How to use Lightroom in general?

Hi!
I'm new to Lr. I've been using RawShooter for years.
I'm trying to use Lr 3, but I keep getting frustrated: from RawShooter, I'm used to the following workflow:
1.) Point to the source directory
2.) Develop images
3.) Pick up developed images from the output directory.
In Lr, I'm supposed to import images (where to?), then develop them, then export them. I'm supposed to use a catalog, but what's the point? I keep my photos in neatly organized file system directories, I don't need a catalog, do I?
When I start import, sometimes it works, some oter times I can choose a directory, but the Import button is disabled. I have pictures from 5 days, in 5 separate directories. I successfully imported the first and the last, but can't imports the other 3. Why?!
When I export, I'm lost: what images get exported? How do I choose the directory / set of photos I want to export? How do I resize images (a lot of them, to a preset size)?
First, I'd like to do the basics: correct exposure and contrast values. In RawShooter, I pressed the CTRL key, and the tool displayed all over- and underexposed parts of the picture. This is not available in Lr.
The UI is so unfriendly, it does not point me in the direction I should follow - I can't find my way.
There must be a standard routine for these tasks, can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
B

Adding to what Jim Hess and dj-paige said, and since you asked:
Importing images: Lr is not a browser based program. Browser based programs "see" whatever images are on your hard drive, irrespective by what means or by which program they were put there.
Adobe Bridge is a such a browser based program. Lr is different: In order for Lr to work with images and "know" where your images are, they have to be imported. This does not mean that the image file goes "into" Lr - as some beginners seem to think - think of this importing as an introduction. Lr needs to be introduced to your images by importing them. As long as an image is not imported, it does not exist for Lr. This is an important principle. Think of Lr as an old English aristocrat: As long asyou are not introduced to him/her you don't exist.
Importing is done in the import dialog that comes up when you click on <import> in the Library Module. When images are imported, Lr builds a data base for these images. In Lr-speak this data base is called the "catalog". The catalog is in a file that is separate and in a different location than your images. Everything that you do in Lr is stored in the catalog, and you do not have to hit <Save>. It goes automatically. Since everything is stored in the catalog, it is as important as your image files.
I would also recommend to watch some of the tutorial videos that Adobe ha sput on their website. See here:
http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom/
http://tv.adobe.com/show/adobe-evangelists-julieanne-kost/
http://tv.adobe.com/show/learn-lightroom-3/

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