2. How do you recall something from your memory?
Well, there are two types of memory:
1) Experiential memory, or emotional memory, and this seems to be recorded in bits and pieces. You can recall how you felt, you can tie that back to a few pieces of what happened, and your brain sort of fills in the rest through extrapolation. Quite often, you'll be able to recall this reconstructed memory because the emotions aren't so strong the second or third time around and thus they don't get in the way. Which leads us to...
2) Factual memory. So, like you learned a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, 2 + 2 = 4. The more you rehearsed that fact, the stronger the connectins between the neurons "encoding" that memory became until it's effotless to recall it. Factual memories are usualy devoid of emotions, probably allowing us greater recall on it. Also, there are usually ways to verify the memory quite easily, making it easy to reinforce the fact in our minds consistently.