Thursday, July 13, 2006

Tempting Templates

Like the old adage goes, everything changes - although there are always a few recalcitrant sorts like me who desperately cling to the old ways. Just like my other fixed Scorpio brethren, I am a dedicated fan of the tried and true with any hint, even the slightest breeze heralding the winds of change giving me the shivers. Trying to shake me from any seeming semblance of complacency is a near impossible task and nothing short of an electric prod - and various other implements of torture - would serve to move me from my place of security. I like ruts. Seriously.

Which is why I hated adjusting to a new job.

Which is why I hated moving to a new place.

Which is why I must have driven the poor Queer Chef to distraction when he so kindly offered to update my tired template. As always, still a work in progress since like any anal-retentive perfectionist, I can never be truly satisfied with anything.

The first idea Chef Chas had was a sleek, professional minimalist-looking ebony-and-ivory template that I felt just didn't mesh with my colourful life. Well, that's actually pushing it since my life's actually all desperately dull beiges and grays. Which is why I felt that I deserved a little colour in my life ( and aren't gay men genetically drawn to bright bold colours, judging by their rainbow banners? ) since I've already dealt with enough black-and-white decisions at work.

Raising banners
A rainbow of colours!

The one you see before you is the second template that I've been fiddling with here and there. Love the colours here since it draws inspiration from my previous template but I am still finding the new banner a little hard to take. Sure the semi-disrobing man candy is certainly eye-catching but isn't it a tad too obvious, even for a disreputable skank?

What do you guys think?

Gonna update a little more after I get back from an early dinner with Charming Calvin. Can assure you that he's certainly no figment of my wildly creative imagination since no fictional character could taste so sweet... and flavourful :) Corrupting him slowly... so maybe this time the bashful boy would agree to reenact a George Michael assignation in a public men's room.

34 comments:

Alex said...

Eh? Looks the same to me....
Hope it's something nice...

Anonymous said...

I like the light blue box floating over the black bakcgrond - so easy on the eyes. All the best with your revisions!

Anonymous said...

as a web designer extrodinaire ™, I like this new template. although have to say that the header is bit too big (and too tall) for my liking.

HumanAdult said...

looks nice ah paul. very pro-fes-sio-uhuk uhuk-nal. :)

confusticated said...

sleek, but like asmadi says, maybe the header is a bit too tall.

Anonymous said...

I love the Header, it is very eye-catching. The blue is easy on the eyes. Queer Chef does great work!

Sue said...

I love the light blue and the header, but I have to agree that the eye candy guy is a bit much. Great work!

Sue said...

Oops. Forgot to mention. Don't get yourself arrested a la George Michael. Hate to think what the punishment for that is there!

Kihu said...

another new template oh.. this one better than the white one.. at least it portrays ur personality more.. BLUISH MIND ahahah.. (dirty minded lar).. White is pure n innocent which doesn't really suit u ahaha..

RennyBA said...

Charles has done a reall good job as always and as he did to my blog. He i a great guy and you have a great blog:-)

Zemien said...

I agree with Asmadi as well. And while i have no issues with the disrobing male, it doesn't quite fit in with the screen shots from Nip/Tuck.

Much better to remove the Nip/Tuck shots and show a disrobing guy lying on his lovely silk bedsheets. And probably another guy's hand placed on his chest.

That would clearly get the fact that this is a gay blog, and the author is skanky. Plus, that image will go well with the name of your blog.

Maximus Leo said...

Love the lay out....please send me Queer Chef to Tokyo and he can help me modify my website as well.

Anonymous said...

It looks 'disconnected' - literally. Mr. Hunk-in-blue seem to pop out from no where.

I think George O'Malley or Dr. McDreamy would look good as your header. What do you think?

- Evan

MrBunnyBan said...

Mmmm, I didn't like it as soon as I saw it. Definately could use a little subtlety, as though you be skanky your blog isn't really a sex blog.

Anonymous said...

well, i only use the images given by the good doc.

hrugaar said...

Sorry, paul, still definitely prefer the old template.

As my boss and I say: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Anonymous said...

You're worried about a semi-disrobing man on your banner? You have semi-disrobed men plastered all over your blog!

Anonymous said...

oh, that hottie is gone!!! Where the hell is he? :-)

joshua said...

Did McSkanky give all the ideas about going all ala George Michael?

