SHORT GIRL~Self Care 2026; Coalinga-CA

Putting dishes away this morning … and getting coffee pods down to refill the pod container near the coffee pot - I smiled each time I climbed my little ladder; thinking of what my 6'4" husband would be saying if he was awake and watching me. He'd say, "Let me help you with that, shorty."

Ladder to reach the supper dishes & cooking bowls.

Ladder to reach refill coffee pods.

And he'd just reach his arm up and retrieve whatever I needed.

He's got the height - retrieval is easy-peasy for him.

Billy Swan - 'I Can Help' Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdpuDPPBNJ8&t=13s)

Sometimes I let him help 😘 because he worries about a possible fall (even though I am very careful). I am careful because I'm 69 years y.o., and I've never had any broken bones … and I don't want any now.

And, being full of machismo 😎, I know he likes to flex his muscle, being all helpfully manly 🤠: afterwards we both enjoy a hugging cuddle:

Most of the time, I say, "It's okay; I can do it." Carrying the ladder from the back room & setting it up, is using muscles akin to weight lifting 🏋️‍♀️ Climbing the ladder treads is akin to stair climbing 💪 It's a small workout. And I feel his eyes on me, the whole time I'm up there, on my little ladder 👀 - probably not sure which way I'll fall, if I do fall: traveling the USA with my handsome husband of 3 years, I've slacked off some in the toning refinement: I've gotten "fluffy". I'm short & compact - my curvy hour-glass figure is kinda big coming & going 😂🤣 … it's a toss-up which end will topple me if things get wobbly off-ground 🤔 I honestly, have never sported a notable waistline; my torso is as slight as my height.

The other day I read online, that for a woman my age, and my height … [older" & 5’2] = 136-147 is an "ideal weight"; I figure my [mature] chest balloons weight, is about 1/3 of my "ideal weight", so I think I'm being reasonably realistic in aiming for a 150 pound goal. I'd be happy with that: at this age, I look good at that weight; and lightening the load a bit, might help my husband relax some, when I climb my little ladder.

This morning, after placing my ladder back in the spare room, I finished my morning coffee ☕️ while researching 💻 holistic alternatives to dealing with fibroid flareups … my husband is a carnivore, a junk food junkie, and a desert lover. In short (no pun intended), he likes to eat everything that inflames my body. I have no desire to be a short order cook - so, I need to track down recipes ✍️  and out-of-house food sources that will satisfy both of us, at the same time.

Both of my sisters have had hysterectomies - I prefer to tough it out: I've never undergone a surgery, and I have no intention of changing my mindset on the issue. Foods, herbal supplements, & lifestyle changes where possible, are my choices in dealing with what Life deals me.

What are fibroids, and are they a serious problem? https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/health-wellness/healtharticle.what-are-fibroids

Easy-peasy as a solo lobo; not so easy when married.

Then, I busied myself with some light toning workouts - it's the weekend, so I just did "accessory work" toning. Very light, but effective 💪 just the same.

Today's exercise line-up is a couple sets of resistance exercises; light, but beneficial to bone health 🦴⚕️, as well as muscle relief - I've been working my hands pretty steadily every day trying to accomplish a certain task, and complete the project before we head back to the PNW. Aching hands put a cramp in that anticipation.

Front Cross Over Shin Stretch: Hold for 10 to 30 seconds per side (count the seconds using phrases like "one thousand and one, one thousand and two," which approximates one second for each count. This method helps maintain a steady pace); if necessary, you can perform this move near a wall or counter - holding on for support.

Reaching Up Shoulder Stretch: For a 69-year-old woman, it is recommended to perform the exercise for 15-30 seconds on each side. This duration allows for adequate stretching and relaxation of the shoulder and upper back muscles. It is important to perform the stretch gently and not to force it, as this can lead to injury. If pain is experienced during the stretch, it is advised to stop.

The Darebee Keyboard Warrior hand exercises is a workout that helps your wrist health and increases the dexterity of your fingers. We may have muscles all over our body but the moment we can't use our hands to easily do things - we feel totally handicapped. The dexterity of our species is based on our having opposable thumbs and being able to grasp things in order to manipulate them; or use our fingers at will to type, swipe, click, or initiate a simple lifting action.

