OK, based on the feedback above, I did fix a bunch of the issues, and I learned how to use padding. I still have tons of questions, but I'll limit to a few biggies:
First, I have run the main page through a web validator...it found 21 errors, but I can't figure out what the explanations mean. I have a pretty decent book on webpage design, but it still seems like there is a whole language that I don't understand when reading these forums, tutorials, etc. Any suggestions?
Next - how do I put the code for the parts of each page that stay the same in one place only so I don't need to maintain the common areas on each separate page?
I'd like to align the logo artwork and the menu better in my header. Currently, when I make the logo image bigger, the menu text moves down...I guess it is actually "below" the logo, not "beside" the logo like I think it should be.
Finally, the template that I used has a main page area that is intended to fill about 2/3 of the page and a sidebar area for the other 1/3. On some of the pages, I'd like the main page to reach completely across...further, I'd like to create a "grid" of pictures that link to other sites with a brief text passage attached to each picture. Currently I can only make them as a vertical list. (Specifically on the pages http://hotbotz2640.org/pinkalliance.html and http://hotbotz2640.org/williepage.html)
Thanks in advance for any help...this continues to be quite a learning experience. I hope to get to a point where I feel comfortable to "teach" the basics to one of the students in the group, then have them take over.