Main drive doesn't show on desktop but is completely usable

My main disk (which is system/startup 10.5.6) today does not show up with its icon on my desktop, yet is still viewable in Disk Utility, and the Home, documents, and Applications still show up in the left finder pane. Files are accessible, apps can be launched from dock or LaunchBar, and obviously is working because I am using it now.
I booted from the Leopard install disk and ran Disk Utility, repaired disk (which said it was OK) and repaired permissions. Did this twice, but icon is gone.
Little thing that may or may not be related but will explain just in case: a few days ago, when I would go online first thing after turning on the computer, Safari and mail worked for about 5 minutes then when I would go to another URL, beach ball would spin and I was going nowhere. Yet, the connection still seemed to be working, and under Network diagnostics, said I was connected. Then eventually things would kick back in and all was well. At first I thought it was my router but now I'm wondering whether something in my system is not up to par, with both issues here.

Finder Preferences > General > Show Hard disks on desktop.
My internet connection seems slow to start, it is loading all the RSS feeds first
S.

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