I am going into my second season as a pool owner, but I don't think I did a very good job last year, so I wanthought to do better this year. I am looking forward to all the things I can learn here.
The single best thing you can do for yourself to get your pool clear and have it stay that way all summer long is to get a proper test kit. There's a nice article in pool school or you can just skip it and go to TFTestkits.net and get a TF100. If your pool is green, spring for the XL option now. You're so close, you'll probably have the kit before the weekend.
The second best thing you can do is spend some time in Pool School. It will probably answer questions you didn't even know to ask! Must-reads are ABCs, How to Chlorinate, Recommended Pool Chemicals, and Pool Math.
There's a steep learning curve and then suddenly a light bulb will go off and it becomes super easy. A couple minutes a day testing and dosing, maybe an hour or so brushing and vacuuming, and that'll be it. You'll have a pool that's so clear you can toss a quarter in the deep end and call heads or tails, it won't smell, it won't burn your eyes or dry your skin, your neighbors will be envious, and you and your family will become pool snobs and refuse to jump in lesser pools. And it doesn't cost a lot! I probably spend about a buck a day on chemicals. Your pool is much smaller, so you'll likely spend less.
Welcome to TFP! For a wealth of pool care information please check out our free Pool School. If you are in need of specific help then we encourage you to Register and ask us here in the forum!