re: how (not) to update your site to version 3
Writing that previous blog post might have been exactly what I needed, in a way. I actually did completely throw out what I'd built, again, up to that point, and then in a fever pulled together the layout you can see on the main site now. (In fact this layout on Bear is now copying the colors and fonts from the main site!)
There's still some things that aren't 100% done, like the photolog, but it's done enough that I feel good sharing it. And now I have a bit more space to put new things, like more webrings!
If you haven't tried making your own website, I really encourage it. It doesn't need to be elaborate; I'm a massive fan of microsites (not the capitalist definition, but just a really, really small site, 1-2 pages max) for instance. My haiku site is a single-page website and I still feel such a sense of accomplishment when I look at it. Even a blog on Bear counts! Just enjoy creating something on the web that isn't part of, or tied to, a megacorp and can be more wholly you.