Repetitive work like typing, mouse clicking, knitting, crochet, or washing dishes is a killer for wrists. It takes remarkably little pressure to inflame the tissue running through the narrow carpal tunnel and compress the nerves in that area. These hand exercises are a workout designed to prevent that from happening.

Only do these stretches and exercises if you can move your wrist without significant pain.

I was happily enjoying my stepper this morning before Holland woke up. I have a heart arrhythmia, so I don't stress it any more than necessary: when I reach a certain point in exercising, I stop for a bit … and pick it up again later, if my heart rate and breathing have leveled out. Heart and lung issues has been a lifelong thing: I have learned to pace myself, no matter what I am doing. When I finally counted 500 steps, and my heart rate was a little racy and my breathing a little labored - I quit, and put the stepper aside until later.

Stepper = 3-5x week, 5-10 mins; aiming for at least 15 min's.

Personally, I keep my stepper pace at a medium pace to mimic a walk along nature trails. While fast, quick steps, are the ticket to burning calories and building endurance … slow, even steps, are perfect for strengthening those glutes and hamstrings (as well as keeping my lungs and heart from going into over-drive).

The stair climber's weight-bearing momentum, also improves bone density while toning and shaping the lower body. This aligns well with general step targets. For a 69-year-old woman, the recommended daily step count for health benefits is between 6,000 to 8,000 steps. This range is based on the general guideline for adults over 60, which suggests that taking at least 2,300 steps per day lowers the risk of death from heart disease. Therefore, aiming for 6,000 to 8,000 steps per day can help maintain a lower risk of mortality and improve overall health = by noon, I had racked up 4,000 steps 👣 spread out among workouts and general in-motion activity; and that's a pretty good count ✅: no one lives forever, no matter the diet, workout, or lifestyle - everyone eventually dies from something & it's usually because the body comes with a limited mortality clause 💀

This aging shorty feels that at my classic, vintage age, I'm doing good & holding up relatively well 😉

And I'm glad to have my tall manly man, to share my life with, too 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

SOMALI IMMIGRANT HAS A CHILLING WARNING FOR THE WEST

Somali Immigrant Has a Chilling Warning for the West | Ayaan Hirsi Ali:  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjTgFomlzsA)

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Ayaan Hirsi Ali about her Somali background and the clan-based system shaping Somali society; how clan loyalty and political Islam operate as alternative moral systems that clash with Western nation-states; how these dynamics inform Somali communities in Minnesota, fraud scandals, and identity politics; the influence of Islamist networks like the Muslim Brotherhood; Democratic electoral strategies built around ethnic blocs and dependency; the broader threat to liberal democracy and Western values; about Ilhan Omar’s role at the intersection of clan loyalty, Islamist influence, and Democratic Party politics; how Somali clan dynamics and Muslim Brotherhood networks operate in Minnesota; the red-green alliance between progressives and Islamists; Europe’s multiculturalism error and electoral opportunism; the long-term consequences for Western democracy; whether the U.S. and Western Europe can realistically reverse mass immigration, identity politics, and radical ideology through border control, remigration, and political reform; the decline of classical liberalism and why it struggles to defend itself; her intellectual journey from atheism to Christianity as a search for liberalism’s moral roots; the choice between Christian and Islamist societies through lived examples; why the danger of abandoning Judeo-Christian values leads societies toward authoritarianism, violence, and collapse; and much more.

Persistence; Shabbat Eve~Coalinga-CA

I just do not understand the twisted, persistent, mindset of the obamanite demonrat party:

Twisted obamanite focus … 

🚨BREAKING: Judge Rules Fraud Funding Must Continue, Iran Panics as U.S. Carrier Reaches Arabian Sea: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf74_bYCZj4&list=PLjMHBev3NsoV3kHckydY58R7TaYsizl45)

I keep hoping common sense with give rise to morals again … but, it seems like the Repubs aren't walking a straight line, either. Once again, abortion demands are on the table - and it appears Trump is waffling some in that regard; even as he is pushing back hard (and rightly so) against illegals, murderous 3rd world criminals that flooded into our country & sheltered by obamanite minions thinking they are "doing the work of God". It seems to me, that if he can crack down on terrorists … he can crack down on the wholesale murder of unborn (and born alive!) babies.

