[jQuery] [validate plugin] Conflict in using validation plugin with custom submit code

[jQuery] [validate plugin] Conflict in using validation plugin with custom submit code


hi,
Like others I seem to have ran into the "double-click to submit
problem". Allow me to explain:
I have a registration form which validates just fine using the
excellent validate plugin. It's working perfectly. However, I now want
to run some custom code after the validation event. Specifically, I
want to disable the submit button when validation is passed. After
that, a normal post should follow to the server, no Ajax post.
My first try was to do this:
// disable the submit button upon submit event
$("#frmEditUser").submit(
    function()     {
     $("#submSave").attr("disabled","true").attr("value", "Updating,
please wait...");
    }
);
// validation code follows here
$("#frmEditUser").validate({
......
This indeed changes the submit button and validation still works.
However, it does not submit the form to the server, instead, nothing
happens. My 2nd try was to use the validation plugin's submitHandler.
Mind you this code is a bit long, but I think only the bottom part is
relevant:
$("#frmEditUser").validate({
        onkeyup:false,
        rules: {
            username: {
                required:true,
                minlength:5,
                maxlength:45,
                validChars:true,
                usernameCheck:[$("#username").val(),oldusername]    // remote check
for duplicate username
            }
        },
        messages: {
            username: {
                required: "username is required.",
                minlength: jQuery.format("username must be at least {0} characters
in length."),
                maxlength: jQuery.format("username can not exceed {0} characters
in length."),
                validChars: "please supply valid characters only.",
                usernameCheck:"this username is already in use."
            }
        }
        ,
        submitHandler: function(form) {
            // do other stuff for a valid form
            $("#submSave").attr("disabled","true").attr("value", "Updating,
please wait...");
            form.submit();
        }
    });
This approach I have seen elsewhere in the forum, but it does not work
for me. Validation runs fine, yet when the form is valid it once more
does not actually post it to the server. It does post when I double-
click (only when I uncomment the button-disabling code, otherwise I
cannot double-click).
So my question in general is: how can I have my own custom submit code
that does not conflict with the validation plugin and that does an
actual post? I thoroughly looked through the forum but I still do not
see the solution.
I will be very grateful for a solution, I've spent so many precious
hours on accomplishing such a small thing (disabling a submit button).
Thanks in advance!