Help, leaking oil, smoke, and no pickup, engine shaking a lot Options

[Akimbo]

Need someone mechanically inclined...I rarely ask for help because I'm not exactly 6GC's poster boy.

My car recently started freaking out...it has no pickup, which initially led me to think that I was down a cylinder. After talking to a friend, he said I was having a dead miss. I wasn't sure what that was, but I think it means a spark plug isn't firing. Anyone care to elaborate on this?

Also, my engine is leaking oil pretty bad. It's visible on the lower part of the engine, and it drips under the chasis. When the motor gets hot enough, it burns it off and creates embarassing blue smoke coming from under the hood.

Are the two related? I know I need a new air filter, but that's kind of unrelated.

Only things I can think of is spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, and maybe the gaskets. Any advice would be great, I moved to Florida and I don't know any mechanics yet...

[DEATH]

Check spark at each plug first and then go from there. The oil thing I would think is unrelated but hard to diagnose from here. Wash the oily spots down to the metal and do a little driving and check it often for fresh oil leaks.