OK - update!
I got nowhere with my web host provider. Maybe twenty emails, chats and phone calls with great detail regarding the issue received the infuriating response "Went to http://www.diytube.com and it loads. Ticket closed." Argh. Finally got to 'Tier 3' whom I couldn't contact directly and I received the same response. Obviously I will be shopping for a new web host and appreciate any advice.
After that I took the proactive approach, and I hope this works. I moved the database to a MySQL5 server (newer MySQL and different server). Hoping the connections issue isn't the same, so let me know. Also, let me know if you have any bugs with the forums. I think I have it 98% there. Lots of snafus I won't go into here, other than with my new web host I need phpMyAdmin to be able to handle multiple databases.
Thanks for the patience, folks. Refresh the website. And (crosses fingers) I hope things are working better and look forward to your feedback. Post any error messages here.
Shannon