Desktop Calendar

Have looked at Rainlendar?

Have looked at Rainlendar?

Yes, Rainlendar will accomplish what you need. Events and a to-do-list are possible. There is even an Outlook plugin that allows you to view all Outlook Calendar info, but not edit it. Rainlendar is completely skinable. Wincustomize is just one of many sites that has a Rainlendar gallery...check it out.

http://www.ipi.fi/~rainy/index.php?pn=projects&project=rainlendar

You could also get a copy of DesktopX and load up all sorts of calendar and to-do desktop gadgets.  There are all sorts of them to fit whatever visual style you like.

DesktopX - https://www.stardock.com/products/desktopx/

Here are some DesktopX Widgets, they don't require DesktopX to run, so you're a little more limited in choice:
https://www.wincustomize.com/Skins.aspx?LibID=34

There's a thing called XDesk 95, that was made for Win 95, but works fine on XP. It has a few extras that Rainlendar does'nt have, but Rainlendar is a good program. Or, find the program "Alarm Clock", and DL the Microsoft Agent and speech engine, and it will tell you about appoitment's. Mine tells me every night at 9:00 pm to take my heart medicine. Sometimes I forget.

Here are some DesktopX Widgets, they don't require DesktopX to run

DesktopX Widgets require DesktopX to be installed (but DesktopX does not have to be running) to work.

And more of a list of calendar items for a couple of days rather than a whole 31 day calendar. (...) I would love for it to be connected to the web somehow.

Well, then you could try Yahoo! Widgets. (There is really no DesktopX widget that can do this as well - it would have been my first choice, really.)

With an Yahoo! account you can use the Yahoo! Calendar, an online web calendar with appointments and tasks. There's a widget "Yahoo! Day Planner" that shows you a list of upcoming events and tasks from the web calendar. You can add and delete events and tasks with the widget. And if you have a PDA, with the tool IntelliSync you can even synchronize the Yahoo! Calendar with your Pocket PC.

Yahoo! Calendar
Yahoo! Widgets

There is really no DesktopX widget that can do this as well

I don't agree, Day Planner requires a third party program like Outlook or Yahoo's own calendar. For a stand alone, try this one by Vad_M
Link

I don't agree, Day Planner requires a third party program like Outlook or Yahoo's own calendar

That's what I meant: There are good DesktopX stand alone calendars, no question. But when it comes to have the calendar data on the web, too, then ...

If you really like Day Planner, try the one called Desktask. It does the same thing as Dayplanner but it's transparent and more configurable. Check it out Link

For a stand alone, try this one by Vad_M

Yes, this is a great gadget(stand alone executable...no software required to run it). However, it is only for 1024 x 768 resolutions. So if you are running anything higher, be warned, you will only be able to utilize a small section of the screen.