I have searched for about ten minutes before posting this but I cannot figure out how to use my mouse in this game instead of the keyboard or even in combination if necessary. I can't seem to locate the Ui. Could someone please patiently and politely explain or point me in the right direction? thanks.

The game uses the mouse to control your characters' facing. there is no "point and click" UI during actual gameplay. You can set up a favorites menu of weapons and equipment for the 1-8 keys on the keyboard. to pull up the main ingame menu, hit the "ESC" key. You can then check the controls section...find "Character Menu" and that will tell you what key is currently set to pull up the primary point-and click part of the interface. Whenever you are doing Point-and-click work, the game is paused.

Consider yourself lucky you havent delved into the UI proper yet lol.

It takes many hours of gameplay to develop an idiosyncratic way of navigating the terrible UI

Definately check out skyUI too, as a new player its something I wish I had from the start.

http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=3863

Just wanted to remind everybody there is a wonderful game manual (just like old times...)
in PDF form, with a link from the main Skyrim page on Steam.
It is of course extremely informative, and I actually learned a coupla things from reading it, heheh...

I put my hand on the mouse and move it around, I found out the you can push the various buttons and things happen--weird!

Yep mouse and Skryim UI is a fantastic mess....after hours of tweaking I broke down popped in my 360 controller for PC and haven't gone back since....however it is far from amazing no hotkeys >.<

Yep, even with skyui I use my 360 controller, m&k died with oblivion for Bethesda IMO, even had issues with fallout not supporting my razr naga.