I’m satisfied with this blog theme. My only problem I’m having is setting up category names as links in the nav bar in the header section. This is probably because I know jack about php. Or, I’ve yest to fumble across the easy button for the widgets section.

But, I do know something about jQuery. Chris Coyier, over at css-tricks.com, put together a simple and very effective jQuery drop down menu. There are a boat load of “plugins” and cumbersome jQuery scripts for navigation out there on the interwebs, but this particular one I have found to be the most effective and easiest to personalize for your projects. I especially like the simple addition of…

$("ul.dropdown li ul li:has(ul)").find("a:first").append(" » ");

…to add in the “»” after the anchor in a nested list to show there is more to that anchors category. Check it out if you’re looking for a semantic and valid code solution that works in all browsers!

For some time now at work we’ve been working in small teams and following the practice of Agile Web Development. I’ve become so accustomed to this style of design/dev work that I’m 2% certain it can have a side affect of adult ADD outside of work. Even now as I write this I am checking facebook status and switching from tab to tab in…YES lolcatz!!..So yeh, did I mention I’m a big fan of cheese curds now? They have them at the Trader Joes near us!

For real though. Breaking up the design work into smaller sprints and completing projects at breakneck speed has had an effect on my attention span at home in other activities. If I’m cooking pasta, the first 3 minute sprint will involve me taking the pasta out of the bag setting it in the pan (sans water), getting out the jar of sauce, and then walking away to check the next milestone/to-do task for my next sprint of cooking the food. My fiance acts as my project manager for general house chores. And so on and so on.

It has been a test in organizing daily to-dos, and it has forced me to be much more efficient with my markup and awareness of how much Internet Explorer royally sucks ass. I blame 37signals and their superb “Getting Real” philosophy. It’s crazy efficient and highly recommended if you’re looking for an excuse to tell your doctor you need prescription meds to cope with the onset of ADD from reading a book and using agile development…even though the book says nothing of being able to get away with that. Reader beware!