The nightmare continues....lighting

[yardwork]

So, as discussed in this thread, I had a problem with a replacement ceiling light fixture in my kitchen.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1158&pid=1087

I decided that the best approach would be to get another lighting fixture, one that is designed to hold more bulbs and put out more light. I talked it over with the guys in the electric lighting department at my local Lowes after work tonight. I got conflicting advice. In the end, I purchased a semi-flush ceiling fixture that holds three 60 watt bulbs. It's this model:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_143823-2121-P4747/3ASF_0__?productId=3096077&Ntt=bel+air+semi-flush&pl=1&currentURL=&facetInfo=

Obviously, I didn't read the reviews before I purchased it.

I took it home, and my son and I read the instructions, turned off the electricity, took down the fixture that we installed this past weekend that isn't bright enough, and began installing this new one. After screwing in the mounting hardware and attaching the wires, we started to install the light fixture and discovered that it was defective. It's supposed to be an "easy installation" but it didn't work - didn't hold the fixture to the mounting hardware, it was going to fall right off. So we took it all down, disconnected the wires, packed it back up, drove back to Lowes, showed the nice lady at Returns what was wrong, she agreed that it was defective, credited my credit card, and suggested that we open the package of another one to see if we could find one that worked. We did. It seemed fine. So we bought that and took it home.

Started all over again. Got the whole thing put together and discovered that (1) it's crooked - seems impossible to get the fixture to hang straight, and (2) the plate isn't flush with the ceiling and there's gaps in the drywall that will need to be replaced. But we needed to finish up for the night so we finished installing it, figuring we would fiddle with the way it hangs tomorrow, and turned back on the the electricity. Hit the light switch and it doesn't work. Don't know what the problem is. Entire fixture defective? Wires not installed correctly? Don't know, but I'm going to take it all down again tomorrow and return it to Lowes, because even if I could figure out what was wrong with it, I don't think I can get it to hang straight.

I just don't know what to replace it with. I need something that casts bright light. I need at least 180 watts. It seems like the best course of action is to return to a flush mount that is large enough to cover up the hole in the ceiling, that I don't have to worry about getting to hang straight. Maybe I should call an electrician. I've never installed light fixtures myself before. I'm a gardener. I know how to grow roses. I don't know anything about lighting or electricity.

Advise welcome. I needed to vent.