No problem! There’s a LOT of coal mining and steel mills and other industrial stuff in this area and it pollutes everything. The Mon river is a lot cleaner than it was when my parents were kids (they’re approaching 50). There’s a creek by me that I kayak in sometimes that I won’t eat anything out of. The water failed numerous tests over the years and most people tell you to not eat the fish lol.

The Monongahela River is pretty calm in rural parts. Local creeks can also be good after it rains but can have some rapids. I look for rougher waters because I enjoy the thrill. I also own a racing kayak that’s meant for stuff like that lol. My stepfather has a sit inside fishing kayak and it does okay in shallower waters, but I always scout ahead to warm him of obstacles lol. Ohiopyle is also an insanely popular spot to kayak and has all levels of difficulty. Can’t really say more without doxxing my location lmao.

As for fishing, I don’t take part in it, but big catfish are very very common. Relatives regularly catch 1-3 ft fish. They like cicadas if you can get some when they’re out. I’ve also seen people use chicken livers. A lot of people make their own bait concoctions as well. There are also loads of carp that eat the same stuff as catfish. Bluegill are common but aren’t big enough to eat. I recommend being careful with where you catch your fish if you intend to eat them. Researching the history of the waterways to see their pollution history is very helpful when determining if a fish is safe to eat imo.

You also gotta be careful of water moccasins. They like to swim around. See at least one every time I kayak (which isn’t as often as I would like. It’s been a few years because my stepfather and I have been dealing with health issues and all the bullshit that comes with home ownership. Adult life, amirite. T_T)

Welcome to the area. I’m also in a place like you described. I hope you enjoy it. This part of Pa is absolutely beautiful, but you really gotta watch out for the crazies and drug addicts.

Before I worked IT, I was a job coach. I helped individuals with disabilities perform their jobs and teach them skills and all that. It was pretty cool because they sent me to all kinds of different places. I did work in a hydroponics non-profit, a senior center, a DMV, a bank, and some other places. It was pretty cool and most of the individuals I worked with were really nice and cool.

My last job was 9-5 with a paid lunch. It was toxic AF tho

No, bougier. Like mansions and supercars and garages the size of my house and gigantic yards with topiaries. Absolutely crazy shit that screams “We have fuck you levels of money”

It’s honestly kind of disgusting, tbh.

Saw a man watering his yard the other day omw home from work. I drive through a ridiculously bougie area on my commute and see so much weird and out of touch shit

Thank you for the recommendations! I might see if the super fancy grocery store by my work has those olives. If they don’t, then I’ll try to find a middle eastern grocer. I don’t mind taking a minor road trip to find legit olives. I wanna know if I just don’t like the ones I’ve been exposed to.

I’m totally fine with olive oil.

Olive oil is fine. It’s just olives themselves I don’t like. Idk if I just don’t have access to good olives or what. I’ve tried so goddamn hard to like them. I’ve tried so many. I just don’t like them. I also live in a poverty-stricken part of the US, which may explain the lack of quality food around.

So you’re saying that I need to travel to where olives are made?

I dream every night. My dreams are vivid and weird as hell. Idk if it’s the result of one of my medications or my epilepsy or what, but my dreams have always been strange. Most of them have some reoccurring elements such as:

Being trapped in an enclosed aquarium of cold, dark water with a hungry orca

Being chased by the Amish while my little sister (who does not know how to drive) drives the car through the woods. She crashes into a tree every time.

Being in the passenger or back seat of my car while it’s moving and scrambling to get back to the driver’s seat.

Being back in high school, but knowing that I’m not supposed to be there.

Getting a horse (something I’ve desperately wanted for years. Had them growing up and loved it)

Work

I use my grabby arm thing constantly because bending over kills my back. Sometimes I’ll dual wield the things lol

Worked in insurance for 9 months. Was treated like absolute shit, got paid way too little, and was told profits were what mattered, not the good of the patients. Came out of that job so broken and jaded.

Actually being there and staying involved is important. My biodad was a complete POS until last year. My mom was essentially a single mother my whole life because my biodad was never around. He was a really good father for the first two years of my life, then he just kinda stopped giving a shit. I recommend that you don’t do that. He used to manipulate tf out of me emotionally and would make so many false promises. His mental health was fucked and he was an alcoholic for a long time.

I cut ties entirely with him and a few years after that, he reached out to my mom to see if we could talk. He had finally gotten his shit together. He’s on his meds and doesn’t drink like he used to. I don’t see the man as a father, however. I see him as a friend. We text almost daily, but he knows that I don’t consider him a father-figure and acknowledges it and all of his wrongdoings. He was only 21 years too late, but that’s better than never.

He is part of the reason I have a very hard time trusting people. He had let me down countless times in my life and each time just broke me. I just couldn’t not get my hopes up at his false promises. He was so good at sounding genuine. Now that he’s sober and on his meds, I’ve learned that his truly genuine tone and words are far different than the ones he used when he was still a drunk.

Anyway, I highly recommend you don’t do any of the shit my biodad did. Being hella bitter about your relationship with your father sucks.

I pay for a Spotify family plan and my mom, sister, cousin, and I all use it daily. It’s worth it imo.

Coconut milk is fuckin great, too. But it doesn’t quench ya like coconut water does

Waterfowl are absolutely disgusting lmao.

I had geese once. It was awful lol

My ducks go crazy for dandelion leaves lol