Save the Date:    WE LEARN Conference
& Gathering 2025

Success and Women

May 17, 2025,        9am-5pm

Downtown San Diego Lions Club

310 Market St, San Diego, CA 92101 

The theme for this year’s conference and gathering—Success. WE LEARN has just published its 20^th Journal of Student Writing. It is time to think about successes in the past and success in the future. Come spend a day reflecting on your successes and where success will lead us.

Everyone has a story and every voice is important. The WE LEARN conference & gathering builds a community of co-learners. We respect each other as knowledgeable. We all have experiences to learn from and stories to share. Through conversations and activities, we continue to surprise each other about the ways we have creatively come to make meaning in our lives and support one another.

For more information about WE LEARN,

Please watch our YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IHp5vUALXg

Visit our website: welearnwomen.org  or  email at info@welearnwomen.org

This month we can focus on writing HAIKU


https://poemanalysis.com/best-poems/haiku/

Here is a famous example:

An old silent pond

A frog jumps into the pond—

Splash! Silence again.

Haiku
A haiku is a three-line poem:

The 1st line has 5 syllables My class is writing my class is wri- ting
1 2 3 4 5

The 2nd line has 7 syllables We share our lives and stories We share our lives and stories

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

The 3rd lines contain 5 syllables. It is very hard (fun) It is ver- y hard.

1 2 3 4 5

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-poem/ Links to an external site.

Wow!!! I guess I stopped writing. I did not achieve the 2022 miles. 🙁

However, I did far surpass the 2022 km. Now I have to try to figure out my goal for 2023. I walked or rode 1782 miles which is almost one mile a day less than I needed. I did complete 2852 kilometers which in itself is a great achievement. I started the year with the plan to travel 2023 km this year, but it seems a bit easy.

Ok. Big change!! Sadly, I think I need to stop with the 2022 miles and instead try for 2022 kilometers. What do you think? My knee is not cooperating with this even gentle challenge. Now I am traveling and there will be no access to my bike. So watch for the news.

I have decided to try to do the 2022 miles in the year 2022. At first, I thought that there was no way possible, but now I am thinking harder. YEAH!!!! Less than 2000 to go. Who am I kidding? I am 66 years old and not getting any younger. In fact, I am 67 years old and hanging in there.

Finally hit the 400, but still way behind. Still, it looks to be a good day. Total = 440.82miles or 705.3 km

Holy Cow– Where has the time gone? Waiting for my knee to heel. Just old knees. Many years of basketball and teaching have compromised my project, but today I’m back. Let’s see for how long.

March 25/ Day 84

March 24/Day 83

March 23/ Day 82 Trying to take it easy 5.5 on the bike 431.55

March 22/Day 81 Simply rode 6.5 miles on the bike. But now have the knee brace on. 426.75

March 21/Day 80 Walked .32 and biked 5.3 so no bleeding today 421.13

March 20/Day 79 Walked 2 miles and biked 5.2 so no bleeding today and one for luck 412.93

March 19/Day 78 Walked in Miramar College 1.36 and rode 4 407.57

March 18/Day 77 Walked 1.5 around Valley Elementary, Poway City Hall and the Dog Park. Then 4 on the bike. A little swelling but overall hopefully hanging in there. 402.07

March 17/Day 76 Walked 1.66 and gently rode for 4 miles. One day I will get to 400. soon. 396.57

March 16/Day 75 Went to the chiropractor trying to get healthy but got the bonus mile

March 15/Day 74 Trying to get back on track. 4.7 on the bike and then 1.4. 390.91 Officially 19 miles behind at this point. For a week or two, I will try to maintain to see if knee is back for real. After that, can ramp up to try to catch up. Not looking good though. Have plans for Easter and spring break where I will be away from the trusty bike.

