Gnome 2.2 panel properties... or lack of access to same.

[kend xanoptix com]

Hello, all.  I recently upgraded from 1.4(?) to 2.2.  All's well, except
for one minor, but exceedingly annoying, issue: I can't get at my panel
properties.  "Well, right-click on an empty spot in your panel."  There
aren't any.  "Delete a program."  It just resizes down.  "Click the hide
buttons."  There aren't any.  "Well, put them in."  See #1.  Kinda
fruitless, huh?

How the $^!@(&!^# do I modify its properties??  Is there an option I can
put in a text file somewhere to bring out the hide buttons or somesuch?

Thanks,

-Ken