[Windswept]

This morning, I made the "heart-attack-on-a-plate" breakfast: scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon, toast, coffee.

The microwave in which I cooked the bacon is not right in the kitchen, but is in an out-of-the-way alcove of shelving nearby.

So, I load up the plate and take it, and a large mug of coffee, into another room to watch the Olympics while eating. Yum. Good breakfast.

About an hour later, when I was online, I suddenly realized I had completely forgotten about the bacon. At this very moment, it's still sitting patiently, cooked, in the microwave. And I was *really* looking forward to that bacon! If someone cooks a "heart attack on a plate" breakfast, bacon just *has* to be part of it.

I would think I might be losing my mind, but I've asked my 13 yr. old students, and they have the same memory failings as I do. They'll walk into a room to do something, and can't remember why they are there. So, that makes me feel a *little* better. heh.

Any of you have incidences of absentmindedness that you would care to share?

Thanks for any replies.

Carol

[sunrain]

Entirely. I leave food in the microwave all the time.

[SKMDC]

at least it was a appliance that shuts itself off. i was notorious for coming home from a night of revelry and putting a frozen pizza in the oven and forgetting about it.
also my apartment at the time was old and huge. no dishwasher, and the sink would take 10 minutes to fill. i would do the dishes and invariably would leave it running, i would be three rooms away, and not until something floated by would i remember.
i still leave it running, (nearly once a week) but i have a new sink and it wont overflow.
my wife says i have aqua Alzheimer's.

[GSpotter]

My wife sometimes calls me "professor". Just one example: On the way to the garage I forgot to switch on the waching machine, even though my wife put a sticker on our door to remind me...

[thuh Freak]

i have 3 or four reminder systems setup on my computer to tell me what i'm supposed to do. some go off on timers, others pop up every minute or so when i open certain applications, and some are just popups. first thing i do when i open the computer is close or scroll past them. a day or so later i'll re-remember whatever it was i was supposed to do, and i'll write up a new reminder, which patiently awaits my ignoral.

at work, i have pos-tits all over my area. and scribbles on the back of handouts from meetings. in theory, i'd read them, and do whatever is relatd, then crumble and trash em. in practice, they pile up until someone yells at me.

the older brother would do the pizza in the oven thing. or he'd start the stove, shape some loose beef into a hamburger, and put it on a pan. then throw out the cooked meat the next morning. cooking is such an infrequent and monumentous occasion for me, that i rarely forget about it.

[Windswept]

It's fun to read about other people's foibles.

I used to worry that I had left the iron on. Had to make a quick trip back home from work once or twice, to be sure I hadn't burned the house down. Was *so* nice to get an iron that switches itself off automatically.

Once, I was rushing around early one Sat. morning to leave on a ski trip, and I was running much later than I had planned. Grrrr. Wanted to leave like at 5 am; so I was only half awake.

Finally, I drove off down the street with the car packed and skis on the roof rack. I started worrying about whether I had locked the front door. So I drove back and found that the front door was actually wide OPEN!!!! OMG!!!

After that, I didn't really trust myself anymore, and spent a lot of time double-checking to be sure I had done stuff that needed to be done. *sigh* I would check to be sure I had locked the front door about four different times before leaving for work. I don't do that anymore. Now I make sure to notice the front door locks as I pass by to go into the garage. So, my stint with obsessive-compulsive disorder wasn't permanent.

[SKMDC]

remember when clark griswold forgot that aunt edna's dog was still leashed to the bumper?

[Ryan]

Once I was talking to someone in between classes, while walking to her class, and then I walked in with, sat down, and then it hit me.

Not my class.

Always buy running shoes...

[alcimedes]

i'm sure i have, just not sure when.

[Zodiac]

Well, one time I forgot how old I was(just for about 10 seconds).

I forgot to give my ex-girlfriend anything for valentines day.

[BuonRotto]

Ah, you know, I had this great story, but now that I've hit the reply button, I can't seem to remember it.

[Naderfan]

I think I might have a slight case of OCD. While living in the dorms, whenever I was about to leave my room, I'd check my pocket at least three times to make sure my keys were there. Then I'd close the door and try to open it a couple of times to make sure it was really locked. Now that I'm living in an apartment with a deadbolt, I still try to open the door just to make sure.

But I am extremely forgetful. I'll think of something I need to do and then if I can't do it immediately, I"ll forget. Like in the morning, while I'm in the shower I'll think: "Oh, I need to take out chicken for dinner." And by the time I actually get to the kitchen, I have completely forgotten and won't remember until I get to work.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who can't remember what they're doing.

