Instead of an input field, you should use a <span> or something. So it would flow more instead of sticking out like it does now.
Like
You have <span id="whatever">20000</span> available charactters left for the "message."
And putting it above the text box would be pretty sexy too. Instead of giving it its own row. Put it in the same column as the textbox, just above it. Then put a <br /> over "Message:"

And smileys could go on the right, instead of all that nothingness.

And periods go inside the quote when the quote occurs at the end of a sentence.

The characters left display will be changed in a few minutes time when the new update is transferred.