Gretchen, Let's redefine 'mere' since it now is being applied to Johanna: Our new definition should be, "Skilled, experienced, insightful, and generous with one's insights." In that case, I think we can call you 'mere' too! Let's petition the editors of the OED to insert this definition. Paul D. Gretchen Lee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: In a message dated 3/18/2006 7:43:45 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: I doubt that I ever had a teacher better than she is. As many of you on the list know, I am a <insert adjective here - if Johanna is a "mere, " I can't imagine how I would be characterized) middle school teacher of English. The best grammar experience of my life was a slice of professional development with Johanna at Asilomar. I envy her students. I greatly enjoy the conversations and dialogue on this list, but Eduard's personal attacks are inappropriate. ~Gretchen To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ "If this were play'd upon a stage now, I could condemn it as an improbable fiction" (_Twelfth Night_ 3.4.127-128). To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/