March 14/Day 73

March 13/Day 72 Walked in the business park 1.19 miles

March 12/Day 71 Walked the playground walk 1.49 plus the bonus mile

March 11/Day 70

March 10/Day 69

March 9/Day 68

March 8/Day 67 Just bonus mile

March 7/Day 66 Still taking it easy 4.9 miles 380.13

March 6/Day65 Still taking it slowly. 1.04 walking and 4 riding. Just maintaining. 375.23

March 5/Day 64 Definitely going slow due to injury. Did some Tai Chi this morning and knee seems less inflamed. Did a super slow bike ride of just 4 miles. Let’s see what happens. 370.19

March 4/Day 63 Got to babysit all day so no chance to walk or ride. Rained all day as well. Wearing my knee brace and being careful, but it is staying swollen. Got the bonus mile though

March 3/Day 62 This is what I have been afraid of, my knee swelled up and felt very fragile. Hope this settles down soon. Just walked 1.21 miles with trepidation

March 2/Day 61 Still on the right foot 6.4 miles. Hopefully tomorrow I can walk some

March 1/Day 60 Started the month off right 7.1 so total. 358.58

Feb 28/Day59 Last day of February, bike for 7.4 miles and a bonus leap day mile. You have to go back to January if you want to know what that is. Oh well, 1/4 mile each morning. Only add it every four days. 351.48 So, January I did 15 miles extra and now February 9.5 miles so I have 24 spare miles which is between 4-5 days I could technically have off and still be on target. Is it worth it though?

Feb 27/Day57 Took Dave’s package back to Kohl’s and walked up to Lightning Brewery to see if it was still there. It was. 1.22 miles. Then 7.5 miles on the bike. February is safe and complete with one day left.343.08

Feb 26/Day 56 Just a figure 8 1.19 miles. May not make the full commitment to February. Oops. Thank goodness for excess in January. But maybe maybe I will make it.

Feb 25/Day55 Simple day. Did the figure 8 walk for 1.17 miles and rode for 16 minutes so I could take Dave to Convoy. 6.3 miles. Ending the month strong. 333.17

Feb 24/Day 54 Its my birthday. Walked down to the river again 1.77 miles although today was cool and calm. Then 7.9 on the bike. Big time today. I tried not to have too many appointments so I got on the bike early.

Feb 23/Day 53 1.43 miles with the dog. It was blowing and cold. Fast walk down to the river…haha if you have been to Poway, you would know we don’t really have a river.

Feb 22/Day 52 Special day 22/2/22 or 2/22/22 depending on where you live. Could be 02/22/2022. Whatever the way you write it makes a special pattern. All I could do was bike for 6.8 miles. All good now the total is 313.6 miles. I have walked more in February but biked less, Still my miles are building up.

Feb 21/Day 51 Babysat the kids this morning and Starr went to doggy daycare so no walking. I tried putting on my walking app, but it didn’t really measure much. I took .5 miles, but I think I went back and forth across the yard way more than that. Good news is that we conquered 300. I am only inputting every two days now so that is dangerous. Can’t wait to day 65 because then it will just be 300 to go.

Feb 20/Day 50 Visited the kids with Savta. Watched the last of the Olympics so just leap day and 1.34 with the dog 306.8

Feb 19/Day 49 Did much better today 1.47 around the pond with the dog and 6.7 on the bike watching Olympics. Keep going! Way closer towards 300. On track to hit 300 on day 50. … Really, really close. 297.17

Feb 18/ Day 48 Without the boys, Starr and I walked the business park and the nursery. 1.25 Then bike for 7.5 miles. Long weekend goal is to get ahead for February. Slacking a bit.

Feb 17/Day 47 Another longer walk up on the hill, 1.41 miles. Plus 6.9 miles on the bike. 280.25

Feb 16/Day 46 1.33 A great walk up on the hill. Starr is a bit crazy right now so hope we dont meet anyone up there Plus Leap mile. I love leap mile. It always comes to the rescue.

