[Q] Need some clarification on a couple of things regarding my rooted Mesmerize

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Ok, I've got to ask this, even though I know it could probably be pieced together with just the right posts from the forum here. But I've got several mental issues, one of those being comprehending at times, and also I have a bad problem with wording sometimes. So if I can't find all the information I need in a single place (maybe two lol), then the chances of me screwing something up are immensely increased. So please just bear with me, and lemme see if I can spit this out as simply as possible.

I've just rooted my USCC Mesmerize with SuperOneClick, so now I need to know some things. Forgive me if they seem out of order at all, but just gonna ask as they come to my mind.

1. I wanted to install the Voodoo kernel. Do I have to flash a custom ROM before I can do this, or can I do it just by rooting the phone and having all the OEM software untouched?
2. I'm pretty sure that no matter what I choose to do next, that I first need to do a full back-up of my phone in case of error. I saw the post mentioning the install of Titanium Backup and then ROM Manager. Before I go and install anything, I just wanna make sure that it IS one of those 2 apps that I'm supposed to use to make that initial back-up. And if not, what app would it be?
3. I know that CWM has to be installed sometime also. Also in the same post I mentioned above, the OP stated "In ROM Manager I did "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" and chose the Fascinate option and was told that it downloaded the latest ClockworkMod Recovery.". So what I now need to clarify is this. Does ROM Manager just download the newest ClockworkMod Recovery files and then I have to install them manually via the forum sticky, or does it download AND install them completely for me?
4. And I've seen/heard a lot all night as I've been researching about Nandroid back-ups. But am unclear at this point as to which app is responsible for making those. Not sure if it's one I've already mentioned above, or a totally different one I may have missed. So help there would also be much appreciated.

At this moment, I think those are all the questions I really need a little more clarity on. Other than that, I think I can handle it by myself for the time being. And thank you again for bearing with me as I learn my way around a little bit more. I chose this forum out of all the others I stumbled across last night due to the level of professionalism I've seen so far here. I just wish the other Dev forum I've been a member of for a long time had the same level of professionalism that I've seen here so far lol.

lets try this again...

1. first thing you need to do is flash cwm on your phone...follow the directions on the page...link : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=850898

2. figure out what Rom you wanna flash...link : http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=890

3. finally...flash the voodoo kernel onto your phone and make sure to get the one for the mesmerize...link : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=871915

4. as far as backing up you can use titanium or flash your mesmerize back to stock...link : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=881064

all this worked well for me and i hope it works just as well or better for you!

I hate to say this, but you confused the hell out of me and I've written a lot of how-to's on every one of these subjects.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

1. Install RomManager from the marketplace. Then, in RomManager, install ClockworkMod Reocvery. However, you need to follow the steps in the CWM thread to get it to work correctly.

2. After you have clockworkmod recovery working, do a Nandroid backup. You can do this from RomManager and should. Titanium backups are for apps and such.

3. After you backup immediately flash the Voodoo kernel for the Mesmerize with Voodoo Sound. It's great! But more importantly, it flashes a 'permanent' recovery onto your phone so you can boot straight into a functional recovery and not have to use ODIN.

4. Find ROMs you like and install them. Make sure you always wipe your data before a ROM flash. When you want to go back to your stock ROM, just restore your backup from the recovery.

Note, after you install the Voodoo kernel it will take a while to boot because it is converting your phone's filesystem. Once you have Voodoo enabled you should not flash another kernel unless you turn off the Voodoo lagfix. This can be done in recovery menu it provides.