Brains with curves!

It isn't news, but it's still exciting. My brain has curves (so does yours!). I've known this before, but it's been easy to forget. Only when I look at a new problem, learn a new skill, tackle a confounding issue, or solve what seemed impossible do I really feel (see?) the curves my brain possesses. Make that learning curves. Like physical exercise, the more strenuous the terrain and steeper the hills, the more a person can feel the definition of brain "muscles."

Tonight, my brain curves feel as sleek as well-toned calves leading to trim ankles, or muscular biceps to well-defined shoulders. An ankle bracelet, and straps slightly off-shoulder work best here...

Maybe it's only because I've been ill several weeks and mummified under blankets and cough syrup. Maybe it's because I haven't touched this project in four months. Whatever, it feels like I entered a competition, never expecting to be anywhere near the front of the pack, and surprised myself by coming in within the top. No, I didn't race anyone, or race at all--I just competed against myself on a mental project.

Two years ago (hmmm maybe three?), I set my sights on building a site. My first attempt at a web page and a website looked fairly plain and barely there. Slowly, I learned better HTML and how to use colors and background images. I finally had a site... Quickly, they grew to four sites in the intervening years.

At the end of last year, for my fourth website, I finally wanted to try External CSS. I cheated a little here--a nice woman helped me create a template (yes, I thanked her!). It looks so pretty that it made me re-evaluate my first website.

I have a section on that first web that deals with one city (it's a genealogy website). Two years ago, I took the easy way when I no longer wanted to use a middle image on a triple-border website. I just added the word "disabled" to the link for that image. Later, I disabled a second image. Frontpage (my HTML WYSIWYG editor) keeps track of all thoe broken links (thank goodness, and drat! -- depending on which pages). I've accummulated about 1,000 "disabled" background image links! Yikes!

It required a simple fix: Put the codes into External CSS and take out the Embedded CSS. Yeah, simple. Not quite so simple when I'm still unsure what each CSS command means. Changing images for backgrounds, for me, means switching one at a time until I find which item goes where. It's worse than Pin the Tail on the Donkey. At least then, the blindfold gives me an excuse for being so slow and imperfect. No blindfold blocked my work today, just ignorance slowing me down. When I figured it out, it felt like I had won First Place on a tough marathon or important test!

Of course, CSS always needs "one more thing" done. And, of course, I still need to copy all those problem pages (oh no!). But now, I'm closer to having my CSS template done (yeah). And the learning curve that earlier today seemed so steep feels easier. My brain is awake! Thinking! Planning! Conniving! My brain has curves -- and boy, does it feel wonderful!

Judith