I need some basic questions answered about XP bridging

If anyone has any good links that explain how routers, bridging, and networking works, please put the links in this thread. I'm new to networking and would like to learn as much as I can since I have no clue about any of it.
Here's the deal, I have a Motorola Surfboard Modem that hooks to a Netgear router, then one ethernet cable goes from my router to my laptop, then I have a second NIC slot in my laptop that has a crossover cable to my Xbox with the built-in Windows XP bridge. The reason I have it this way is because I'm bridging my laptop with my Xbox when I play Xbox Live.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just trying to figure this out. So my ISP provides my modem with an IP address, that goes to my router which in turn makes multiple IP addresses available. My laptop is getting an IP from the router and with the laptop bridged to the Xbox, they have the exact same IP address, gateway, subnet, and DNS when online? So if I want to know what my IP address is when I'm playing Xbox live, all I have to do is look up under Network Connections, then just get the details on my Network Bridge? I haven't tried this yet but with my bridge, can I get on the internet via my laptop and Xbox Live at the same time?
Sorry for the newb questions, just trying to learn.