And, in all honesty, the logistics on both sides of the aisle are more than a little twisted. Every day since 2009, I have to pointedly remind myself that all the world chaos is just temporary - soon, when least expected, it will come to a screeching halt & Life will be beautiful, again.

2026 01 19 Special Technocracy Update The Final Betrayal with Patrick Wood and Courtenay Turner: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1k_0hQHoFI)

On a lighter note, my self-care personal persistence is slowly paying off; and that's okay. I enjoy how the body toning exercises relax me, on every level - and I like how my body is slimming down even if the scales do not recognize the fact. Maybe the scales are democrat 😂🤣

The muscles used during the Bodyworks Standing Front Toe Touch exercise primarily include: Hamstrings, Gluteus Maximus, Erector Spinae, Calves, & Core Muscles:

Lower back (Erector Spinae)

This exercise primarily focuses on improving flexibility and strength in the lower body, particularly the hamstrings and glutes.

Bodyworks Standing Front Toe Touch~10 to 15 reps x2

The Darebee Killer Butt exercises is generally safe for a 69-year-old woman to do, as they are designed for low-impact workouts that can be beneficial for older adults. However, it is important to adapt workouts to individual health needs and stop if there is excessive pain.

These exercises focus on building strength and stability in the gluteal region, which is crucial for daily activities.

Kicks~10-15 reps x2; Deadlifts~5 reps x 5 EA leg; Strikes~10-15 reps x3; Raises~10-15 EA leg

QWM | Knee Strike Exercise 👉 How To Do Knee Strike 2020 Video: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jzGrOPfpg)

The muscles used in the Darebee Killer Butt exercises primarily include -

Glutes: Targeted for toning and strengthening, essential for various physical activities.

Quads: Engaged during the Butt Kicks exercise, contributing to leg strength.

Hamstrings: Involved in the exercises, aiding in overall leg development.

Calves: Included in the exercises, playing a role in leg strength and stability.

I'm also adding the "Through The Bible in A Year", reading to my self-care routine this year (I've done this many times & enjoy it); so, that's what I'll be reading before I turn out the lights … tuning the world out, and resting my soul with the Word that has a peaceful solution to anything Life dishes out 📖🕊️

Read the Bible in 1 year: 

(https://www.city.org.nz/faith/bible-plan)

GHOST LAKE SUDDENLY RETURNS; Coalinga-CA

Tulare Lake-CA

A morning article flowing through my newsfeed today, caught my attention - I recognized the name & the place.

Holland & I were visiting his relatives, and Daytripping through the San Joaquin Valley-CA … and ended up in Tulare-CA, where this lake was gobbling up land. The title of the following article is not truthful (it's a media thirst-trap heading), as Holland obviously knew about this Lake - and where it was located: his mother's family had lived and worked all over CA; Holland, as well as several of his siblings, had been born in CA (Holland born in Santa Cruz-CA). Many relatives still live in CA … they all knew about this Lake.

But, Holland was born in 1962. He had never seen the Lake - his Grandparents, Great Aunts-Uncles-Cousins did; but 2024 was his first view - as it was mine, also:

My 2024 Post~TULARE LAKE-CA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2024/03/tulare-lakeca.html)

Holland has spent half of his life living in, working in, and visiting family in California’s Central Valley - we are currently hunkered down in Coalinga, which is part of the Central Valley. The Lake's location is not "a forgotten memory"; he's heard about it, all his life; & we saw it from a distant road side look, 22 months ago.

I'm sure there are still lots of people - living, remembering, and sharing knowledge, of Lake Tulare … without the media hysteria, or race-baiting political finagling's.

Lake Tulare is still flooding the valley.

{{After 130 Years Gone, Ghost Lake Suddenly Returns and Wipes Nearly 100,000 Acres off the Map

A forgotten lake just wiped 94,000 acres of California farmland off the map, again, reigniting battles over climate, agriculture, and Indigenous rights in America’s most contested farmland.

Published on January 23, 2026~Written by Arezki Amiri

A long-vanished lake has reappeared in California’s Central Valley, submerging nearly 94,000 acres of farmland and reviving disputes over water rights, land management, and environmental justice. Tulare Lake, historically the largest freshwater body west of the Mississippi, returned in early 2023 following months of record-breaking precipitation.

