...it only seems to happen while using Outlook 2003.

Basically it has to do with mouse/pointer losing the focus. For example,
While a mail message is selected in any mail folder, the selected message is
"blue". But without warning or any action on my part, the focus will "go
away" and the seleceted object becomes "grey". I must them go back and click
on that object to make it active again.

This also seems to happen when I am in a dialog box of some sort. Even right
in the middle of typing, the focus on the dialog box gets lost and I cannot
continue typing without re-clicking it.

My first suspicion is the mouse/pointer driver (Dell Latitude D610 - XP), so
I downloaded a fresh copy and updated the driver, but I am still
experiencing the problem. Usually takes less than 30 seconds to lose the
focus.

Oh, and sometimes it comes back all by itself too. I have noticed that the
focus gets lost, sometimes just for a few seconds and then returns.

Anyone have any ideas about this from an Outlook perspective?

Thanks
TC