Internet Explorer 8 question

I have a couple of questions on a browser issue that I cannot figure out. I'm using Internet Explorer 8. I'm not sure if this is IE 8 thing, as this never came up in IE 7 when I was using it on our old computer.

Let me explain:

1- I click the IE icon and the page comes up blank (as a homepage), which is how I want it, rather than going initially to a designated site.

2- I go to the Favorites menu and click a bookmark, but instead of using the blank page that's already open, the site opens up in a new tab (by itself).

That's the first issue. Why is not the first page being used?

Then, the second problem:

3- If I want to open up a new tab (by clicking on the new tab button and creating one), and then I click on a bookmark, an extra tab is created, leaving the new tab I opened, blank.

Okay, so I've been looking in Tools > Internet Options > General > Tabs > Settings, but have been unable to resolve these issues. I've tried unticking and reticking some items with no success. Is there somewhere else that I should be looking?

I've been working around these issues by manually closing the blank and extra pages, but it's rather annoying.