Can't find advice on how to get started....really started

Me too mate, I feel your pain, only I'm 73 and it's even harder. There are places on the internet where you can join/buy/sign up for courses on just about anything. Udemy have some excellent courses which are simple to follow and make a lot of sense but you have to make the effort. None of these guys here woke up one morning knowing everything there is to know about Arduino.