Tech Help Needed!

Any WordPress gurus out there? Or just general know-it-alls when it comes to interneting?

I need some guidance... I'm considering streamlining my internet presence and taking this blog up a notch. The idea I'm tossing around is a single website for the blog and my personal info. This would mean taking down the Dynamod website (which I was never fond of anyway) and closing this blog in lieu of a new one. After switching the Races in Places site from Blogger to a WordPress.com blog, I've come to love WordPress's interface much better than Blogger. However, I'm not keen on the majority of their free themes which has lead me to explore the WordPress.org option, but opened up a huge canful of questions.

I've searched forums and FAQs but cannot seem to find the info I need. So I thought I would pose the question to you, dear reader.

What I'd like to know is this:

• If using WordPress.org, is the blog posting interface the same as WordPress.com?
• Can I use a theme like this one on WordPress.com?
  
• If I want to use any theme not listed as an "available theme" by WordPress.com, does this mean I need a WordPress.org account instead?
• If the above answer is "yes," how much new info do I need to learn to operate a WP.org blog? (I already spend too much of my composing time doing auxillary interneting, I don't really want to increase this!)
  
• I noticed that some of the hosters through WP.org, such as Blue Host offer email inboxes. How exactly does this work?
• How do I set up my current sites (Dynamod & Blogger) to redirect to the new site?
  

And finally, can someone just tell me what my best option is for how to do the following:

• Have a blog with multiple pages so that one page is the blog itself, the others are pages containing info about me as a composer (bio, etc) and the big band.
  
• I want to host audio, video, pictures, polls & external (non-WP) widgets
  
• I want general customization as far as font, color schemes, banner image, and basic layout (positioning of widgets, etc) are concerned
• I don't have the budget to pay some to do this and this new venture shouldn't cost more than what I am currently paying for my Dynamod, which is $15/mon.

Anyone out there know the answers and feel like having a discussion with me??? If not... can anyone direct me to a thorough resource, be it book, website, forum, or person?

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Enter Sandman?

Dear Jazzers,

I know it seems this blog has spun in place, lights flashing, 70's disco music cued, and with a not so subtle cut screen, emerged into a skimpy, yet patriotically costumed comics blog.

Guess my mind has needed a break from all that jazz.

However, after today's second rehearsal of Maspeth Blues (the 5 note wonder chart!) by the PS 58 Elementary Jazz Band, lead by yrs trly, I'd like to pose a thought to all you jazzer intellectuals (and any other readers out there).

How wrong would it be to arrange an incredibly simplified version of Metallica's Enter Sandman for... elementary jazz band? Would I be reinforcing the current social musical hierarchy which places jazz somewhere above Kenny G, but way below Justin Timberlake (yes, I love him), Toby Keith, and Metallica? Or would I be stealthily bringing these young minds into the jazz fold through pop accessibility?

In the year and half that I've been working with this once a week rehearsing band of 5th and 6th graders, we've done nothing but jazz tunes: a simple unison blues (the aforementioned Maspeth Blues), an arrangement of When the Saints Go Marching In (a beginner jazz band staple) and most recently, a swinging arrangement of Jingle Bells entitled Jingle Jangle Jingle (yes, a reference to Brookmeyer's Ding Dong Ding).

I must say, these kids can swing! Or at least they try really hard. We talk about Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Buddy Rich and they are familiar with the popular players for their instrument. But as much as I'd like to think they are all about jazz, their free play at the beginning of class betrays them. At the beginning of 3rd period today, instead of hearing the repetitive strains of Maspeth Blues, I heard the electric guitarist belting out the introductory riff of Enter Sandman to the delight of the rest of the band.

I locked shocked eyes with Fran, the full time music teacher at my school, and my body was seized with th3 anxiety that accompanied my 8th grade year when that song was so popular.

"How do these kids even know this song?!?"

After Fran and I traded a few rounds of "That's awesome!" (these are elementary kids, we give lots of positive reinforcement), the instantly cool 6th grade guitarist turned a hopeful face to me and asked excitedly, "Can we play it for our spring concert???"

Um, do I look like Jack Black?

But then... my over-achiever overly-caffeinated mind started racing through all the cool ways I could interpret heavy metal through big band. And oh the challenges of doing it with a severely limited range (my lead trumpet rose to the occasion and managed a D in the staff for our holiday concert), 4/4 time signature, and with as few notes as possible for my heavy fingered saxophonists!

Thoughts?

Philadelphia Marathon

I'm thinking of entering the Philadelphia Marathon this November.

(who needs the NY Marathon anyway! Not me! grumble, grumble)

Anybody out there run it before? What about Philadelphia? I've never been.

Thoughts on the city?

Thoughts on anything...?

...

Please... distract me from the writing!!

Help Wanted

I'm having a MASSIVE ATTACK of writer's block.

Deadline is one week from Sunday (June 24th). Page is currently blank.

Someone help me... suggestions PLEASE!!!!!!

(I think I need another cup of coffee...)

Justice League of Jazz

Ok, in all seriousness....

Kelly Fenton and the Justice League of Jazz

What do we think??? Too much?

or maybe I should just stick with the Kelly Fenton Jazz Orchestra...

London Calling

In a week, I get to use my new passport. I haven't used a passport since I was 5 weeks old, leaving Okinawa, Japan for the States.

On Wednesday, April 18, I'll meet up with Julie and Jason in JFK, and fly over to London, England!!!!!! We'll be there for a week, with the highlight being the Flora London Marathon on Sunday, April 22. I am also looking forward to high tea in Harrods and visiting Hyde Park. But I don't know much about London and have no idea what else to do.

Any ideas???

Band Name

I'm in need of a name for my big band. Everyone has a cool band name these days. There's Kyle's Awakening Orchestra, Darcy's Secret Society, and Joe and Bob's Cafe Simpatico. To name a band after yourself is passe. I can't have the "Kelly Fenton Big Band!" "Kelly Fenton Jazz Orchestra" is a little better, but still quite uncool.

I was thinking of something from the Wonder Woman mythology. But somehow I don't think the "Gauntlets of Victory" or "Lasso of Truth Jazz Orchestra" quite paint the right picture.

Any ideas?

post edit: What do we think of "The Justice League of Jazz"?!?!?! Hahahahaha.....!