Joomla! = I can haz headache

For whatever reason, I had a mental image of Joomla! as sort of a high-powered, multifeatured HTML editor. Now - Now I feel like I need to go turn my brain inside out again. Apparently, you unzip Joomla! into the directory for your website ON your server. O_o So I'm guessing I wouldn't actually need Portable Apps and a Flash drive to carry it around. But I'm trying to figure out how to attempt such a thing without killing the files I already have out there. In other words - how do I attempt a redesign and check it before I push it out onto the server? Blargh!

Furthermore, a lot of what continues to bug me about my current site is its layout. I don't really want to use a standard template with ribbons or bows or whatever. But I have had trouble grokking Gimp, and I'm much too poor to own Photoshop or Illustrator - since I have no professional need for it. Short answer - either I have no Graphic Design ability at all, or at least I lack the time to spend on the learning curve with Gimp to find out. Which frustrates me, as I'd like the site to look spiffy as well as contain spiffy info. Heck, I'd be more motor-vated to keep it up, I suspect.

Back to gnawing on the leather straps...

Queens of Love and Beauty

I do a lot of memes, but I've never really tried to start one. However, I recently asked on a list for the Milwaukee area SCA group for some general advice on visiting and/or relocation. Among many kind responses was one from Guenievre du Dragon Vert. She commented on various things, and wondered if she might have met me at some point...

I smiled. And told her she holds a special place in my memory as the first SCA Queen I really took note of. As the first "Queen of Love and Beauty" that I had any contact, she'll always be a significant part of the Dream for me. She wasn't the woman who was Queen when I first joined the SCA. Nor at my first event. But others I only saw from afar - not even getting a chance to sit in Court since Anneliese was often a cranky baby by that point in the day.

So, in honor of Valentine's Day -

Tell me about the first Queen who drew you in. While it was all still new and magical. While the people in the Crowns were lofty and sparkling Presences who would glide past while you were bowed, studying your very un-period shoes. Before the internal Society Politics invaded. Before you were aware of rumors, hearsay, or personal experience with the Crown that may have tainted the Awe.

Who will always be Gueneviere to you? (Even if she spelled it differently)

Post your answer here, and the question in your own blog, to see who others remember in that still-rosy light.