Wow. Absolutely everything - plus some reassurance and kind words - I needed to get me started!! Thank you all for taking the time to help me with what you must feel are directions and advice you give out over and over and over.....

We are still at the ground levelling stages but hope to be adding water w/in the next couple days. Today I will pick up a test kit, bleach, a small container of stabilizer, a trouser sock , some borax and some baking soda - I know from experience (avid fish-keeper) that our pH is quite high out of the tap and will probably require fiddling-with. I think I'm pretty comfortable with that aspect. I'm also fairly handy and have DIY'ed several different filters for aquariums, my last one plumbed with PVC. I may look into hard-plumbing the Intex pump/filter as I've read they are horribly under-powered - decreasing the plumbing resistance may help. I'm also already eyeing a 2000 gph pond pump I bought for a tank but haven't used yet - does anyone ever DIY a pool filter? HMMMMM....... I will definitely work on some sort of vacuum-tweaking!!!

ssweaser:
I put a trouser sock (J. Smith from Kmart - on sale $1.50 pair) in the skimmer to help keep the small stuff out of the filter. Also put a pair of pantyhose over the filter to keep the bugs out of it. Works well and makes cleaning it alot easier.
A "prefilter" - excellent idea, I have these in all my aquariums and it does indeed make cleaning much easier, filter may last longer too!!

CToon:
I think that is the test kit I will use for now, maybe when we upgrade pools I'll spring for the more expensive....I will get the CYA at Wmart too! As for the bleach calculator, I've already downloaded it and plan to use it - thanks, great advice!

Carl:
Thanks a bunch for your detailed advice - I'm off to read the links you were kind enough to take the time to include - THANKS!!

Amy