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| Billie Silvey |
| Feedback 2009 - 2010 |
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| Comments are welcome. Email me at b.silvey@sbcglobal.net. Feel free to use any material you find useful. I'd appreciate a line stating that you got it from www.billiesilvey.com. "Hiya Billie, "I'm not sure if you're the right person to contact, but I wanted to tell you that as a student teacher working on a lesson plan for next year, your page [on the Gilded Age] was a great source of information. I've been using material from this page (http://www.car-nection.com/carfun/building-the-first-classic-car.html) It has some good information about Ford and the assembly line that you might find useful." Tabby Brookes "Loved your write up on Constantinople this month Billie! " Regards, Len [Nguyen] Hey Billie- "Thanks for including me on you list. I hadn't thought of Constantine as the first proponent of religious freedom- or I had forgotten it. That was an encouraging reminder of how one person can make a huge change-especially encouraging in light of the religious persecution that continue to this day." Brenda B[all]C[uthbertson] "You did a nice job on light from the physical to biological to spiritual." --Dwayne Simmons "Hi Billie, I enjoyed viewing your website's topic on light. Thank you for the illuminating updates. Have you ever seen this image before? I also appreciate the religious and intellectual application of the term 'reflection.' I believe connotes the ability to bring in radiance from many places and to apply them in a way that requires no small amount of discipline. " Cheers, Michael Salazar "hey billie, i love katyana's garden!!! she is so sweet. i love knowing you as a friend - i hope you had and joyful easter with your family. " love, rona [kingsley] "This was a lush reminder of what Spring is all about, Billie - many thanks for sharing this with me. I'm forwarding it to my class to share Katyana's Garden with them - we're planting our gardens this month! " Blessings, Josan [wright] "Hi, Billie, Your article on gardens was interesting, and I appreciate your research into all the types of gardens, so that everyone ought to find a type that is particularly appealing . I'm not a gardener at all, but I appreciate other's efforts. My husband Joe was a gardener, not entirely from choice but necessity, but he truly had a good eye for what was pleasing. After he died, things were ok for a while--however, now and then I feel a bit guilty about not being able to keep our garden areas in good shape, and find that it's really on the bottom of my "to do" lists. I had a wonderful gardener who came down with a liver disease and is currently unable to work. My current gardener is the former gardener's nephew and works hard, but is essentially a lawn cutter who is willing to do extra things if I mention them to him (which I realize is much more than a lot of gardeners would do). Have you ever visited the Japanese Garden in Van Nuys? It's located at 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys 91406, 818-756-8166. The garden was designed by someone from Japan and is watered solely by reclaimed water and is called 'Tillman Reclamation Center' or something similar. There is a Japanese tea house which is available for rent for a party, if arranged in advance. I've taken folks on guided tours which can be arranged ahead of time so that a docent may be available. I can't recall if there is a fee for the entrance admission or for the tour since it's been a number of years since I've been there. I have a note on my rolodex card that there is a website 'the japanesegarden.com.' The designer also developed a much larger garden in St. Louis, as I recall. I also know that there is a Japanese garden recently re-done in Little Tokyo at the JACC (which stands for something like Japan America Cultural Center??). Culver City has its own Japanese garden at the Public Library on the west side of Overland, between Braddock on the north and Jefferson on the south. I think some of the gardeners from the Culver City/Mar Vista area take turns trimming, etc. Thank you for your interesting page." --Tosh Aiboshi "Hi Billie, I enjoyed your post on Pirates! I prefer the legendary aspect of pirates emphasized in the movies and games. Yes, real life is often brutal and ugly, so I find the legendary preferable in a general sense. Why else do we have restaurants named after blood-thirsty mythical pirates like "Long John Silver's"? Best wishes, --Michael Salazar "Hi! My name is Kristi Nichols, I am a history teacher, I am working on finding links about the middle ages. While looking for pages on the middle ages I found your page (http://www.billiesilvey.com/chaucers_world.html) which was very helpful. Thanks so much :) I noticed you missed a great page on Medieval Times: http://www.usa-people-search.com/content-medieval-times.aspx . It looks like a very nice resource on the middle ages, it covers everything from people, places, historical events, wars, art, architecture, and culture... I plan on using this page in my list of