Thanks to advice from SpaceDevil13, who wrote to me and advised me to consider hosting this blog elsewhere, I am doing just that.
I am trying to decide if I should keep it all in one blog or have two separate blogs: one for things in Maine, and another for the more adult talk, my opinions and occasional rants. ‘Cause I need to vent somewhere, but a blog with cooking and places of interest in Maine, plus with the added stuff about the PUA lifestyle is not the right place to do it!
I’m still trying to pick out a good WordPress theme. I got the blog entries transferred okay, but some of the themes do funky things like say “No comments,” and then when you click on that, all the comments are there! Other themes have built-in widgets and if I add my own widgets, it shoves those down into the footer and makes for some funkalicioius eyecandy confusion.
I am also looking for a theme that allows me to use one or more of my photos in the header.
I know a tiny bit of HTML, the basic stuff. I can learn a little more if I have to. I know zip about CSS, except it looks like a lot of callouts to other files. I did get an ‘A’ in computer logic :::mumble, mumble::: years ago and I know a little COBOL. I’ve also made databases in FileMaker Pro so I’m familiar with fields and stuff like that. I know a little bit about graphic design but the last time I “made” a webpage from scratch was several years ago, before CSS became all the rage. I do have access to Dreamweaver if that helps.
I’ve been looking at 3-column themes, but not sure if that’s the way to go. I’d like to add my own widgets for tracking stats (I like StatCounter, open to other suggestions), and maybe an Amazon affiliate and/or a tip jar. Not that I expect to make a ton of bucks blogging, but I’d like to have the stuff there just in case Bill Gates stops by and likes what he sees 
Someone told me adding my Twitter to my sidebar would be a good idea too (I don’t know why, ’cause I think my Tweets are pretty boring unless you like hearing me bitch about my cat waking me up at 4:00 a.m.).
I am probably going to have a main page with links to both blogs, and maybe links to my better photos and writing samples. Obviously, using WordPress software, the blogs are easiest to set up first. Well, they are easier in theory: as long as I can figure out which theme to use and how to do some simple alterations like changing the header photo and adding my own widgets.
Lastly, the book I just helped research and write is coming out soon, so I want to promote that as well. It’s an inexpensive consumer guide on how homeowners in danger of foreclosure can find resources and info to help them navigate the maze, as well as tidbits on how to assess their current situation, avoid scams, and how to rebuild their credit. There will be a website with news updates included in the price of the book, so it’s a lot of value for a very low price! So far I know of at least one woman who read the draft and was able to get herself out of hot water just by using one or two of the tips, and I’m excited to see this book finally coming to market, because it has the potential to educate and help a lot of people.
Any suggestions on all of this are welcome!
April 30, 2008 at 9:25 am
I know some CSS, enough to ferk with your theme. I would steer clear of widgets, anything you need to add to your sidebar can be done with code alone. I will be happy to help. With widgets, you cannot customize, you’re stuck with them. Widgets suck.When you decide on your theme, I will examine the code and show you how to change out the header.
Firefox has a web developer toolbar that is very helpful when ferking with your theme.
May 1, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thanks witchypoo! I will be lookin’ at more themes today. Thankfully the cat did not wake me up at 3:00 a.m. today. Also, lucky for him and that cat outside who likes to come and taunt him. The little bugger ran past me when I was outside at 3:15 and he was very startled to see me and I told him not to come ’round here no more. He ran to the stairs leading down to the sidewalk, stopped and gave me a nervous glance, then hightailed it outta here, LOL. I hope he got my message.
May 8, 2008 at 12:22 am
you can split the header. but it’s a little tricky because it can throw everything off if your not careful. My theme has a split header but both sides had to be wrapped to pull it off. Let me know if you need to coding to do this.