I know she retired after that year and I'd have to do some hunting to find her. Would that be considered stalkerish?

No, I don't think so. I'd start out a note exactly how you said, you were clearing out some stuff and thought of her. I think that she'd be pleased to know that she mattered and to know how her students are doing.

Oh! Damn, I've been meaning to mail my college advisor to give him an update. Thanks for reminding me!

Granted, I graduated 14 years ago. On the other hand, he wrote me a graduate school recommendation only four years ago, so it's not entirely out of the blue. Thinking about the fact that he had to sit through not one but THREE major-declaration meetings for me, he can't be too surprised that I keep changing fields. Sigh.

If any student or parent tracked me down to say I'd made a difference as his/her teacher, I would be thrilled beyond words.

My father is a retired teacher. A few years ago he got a surprise call from the office of the state Supreme Court. One of his former students was being installed as a Supreme Court justice and she had nominated him as one of the early influences that helped get her there. He sat in an honored place at the installation with the other "influences." It was cool. And not stalkerish.

I was WAY behind. So I have mearaed.

I'm watching Children of the Corn. I never saw it before. Nifty fun.

I saw it too! I really liked it, although the special effects may be the worst I've ever seen. I had no idea what was going on in more than one creepiness scene. I changed channels into it, at exactly the same place I'd changed into it a couple months ago, where Horton's character is in the church yelling at the kids. First time round I didn't even know what movie it was, but this time TiVo was recording it for me.

I really liked the character of the little boy on their side. He was weirdly individualistic.

Figuring out the best way to turn it [roasting chicken] was a bit of a task

I have come to the conclusion from watching an hour of cooking TV yesterday (Martha Stewart, simple something, meals with no more than 5 ingredients (water, salt, and pepper are freebies)) that I need these maybe non-stick safe. Better than my current method of sticking a fork in and using wrist action with hot food.

Had sexxxxay dreams last night about someone that I am determined I should not sleep with. Shut UP, stupid subconscious!

It's okay, meara. It doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. I take it as a compliment.

I took something in the emergency room once that got rid of my pain and left my head clear, which I loved beyond all reason. Alas, I have no idea what it was called.

Woe! I want that drug. I'm currently (well, not this exact moment) getting pumped with enough narcotics to make me hallucinate, and hard. I really hate side effects.

It might have been Toradol (generic name Ketorolac), which is a non-opiod pain reliever.

I get that as part of my drug bouquet, but I've never noticed it having an impact before the big guns show up.

no, I wouldn't put kaffir in tea

I'm thinking they'd object, and not just to the slur.

Also gave me some hope that maybe some day he'll get his act together.

Heh. I think that was wonderful--like an extra sunbeam in your day. I think reaching out and touching people who have touched you is a great thing to do, even if it takes some work to find them. I have people I love who probably have no idea of my random bursts of fondness, and since my best friend is currently in deep funk I like to call him and leave "Thinking of you" voicemails for him.

I love my tongs, and I only started using them so much after seeing so many people on the Food Network using them all the time.

Emily must have meant kefir, I guess? But, on the topic, I always wonder if kaffir limes got their name from something else or if that's some really weird combination of derogatory terms and citrus taht I just don't understand.

Brendon's kindergarten teacher sounds like a sweetie. How great that he made such an impression!

I have simple spring loaded tongs and I love them.

Oh Laura, that's lovely!

Anyone seen erinaceous around? Apparently she's giving a seminar at a conference I'm going to in March.

Happy Birthday, Windsparrow!

Laura, I didn't find that stalkerish. And Suzi, I imagine that any teacher would like to know that they made a difference; from what I hear, so many of them often feel like they're working at something that's necessary but aren't appreciated.

In a related story, years ago I read in the news about a man who'd made his career in the fire department (New York, if I remember correctly) and got an invitation to a high school graduation. Turned out that when the graduating student was a baby, he'd saved her life and she wanted him to know that not only had he saved her, but that she was making something of that life. It struck me as a nice story.