My Aching Head

OK, so I've spent parts of the last few days trying to set up a new blog hosted by myself instead of one of the free services. It's not that I don't like the free services, because I really do. I've been more than happy with the quality that I get here at Blogger. It's easy, straightforward and looks good (at least I think so). It is however limited. Ron set one up on a friends server using Word Press and it's looking good. Aaron made me the same offer so naturally, I accepted. Free hosting ain't something I tend to turn down.

This, however, is where the aching head comes into play. We set it up, it installed easily and then things started going down hill.

First off, I haven't found a template that I love. I've found several that I like, but none that I really love. Easily fixed, if'n of course you know php which unfortunately for our hero, your's truly, I don't. I have a basic understanding, but I wouldn't call myself proficient. I'm the graphics guy. Give me an image, tell me what you want done with it and chances are I can do it. When it comes to coding, style sheets, etc. I am definitely not your man. Sure I could learn it, but with a 5 year old who is always demanding your attention, finding the time to sit down and learn it is near impossible. I have been playing around with it and I think I'll manage to muddle through it ok.

Secondly, and this is really where the headaches really comes into play, is that my access to the site has been intermittent at best. Ron could access it up until last night and Steve could access it earlier today. I had access to it through AOL, but Internet Explorer wouldn't find it all, unless I logged into AOL, opened it there and then tried to open it with Internet Explorer. Weird. Now, several hours after I could access it on AOL, I can't even do that.

We've had some other minor glitches, like trying to upload everything here to there, but we figure that, plus all the other minor glitches are mainly due to the access problems that we've been having.

On a brighter note though, Annie Ann was over today and we finished off both pairs of pants for the Elf Ranger costume and have everything cut out for the Pirate Costume shirt. Plus, I managed to finally decide on colors for the vest and pants for the Pirate Costume, as well as material. We will see how well my choices work once we get everything put together. All I need now is a maroon colored piece for my head and some tooling leather for the Tricorn Hat. The Brown Tricorn hat turned out ok, but looks more like a Colonial Tricorn than a Pirate Tricorn. I did however get some leather working experience under my belt and the construction of the first Tricorn is nicely done, if I do say so myself.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll get the patterns for the pants cut out (I've become quite good with the basic pant) and put together. We actually now have 3 pair of pants for the Elf costume. The first pair I did on my own I thought I had done wrong because of how they felt when I sat down, but it turns out that it's the material rather than the craftsmanship. The pair Annie Ann made do the same thing when I sit as the pair I made, yet the pair made out of the crushed velvet are perfect. Hopefully the material I picked for the Pirate Pants will work was well.

Tuesday we are hoping to get the Pirate Shirt done and I should have the patterns for the vest cut out by then as well. I might actually have a full costume for next week at the Maryland Renaissance Festival.