Can't see textures in geometry window

[delusional]

I can load my images, apply them to a material, and see them in the UV window, but my images never get painted on the objects in the geometry window.
I've tried "make image internal".
The image overlay appears in the geometry window when i select "snap image".
When I export to another format, the image name is in the material definition.
When I make a new object, and apply a material that includes the auvBG image, I see that image painted on the object.
I am using 512px by 512px in .png format. Macintosh.

I just never see my custom images painted onto the objects in the geometry window.
What am I going wrong?