that's a technique I have used when I forget someone's name but I would have stopped before "who am I confusing you with?"

OK, I have to admit, I've done things like that dozens of times, with people of all different races. Because I have no memory for faces whatsoever -- unless I've actually had a one-on-one conversation with somebody lasting at least a good fifteen minutes or so, there's very little likelihood I'll get beyond, "Yeah, you look familiar" the next time I see them. After quite a few embarrassing times when I tried to guess the person's name or where I'd seen them before and ended up guessing totally wrong, I've pretty much resigned myself to saying, "Remind me, where did I meet you?" pretty often.

(There's a story that's been circulating for a while about a well-known mathematician not recognizing his daughter when he saw her somewhere where he didn't expect to see her. I don't know if it's true, but I don't actually have trouble believing it.)

She laughed uncomfortably and said "who am I confusing you with?"

At least she didn't *actually* say, "Now, which one are you?"

Wow, Hil and I are the same person! Seriously, my memory sucks, and I cannot remember faces to save my life. God is it humiliating.

Not saying that's what happened with Vortex's person, just sending out a "my sister" shout to Hil.

Heh, Vortex that reminds me of a classic lawyer joke.

During recruiting season a law student gets taken out by a potential firm and totally wasted. But he still has interviews the next day with another firm. He drags his ass in and he's deeply and completely hungover. In fact, he can't even remember the name of the firm.

He decides to fake the information out during the course of his first interview with a partner. At the end of the interview he says, "You know I'm sorry to ask but I was having a little trouble spelling the name of your firm. Could you spell it out for me?"

The Partner gives him a long look and with a totally straight face says, "B-r-o-w-n and W-o-o-d."

(True story? Maybe)

I cannot remember faces to save my life. God is it humiliating.

Yes, I but I suspect that you can tell the difference between me and ita.

We have a functional bathroom again. I love Roto-Rooter. I still can't believe our landlady had never heard of them.

Never heard of them?

Good lawd. Not only could I sing their jingle for you with a gun to my head, if I played an instrument, I'd strum a few bars!

Great. Now I'll be humming that blasted tune instead of sleeping.

Roto-Rooter...that's the name. And away go troubles, down the drain...

Great. I'm screwed.

Twice I got called the name of the other black female instructor. She's red where I'm yellow, 40lbs lighter, shorter by 6 inches and with a mass of brown ringlets.

The first time I was called her name I hadn't even met her. When I did I sputtered "You're [instructor]??" and she was very confused.

The only other instructor whose name I've been called made actual sense, since we always worked together and our names rhyme.