var homeoff = new Image();
  homeoff.src = "images/home_off.gif";
  var homeon = new Image();
  homeon.src = "images/home_on.gif";

  var ensemblesoff = new Image();
  ensemblesoff.src = "images/ensembles_off.gif";
  var ensembleson = new Image();
  ensembleson.src = "images/ensembles_on.gif";

  var dressesoff = new Image();
  dressesoff.src = "images/dresses_off.gif";
  var dresseson = new Image();
  dresseson.src = "images/dresses_on.gif";

  var bodicesoff = new Image();
  bodicesoff.src = "images/bodices_off.gif";
  var bodiceson = new Image();
  bodiceson.src = "images/bodices_on.gif";

  var skirtsoff = new Image();
  skirtsoff.src = "images/skirts_off.gif";
  var skirtson = new Image();
  skirtson.src = "images/skirts_on.gif";

  var accessoriesoff = new Image();
  accessoriesoff.src = "images/accessories_off.gif";
  var accessorieson = new Image();
  accessorieson.src = "images/accessories_on.gif";

  var corsetsoff = new Image();
  corsetsoff.src = "images/corsets_off.gif";
  var corsetson = new Image();
  corsetson.src = "images/corsets_on.gif";

  var lingerieoff = new Image();
  lingerieoff.src = "images/lingerie_off.gif";
  var lingerieon = new Image();
  lingerieon.src = "images/lingerie_on.gif";

  var miscoff = new Image();
  miscoff.src = "images/misc_off.gif";
  var miscon = new Image();
  miscon.src = "images/misc_on.gif";

  var favlinksoff = new Image();
  favlinksoff.src = "images/favlinks_off.gif";
  var favlinkson = new Image();
  favlinkson.src = "images/favlinks_on.gif";


var isMenuAct = false; // the menu is not active yet

function actMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = true; // the menu is now active
  act(imgName);
  inact(defImg);
}

function inactMenuItem(imgName) {
  isMenuAct = false; // the menu is no longer active
  if (document.images) {
    inact(imgName);
    timerID = setTimeout('if (!isMenuAct) act("' +  defImg + '")', 100);
  }
}

function act(imgName) {
  if (document.images) 
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "on.src");
}

function inact(imgName) {
  if (document.images)
    document[imgName].src = eval(imgName + "off.src");
}