samba - Nov 2004 - Able to read directory as the correct user, but unable to write to the directory even though I have permissions

Samba version: 3.0.8-0.pre1.3
Fedora Core 3
Kernel: 2.6.9-1.667

I am able to authenticate as a valid user on the system, mount my home 
directory and look inside of directories that have been set to 700 and 
read files set to 600.  But I am not able to write to ANY folder or 
file on the share.  I have one directory set to 777 and one file set to 
4777 but that does not seem to matter.  I cannot, for example, copy a 
file from my local computer to the mounted share.  I authenticate 
correctly as my user, but the copy still reports permission denied.

my smb.conf looks like:
[global]
        server string = Samba test box

        log file = /var/log/samba/log.%m
        log level = 5
        max log size = 50
        dns proxy = No

        obey pam restrictions = Yes
        encrypt passwords = no
        security = user

        default = homes

[homes]
        comment = %S's Home Directory
        browseable = no
------------ end smb.conf
testparm returns no errors


my log reports the following when I attempt to copy the file DRUN.GIF 
into the root of my home directory share.
------ /var/log/samba/log.junkx0r -------
  size=62
  smb_com=0x3
  smb_rcls=0
  smb_reh=0
  smb_err=0
  smb_flg=0
  smb_flg2=32769
  smb_tid=1
  smb_pid=1
  smb_uid=100
  smb_mid=76
  smt_wct=3
  smb_vwv[ 0]=   32 (0x20)
  smb_vwv[ 1]= 1939 (0x793)
  smb_vwv[ 2]=16811 (0x41AB)
  smb_bcc=21
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/process.c:switch_message(887)
  switch message SMBcreate (pid 3393) conn 0xb90dac48
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 4] smbd/uid.c:change_to_user(194)
  change_to_user: Skipping user change - already user
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] smbd/filename.c:unix_convert(108)
  unix_convert called on file "DRUN.GIF"
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] smbd/filename.c:unix_convert(179)
  unix_convert begin: name = DRUN.GIF, dirpath = , start = DRUN.GIF
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/dosmode.c:unix_mode(111)
  unix_mode(DRUN.GIF) returning 0744
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] smbd/files.c:file_new(122)
  allocated file structure 7859, fnum = 11955 (1 used)
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 4] smbd/open.c:open_file_shared1(1244)
  calling open_file with flags=0x2 flags2=0x0 mode=0744
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/open.c:open_file(115)
  Permission denied opening DRUN.GIF
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/open.c:open_file(178)
  Error opening file DRUN.GIF (No such file or directory) 
(local_flags=0) (flags=0)
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] smbd/files.c:file_free(385)
  freed files structure 11955 (0 used)
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/error.c:error_packet(105)
  error string = No such file or directory
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 3] smbd/error.c:error_packet(145)
  error packet at smbd/trans2.c(2229) cmd=3 (SMBcreate) eclass=1 ecode=2
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] lib/util.c:show_msg(461)
[2004/11/29 11:27:20, 5] lib/util.c:show_msg(471)
  size=35
  smb_com=0x3
  smb_rcls=1
  smb_reh=0
  smb_err=2
  smb_flg=128
  smb_flg2=32769
  smb_tid=1
  smb_pid=1
  smb_uid=100
  smb_mid=76
  smt_wct=0
  smb_bcc=0
---------------------- end log file ------------

as you can see with "change_to_user: Skipping user change - already 
user" it believes that I already am myself, but with the "Permission 
denied opening DRUN.GIF" there is something funky going on as I know 
that my user has persmission to write to my home directory ( chmod 
711).  I get the same result from a directory set to 777.

On a possibly unrelated issue, I can only connect to the server from 
mac os X.  smbclient, windows NT, 2000, and XP report login errors.  
While I am aware that the windows versions listed want encryped 
passwords, smbclient wants plain text ones.  The above generated 
problem did, in fact, come from the mac.  I can use three different 
macs to connect, so I do not believe it to be a localized configuration 
on my test mac.

What have I missed?  I can provide any information you require that I 
have left out.

thank you for your help
pat