Nothing is working right

I started up the pool this year and none of the readings are like I want them except for the amount of salt in the pool.The ph is 8.4 or higher I'm using twice as much of the muriatic acid to bring it down as it says to use on the container label for the amount of water in the pool and I'm not seeing it come down.The total alkalinity is very high,I'm directing the pools skimmer water to shoot out over the pool to aerate the water but don't know whether this is adequate.I have been doing this for about two weeks and no one has been in the pool at all,that ends tomorrow when the grandkids get here,and I haven't been able to get the numbers I want.The pool is crystal clear and I I!m using bleach to supplement the SWCG but every time I test I get unacceptable numbers.What to do different to achieve acceptable results? Your input will be very much appreciated!