def make_subs(template)
vars = Hash.new
template.gsub(/\(\(.*?\)\)/) { |match|
  match.delete!("\(\)")
  pair = match.split(":")
  if vars.member?(pair[0])
    new_subsitute = vars[pair[0]]
  else
    print pair.length > 1 ? "Enter a #{pair[1]}: " : "Enter a #{pair[0]}: "
    new_subsitute = gets 
    vars[pair[0]] = new_subsitute if pair.length > 1
  end    
  match.replace(new_subsitute.chomp)
}
end
#example
#puts make_subs("We went to ((t:place)) to see ((Person)). ((t)) was so nice!")