Thanks for the reply, Anna. I managed to get the pump to run. Turns out that my valve to the skimmer doesn't close airtight so that is what was causing the pump to lose prime. All of the leaves from the cover ended up in the shallow end. I drained the pool so that the deep end is the only end with water in it. Then I got my snow shovel and garden cart and got the leaves and gunk out. I've never seen so much yucky stuff in a pool. It was very disgusting. I used my presser washer to clean everything I could get to and am now filling the pool back up again. Hopefully with some scrubbing and lots of bleach, it'll be ready before too long.