i just got off the phone with my instructor..
DONE AND DONE.
problem.. stabilize disappears from the options in the inspector. or attributes..
this is because the clip has been compounded.. you cannot use this attribute to a compounded clip.
So. start over. Delete the clip that we so crudely got into the timeline by making it a compound clip.. and then dragged it in.
then, go back to the source clip in the browser.. set your in and out points again.. and then “connect the selected clip to the primary storyline”
there is a button for this just above the timeline.. a set of 3 buttons. towards the end of buttons starting with the Import from camera button!
Gotta love it!
fixed.