You are so very right. We are still moving along nicely though. And guess what??? We not only got our missing parts package from Swim N Play today, we also got the oval end bottom rails too. We called them last Monday or Tuesday about the missing bolts...we called them on Wednesday regarding the rails and incidently left a message with the part number on their answering machine.
Well today...Everything came in. AND IT'S RIGHT. You cannot believe how happy I was with that quick service and it didn't cost us a dime.

So anyhow about tonight. My daddy let us use his rototiller and DH tilled the high spots inside the pool (which is like 3/4 on a slight uphill grade), then used a long cement rake to rake all the dirt and hidden stones that popped up to an area that I can shovel out. This being done...you would not believe the difference in the level already. Also I shaved down the "plateau" that was in front of most of the blocks so now we just have to make another pass with the tiller and we are level with the tops of the blocks.

The mistake we made was not being out there with the transit stick while Tom was digging. That would have told us that we were slightly uphill on the length of the pool. One side is level but it gradually goes uphill.

I dug a small trench between the blocks (shown in the last pictures) and put some small size gravel in them for the rail to sit on. I did this because when it rained the other day...I realize the rail would be sitting in water. Even though they have a Plastisol coating on them, I was just imagining those thing corroding at the speed of light. I cannot believe how long it takes clay to drain and dry out. It takes forever.
Do you think this is a good idea with the gravel because I went to Lowes and asked for Crusher Run and they had no idea what I was talking about. I know there is another name for it but I can't think of it.

Also, after the pool is done, we still have the surrounding area to grade out yet. We have a large dirt wall close to the buttresses on one side. Brian wants to do a retaining wall but we would still have to dig out to "push it back" about 2 foot.

I would like to say that I am happy to have the blocks level first so now we know that when the "pool" area dirt is down to the top of the blocks, we then know that it is level as well BUT you are right...it shoulda been done the other way. My only justification is that I am losing weight rapidly with all this digging. Plus with the parts error, we wouldn't have been able to put it up anyways.
Right now from the looks of things...we should be starting the actual build in about 2 days. So we are not that far behind. But your right and don't tell my DH I said that because he will expect that from me all the time. ;-)~

Thanks again for your insight and helpful hints.
Rhon