Thanks for the reply Adam.  That gets me there partially.  It shows me how to limit the size and remove return key functionality.

 

Am I also to assume then that to solve some of my other questions...

 - I can use the attachevent and detachevent javascript to attach an event for onblur?

 - I can write a javascript function to keep checking the available space in the textbox so I can add another row?

 (not sure how to check available space left, but I'll give it a shot)

 

I am still lost on how to perform the following...

 - Make the CE box look identical to a normal textbox

 - Tie in an Ajax control to do a postback for the CE control (I understand how to tie in the javascript, but to tie in the callback portion of it is a little fuzzy)

 

Thanks again for your help

Jon