@Pete,
hey, just wanted to follow-thru with an update & to mark this thread as solved.
i ended up having to put ProcessWire down - i was just banging my head up against too many stone walls. not being a php backend developer, i guess PW isn't for me; which sucks, cause i like it's concept & structure. but it requires more php knowledge than what i have (for now).
so i went back to something familiar... ModX... and still banged my head a lot these past few weeks, but finally got it figured out & working there.
if ever interested, it's posted @ http://forums.modx.com/thread/99335/need-help-with-php-connecting-muut-forum-to-modx#dis-post-537478
but thanks again for your time & efforts! it's MUCH appreciated.
.peace.:.jason.
