function prepare_search_form(selector, default_string, search_term) {

  // what should the default label text be?
  var default_term = 'search...'
  if (default_string && default_string != '') {
    default_term = default_string;
  }

  // lets make sure we are starting fresh
  $(selector).unbind();

  // set the label text to either the default, or the search string
  if (search_term != '') {
    $(selector).val(search_term);
  } else {
    $(selector).val(default_term);
  }

  // add the click on, click off behavior
  $(selector).focus(
    function() {
     if ($(selector).val() == default_term) {
       $(selector).val('');
     }
    });
  $(selector).blur(
    function() {
     if ($(selector).val() == '') {
       $(selector).val(default_term);
     }
    });
}