Its resurgence overwhelmed engineered flood control systems across Kings County. Farmland, roads, and critical infrastructure were inundated, prompting evacuations, halting agricultural operations, and exposing gaps in the state’s water management strategy.

Pa’ashi, flood of 1938. Frank Latta papers. Credit, The Huntington Library

Nearly two years later, portions of the basin remain underwater. Drainage efforts continue, but experts say full reclamation may take years. The reappearance of the lake has sharpened debates around California’s preparedness for extreme weather events, Indigenous land claims, and the future of Central Valley agriculture.

When Water Beats Concrete

After consecutive atmospheric rivers and historic Sierra Nevada snowpack levels, runoff surged into the Tulare Basin in spring 2023. Satellite imagery from NASA showed the lake expanding rapidly between June 2023 and June 2024, refilling a dry natural basin that had been cultivated for over a century.

Much of the flooded land belongs to large agribusinesses, including the J.G. Boswell Company. Crops such as cotton, almonds, and pistachios were lost. Farm equipment, electrical systems, and chemical storage sites were submerged. As reported by Earth.com, floodwaters reached fertilizer sheds, manure piles, and electrical infrastructure, prompting concerns over potential leaching into groundwater systems.

Pa’ashi in late August 2023. Credit, Vivian Underhill

California’s Central Valley relies heavily on groundwater for both municipal and agricultural use. The aquifer system has already been impacted by decades of over-pumping and recurring drought. Researchers monitoring the lake’s return documented algae blooms and nutrient runoff, indicating further stress on water quality, as detailed in the Open Rivers Journal’s report on Pa’ashi’s resurgence.

County emergency managers attempted to redirect water onto Boswell-controlled fields to prevent damage elsewhere. These requests were denied, according to accounts published by Open Rivers, shifting floodwaters toward communities like Alpaugh, Allensworth, and Cutler, which faced evacuations and property loss.

The Return of Pa’ashi: Colonial Unknowing and California’s Tulare Lake: (https://openrivers.lib.umn.edu/article/the-return-of-paashi/)

A Cultural Revival, Blocked by Fences

For the Tachi Yokut tribe, the return of Tulare Lake—Pa’ashi in the Yokuts language—marked more than a flood. The lake once supported Indigenous villages, trade networks, and ceremonies before it was drained during California’s land reclamation campaigns of the late 1800s.

In spring 2023, ceremonies resumed at the shoreline. Tule reeds and native sage were replanted, and tribal members began teaching younger generations about the lake’s role in cultural identity. However, the tribe lacks legal access to the water. State laws governing private property and water rights prevent traditional use, including navigation.

Pa’ashi in April 2023. Credit, Vivian Underhill

“We can’t even get a canoe out there to actually honor our ancestors,” said Carlos Garcia Jr., a tribal liaison quoted in the Open Rivers Journal’s detailed analysis, which documents how fences, surveillance, and legal boundaries restrict Indigenous engagement with the water.

The Tachi Yokut are pursuing water rights under the Winters Doctrine, a legal framework granting federally recognized tribes access to water sources tied to their reservations. Tribal representatives argue that the framing of Tulare Lake’s return as a catastrophe ignores its cultural and ecological significance.

A Shrinking Aquifer and Rising Stakes

A 2022 study in Nature Climate Change found that climate warming has tripled the likelihood of a megaflood similar to the 1862 event that submerged large parts of California. The Central Valley, lacking natural outlets and heavily modified by agriculture, was identified as one of the most vulnerable zones.

Tulare Lake has reappeared multiple times during extreme rain events in the 20th century, including 1906, 1916, 1922, and 1938. Each time, crops planted on its former bed were lost. Each time, the land was drained again. The 2023 flood is the most extensive resurgence in over a century.

Groundwater depletion poses another critical threat. The Public Policy Institute of California projects that without intervention, aquifers in the San Joaquin Valley could face irreversible overdraft within two decades. California’s 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act mandates local agencies to achieve balance by 2040, but progress is inconsistent.

