There's a really simple way to do it without bothering with HTML if you have Outlook Express on your machine, and it works for links, too.
Create a new email- poke the "tools" then "view" tabs, and enable "source edit."
Keeping your email open, go to whatever you need to post here, hilight, copy & paste into the new email.
At the bottom of your email is a three tab bar- hit "source," and the HTML normally hidden will be revealed-- simply hilight, copy & paste that here.
It works about 90% of the time-- always preview, sometimes you have to edit the source manually, but usually it works without that- just check to be sure.
Works on other HTML forums, too.
Gotta run & start bedding down the house ( wife & dog are giving me dirty looks... ) but give it a try- it takes the hassle out of trying to hand-code stuff.
Thanks for taking time to explain, backhoe. I've printed your post for future reference.