The Power of smiles plus some basic how to computer advice
Well, I started out to put a post here, so let me finish that and then I'll try to answer Reuben's question about how to pm multiple folks...
Here's a very interesting talk on the Power of Smiling, which I think is a very appropriate topic for this thread!
Now that Reuben has a computer at his disposal, I think he really might enjoy listening to/watching TED talks. Reuben, you are one smart cookie, so don't let all the scientific topics put you off, it's just fascinating new research and thinking on a wide variety of different subjects! You can watch them free on the computer like radio or t.v.
Here's the smiley one:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling.html
I think just clicking on that link should get you there. Click on the little arrow on the lower left hand side of the window to begin to play/download. It may pause until fully loaded or start and stop, depending on how powerful your computer is. It's a short and fun talk!
Reuben, I can think of two options for multiple postings of pms. I'm sure others could advise you much better than I.
1. You are allowed to put up to 5 different names in the address bar when you send a pm, so wait until you have more than one name and send it out to multiple people at once. Or, once you have written a pm it gets saved to your sent file, maybe you have to click on a box to save it, I can't remember if it's automatic. Anyway, you could retrieve your pm from the sent file, and just re-send it with a new name in the address (send to) box.
Do you know how to copy text yet? I can tell you how using a mouse, not sure if your computer uses that or other adaptive technology. I can't tell you how just by using the keyboard, but there are keyboard commands for doing the same action.
To copy text: Put the cursor (the little flashing upright line) just to the left of the first letter of whatever you want to copy. You can move the cursor around by moving the mouse which will show a big capitol I image floating around on top of the typed text, move it to just where you want the cursor to be, and then click once on the left button. I'll bet you've discovered how to do this already.
Then push and hold the left button (we say, "left click") that's at the top of your mouse, right under your finger. Push and hold it down and then drag the highlighted part across the line of text over the page that you wish to copy. It will be "highlighted" or turn dark, you can lower it on the page (to do a whole paragraph or big block of text) just by lowering the mouse.
Moving in small increments has a big effect, and it takes some time to be able to control the mouse movements easily. My hands don't always work too well, so sometimes I have to do these steps over, so be patient with yourself while you're learning these new skills.
Once the text you want to copy or move is highlighted then you hold the mouse very still and right click, a little window will pop up on the screen with commands, click on "cut", then put your cursor in the new place you want the text to appear and right click again to put the cursor there, like in an empty pm window, and then right click again with the mouse held still. The little window pops up again, click on "paste". And bingo! Your text magically appears in the new location. You can also click on "copy" which will just duplicate your highlighted text without removing it from the original location. i copy stuff all the time to move it around.
I hope this hasn't been too wordy and has been a bit helpful. I acquired all my computing skills by the bumble-around-and-learn method, and I've been very grateful over the years for people who have patiently explained to me how to do things.
Please forgive me if you are already well beyond needing this information and are well past the kindergarten stage of computing skills! No offense meant!
2. As you don't know in advance who or how many folks would like to hear your OT story, it might be simplest just to "copy" and "paste", insert the text of your "letter" with the story, for a new address, for a new pm window as requests come in.
You don't have to re-type it each time.
I hope I've been clear, sorry if this hasn't helped any!
another right-brain dominant person on the board! 
