maybe i did it wrong but it didn't work.
--------------- Added [DATE]1251467016[/DATE] at [TIME]1251467016[/TIME] ---------------
it
seems to have been much easier than i was expecting. all i had to do was take the $header and $footer variables out of the temples. i guess there are some things being processed that maybe shouldn't be but as long as they aren't getting output thats ok for now.