Comments and suggestions and encouragment requested AGAIN! Thanks to every one of who have responded to me by post or PM -- I appreciate you!
(P.S. Madty -- please clear your PM box! LOL)

So here are my NUMBERS FOR TODAY:

7/14/06 (tested w/Wal-Mart kit) (Woo-hoo - received email today to say Ben's kit has been shipped out to me! )

Cl: ORANGE / retested 1/2 pool water & 1/2 distilled water (yellow - kind of dark)
Also tested it with a Cl strip from my friend's janitorial supply place (best I can tell - it was in the 10 - 50 ppm range (guide went up to 200 ppm for the strip)

Ph: 7.3

TA: 150 ppm

CYA: no test (no reagent) (was 40 when tested by my local pool store 7/10)

Clarity of water:

[B]Shallow End: Clear -- but not "crystal clear"
Slope(s) to deep: Clear -- around edges -- could kind of see middle
Deep End: Can see sloped sides
Bottom w/main drain: can see drain but not clearly (but I think better than yesterday

I've been keeping the BLEACH bottles busy! I am planning on vacuuming to waste tomorrow morning (then I'll have to add tap water! or my pump won't run! LOL -- that's really not funny) -- and then keeping the bleach going again tomorrow. Today my grass was mowed -- so some dirt probably got in my pool too! Geesh! Is this a TEST OF POP?

I still have some Bioguard Sanitizer - Everyday Chlorinating Granules (Will I ever use these?) What do you do with "stuff that you got from the pool store before you found the pool forum?"

THANKS again for ALL your help! I appreciate VERY VERY much!