template changes

I'm not a web programmer (though I learned a bunch of html in college while the web was still new) so i'm using a template that i'm trying to tweak for this blog. emphasize trying.
I already deleted one of my posts in trying to adjust the format of the page so slightly and lost my FIRST comment with it (sorry jill, whoever you are) and i've noticed a few other quirks along the way. I hope my shoddy work isn't too annoying, bear with it, unless it's really bad then please let me know.
cheers!