[thuh Freak]

Originally Posted by CubeDude Once I was talking to someone in between classes, while walking to her class, and then I walked in with, sat down, and then it hit me. Not my class. Always buy running shoes...

did that once or twice. one time i happened to walk into a similar class, with a teacher who looked remarkably similar to one of my teachers. so i of course don't realize immediately. he was teaching crap or whatever, and i wasn't paying attention, in typical thuh-style. eventually i did figure out i was in the wrong class. so i packed up my things and i go. decided to talk the day off to recuperate after all that hard larnin.

[Brad]

I will sometimes miss an entire class and be an hour late because I can't find my keys or wallet. They're often sitting RIGHT THERE by my monitor or TV.

That's only the tip of the iceberg.

[xionja]

I work on a farm. . . typiclly I walk out of the tack room look around, and see that there is nothing to be done. So I walk around a little, tidy up, ect.

And 20 minutes of messing around later, I realize that say, its time to bring the horses in and well, the stalls arn't done. It just doesn't occur to me.


On another note. . . I may as well not even own a cellphone, it never makes it out of the car.

[Windswept]

Since I don't trust my memory, I have had to work out non-fail reminder techniques. If I *have* to remember - without fail - to take something to work (like my gradebook, on the deadline-day to input grades into my classroom computer), I'll put it on the floor, leaning up against the door to the garage, so I can't go into the garage to the car without tripping over the gradebook.

If I have to remember to get my lunch out of the refrigerator, I'll tape a note, written on neon-colored paper, onto the doorknob of the garage entry door, so I can't leave the house without touching/seeing the note.

If I need to remember to do something as soon as I get to school, I'll tape a note to the dashboard of my car, right over the radio; and then I'll carry the note into the building with me.

My brother lived in my house for a while at one point, and he never put his keys and wallet in the same place twice. He would fly into a rage when he couldn't find his keys when he had to leave for work. Once I found them in his room on top of the back cover of a phone book. The back cover had a multi-colored design, so that his keys sort of disappeared right into the design.

I *always* put my keys in the exact same place on the kitchen counter when I walk in the house. They are always there. heh. Amazing how that works.

[SKMDC]

i always hang my keys on a hook, and when i'm getting out of the car, mind you i'm usually corralling 3 children, i always have to have one hand touching my keys, before i hit the automatic lock with the other.

i'm enjoying this thread it's making me feel less crazy.

[Windswept]

Originally Posted by superkaratemonkeydeathcar i'm enjoying this thread it's making me feel less crazy.

I feel the same way. It's comforting to know that many of us share the same all-too-human failings.

It's like a bond that lets us know that others are in exactly the same boat and do the same stupid things as we do. Most of our absentmindedness is because our minds are chock full of massive amounts of information, concerns, worries, and stresses.

I honestly don't see how people with kids manage. It's hard enough just keeping track of all the stuff *I* have to do. Of course, I know that people do what they *must*. That's pretty much what it comes down to, dontcha think?

[alcimedes]

i've actually found it to be quite helpful to be forgetful. often times i'll forget to do things, be places, go places etc. for most people, that's a big deal. if you're supposed to go to someone's house for dinner and forget, people get pissed. you're supposed to do something and don't get around to it, someone gets mad.

in my case though, everyone knows i'm forgetful and no one's feelings are hurt. it's just a "oh, that's how he is, what do you expect" it's great. no high expectations.

[scratt]

Smoke more weed! :smokey:

[FFL]

Originally Posted by Carol If I have to remember to get my lunch out of the refrigerator, I'll tape a note, written on neon-colored paper, onto the doorknob of the garage entry door, so I can't leave the house without touching/seeing the note.

When I have to remember stuff in the fridge, I put my keys in there right beside it.

[BuonRotto]

It sounds like people are more creatures of habit than forgetful or obsessive/compulsive. I'm the kind of person who will also be half an hour late for work because I didn't leave my keys where I usually leave them, however obvious their current location might be. I have a routine for a lot of the little things, and when I break that routine is when I get in trouble. Likewise, trying to create a new routine or changing a current one can be a very difficult thing to do.

[scratt]

In all seriousness and even taking into account the amount of damage I have done to my brain over the years... the creature of habit theory is the best..

I used to be so scatty I would lock my front door (a habitual action which I never failed to do) but by the time I got in the car I would have forgotten whether I had done it or not.

So I would leap out of the car and run up the garden and check the front door and 100% of the time it was locked.

I have learnt to rely on the fact that I do these things whether I can remember them or not and have not been let down to date. If I consciously think about them when I do them and then remember of course I can.. but if I just get on with my day I cannot even remember driving to the shops sometimes... because I do it so often and am often thinking of other more important things... Time is precious only a few years to go till I die!!

If I cannot remember where I put something I walk to the first place that comes to mind and hey presto they are there..

Now this may be because of smokng my mind to oblivion in the past or it may be because these things are so habitual your brain just blocks them out, or fails to record them... perhaps we get FULL as we grow older and discard irrelevant things...

