3 way outer join dilemma

Here's what I have (simplified)

SELECT t1.fid, t1.t1_data, t2.vid, t2.t2_data, t3.t3_data
FROM t1, t2, t3
WHERE t1.fid = X
AND t2.vid = Y
AND t3.fid = t1.fid
AND t3.vid = t2.vid

Now, I discover that the record in t3 may not always exist, so somehow I
want to do an outer join...

SELECT t1.fid, t1.t1_data, t2.vid, t2.t2_data, t3.t3_data
FROM t1, t2, OUTER JOIN t3 ON (t3.fid = t1.fid AND t3.vid = t2.vid)
WHERE t1.fid = X
AND t2.vid = Y

But I get the statement that "t1 is not part of JOIN"

Is there some way that I can merge t1 and t2 together, or do I have to do a
subselect (ugh) as the only viable alternative?

Any ideas is appreciated...

Terry Fielder
Manager Software Development and Deployment
Great Gulf Homes / Ashton Woods Homes
terry(at)greatgulfhomes(dot)com
Fax: (416) 441-9085