CSS and XHTML questions

I have been browsing w3schools, zeldman, and ALA for a bit and I have to say I am still confused.

I understand the XHTML part. It's just like HTML.

I understand how you use "div" tags to define the different areas of your page.

I am confused about how the CSS links to the XHTML. Basically this whole layout in CSS thing is the confusing part. How do you absolute position things (I assume that is what I am supposed to do)? I don't understand how to make shapes in CSS.

Just point me to a good tutorial and I will be fine.

Several days of examing the Zeldman source yielded no breakthroughs, neither have the w3schools tutorials. I am very frustrated.

Absolute positioning things is one way to do it, but there are many more...

You could try starting with a layout template to learn how to layout a page with CSS:

http://www.thenoodleincident.com/tutorials/box_lesson/boxes.html

And there is a large section of very nice resources and example sites at www.9rules.com/cssvault/

Thanks a lot!

EDIT: ARGH!!!

This is really pissing me off.

I can't get it to work...

www.swankstudios.com/v4/
www.swankstudios.com/v4/main.css

What am I doing wrong?