resources. Have a wonderful day :) " --Kristi "Billie– While searching the internet for information about a dear Isai friend, I ran across your website. While chasing Japanese-American rabbits, I stumbled upon your Canterbury Tales as taught to you by Jimmy Smythe. Also, I read your description of Michio Nagai. Both of these men were professors, and early influences, my freshman year at Pepperdine. I graduated in 1964 with a B.A. in English Both of these instructors have profoundly influenced my life, and I thank God for them both. And thank you for your sharing." --Betty (Ousley) Wyatt "Thanks for the information on Chicago. I wish I was still teaching my Five American Cities English class. Your historical outline of Chicago would be great since it was one of the five. I have to go back and read the Saints and Sinners. On this past Sunday I was trying to convince someone to move there and pursue a PHD. Rich Little was in Japan for a weekend lecture series (September, 2009). He teaches at Wheaton College/University in Chicago. His original undergraduate school was Harding. (Steve Hazen’s, (PU, 1970’s) sister Mary Hazen Osgood sent two of her children to Wheaton College. Her daughter still lives in Chicago. You might have know their older sister Susan Hazen who married someone name Bill....(or William somebody). Ok, here is the best one. Your friend, Harris was born in Chicago. I know you have heard the story before. Have you ever been to Chicago? I have. I actually walked along the lakeshore. I saw the Broadway play “Chicago” on Broadway a couple of years ago. --Eloise Brown Ives "I loved this story." --Keith Brisco "To be sure, as we both know, a large part of the "Black Church" experience" involves a fervor that expresses itself in the emotionalism that can be identified with the "fire and brimstone" style. "I would want your readers to be aware of the diversity within the African American worship community. "During my years worshipping with the Vermont Avenue Church of Christ (predominantly Black for many of those years), I also visited many other congregations within and without the Church of Christ Fellowship. One of the 'other' places of worship that I have enjoyed (present perfect tense) is the Church of Christian Fellowship, Congregational, in Los Angeles. The Church is 90% African American--an overwhelming portion of the people are dentists, doctors, lawyers, politicians, and professional musicians who have graduated from the prestigious Black universities (there are still approximately 100 of such institutions--many of them date back to years just after emancipation). 'The Church of Christian Fellowship is a beautiful building (originally it belonged to the Armenian Rite Church). It features a massive pipe organ. The services are stately and liturgical. The worship opens with an organ prelude and ends with a processional of the minister and acolytes carrying a cross. During the postlude, the people remain seated as the church darkens. Everyone remains seated quietly until the last strains of the postlude. "The stain glass windows alternate between biblical scenes and stain glass depictions of the replicas of the crests of the various universities: Tougaloo, Fiske, Dillard, Meharry. For all of their attention to form, I find the people loving and generous. "The sermons are of the style that I preach -- informative, filled with literary references, and appreciative of the erudition and piety of the audience. "I have moments when I require a Sunday in a fire and brimstone Black church --I have to do research to locate such a place. "As regards the Nagais, you know of my great love for them. You and I have shared many complimentary reflections about his sermons." -- Harris Ives "I’m confused about what you meant in the following paragraph. 'Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945) had been born into a patrician New York family. He was in an unprecedented third term as president and was expecting to leave office in January of 1945 when the war broke out.' He was in his fourth term in 1945, but the war didn’t break out then. He wasn’t expecting to leave office when he died. I’ve tried changing dates, etc to see if I can figure out what you meant, but I can’t make sense of it." --Barbara Webb. "Remember Daddy’s petrified rock coffee table to be? I wonder if it’s still there." --Barbara Webb "As you may or may not know, I sold buttons (wholesale) for 12 years and one of our best sellers in the later years of my career were rock buttons – literally, 2 and 4 hole sewing buttons made from polished rocks by a rockhound living in Boulder. They sold like crazy even with a retail price of $12.00 per button! They were beautiful in shades of every color of the rainbow and you never knew what colors incoming stock would be! We were like Kathy’s little girl, playing with them, etc. " --Cari Silvey "Best wishes Billie and thanks for sending this. " --Lynn McMillon "I admire you for creating and maintaining your website. You were up and running ahead of the pack. An inspiration to me. Hope all is well with you and your family. Bright blessings of love