>>OOish way is to create 'application' object based on custom class with set of properties and methods. These properties will work as FPW public variables and methods will perform role of system procedures.
>
>I understand OO in C++ and with forms in VFP, but I'm having trouble
>with the concept of how to create a non-visual object that I can assign values to that will be available throughout the application.

There are two ways to create object based on custom (non-visual) class. You can either
do this programmatically using DEFINE CLASS and CREATEOBJECT() (this code can be placed into your start prg file);
or
use Class Designer to create Custom Class and then add this class into Form Designer for any form it's needed.