick lesson while sitting over in the next lane.  I then manage to get it going, but not at a nice gradual speed but peeling out from the intersection.  I get it in 2nd and make it almost all the way home, to Hempstead tpke and new hyde park road.  I stall again for about 5 minutes and then magically it works, again peeling out.

Made it home safely, learned a few things.
-Once you get out of 1st its all easy.
-Cars can make the oddest squeaking noises.
-It is so much more fun than an automatic.
-Reading all the internet manuals on driving stick is useless without hands on experience.
-Never rely on your neighbor to help you out.
-I am too stubborn and impatient.
-I will probably need a new clutch if this keeps up.
-I never "rode the clutch at all" (did something right)
-I should've hopped over to the next town and asked Chrisle to explain this to me since he has the same car.
-Tomorrow will be even more interesting.
-Shifting at 3k-3500 seemed smoother than at 2500 rpm.
-Downshifting is easy.
-Upshifting is easier.
-The hazard lights are my friend.
-Radios are a distraction.  (good thing no cell phone)
-I'm tired and its time for bed.

Any comments,remarks,criticisms, tips on how to shift properly pertaining from going N-1 or N-R would be appreciated.

I'm out to sleep, got to get up early to figure this out.

Thanks for the tip.  This was one of those learning experiences you never forget.  

I went to the Gas station then to the park for 2 hours this morning.  What you described is exactly my problem.  I was going off the clutch too quickly and not letting it catch.  Last night I was peeling out like crazy, this morning I got it down to a nice smooth acceleration.  I was stalling like crazy at first and then found the position of the pedal where the tranny catches into gear.  From then on my percentage of Winning against the tranny increased.  MY best was 16 in a row without a stall.  I knew when I was going to stall because I felt my foot moving too slowly.  I think another hour or so and I will have it down to where I can be confident I will not get stuck at any lights.  
I also found out that the neutral gear is like a reset button.  If I feel it starting to go on the wrong track getting out of first I throw it in N and restart.  Works like a charm.
Got the reverse down to.  All I had to do was push down.  It doesn't seem  as bitchy as 1st gear either.  
The slightest bit of forward momentum seems to make a difference