California Aqueduct being lifted over Wheeler Ridge and irrigated vineyards at the far south end of the San Joaquin Valley, 2019. Credit, Vivian Underhill

Efforts to recharge aquifers face logistical hurdles and contamination risks. Many proposed recharge zones have been polluted with historical pesticide residues, including 1,2,3-trichloropropane, a toxic chemical still found in parts of the Central Valley. Some water banking projects, designed to store surface water underground, are also affected by lingering pollutants from past agricultural use.

Despite this, by late 2025, companies including the Wonderful Company and Boswell resumed planting on parts of the recently drained lakebed. These actions have reignited fears of repeating the historical cycle of flood, loss, and re-drainage without long-term planning.

Investigations Advance as Floodwaters Recede

In early 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board launched a formal review of flood response decisions during the Tulare Lake reemergence. Investigators are examining whether powerful landowners influenced water diversion plans at the expense of vulnerable communities.

Simultaneously, the California Environmental Protection Agency began monitoring groundwater quality in flood-affected towns. Testing in mid-2024 revealed elevated nitrate levels in shallow wells near agricultural zones, supporting concerns over chemical seepage during peak flooding.

So far, no new levee expansions or flood mitigation infrastructure have been approved. Several proposed retention projects remain in early planning stages, hampered by funding constraints and disputes over land access. Some lawmakers have called for restrictions on replanting within historically flood-prone basins until risk maps are updated and protections are installed.

The Tachi Yokut tribe continues to press for the recognition of Tulare Lake as a protected ecological and cultural zone. Tribal leaders are also exploring partnerships to develop conservation easements that could limit future development in the lakebed.}}

TRAUMA BACKFLASH~Self care & Personal Growth; Coalinga-CA

We both live with borderline trauma every second of every Day 🙄

It's hard 🩹: it makes living with others hard 💎 - even if there's deep love in the mix 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Thank God that "love covers a multitude of sins" 💞: ego 😎, selfishness 🤠, anger 😡, spitefulness 👹 … ALL that 💔 eventually gets solved when love fights the trauma battles 💝

Our trauma triggers are very similar - abandonment 👣 (physical, emotional); character assassinations 🗣️💩; deaths 😢 (loved ones, close friends) … Holland can shut his thoughts off & pull into himself when life in his moment, get sketchy. He can also be verbally explosive 🤬, combatant 😈, and storm out of the house 😤 when his brain gets overwhelmed 🧠⚡️ - sometimes I know what causes these actions 🤔; sometimes he is dealing with past personal issues that I will never be privy too 🤷‍♀️, even if they are encroaching on present time 🤦🏻‍♀️

My mind never shuts off 🧠🙄, so I am careful what I feed 🔌 into that gray matter ticker tape. And, when things spiral out of control 😵‍💫, I want to settle the dust right away - I want to get right into talking things out and getting back to a settled frame of mind 🤗 If I feel (or am told) that I am being left … I will pack my stuff and be gone in a heartbeat 👣: I am done swallowing someone else's dust 👊

It took time for us to understand each other's reactions: we went through an extremely hard 30 months together as a married couple 😡😟💔😭

Moving into year 3 together, we're becoming more Intune with each other's vibes ✌️: it's a welcome place to be 💓 Verbalization is still necessary, but picking up on silent communication creates a coziness that allows love to override trauma backflash 🩹, and spread comfort 💗

It's okay 👍 - when caught in the grip of trauma trigger 🔥 - to say, "I don't want to get into it right now because things will be said and done that can't be undone or unheard; I don't want it trippin' through my thoughts or flashing before my eyes, for the rest of my Life. I love you; but I don't like you right now. I need some decompression time." 🤝🕊️

Alexithymia l 2 Be Better Podcast S2 E47: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1G3NoGdffFI)

APPLICATIONS; Coalinga-CA

Today's start was very disappointing 😔

We were up at the crack of dawn, this morning & drove all the way into Hanford - only to find that the clinic had been moved … 

Very foggy A.M.; leaving RV Park & can barely make out the truck stop, ahead; Coalinga-CA

Crossing freeway overpass - from Coalinga,  towards Hanford-CA; the fog shrouded the landscape until we reached the city.

They had moved - this had not been mentioned, in yesterday's phone convo.

