Looks like you solved the header image question with this CSS:

.site-header hgroup {
	background:url('http://hardcounts.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/hardcounts-9751.jpg') no-repeat;
	margin:0;
	width:975px;
	height:215px;
}

.site-header {
	padding:0;
}

a.header-link {
	width:975px;
	height:215px;
}

.header-link {
	display:table-cell;
}

.site-title,.site-description {
	text-indent:-9999px;
	clip:rect(1px 1px 1px 1px);
}

.header-nav-search-container {
	display:none;
}

Nice work!

Regarding the 'home' and 'about' sections, I see you resolved that issue by completely hiding the menu using this:

nav.main-navigation {
	display:none;
}

.main-navigation .menu {
	display:none;
}

If you want to keep the menu and show different options, then try using a custom menu instead.
http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/

1.) I'd like to unlock the header if you will. Meaning, I'd like my image to take up the whole upper area and get rid of the search bar on the right hand side of the header

2.) I'd like to delete the 'home' and 'about' sections just above the featured posts. I just don't need them for my use.

Any info is greatly appreciated! Thanks,