and light." --Doris Davis "Just looked at the website and it is so good. What a blessing you are. I too have always followed Kennedy activities, such a family." --Jackie Howell "Thank you for your kind email! I’m glad you have seen the museum in its current form as we have done a lot of work to it. In the not-so-distant future there will be some big changes so be watching for those about a year from now. "We do have the corner in the Art wing dedicated to O’Keeffe, but the painting we have of hers is currently on tour (last I heard from the art curator it is in a show in Canada and still traveling); thus, you may not have seen what we normally have up for her. Many people come here to see that painting so when it is out on loan, it is always disappointing for people who wanted to see it. It’s a difficult choice because we want people who couldn’t come to our museum see it also, especially because it’s one of four oils she did while in Canyon. " --Andrea Porter Communications Coordinator Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum "Thank you for the website content this month. I am enjoying it and finding it inspirational. May you continue to be blessed in your good work." --Bernie James "Hi! Hope you and Frank are doing well. I liked the photo of Katyana blowing out her birthday candles on your website. So cute! Meredith and the boys are doing well. Nathan turns 8 next week. Isaiah is 6. And Elijah is 4. Can't believe how fast they are growing!" --Phil McCollum "Billie, thanks for reminding us of Pooh, Piglet and Eeyore and all the special memories of our children and our grandchildren, dear delights from our Heavenly Father. My birthday quote this year was:The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been. ~ Madeleine L'Engle "Best wishes as you continue to practice your craft." --Sheila Bost "Thanks for the update. It is good to think of and care for the young. " --Father Loyd D. Morris "Hi Billie...can totally relate...Jake and I watched our grandkids all weekend last weekend and I have paid the price all week. Really wonder how we did it when our own kids were small...can't believe it is all about the fact that we were much younger." --Joan Jakubowski "I think I know about your granddaughter’s first birthday. Did I miss the second one? She is a cutie. "I liked the fact that you did not say exactly how old you are. I always tell ladies here [in Japan] (who are totally open about their ages) that in my circle of friends in America, we never discuss our age, our weight nor our natural hair color. Someone always makes me a untruth teller. I do not mean you did. Ladies show up in Japan all the time and someone asks (How old are you?) Many tell their age before they realize that one's age is fodder for gossip and it determines whether one will be in the questioners social group or not. This is a hierarchical society. "The only times that I feel my age (and that is my deepest, darkest, most private information) is when I get out of a car that is not exactly a low rider, but is low enough that after sitting more than 3o minutes in it. I can not jump out, I have to get out extremely gracefully (meaning slowly). I used to swivel around to the side and jump out. Now I turn around and put both feet on ground and stand and then walk away. "I will get back to article and read it more thoroughly. I took quick read through and loved it. Your web brag book,grandma, is delightful." --Eloise Brown "Thanks for another beautiful issue -- I've read only the introductory story of your west, that's enough to warrant the characterization of the issue. My west starts in California's deserts, let's say from Banning eastward and from the San Gabriels northward and eastward. "As for my panhandle experience, I don't recall my rides on the Chief and SuperChief when I was 6 and 9 years old, at least not the TX parts. When as a war resister U.S. prisoner I was being transported around I passed through the panhandle several times, spending one night in the Potter Co. jail in Amarillo, and amazed to see the very very big cattle pens very very full of cattle on the way out of town to the s.west. There are many other memories and places in "my" west, but those overlap the ones you wrote about, such as my year in a prison on the TX-NM line n.e. of El Paso, seeing the dust cloud approach from far away and then close over us -- and the day we had 6 degrees F. temperature and snow on the ground! The scattered and fierce thunderstorms visible from 50 miles away are another impression. How fortunate I am to have criss-crossed and spent some time in the west you wrote of and the areas around it." --Joe Maizlish "My husband, Arthur, has been reading American Indian history books, and is aghast at how they were treated. (There is Cherokee blood in his family.) God forgive us all." --Jacqueline Williams "I am about to order this book [Closing the Circle.] One reviewer said: 'Expecting a romantic novel, I was thrilled to find a fictionalized historical perspective of an anthropoligical expedition in the Rift Valley in the wilds of Africa. This is the place where the Leakey