Hey rj,
Welcome to Createblog =) My name is Katie!
As for the layouts, I'm not really sure. The server is probably down or something like that [insert really smart comment].
Sometimes it happens, but it gets back up in no time. Don't worry about it :)
Before you get started, be sure to read the "Community Guidelines" & "Createblog's FAQ's"( LINK )
http://www.createblog.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=93816^Reading those will help you understand this site so much better, and answer any question you might have! (If you need further help you can always PM me or another staff member)
THanks for joining :)