Muwahahaha!!!!
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...scription.html
I don't know why I didn't know about this before since it fixes so many of the things I HATE about XP.
Turn off baloon notifications.
Stop apps from stealing focus (i.e.: typing in MS word and another app pops up requesting data and you are now typing in the app that popped up).
You can change a whole host of other things too.