Advice on Blog Layout...

As you can see, my blog has been under a bit of construction. I've managed to figure out how to add a navigation bar above using HTML. I was fairly impressed with myself considering I've taken 1 class in computers 6 years ago and only passed because of the guys in my class who did my projects for me (it helps that I was 1 of 2 girls in the room).

I've also altered my picture above and added a snappy phrase (borrowed from some site I found in google image). Now I need some input...

1. Does this navigation bar help??? Those same links were posted in the upper right hand corner before, but I thought the Nav bar would be more like "normal" website and people had a better idea where to look for things.
1b. ... Was it better the way it was before? Links in the upper right hand corner?

2. Is the picture/page header too big??? It looks bit to me, but a lot of that is because I'm the site owner and it gives me the "edit" picture.
2b... if you think its too big, do you think it would be better where it was? Right above the blog posts, shrunk to fit between the left margin and the right menu?

3. Snappy Phrase... with or without the runner foot & wing? Whatcha think?

4. Any other thoughts? Additions? Deletions? Something you would like to cover? Anything! Just let me know...