Please help me! I am struggling with the mesh tool!

Question

So I want to make this chair look like it does in the picture, but I cant! There is a chapter in my Illustrator CS3 book explaining how to use gradient mesh and mesh tool, but it doesnt help me at all. I am clueless!   The tutorial says that I can create points in the mesh simply by clicking with the mesh tool within an object, but when I try to do that, the pointer is "crossed out". I can only add extra points on lines or edges, but not on empty space within an object. What gives? Why is it that others can do it an I cant? Forgive me if I sound a little too upset, but I've been struggling with this for days and I cannot find an answer.
In this tutorial right here: http://www.layersmagazine.com/illustrator-gradient-mesh-tool.html the guy just clicks in empty spaces creating intersections. In my case it is impossible.
PS: Please look at an attached file and tell me what would be the best way to go about coloring this chair. Maybe I am doing this completely wrong? (I only started learning illustrator about 5 weeks ago)
Sorry for the background template being of poor quality, but this was taken from a book and scanned, so it's the best I could do.

Answer 1

You know something I think there should be a behavioral change in this case. To my way of thinking this option should automatically be disabled if you select the Mesh tool. If for some reason you want the mesh tool not to behave the way there might be a toggle or a double click to get the preferences for the tool 's behavior itself. I can see where this behavior can be useful but there needs to be a toggle.
Selecting the anchors for adding color with out accidentally creating a new mesh division is good thing but you need to be able to work both ways.
What do you think Scott Weichert you use the tool extensively, am i wrong?