As an update:
I installed a new ECT sensor to no avail of my idle woes.

As pointed out by the very helpful Timmyr, I checked my vacuum purge valve and found it seems to leak a little then removed from the car. I achieved a drop in the idle when I idled the engine and plugged the hoses that connect to the valve. When unplugged, the idle climbs even higher, to the 2k range. I plan to work on it more this summer, maybe I can coax the valve to working properly again, or pench my pennies and replace it if i can't. (I'm currently away from my automobile; it makes birth in AR while am in school at West Point.)

I'm interested folks thoughts about crankcase ventilation and common/potential problems. The breather hoses (on intake manifold) got replaced with my head gasket 3 years ago, didn't affect the problem.

Also, does anyone have any thoughts about this mysterious computer that is under the front passenger floorboard (I have seen it though only once when looking for my O2 sensor when it needed replacement)? All a couple other threads have come up with is that it says VDO (the mfr. I am sure), I can't find out what its purpose is. Any ideas? One guy said it solved his idle woes, perhaps I'm in the same boat? Though I fear dropping $$$$$$$$ on a computer.

Thanks in advance!