application.js

$(function(){
  $('#add_note').livequery(function(){
    $(this).ajaxForm({
      dataType:  'script',
      beforeSubmit: function(data, form, options) {
	form.find('.dots').show()
      }
    })
  })
}

function updateNotes(partial){
  $('#drawing_notes').replaceWith(partial)
}

sometemplate.js.erb

# passes through erb so the partial is inserted
# then returned to the browser and evaluated since the 
# request dataType was "script"

updateNotes(<%= partial 'drawing_notes', :locals => { :drawing => @drawing } %>)