After installing wordpress three different times (do I want it in a subdirectory or the main root? What should the subdirectory be called? Do I want a static page as index, or the blog?) I’m now on to the mind numbing chore of importing about *five years* worth of hand coded blogging.

My solution? Open up my LJ XML export file and reverse-engineer enough of the schema (the LJ schema is a lot simpler than the wordpress native format) so I can slug the old posts into a ready for auto import XML file. (The only headache here is correctly coding the date/time tags) Then go though each post manually and set the category. For me, this is a lot simpler than just posting the content and trying to backdate.

It’s been noted in the past that I will, without fail, find the most complex method to do anything. I seem to be wired that way.

Still trying to figure the most convenient method for cross posting…

I think I’m in danger of falling in *love* with WordPress.

As for *why* I’m doing all of this, especially since I’m pretty brand loyal when you get down to it, and Pair hasn’t exactly screwed me over over the years…. well, I want to play with some toys. Specifically, wordpress, which I’m considering switching to for the bulk of my blogging. While I could certainly do this with Pair, they don’t make it that easy and while their low level services are affordable, the pricing skyrockets if you want to play with php or cgi - things it really wouldn’t kill me to work with a bit more.

As it just so happens, my yearly billing cycle with pair is up in a few weeks, so if this pans out, I just won’t renew with them. And if hostican blows? I switch the DNS back and avail myself of their 30 day refund.

::some time passes::

Wow. I have a working wordpress blog, and I’ve exported about 10 months worth of LJ posts directly into it. Now all I have to do is customize the theme so it looks like my site and not a generic template. (It’s about the time of year when I start thinking about re-skinning the site anyway.) Also, need to figure how to post using Semagic (which I have become pretty fond of).

Would you believe less than a year ago I was still hand coding all of my blog posts *and* the rss feed that went along with it? This is much nicer.

If anyone’s trying to email me for the next day or so, I’d recommend sending to juliekarasik at gmail dot com - my email account transfer will probably go off without a hitch… but I also believe in Murphy’s Law.

This journal might look wonky for part of the evening - I’m switching hosting providers and didn’t think the DNS switch would propagate *quite* as quickly as it did. Wow.

This being a DNS switch, YMMV.

You’re on my ship - did’ye forget that means I’m in charge?

This is a rarity for me - the portrait is becoming a full fledged character in my head, and she’s none too thrilled that I have her in front of a bland, blank wall. I’ve been trying to work something in there, but it keeps veering towards the “too busy”. If I ever manage to work past this hurdle, I’ll post the results.

Model credit: lockstock (fast becoming my muse)

Texture credit: Adaae-stock. Also, sxc and istockphoto

Side illustrations and additional fabric textures scanned/drawn by me.

So, once again, fandom-in-general is Displeased and reacts by…. holding it’s breath until it turns blue? ‘Cause that’ll teach ‘em?

And people wonder why I’m an antisocial misanthrope.

No new pics for the next few days… bogged down with a website job. Upside, it’s a paying gig. Downside, it’s boring and tedious… so I want to get it *done*.

It takes me forever to get pieces like this finished, but I have a *lot* of fun doing them. (Model credit)

I cannot believe I am contemplating getting a twitter account. I really have enough things to keep up with as it is.