fringe friday fellowship—games and widget edition

In one of our very first IM chats after we met, I asked Q if he knew much about CSS and HTML.

I desperately wanted a blog redesign, didn’t really want to pay for it, and Q was a mathematics and computer science major, so I figured that was completely the same thing as knowing how to code a blog. His answer: not really. I wrote back something like: that’s too bad. If the answer were yes, I’d marry you.

His new answer: yes. He is a quick learner in more ways than one.

We nearly got divorced before we ever even got married because I didn’t understand how much time and effort it took to move certain design elements a little more to the left. I am the world’s laziest perfectionist. I want the job done exactly right, but I want someone else to do it. It’s not my most endearing quality, but I like to think I have others that make up for that one. Right, honey?

I am in love with the concept of the blog sidebar, which Q calls my trailer park. The blog he and I shared didn’t even have a sidebar, he hates them so much. But where else would I store my afterthoughts were it not for that catch-all space over there? Look, I recreated the blog chiclets he made for me for my first blog:

Aren’t they cute? I had about 20 of them at the very top, above my double-wide blogroll. I liked looking at them.

We took the time yesterday to make adjustments to my current trailer park. It operates mainly by widget, so I couldn’t figure out how to change the width of each column after we’d made the post columns wider a few weeks ago. Once I found twitter goodies, the sidebar again became priority so I could incorporate the plug-in. It’s still a little messy, as trailer parks can be sometimes, but blame me, not the mathematician.

More housekeeping: created a new favicon for your browser address bar. If the universe is cooperating, you should see an orange fringe flower on a black background in your tabs and the window under the title bar. Also, the talented and helpful Vasken Hauri, author of my favorite rotating tagline plugin, helped me figure out how I’d broken my rotating taglines, then he fixed it. Once again, you know I like the noise of decency and that I am your favorite writer’s favorite reader.

Strictly at Tex in the City’s request: a photo of Jon Alex in full pads. He loves the helmet most of all. Practice, until the season starts, is six days a week. Once the games begin? Three days a week plus game day. Oy. But he is having the time of his life, which is highly unusual for him when it comes to organized team activity. Whose idea was it again to sign him up? Oh, yeah, the momma’s, that’s right.

game face or practice face, anyway

The special needs parenting site A Wild Ride has published on its blog another one of my essay-like rambles about Jordan. This time, I actually provided useful insight. It’s my take on sending a high-functioning special needs kid to a typical kid camp. Please share the link with those who may find it useful.

Fellowship, games and flavored beer in comments…