No poolguy this year to open pool, need help...

[VOLDADDY]

My poolguy won't be able to get to me until the 1st week of June this year and I am wanting to swim by 5/13. I have never opened my pool myself and have no idea what all needs to be done. They come open it while I am working and I give them the credit card and we are both happy.

I started on my own tonight. I drained the waterbags and removed the winter cover. Both the bags and cover were NASTY! I will deep clean them over the weekend. My pool is decent. There is some dirt and small amounts of algae on the bottom. I took the plugs out of the 2 returns and screwed the eyeball looking pieces in. There was remnants of pipe tape on them but I didn't put any more on them-should I have wrapped them with tape? Also, one of them screwed in pretty tightly but the other didn't seem to screw in as tight. Will it be ok or should I replace it? How tight should I screw them in?

In the skimmer basket, there was a big blue bubble looking plug that I removed. There is also another hole that looks to have a plug in it, but it is screwed down in and recessed. Do I need to remove it and have 2 holes open? I didn't see any other pieces laying around anywhere to put in them underneath my skimmer basket.

Lastly, what do I need to do to get the pump and filter running? I know I need to put water in the little basket beside it to prime it.

I have the hose in it filling it up now. This will be a lengthy process, about 1 day. Any and all info will be GREATLY appreciated! TIA.