Good to see you back, campy. Even better that you got your kit and started playing it.
You've been given some solid advice so far, and I hope you take the time to read through the thread again, ask any questions you may have, and benefit from what's been said.
If you're serious about learning how to drum, do take some lessons. Without any, chances are you'll either hinder your ability to develop in short order or injure yourself in due time. There is a wrong way to play the drums that is not only unmusical, but of little help in developing your playing. Unfortunately, bad drumming habits are easy to develop, and sometimes harder to break. A good teacher will make sure you don't develop them from the start. As Odd-Arne said,
there is no substitute for lessons. And please, please, as johnweasly said, do not worry about speed. Focusing on speed off the bat is a great way to quickly develop those habits. Like he said, take it (actually, take
everything you learn) slow, and concentrate on "keeping everything nice and even". Speed will come, it's a natural by-product of
proper control.
If you can't take lessons, I recommend you get Tommy Igoe's
Great Hands for a Lifetime and spend a few months studying and working through the first chapter "Basics" alone. I also recommend you get George Marsh's
Inner Drumming - it's more of a conceptual approach to playing the drums, but having made some assumptions based on what you've posted, I think it may be well suited for you. Of course, do get some more formal learning material on how to play the kit. You could do worse than the books in the Alfred's drumset method series, so perhaps start with those. Also, always practice to a click or music with a solid rhythm section.
You're going to get more good advice, so don't hesitate to ask questions - they're bound to arise, and the folks on here are here to answer them. And I think we're all in agreement that, above all, have fun. Truly. Drums are a blast to play, and even more of a blast once you start to really get it. Just take your time and do it the right way. I assure you, you'll get better faster that way.
And don't worry about speed.
People get caught up in the techniques, grooves, speeds and fancy footwork and sometimes forget that you're there to make music.
Something my last teacher tried to teach me during my first lesson. Took a lot longer than it should have for me to learn it.
