Codes... and html... and templates... oh my

I've been spending time trying to set up a new look for A Madison Mom.  Let's just say I'm slightly blog frazzled right now.

I can't exactly justify paying for a whole new look (although I would absolutely LOVE to get my very own one of a kind look) so I've been searching high and low for a free blogger template that might make me happy for a little while.  I finally found a cute one from Gisele Jaquenod (isn't her name the best?).  Eventually I may have to give in and pay for my own look... but for now... I think I like the free one I found.

It's not the first time I've changed my template.  I've actually made quite a few changes over the last couple years.  I started out with a 2 column layout that was on the blog start up list (Christina and I matched for a while when we first started out). 

I decided I wanted to try 3 columns because I started to collect a lot of blog "junk" (you know what I mean).  I did a search and found a "blogspot for dummies" type of site that gave me a step by step on how to add a column to my current layout.  I succeded at that.

I got bored with the colors and the set header.  I tried to change it up a little and got annoyed.  So, I searched for a free template that would allow me to not only switch up the layout and colors but also let me play with the header.  I've been really happy with the current look I found at Our Blogger Templates for quite a while now.  I think it's because I could easily change out the header... even though I only changed it 2 times.

But... I got bored again.  I wanted something fresh.  Something warm.  Maybe a little cutesy for a change.  Less sterile?  I first looked to Our Blogger Templates again.  I just didn't find anything that called to me.  So... I googled and googled and googled.  I finally found Gisele's site.

So, I found a template that I kept going back to.  I bookmarked it.  I e-mailed myself a link.  I downloaded it.  (Actually... I downloaded 2 of them... because I'm starting a review site... and I thought it would be nice if they sort of matched.  lol).  I settled on using her templates.

Then started the work of the transfer.  Gisele's site (and others') warned about saving widgets and losing widgets and transferring widgets.  I never really worried about that before... but over the years, much like in real life, I've collected things here on my blog.  A BlogHer ad over there... a feedburner count over there... oh, and the lilypie down the bottom... just to name a few.  Yikes!

I followed a link Gisele suggested and got to work.  I made a test blog.  I uploaded the template.  I opened the layout on both the test site and this site.  I opened the dreaded html edit page.  EEEKKK!  I started copying widget html and pasting html and tried to remain calm.  Much like when you move in real life... I took the opportunity to lessen the widget load.  Weed out what wasn't necessary.  It was good. 

You know what?  It all pretty much worked.  It looked nice.  It was warm and comfy.  And it was almost perfect.

Almost.

You know what I couldn't get to work?

Comments.

How can I leave my blog with a template that doesn't have the comments functioning?

I have to first say... it isn't the templates fault (Gisele's template is beautiful).  It's my comment widget I think.  I'm having issues with the JS-Kit/Echo widget.  First of all... it's been updated to start using Echo.  It was automatically updated.  I did have to click some link to do some synchronizing.  (which I stalled on and lost some comments temporarily... but all is good there now.  They just reappeared.)  Echo seems cool.  I like the whole concept (from what I understand).  It's pretty much the same as it was... but can now link to your twitter or facebook or who knows what else.  If you link to twitter or facebook (or ?) it will post there "I just commented on "..."  There's a link that says "add a site" and you can type in your blog address if you want your comment to link and show your blog.  Cool stuff.

But since the change I've been finding a few things that I haven't had working properly with it.  Like my sign in doesn't really connect to my blog admin. account.  Or... I made my account... and then I made my sign in... but I didn't get it hooked together properly.  Or something.  And the online support system has changed.  And the frustrations just go on and on.  But that's really a different issue.

My missing comment form.  That's the issue.  I was thrilled with my change and then realized not only did the JS-Kit not transfer... but the blog comments didn't work at all.  I realized I needed to find the JS-Kit widget.  I reinstalled my "old" template (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS download your template before making changes.  ALWAYS) and all was right with my comments. 

I went to work searching for the widget I missed in the html page.  I finally found it at the very absolute bottom of the code.  Talk about headache.  Ever want a headache?  Try reading through html code.  Ugh.

Anyway, I found it.  I copied it.  I pasted it.  I redid the whole install thing.

It still didn't work.

I reinstalled the old... I tried again... I reinstalled the knew... shampoo, rinse, repeat about a dozen times.  Still no comments.  So I'm giving up for the moment.  Welcome to my old template complete with working comments.  (Oh dear God I hope they're working).  I've filled out a couple of help forms with the JS-Kit's new support site.  I've e-mailed Staci @ Just Bloggled who happened to just write a fabulous tutorial on how to fill out the JS-Kit/Echko comments form.  If I ever get it all working properly again I'm linking to Staci's post again... because she does a great tutorial. 

Oh... and I think I lost my CommentLuv widget in the process.  Although I think that may have disappeared earlier with the Echo upgrade.  Or maybe not.  I don't know.  I can't find it.

And Nick took the Advil to Japan. 
sniffle sniffle sob

Giving up.  Sigh.