techno troubles

I have spent a week trying to upload a new 3-column template to no avail and once I did get it uploaded all my content was missing and I had to revert back to the old template. Even reverting is funky because my page elements are all messed up with my information flying all around the page. I am so, so frustrated when I look at other fabulous blogs and I want to be able to truly customize mine and can't get there. Do I truly have to understand HTML and be able to write it to change things around???
I have spent tons of times on tutorials and still not getting any satisfaction.

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day!! I got a new dishwasher:) Wow!!!