As a photographer, what metering mode do you typically use? Also, I am too slow when it comes to changing the focusing point and when I use auto, it does not always focus on what I want. Where do you set you focus point for most of the time when you are shooting? Thanks for your help.

On my Canons, I generally use center-weighted averaging (?), its the symbol with a black circle and black dot in the middle. I either use manual, aperture preferred, or P modes depending on how I feel. If in P mode, I am generally dialing in compensation based on the current lighting. I lock focus point to the center on all my cameras because its the most sensitive sensor and I always focus and recompose (because Im old school SLR and thats how we did it in the old days of split microprisms).

Meter: Spot
Focus Point: what ever is closest to the thing i want to focus on

Ditto, seems to work the best for me. Depending on the situation but kind of a mainstay.