… and, when we arrived at the new location … was told he'd need a secondary insurance (which he doesn't have & can't get on disability) & would need X-rays (which was not what was told us yesterday; and which was not available on site): Holland said, "This was not told to me yesterday when I called 📱 and secured this appointment 📌. A secondary insurance wasn't an issue yesterday & I was told a cash payment 💰 was acceptable. I told the receptionist yesterday that we are out-of-stater's-passing 👣 through CA; & was told getting a shot 💉 this morning, wouldn't be a problem. I don't have time to wait months for all the add-ons I don't need, to finally get the shot I was told I could get here; this morning." 

We had gone into the city with the funds we'd been told would be needed - today's quote was quite a bit higher (the $50 shot had increased by $40 & the office visit went up from $175 to $225) 😳; with extra baggage tacked on for the doctor's kick-back. And the "person the bleeds" behind the counter had a bitchy attitude.

So.

Holland crunched up the Information Sheet & shoved it in his pocket 😒, retrieved his Driver License, and we left. It was irking me that we had gotten up at the crack of dawn to make a scheduled appointment - only to be fed a gaslighting BS story that halted application when we arrived. Holland handled 😑 the medical snub better than I did: the total turn around with the shot's availability - and the office rottweiler's attitude had provoked my pit bull attitude 😤

But as distance increased between the clinic and us, my temper tempest had cooled 😇 & we stopped by the Pro-Pregnancy Life Center to drop off the little items 🎁 I had made.

Back home, Holland went upstairs to lay down 🛌 & rest 🩹 his aching knee. I am still a little peeved that there doesn't seem to be any medical way available, for him to get relief from this unrelenting pain. He said, "I guess I'm just going to have to trust God for a healing 💥🔥🕊️" And I said, "I believe you are right - trust Him: you've run out of other options. He does not want you to be in searing pain, Holland. Trust Him 💥🕎👑 - if you belong to Him ☝️ ✝️, He will never give you more than He knows you can handle ❤️; He knows our frame and He will never overburden it."

So, that's where that is - going forward 🙏

I drank a refreshing cup of coffee ☕️, asked Elohim ☝️ to forgive my earlier temper flare - and enjoyed a relaxing body toning 💪 in the spare room:

Mobility at Home :: Standing Cat Cow Stretch: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4KnU-IRk38&t=10s)

Bodyweight Dynamic Back Stretch~8 to 12 reps x2; Regular stretching can help improve flexibility and reduce stiffness, which can be beneficial for overall well-being.

The Bodyweight Dynamic Back Stretch is generally considered safe for a senior woman, provided she is in good overall health and has no underlying conditions that could affect her ability to perform the stretch safely. It is important to warm up properly (do the Standing Cat Cow Stretch, shown in video above) before performing the stretch and to listen to your body. If you experience any discomfort or pain, stop.

Upper back muscles

Arm Extender Muscles

Darebee Queen Of Mean Dumbbell Exercises: There is a lot you can achieve with just a tiny bit of standing space, a single dumbbell and about half an hour ⏱️ or so, to spare. Queen Of Mean is an upper body workout that helps you develop better upper body control and great muscle tone.

Dumbbell Triceps Extensions~8 reps; Dumbbell Rotations~8 to 12 rep; Dumbbell Overhead Extensions~8 reps; Dumbbell Single Kickbacks~8 to 10 reps

External Abdominal Oblique Muscles & Anterior Deltoid Muscle

Forearm Muscles 

Holland received a text for the Office here, informing him that our package had arrived; so, I walked over to the Office, to collect out UPS package - and ended up jawing for at least 25 minutes with the Rally President of the Winnebago Club, who paid for an overnight space here, on her way to Corning-CA tomorrow.

It's fun to meet interesting strangers.

Helen Jette says she'll be retiring this year - she's 80 years old:

WIT Club – Past, Present & Future: https://www.winnebago.com/lifestyle/winnebagolife/life/wit-club-past-present-future

The UPS box drop made me very happy … the foam will be shot down the drains at bedtime & we hope the applications do as it promises, and rids our little home of the pesky flies. We are aware that it will take a couple applications.

The Day may have started with disappointment - but it ended on up notes 😊