Why can't I open files with double click, etc?

Hello, all,
I have been having problems with my MacBook (Aluminum late 2008, I think, OS 10.5). It runs slowly; files on the desktop and in my "Macintosh HD" often won't open with double-click but have to be opened with File-->Open; there are Word Work Files that won't go away; the trackpad is often stiff and not very responsive; clicking on the mouse is very stiff, despite very easy settings. In short, a lot of things are sluggish. Sometimes, also, I get the spinning beach ball, but not all the time.
I have run disk permissons repair from Disk Utility many times (both from the desktop and from the MacBook install disk); I have replaced the directory with Disk Warrior at least twice; I have verified that the disk is OK; I have zapped the PRAM; and done other things of that kind.
I took the MacBook to an Apple Store yesterday. It had been unplugged and much to my surprise, most everything seemed to be working all right. When I opened it today, however, I found everything as it was before I took it to Apple. Including the Word Work files, which I thought were gone.
If I recall correctly, this started when I was working on a long editing project in Word, but I don't know whether that has anything to do with what has happened. I've done similarly long projects before, and this never happened.
I could try trashing the Word Work files (there seem also to be quite a lot of folders with "recovered" files), but I don't want to do that unless I can be assured that nothing bad will come from doing that.
I know this seems quite comprehensive, and may involve several issues, but I'm really unhappy about this and would love to think there is something more I can do, apart from returning to the Apple Store. Besides everything else, how can I khow that I won't find, again, that the MacBook will work fine there but goes back to its troubled state when I return?
Clues, anyone?
Thanks,
jenny

Hi, Mike,
I have 211.59 left out of total HD space of 232.57.Space should not be a problem. I'll try using Activity  Monitor today. I have 2 GB of memory. But since this is the first time I[ve had this problem, I don't see how it could be a problem with memory, do you?
I finished the project more than a week ago. After I shut down the computer, it temporarily returned to normal but subsewuently started acting odd again, although I've done nothing but email since I turned it on again.
I am going to try getting rid of the Word Work files and see whether that helps. I am wondering whether the book I was working on had something wrong with it (it was written in NeoOffice but opened in Word), or my copy of Word has gotten corrupted. Although I haven't used Word since I finished with the book.
Sorry this font is so tiny, but although I was able to choose my font in my original message, there doesnt' seem to be a place to do that here. At least, I don't see it.
I'll get back to you on the Activity Monitor. Thanks.
jenny

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