Feb 15/Day 46 Well done today 8.5 miles on the bike and 1.18 walking in the rain. There is hope yet. Total = 269.6

Feb 14/ Day 45 Hoping to get back on track soon. Rode the bike for 6.9 miles. Tried to go at a higher pressure, but my knee was just not having it. Can only afford 2 days off and I will be behind. Time to build up again. 259.92

Feb 13/Day 44 Super-bowl Sunday Walked the dog 1.7 hoping that she would sit for the big event. She tried so hard, but ultimately failed and was sent home.

Feb 12/Day 43 Nothing here. Plenty of Snow time. Shopping time. Nothing in the exercise thing except it is leap mile day. Yeah

Feb 11/Day 42 Just 7.2 miles on the bike and 1.75 around the block.

Feb 10/Day 41 Went to Alta Vista gardens for walk in the park. .7 plus walking around the Carlsbad Airport waiting for the flight to come in .39

Feb 9/Day 40 Walked the dog 1.2 and rode 7.4. Yeah!!!

Feb 8/Day 39 Walked 1.19 plus leap day 1.

Feb 7/ Day 38. Not sure what happened here. Ahh rode for 7 miles Whew. Thought I messed up.

Feb 6/Day 37. Walked the dog 1.68 plus forgot leap day so 2.68 walking and 6.1 on the bike. I’ll add it up later. Celebrating our 33rd anniversary today. Great achievements all round. 222.49

Feb 5/ Day 36 Walked the dog for 1.19 just a figure 8 and then went to Costco and logged .58 miles. I guess I will take it. Better than a poke in the eye. 213.71

Feb 4/ Day 35 No walking but 6.8 on the bike. Olympics start, but our TV didn’t Aggghhhh 211.94

Feb 3/ Day 34 Walked the dog 1.28 and bike 7.9 so well done today. Yeah, hit the 200 so one tenth of the way there. Happy Birthday Mr E 205.14

Feb 2 / Day 33 Walked the dog 1.42 miles Now I need to get on the bike. Great. Add 6 more miles to that. 195.96

Feb 1 or Day 32. Walked the dog 1.6 miles. Today I am back home. School is online only for 3 weeks. That should be easier, but somehow it is not. 188.54

I have decided to try to do the 2022 miles in the year 2022.
At first, I thought that there was no way possible, but now I am thinking harder. YEAH!!!! Less than 2000 to go. Who am I kidding? Finally ahead of the game. Working towards a few days off. … Keep going! Coming close to the second hundred

Total= 186.89 miles

Day 31. First month DONE!!!! 6.6 on the bike. First day of Spring Semester. Lots of meetings today. 186.89

Day 30 7 miles on the bike and walked around UCSD for 2.1 miles. 180.92 Holding strong. Missed a couple of days and still 14 miles ahead. So happy. Just made a Google sheet to check my numbers. Oops lots of mistakes, but very close. Not to worry. Keep on moving.

Day 29 6 miles on the bike and a short walk at Cabrillo National Monument. Looking at the ocean, San Diego and the light house for .75. 171.82

Day 28 Measly .35 miles. Visitors in town so focus is on them. 165.07 Plus leap day +1

Day 27 Walked the dog 1.56. Now I need to get on the bike. Rellies coming for the next few days so no guarantees. Would like to start the first month ahead though. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring. Now I rode 6.7 miles for a grand daily total of 8.26 and a new high of 164.72. Heading for the second hundred. Almost a month in and doing well. Still 15 miles up even with yesterdays rest day. Wish me luck.

Day 26. Nothing. No walk. No ride. A trip to the chiropractor. Australia Day/Invasion Day

Day 25 Got to reap the leap mile and 6.5 on the bike. 156.46 Yeah 16 miles up, and now over 150

Day 24 Missed my morning walk today 🙁 but did 6.3 miles on the bike so all is not exactly lost. 148.96

Day 23 Tried to make it up a bit. 7.9 on the bike and 1.51 walking in the business park 142.66. Ahead by 15 miles. Can’t relax though. We have visitors coming at the end of the week for three days.