Expedition famously discovered the so-called cradle of human kind.' "When I saw your website, I thought about serendipity and wondered if this book might be of interest to you as well." --Doris Davis "I really enjoyed the new archeology stuff. I've always wanted to be an archeologist." --Barbara Webb "Thank you for wrting about India. This topic particularly caught my attention. Probably because I keep meeting people from there. For years we had Hindu neighbors from India living downstairs from us. The mother would not permit her grown son to ask questions about their religion, but he would talk privately to me about his disillusionment with all religions. Last year we met a Hindu family from Bangladesh who fled to India to escape persecution before they eventually came to Los Angeles. ...A couple years ago I received some training from a man named David Watson whom God used to catalyze an indigenously-led church planting movement in an area of North India commonly referred to as a graveyard for missions and missionaries. Within the past 15 years that movement grew to over 40,000 churches and over 2 million people were baptized. A recent audit seems to indicate the numbers have doubled, and these are Indians leading other Indians to Christ. Mind blowing stuff. ...A few months ago I met Mark Hooper of Missions Resource Network who has told me stories of when he used to live as a missionary with his wife and kids in Mumbai when it was called Bombay and how he still visits there and maintains friendships there. And of course the horrific news of the attacks on the hotels, just awful. ...Last week we had Joe Burns (Hollywood Church of Christ minister) over to our home to show us videos and pictures of his January trip with Church of Christ folks to India where they participated in an effort to start 50 new churches in one of the cities of India. Meredith and I have been touched by the plight of the poor in India. We have been moved by the example and teachings of Ghandi, Mother Teresa, and recently a book we read by Shane Claiborne who wrote about some of his experiences working alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta. India - what a strange mixture of despair and beauty... For years I ignored its despair and knew nothing of its beauty. Today I feel like my education on India is just beginning. Today I prayed for your friend Vijaya and her family." --Phil Collum "Have you seen the movie, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, yet? It is fascinating. One of my sisters and her husband were heavily involved for a number of years in the establishment of a boys' home for abandoned boys. The house took in 7-8 boys, taught them Christianity, sent them to school. . . . They made a number of trips there. Are you familiar with www.eternalthreads.com ? (Linda Egle's brother is married to one of my cousins.) Linda flew as an air hostess for 20 years with USAir. She fell in love with India, in particular. She now lives in Abilene, TX, and has established a way for women in India to sell the embroidered bags they make for money that is used to send their daughters to school. She is extending the opportunity to other countries: Afghanistan, Madagascar. . . ." --Jacqueline Williams "Charles Thigpen of Tennessee travels to India several times a year and then back through Vietnam. He works with the churches training leaders in both countries." --Jim Ridgeway "I really liked the site! The religion section was surprising. I'm still trying to understand the Hindu philosophy behind cremations- something about how the soul is freed up to go on to another level, or something. Also, I'd like to share a title with you: The God of Small Things by Arundati Roy, a novel placed in India. You'll like it. If you haven't already read it, I could lend you mine." --Bruce R. Downie "I really liked this month's website messages. "Your granddaughter's firsts were very interesting. I know you had a good meaning or purpose for using her photos and activities. I have a different title for the photos. Grandma’s Ultimate Brag Book. You deserve to brag...she is a darling and she will keep you and Frank young and active for more years than you want to be moving like the speed of lightning. [On President Obama]: "Black students (of my school days) were always told they could become anything they wanted to be and the key to reaching their goals was HIGHER EDUCATION which would be obtainable even if one had no money--or virtually none. Desire and motivation were the most important elements needed to achieve a set goal. The reason some goals were not obtainable was, what is now called a glass ceiling was a cement ceiling better known as institutional racism and societal racism. In our home hanging over the kitchen door is a little book mark I put there to inspire Tyson and Amy: 'Reach for the Moon. If you fall short you will land on a Star' Thanks for your good thoughts." --Eloise Brown Ives "Billie, Your Katyana is an absolute darling! What a beautiful window to the world! Have a wonderful 2009! " --Lindy Adams "I appreciate your writing and your heart." --Lanny Tucker |