Q: how can I get rid of the recurring "beach ball"?

General purpose Mac troubleshooting guide:

Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393

What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X) - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1564

Isolating issues in Mac OS X

Creating a temporary user to isolate user-specific problems:

Isolating an issue by using another user account

Identifying resource hogs and other tips:

Using Activity Monitor to read System Memory and determine how much RAM is being used

Starting the computer in "safe mode":

Mac OS X: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

To identify potential hardware problems:

Apple Hardware Test

General Mac maintenance:

Tips to keep your Mac in top form

Direct you to the proper forum for MacBook :

MacBook Series Forums

https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks?view=discussions

http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro

Mac OS X Forum

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions

This forum deals with a desktop/tower 65lb Mac Pro

http://www.apple.com/support/macpro

Recovery Mode

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

TimeMachine 101

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427

http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine

Mac OS X & Mountain Lion Community

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os

https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/os_x_mountain_lion?view=discussio ns