upgrade to gnome has destroyed my desktop environment!

[Nancy E. Davis]

Hi hardworking gnome developers!

I have never had a problem like this before.  I have used gnome for 
many, many years.

Today I made the mistake of upgrading my gnome.

The desktop I was left with really blows.

There does not appear to be any way to downgrade back to what works.

I have work to do.  I do not have time to muck about trying to find
how to get back to my wonderful gnome desktop.

I am really, really disappointed.

Please recommend a method to downgrade back to the previous
version.  Please, please, please.....oh I can't believe this
has happened.

Nancy Davis

Current gnome installation:

unknown.  dpkg -l | grep gnome | wc -l ==> 121 different installed
pieces of
gnome.

Where do I start?