Routine update left me stuck in run level 3

[Charles Kanavle]

Kubuntu 8.04 on Dell e1705

The update icon was flashing, so I did the routine update series, 
only to find after rebooting that it now comes up only in a text 
screen, like run level 3.

I love using Kubuntu, but now I don't know how to get back to the kde 
gui. Is there a doc somewhere that I can study, or a few steps at the 
keyboard I can try?

Thank you for any help,
Charles