Here's a copy of my current comments.php file. I've used blue text to mark the area that I thiink is probably most relevant to my current problem (it's almost all the way at the bottom of the page.)

Thanks for taking a look!  --Amp

<?php // Do not delete these lines
    if ('comments.php' == basename($_SERVER['SCRIPT_FILENAME']))
        die ('Please do not load this page directly. Thanks!');

        if (!empty($post->post_password)) { // if there's a password
            if ($_COOKIE['wp-postpass_' . COOKIEHASH] != $post->post_password) {  // and it doesn't match the cookie
                ?>
                
                <p class="nocomments"><?php _e("This post is password protected. Enter the password to view comments."); ?><p>
                
                <?php
                return;
            }
        }

        /* This variable is for alternating comment background */
        $oddcomment = 'alt';
?>

<!-- You can start editing here. -->

<?php if ($comments) : ?>
    <h3 id="comments"><?php comments_number('No Responses', 'One Response', '% Responses' );?> to &#8220;<?php the_title(); ?>&#8221;</h3>

    <ol class="commentlist">

    <?php foreach ($comments as $comment) : ?>

        <li class="<?php echo $oddcomment; ?>" id="comment-<?php comment_ID() ?>">
            <cite><?php comment_author_link() ?></cite> Writes:
            <?php if ($comment->comment_approved == '0') : ?>
            <em>Your comment is awaiting moderation.</em>
            <?php endif; ?>
            <br />

            <small class="commentmetadata"><a href="#comment-<?php comment_ID() ?>" title=""><?php comment_date('F jS, Y') ?> at <?php comment_time() ?></a> <?php edit_comment_link('e','',''); ?></small>

            <?php comment_text() ?>
<img src="http://www.amptoons.com/blog/wp-content/themes/default/peepers/peepers.jpg" alt="" class="centered" />
        </li>

    


    <?php endforeach; /* end for each comment */ ?>
    </ol>

 <?php else : // this is displayed if there are no comments so far ?>

  <?php if ('open' == $post-> comment_status) : ?>
        <!-- If comments are open, but there are no comments. -->
        
     <?php else : // comments are closed ?>
        <!-- If comments are closed. -->
        <p class="nocomments">Comments are closed.</p>
        
    <?php endif; ?>
<?php endif; ?>


<?php if ('open' == $post-> comment_status) : ?>

<h3 id="respond">Leave a Reply</h3>


<p>If you have questions about the moderation policies here, <a href="http://www.amptoons.com/blog/archives/2005/12/22/moderation-faq-and-policy/">please read this post</a>. Short version: treat other posters with respect.</p>

<p>(Need to know how to create <a href="http://www.amptoons.com/blog/how-to-use-blockquotes/">blockquotes </a>and <a href="http://www.amptoons.com/blog/how-to-make-links/">links</a>?)</p>

<?php if ( get_option('comment_registration') && !$user_ID ) : ?>
<p>You must be <a href="<?php echo get_option('siteurl'); ?>/wp-login.php?redirect_to=<?php the_permalink(); ?>">logged in</a> to post a comment.</p>
<?php else : ?>

<form action="<?php echo get_option('siteurl'); ?>/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform">

<?php if ( $user_ID ) : ?>

<p>Logged in as <a href="<?php echo get_option('siteurl'); ?>/wp-admin/profile.php"><?php echo $user_identity; ?></a>. <a href="<?php echo get_option('siteurl'); ?>/wp-login.php?action=logout" title="<?php _e('Log out of this account') ?>">Logout &raquo;</a></p>

<?php else : ?>
<fieldset style="border:none;">
<p><input type="text" name="author" id="author" value="<?php echo $comment_author; ?>" size="22" tabindex="1" />
<label for="author"><small>Name <?php if ($req) _e('(required)'); ?></small></label></p>

<p><input type="text" name="email" id="email" value="<?php echo $comment_author_email; ?>" size="22" tabindex="2" />
<label for="email"><small>Mail (will not be published) <?php if ($req) _e('(required)'); ?></small></label></p>

<p><input type="text" name="url" id="url" value="<?php echo $comment_author_url; ?>" size="22" tabindex="3" />
<label for="url"><small>Website</small></label></p>
</fieldset>
<?php endif; ?>
<fieldset style="border:none;">
<!--<p><small><strong>XHTML:</strong> You can use these tags: <?php echo allowed_tags(); ?></small></p>-->

<p><textarea name="comment" id="comment" cols="100%" rows="10" tabindex="4"></textarea></p>

<p><input name="submit" type="submit" id="submit" tabindex="5" value="Submit Comment" />

<input type="hidden" name="comment_post_ID" value="<?php echo $id; ?>" />

<?php if (function_exists('ajax_comment_preview')) ajax_comment_preview('previewbutton'); ?>

</p></fieldset>

<?php if (function_exists('ajax_comment_preview')) ajax_comment_preview('previewarea'); ?>

<?php do_action('comment_form', $post->ID); ?>

</form>

<?php endif; // If registration required and not logged in ?>

<?php endif; // if you delete this the sky will fall on your head ?>