HTML emails

I'm looking to learn how or find an easy software for designing an email with HTML. I found an article on this site about it, which pointed me to a web site with a software program. I downloaded it but it's crap. It asks for a database right from the start. Is there any of these HTML email programs that allow you to design the page and email it yourself? I don't have a list...but that shouldn't mean I can't design an HTML email anyway. Anyone got another program idea? Not HTML Broadcast Wizard. thanks