Success!!! But under a different vien.
For some reason I try to compile the calendar sample and I get wx/msw/wx.rc not found EVEN with the directories specified under Build options. So I moved to build a HelloWorld example. Just created a new wxWidgets project out of the box in Codeblocks. Compiled that and it worked.
I didn't mention though.... I WAS driving these programs without the engine. Ceniza provided that missing link that I completely forgot and am now banging my head against the keyboard for forgetting. Hard to run wxWidgets without a wxWidgets library. Yeah... I compile wxWidgets, yet forget to even include the built library in CodeBlocks. You may now commence throwing tomatoes at me.
Still confused about the calendar project not compiling, but now that I got a wxWidgets program to compile I am gearing up to get more complex! thanks for the help!
Sorry about this whole ordeal. Now I know.