Day 22. It happened. I forgot to write anything down. I did walk 1.15 miles. Thank you phone app. Runkeeper 133.25

Day 21 Walked the dog 1.2 miles and rode for 7.2. Might have been more, but I forgot already. So 8.4 miles is what will be logged. I have to write it down fast or I forget. 132.1 I think I am about 15 miles over so that is about 3 days grace. We have visitors coming next week so maybe I will be using those miles.

Day 20 Lost the habit. Walked 1.22 miles. Can claim 1 leap miles as well so 2.22 miles. Pretty lazy. Tomorrow I need to get on the bike early. 123.7 miles

Day 19. Becoming a bit of a habit. 6.8 miles on the back. Should be back to walking tomorrow. 120.48

Day 18. Back at work after the long weekend so hit the bike for 6.8 miles. That is all I could do. 113.68

Day 17 On the bike 5.8 miles and walking 1.29 miles. We went to the lake by the VFW hall and up the hill a bit. Cracked that first hundred. Yeah!!! 106.88 Pus 1 Leapday

Day 16 Didn’t get a chance to get online. Pretty busy with kids and things. Did walk 1.68 miles. so 99.79. ALMOST…the hundred but no cigar.

Day 15 Riding for 7.8, walking for 1.19. Pretty average weekend day. Ahhh so close 98.11. Just a tad tomorrow takes me to my first 100. Of course, I need 20 100s to get the deed done so it will be great to have the first one done. 15 miles above the goal rate, but don’t feel like it is enough to rest on just yet. Just got to keep going for 350 more days.

Day 14 Took it easy. Actually babysat this morning so I did walk a bunch, but it was unrecorded. Biked 5.8 in the evening. 88.12 Still up 11.56 miles. Maybe will reach the goal by Christmas. Anything is possible. Maybe

Day 13 Biked for 5.5, leap day 1, and walked the dog 1.18. So the grand total for today is 7.68 making 82.32 Heading to one hundred. Got the math wrong and thought I was behind so I wrote I have decided to try to do the 2022 miles in the year 2022.
At first, I thought that there was no way possible, but now I am thinking harder. YEAH!!!! Less than 2000 to go. (Who am I kidding? Just got to keep going for 350 more days. Finally ahead of the game. Working towards a day off. Soon will be able to take a day off. Lost the advantage and will have to work a bit harder to catch up again. YO YO Actually made me more focused. Strange. Plus leap day +1

Day 12 Biked for 7.1 miles. Inching forward. 74.64 , 8.16 miles to spare. Need to keep building. Fortunately, found a typo and miscalculation. Fortunate, because if I waited longer…. much harder to resolve. I will check the math again tomorrow. I hope all is well. Tomorrow I will also get the leap day mile.

Day 11 Biked for 8 miles. It was late after playing Roblox with my Aussie grand-daughter. Yeah 6.6 miles ahead. Hope to catch up more by the end of the week. 67.54 miles

Day 10 Biked for 6.3. A bit disappointed that it wasn’t more. Not sure how the bike counts it all, but that is what I am putting my trust in. Still catching up though. Just a mile or so down. No… it turns out my faux pas. I had messed up day 8. All good now. 61.24 Up 6 miles.

Day 9 Wonderful birthday brunch running up and down the hill, but without the tracker on. Oh Well. 7.3 miles on the bike will all be what I get today. Let’s see how that flies. Just 2 miles short. Not bad really.

Day 8 1.63 miles walking so far. Haven’t added in the miles yet. Living on the edge a bit. Walked 1.63m plus I get 1 mile for my leap day. (See day 5). so 2.63. A bit tricky because tomorrow I have a meeting and a party. Not sure where I am getting time to exercise. Maybe plan some afternoon time on the bike. The goal number of miles is 5.5 per day so Day 9 should be 49.5 so I am 4 miles off already. AHHHhhh It is so early to get behind.

Day 7 7.3 miles riding and 1.42 miles walking for a grand total of 8.72 Best yet. Right on target. Happy to end the week.

Day 6 6.3 miles riding and 1.59 walking for a total of 7.89 for today!!!

