So let me get this straight---
1. PH can be increased by Baking soda? I know I read that the trichlor decreses the PH.... I use the tabs...is that NOT GOOD?

No. pH is increased by Borax, and decreased by trichlor or dichlor, or by muriatic acid or dry acid. The tabs are not necessarily bad, but if you're having a hard time keeping your pH up, then losing the tabs is the first thing you'll need to do to correct it. The tabs also release CYA into the water as they dissolve. You need some CYA in order to protect your chlorine from the sun, but you need to be aware that as your CYA level rises, then so must your "baseline" level of chlorine. See Ben's Best Guess Chart at the top of the Chlorine forum for a guideline you can use for required chlorine amounts based on your CYA level.

2. With what do you adjust alkalinity --- ? You
You raise it with baking soda, and you lower it by using acid to lower alk til your pH is around 7.0, then aerate the pool to raise the pH back up without again raising TA.

3. The CYA is adjusted by the use of stabilizer and the constant use of the chlorine tablets? How does that get so high if the chlorine is used up from what you are putting in the pool?

The chlorine is used up in the pool, but the stabilizer is not. The only way to lower the level is to drain/refill.

Pool places do not tell you that tablets will raise CYA (I know to sell chemicals) but if CYA shouldn't get too high then that is crappy of them!!!!
You're right, and that's the purpose behind this forum.

I was informed that you only need to add the stabilizer once a season? How would you decrease the CYA?
Drain/refill.

The trichlor tablets I use I place two in the floater and that lasts a few days...(the pool pace said to add FOUR and replace when dissolved-that seems like an awful lot!!!!) I have had the pool filled and open for the past three weeks (only swimming last week and now we had some rain/storms)and my numbers have looked pretty good. I believe someone told me that HTH makes a chlorine tab with algecide in it (or do they all have that in there since it is chlorine)? I also saw the HTH tabs have copper so [B]I shouldn't use them?

The copper that hth has added to their tabs is an algaecide, but copper is the culprit when you have green hair and nails, and also tends to stain pools. Don't add copper to your water, it creates LOTS more problems than it solves.
4. Wll I EVER feel confident about taking care of this POOL?????

Yep, it just takes time.......

This CYA confuses me sooo much.... If I use tablets (trichlor) I can add lots of stuff I do not need? If you test faithfully and all is well then why couldn't you continue to use the tablets?
See my explanation above.
Why is bleach so much better?
Because bleach only adds chlorine, NOT extra CYA, Ca, or anything else.

CYA too high does what?
Requires you to maintain high chlorine levels to ward off the algae.

I have been reading this site/forum for the past three hours taking notes !!!!!!

Hang in there, it seems like a lot of info, but it will all make sense eventually!

Hope this helps!!

Janet