I want to learn how to use a charcoal grill..how do i get started? what do i need? we have one but I've never used it before,my husband has but not often, once in a blue moon..lol, but he don't know how to grill very much so that's why i don't bother asking him. we just moved, we have a beautiful backyard and i would love to grill something and eat outside.

I prefer to use brand name charcoal like "Kingsford".
I don't like the match lite kinds as it seems to leave your food tasting like lighter fluid.
I prefer Kingsford Mesquite charcoal and their regular as well.
My grill is a Weber Charcoal Grill, 22" diameter, and I love it.
It has charcoal briquet holders that I use to hold my charcoal in a group for a more direct heat source, or by spacing them out an indirect heat source.
I usually keep them near each other for grilling burgers or chicken for example. You can wrap potatoes with foil and bake them on the grill surface too. I like to put some fresh asparagus and onion with butter in foil and let it cook till tender and eat with whatever meat that is grilled.
I prefer ground chuck hamburger for making grilled hamburgers as it makes plenty of smoke which flavors the burgers and you still have a meat patty left after grilling.
Too fat of hamburger just burns away into smoke and too lean wants to stick to the grill surface a little more and comes out a lot less juicy of a burger.
Boneless skinless chicken breast is really good grilled. Grill it till it gets a light caramel color on the surface and the meat is white throughout.
I like using Kosher Salt for grilling as it seems to work well on grilling meats and helps to seal in the juices in the meats you cook.
To get started, just simply fill your charcoal briquet holders (if you have any) put on some lighter fluid, and lite with matches and when the charcoal begins to glow with an orange heat/fire you are ready to begin grilling. This usually is takes 15-20 minutes or so......

ok, this may sound like a really stupid question, but I have never set up a charcoal grill. We're planning a barbeque at a park tomorrow and I'll be cooking on the grills there. What are the steps to set up a charcoal grill?

Pile up your charcoal into a tight heap in teh center of the bottom of the grill (lift grill itself off, or see if you can lean it up and back out of the way). Light w/ lighter fluid, if needed. Let soak recommended time, then light. Let burn recommended time (read on bag). When whitish, spread coals out evenly. Or, if you want them hotter in one sectin, spread them thicker on one side, thinner on another. Replace grill. Let it get good and hot, then scrub w/ grill brush or soap-free brillo pads held by tongs. Oil grill w/ a rag dipped in oil held by tongs. Then slap your meat on there and enjoy your cookout!