He gave too much details just last nite. Ugh.

NeiLDC said...

Welcome aboard Scorpio doctor, charles gave me also the remedy and Lets go for it!

Jay said...

My favourite part of the layout has always been your little profile avatar, the delectable, desirable, divine Dr. Jack Shepherd.

For tiny little moments when I visit this blog, I fantasise that I'm actually interacting with - oh never mind.

-sigh-

Annie said...

A creative mind like Paul's will always have a need to experiment, to adapt, be open-minded, relish in the inspiration of change! The change relects your life changes too Paul with work, relocation and a new love. Whatever helps your mind relax, enjoy and inspire you to write.. I say use whatever template that says, "this is me, right now." and Bow. I like whatever you've got going Paul because it represents you, that's good enough for me. :D

pakcik said...

hmmm...when you want to introduce me to charming calvin??

probably the of us can click n ehem ehem from there...haha

Alex said...

Now this is good!
This is you.

Anonymous said...

Well unlike others I dun know u personally but I would prefer this layout too.

the hottie in the middle is just too..hmmm...

as i said before, at least now I can surf your blog even in the office (still got to be careful with those sexy guys pics though) :-P

Anonymous said...

I liked the header before when the disrobing man was sandwiched in between the surgeons. It is just like Paul, business in the beginning and end but fun in the middle. If they don't like seeing a gay blog they don'thave to read it!

Unknown said...

This is my first time been to your blog so i can't compare to this new look with the old. I don't think the banner is too big or too tall, it looks just right with the browser I am using-SAFARI 2.0 (are you a doctor?) The first thing came to mind when your blog was loading was: Grey's Anatomy! I thought it was some sort of a fan site. I watch the show by the way. Anyway, the only think I dislike about this new template is the FONT of your blog title (BEDTIME STORIES) I reckon it should be the same font as one of the other fonts you used else where on the blog. Blue on Black looks good, like the other said-it is pleasing for the eyes.

Anonymous said...

@vanda - honestly, it is the same font. I am using Arial as the font for all the text in this blog. I guess it looked different since it is all in caps

Annie said...

This is a GAY blog? Why didn't somebody tell me!

kekekeke

Annie said...

and where's Calvin *tapping my foot*.. what's he got to say about all this change.. SPEAK almighty charming one!

Just Me said...

I don't see to much of a change.
The header is big but I like the blue you added. Wasn't the background always black?

pj said...

been reading you for quiet a while now... your new header is a bit too big and really occupied a lot of space... also, although your main photo really represents you the author, i don't think it speaks well with the title of your blog unless of course your idea of bedtime story involves watching medical series :)

A Bear in the Woods said...

Honestly, I don't care if the header is a picture of cows eating grass. I want DAILY SMUT CONTENT. Titillating stories and salacious pictures, please. I want to know all about your hormone levels, and how you're managing them.

savante said...

Thanks, alex :)

Just trying it out with chas' help to see how it works, mark!

Glad you liked it, asmadi. Will take a look at the header.

Send thanks to chas, fnd :)

Too tall? Really, will have to stare at it a while more, idiot.

Thanks, ed, and I totally agree.

No dirty toilet scenes, sue, but we managed a skanky balcony scene.

Thanks, famezgay... but I'm innocent and pure!

Totally agree with that, rennyba. He did a great job.

A lil too obvious, zemien. Might scare off the church folks :)

He's in Finland, Ian :)

Dropped the center guy, evan.

True enough, daniel, which is why I changed.

Kisses, chas! You did a fab job.

Just taking a few days to get used to it, ru. Just seeing how it goes.

True enough,ws :) You wanna pose for me?

He's shy, shigeki, he's hiding.

Nah, got it all on my own, joshua. You could try it out though :)

Thanks, neil.

Totally agree Jay. Sigh. Dr Jack.

My darlin Annieeie... thanks :) Calvin's moving house, and a tad busy.

He's shy, pakcik... and who knows, you might already know him.

Agreed, joshua p :) Sometimes I upload stuff at work too.

Ooh, vanda, I love Grey's Anatomy too. Might slide it in one day.

Didn't want to change it too much, cr. Just small baby steps.

Thanks for the comments, pj. Will think about it but not sure what else to place on the banner.

No problem, daniel. Daily Smut Content will continue as usual :)

Paul