Sorry, Amy, but I couldn't help but get a good chuckle from your post!

I've heard so much about WordPress, I decided to check it out.  On the home page of their website it says:

"More simply, WordPress is what you use when you want to work with your blogging software, not fight it."

This is followed by a link to Amazondotcom so you can buy your own copy of "WordPress for Dummies".

You can't make this stuff up!

Amy - sorry to hear about your trouble. I didn't realize this until I dug around, but there is a WordPress.COM and a WordPress.ORG. Would that make a difference in what you're doing? Here's a link that might help:

http://faq.wordpress.com/2006/05/07/wordpresscom-vs-wordpressorg/

Cathy - oh, the irony! Thanks for the laugh!

Brian Wilson, Zolve.com

Brian gave a good link.  At the top right of that page you will see a FORUMS link.  The forums can be very helpful.

The ease of customizing a wordpress blog can definitely depend on which template you choose.  Some are more "mature" than others.  

Best case scenario, you can figure out what image is called for the header or Blog Name or logo (etc) and replace the images with ones of your own design (just make sure they are the same size).

All in all, you should be able to have a great blogging experience without editing PHP files and you definitely don't need to worry about Squirrels (the MySQL part runs the database but does not accept instructions from a blog user.)  :)

If you want to roll up your sleeves a bit you can usually edit the CSS or Cascading Style Sheet for your blog to change Headline and text fonts, color schemes, link colors, and etc.

In case you really want to go wild, adding widgets and such, you may  need to break down and learn a bit of PHP.  The wordpress forums will be very helpful in this regard.  

Have Phun!

Amy - you're in Phoenix, I'm in Phoenix. I've been running Wordpress for almost three years.

I'll do just about anything for a Starbucks venti with whip eggnog latte.

I bet we could fix your Wordpress problems... All we need is laptop/pc with an internet connection. And a coffee....  :)  Call me.

And actually there IS a WordPress for Dummies book. I've never read it but have heard it is good:  http://tinyurl.com/3yoqq5

Chase him around the loop

Amy what kind of squirrel is it?  Perhaps you can put it up on eBay and see what you get... along with the loop.  Got to make sure that little guy gets his exercise.

Jana

The price you could get on Ebay is directly proportionate to how many acorns it clears out of your yard which thereby determines how plump it is and how bushy the tail.  The severity of your winter will depend on these factors.

But I digress and wouldn't want to hijack your thread....   :)

Cathy -- there aren't a whole lot of acorns in Phoenix.

Come to think of it, there aren't a whole lot of squirrels here.

But we've got Roadrunners!

As for severe winters..... did you see my "How to Survive a Phoenix Winter" blog post?  I think it pisses people off that are up north. But it's sorta funny...