Day 5 6.8 miles riding on the stationary bike. Still catching up, but pretty proud of myself. Plus, leap day mile. Every morning, I take a short walk in the dark. I measured it today and it is .25 mile. That means every four days I get a bonus mile. Yeah, every little bit counts.

Day 4 6.2 miles riding on the stationary bicycle. Caught up another little bit. Interrupted by a family call. After all, a ninetieth birthday planning phone call is super important. Can catch up more later on. Just 3.88 behind. Still, a long long way to go. It will be good to crack the 22 then only 2000 left.

Day 3 8.6 miles riding on the stationary bicycle. So caught up a bit. Only 4.43 miles behind.

Day 2 2.27 miles walking the dog on the Poway West Ridge trail Need an average of 5.5 miles per day…. so far I am 7.53 miles behind. Ouch

Day 1 1.2 miles walking the dog around the neighborhood. No way am I making it.

#2022 challenge #walk the dog #ride the bike #miles

September 2020- California, Oklahoma, Hawaii, New Jersey

October 2020- New York, South Dakota, South Carolina, Arkansas, South Carolina

November 2020- Idaho, Maine, Iowa, Oregon

December 2020- Arizona, Nevada

January 2021- Wisconsin, Washington, Florida

February 2021- Kansas, Alaska, Pennsylvania,

March 2021- Rhode Island, New Mexico, North Dakota

April 2021- Michigan, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana

May 2021- Utah 29

21 States to go!!!!

Lula lula lula bye bye

http://angustrumble.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-curly-headed-baby.html

Paul Robeson in the late 1940s, when the Victor Gramophone Company described it as an old “plantation song”:

Oh, a-lula, lula, lula, lula bye-bye,
Do you want the moon to play with?
Or the stars to run away with?
They’ll come if you don’t cry…

Oh, a-lula, lula, lula, lula bye-bye,
In your mammy’s arms a-creeping
And soon you’ll be a-sleeping, lula:
Lula, lula, lula, lula bye…

So I knew this song very well from when I was very little. I only can remember the first verse though.

My grandmother sang me this one.

Lilac trees are blooming in the corner by the gate; Mammy in her little cabin door
Curly headed pickaninnie coming home so late, crying cause his little heart is sore,
All the children playin round have been so white and fair, and none of them with him would ever play,
So Mammy in her lap, takes the weeping little chap, and says in her kind old way:

Now honey you stay in your own back yard, don’t mind what those white childs do,
What do you suppose they’re a goin to give, a black little coon like you,
Just stay on this side of the white board fence and honey don’t cry so hard,
just go out and play just as much as you please, but stay in your own back yard.

Every day the children as they passed old Mammy’s place, comin home from school at night or noon,
peering through the fence to see this eager little face, such a wistful, lonesome little coon.
Till one day his little face was gone forever more; God had called this dusky little elf,
Now Mammy in the door, sits and rocks as oft before, and croons to her old black self:

https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=27458#3905725

However, the words went more like. I can’t ask why they sang this song.

Lilac trees are blooming in the corner by the gate; Mammy by her little cabin door
Curly headed pickaninnie coming home so late, crying cause his little heart is sore,
All the other pickaninnies, skin as white as white, none of them with little coon would play,
So Mammy on her lap, takes the weeping little chap, and says in her kind old way:

Now honey you must stay in your own back yard, don’t you mind what those white childs do,
Go out as you may but honey your must stay in your own backyard.

If you don’t stay in your own back yard, you’ll be locked up in great big walls
And there you’ll stay to crack stones all-day
So honey, stay in your own backyard.

E

What stereotypes about other people did you hear about as a child? Were you ever encouraged to question stereotypes as a child?

The question in the book is more personal and I don’t want to answer that question in a public forum; however, these questions seem ok. I grew up in a low-income area of South Australia. As a child, I am not sure I understood stereotypes myself. There were religious stereotypes. The Sunday Christians for example. They went to church but didn’t follow the sentiments of the church. Aborigines were people to be sad for. They drank too much and received handouts.

Writing Contest: You Are Enough