STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

OK, remember how I posted a few weeks ago about reminding my profs to write their recommendation letters? Well, I haven't been able to find one of them. The last time I heard from her was late December/early January, when she said she'd be happy to write it for me. I have called and emailed to no avail. This is so weird, because I actually know this prof pretty well -- we have kept in touch and usually write every couple of months, so I hope nothing's wrong.

I e-mailed the admissions director and explained the situation/asked them to hold my application until I can get a third letter. But obviously I will need to get the letter in quickly, because this is already probably making me look bad.

So whom should I ask?

Choice #1 would be my department head at school (an English teacher with an MA) who has known me since I started teaching and can also speak to my English knowledge. I am sure she would be happy to write it for me quickly.

Choice #2 would be a random prof I would track down from my university. It would likely be one who would have to be "reminded" who I was, since my the other profs I have kept in contact with have since retired. Obviously, this is a more "academic" source, but it would be sort of awkward to ask them to do it quickly.

For reference, my other two letters are already in. One is from my boss (principal) and the other is from a really great English professor who originally suggested graduate school to me.

Any advice? This is sort of a pain!