@Baez and @Trotter
now that i've posted my gripes with load times, i've analyzed it a bit more. These feelings are subjective. I haven't run numbers. But also every time i feel like im waiting longer than usual, i look in my status bar (IE) and it's always waiting to download a pic file. Hmm, i may or may not grab ss's. But then again this is one person's config on a small number of different computers; work, home, school. Also, I should double check with my schools config, but after leaving class i thought to myself that may have been faster than the other two.
edit - Also, i didn't use the Baez Black Theme very much because it didn't have the new posts, usercp links at the top. I switched my default over to the old blue and white theme. In my posting i'm comparing the current theme with the old blue and white.
it may be worthwhile to setup a thread with different configs and performance stats. This would help people understand how to make pages load very fast....but at what cost?