MAYA trouble

I have been haveing some trouble with Maya at the moment. sometimes, my UV maps of Maya totally dissapear, expecially if I double click, or just zoom in- I am faced with a grey, blank Grid.
the tutorials too, hare proveing a little problematic, only after my third attempt I was just able to veiw the whole of the tutorial, I'm not sure if it is just my internet connection or not.

but, with MAYA- and what I have learnt today, I am able to place together a MAYA scene of mushrooms in a basement;



At least the mushrooms are glowing... kindo of... like little street-lamps