Just an update on this topic.

I discovered the two computers I have primary access to use Windows XP, which has a program called Sound Recorder. Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder. If it's not there, do a Search of 'sound recorder,' and it should turn up (right-click to put an icon on your desk top)

Sound Recorder is a small oblong box. Under File > Properties > Convert Now, you can select a recording level. I selected 48.000 kHz, 16 bit, mono as my level and saved it as a pre-set.

Simple microphone plugged into the back of the computer, next to the speaker out. Cheap old mic from the early days of chatline talking. Tissue baffle over the mic to prevent the percussives from distorting.

Sound recorder, just click the red circle to start recording. 60 seconds of recording time, though you can extend it indefinitely by stopping the recording short of 60 seconds, then clicking the start again...an additional 60 seconds is added to whatever you've recorded so far. Seems to be indefinite time limit.

Then I Save As and give the file a name.

As for compressing to mp3, I found an easy, flexible and free program online. CDex. Free download can be found here:

http://cs-netlab-01.lynchburg.edu/users/anonymous/MP3Conv/WavToMP3.htm

I experimented on different compression rates and finally settled on 64kbs. This gives me a compression rate of 10 or 11:1. That's acceptable, as far as storage space available, and I honestly can't tell the difference between the .wav and the mp3. Very good, clean sound for voice recording. Compression rates can be set by opening the CDex window, then going to Options > Settings. Select your presets, click OK.

I keep a CDex icon on the desktop too, so from recording to compressing, I just click a couple of icons and type a file name. Both the Sound Recorder and CDex keep my presets as default, too (or they have so far), so I don't have to refer to all the setting adjustments I made note of when I found the optimum settings.

Haven't decided how to handle the remote stuff yet, but now I'll be able to get cheap mics and show the younger folks in the family how to run Sound Recorder, to collect family anecdotes. I can collect them on CD-RWs from time to time and compress them as time permits. That's the plan, at least.

Thanks again for all your assistance.