" check for updates " . I hadn't bothered because to me it is like checking for updates for anything and I was more consumed trying to figure out how to get the template imported.

So I CLICKED it last night and would you flippen believe the templates (IN THEIR CORRECTLY IMPORTED/UPLOADED FILES) were there ready to apply. It just took a quick update apparently.
This does not really have anything to do with the template, this is a message in the zen cart admin that lets you know when there are updates to the zen cart. To make the updates take effect you would have to download the new version and apply the updates. But, I am happy that you got it all figured out