I certainly have no problem learning new languages (spoken or computer) or learning about interesting things and I am still able to function in society... although some on this board may choose to disagree!

Have you ever tried to remember that name of an actor and wracked your brain... been able to feel the name on your tongue but not get it out... Every time I am there I just relax and do something else and 2 minutes later it pops into my head... It's like a little background process... sub_memory_search(whatever you need) kicks into action... And hey presto there it is..

But it is such a delicate little process if you run your entire conciousness flat out rooting through drawers and files in your brain it never gets any Bus time to do its job!!

Cheers,
scratt.

Off to smoke more now... feel better. :smokey:

[Moogs]

I actually forget things so quickly that it worries me sometimes. There's truth to the theory that alcohol kills your memory, apparently, because ever since college, the older I get the more I do things like this:

Sitting downstairs on the couch, remember I wanted to read a couple magazines from my ever-growing pile... walk upstairs to get to magazines. While I'm walking I realize I also have to grab my iPod off the charger in the other room. Grab the iPod, completely forget the original reason I walked up the stairs, walk back down the stairs... sit on the couch... and ten minutes later I'll remember again I was going to read one my magazines.

Even worse is when I start thinking of other stuff as I walk up the stairs and by the time I am standing in my office, I don't remember what I was looking for. It's almost embarrasing.

I do stuff like that every other day it seems like. I'm more easily distracted and less able to remember small, immediate things than I used to be able to do. Important stuff I don't usually forget but little details of everyday life slip by me all the time, as I'm trying to get to / do those things. It's not a fun feeling. Hope I don't even get Alzheimers (or know anyone close who will); what a horrible thing that is to go through....

[Escher]

Have any of you been tested for, and maybe diagnosed with, ADD (attention deficit disorder)?

I've been absent-minded since my early childhood. These days, I will get up from my home office to get something to eat or drink in the kitchen, which is two rooms away. Walking through the living room, I'll remember that I need to take out the garbage. I'll tie up the garbage bag. Then remember I wanted to clean the BBQ. I'll walk out into the yard, turn on the grill to heat it up and melt the crusty grease. Then I'll go read the N.Y. Times online, and completely forget about the BBQ, the garbage, and my drink until an hour later. I once left the BBQ on overnight and burned through a whole tank of propane.

Sometimes I feel like an animal with a brain the size of a walnut. (Like my dog that can only think of food, love, sleep and going potty. ) Sometimes I think that a toddler would have a longer attention span than me.

I never gave the issue much thought. Where I grew up in Europe, psychological disorders are considered bogus. Shrinks are looked down upon like herbal healers and voodoo magicians. So I just tried to deal with it.

Then, in law school, I screwed up a semester so badly that the academic dean suggested I go to the counseling center for help. They referred me to an outside specialist, who ran a battery of tests with me and concluded that I had ADD.

Does it make any difference that I am now a scatterbrain with a medical explanation and excuse? I'm as wise as ever before.

Escher

[ast3r3x]

Originally Posted by Brad I will sometimes miss an entire class and be an hour late because I can't find my keys or wallet. They're often sitting RIGHT THERE by my monitor or TV. That's only the tip of the iceberg.

The daily show had a great fix for this. Now that we live in a police state, just make a yell, or make a post about killing the president. They will be in your dorm in no time! You can ask them where your keys are.

(...waits as this posts gets scrubbed for any more incriminating evidence)

[psmith2.0]

I tend to lose my keys about twice a month...either for 2 minutes to 30 minutes.

I've gotten the whole "re-trace my steps" thing down to an art!

And I've been guilty of actually holding something in my hand and screaming "where is my..." and having whoever is with me look at me like I'm the biggest doofus ever.

"Look down, dumbass...".

[BuonRotto]

Well, when I'm stressed or really busy, a lot of thing on my mind, I'm more likely to be forgetful, and that's natural, not ADD per se. I think people who don't let thing get to them, and take their time are less likely to be forgetful. The irony is usually that the more you try to do, the less you get done.

Hey, didn't a European invent psychology, and aren't they all into organic whatnot and herbal this-n-that?

Moogs: I do the "now, why did I come over here?" thing often enough and about 90% of the time, the second I return where I was before, I remember what it was. Sometimes I have to actually sit down again in the same position to remember!

I'm either scatterbrained when I work outside of my routine for mundane things, or else I'm just stressed and I have too many things on my mind. I can get so focused, obsessed on something that I block out almost everything else. I swear that once I get into a groove when designing, I could sit on nails and not notice. Another example is when I was looking around for a new TV recently. Once I made up my mind to replace my old one that died, I spend way too much time doing research online, in stores, talking about it with others, etc.

My problem seems to be one of extremes -- I'm the absent-minded professor to my friends and family. You know, Einstein was notorious for leaving his house without socks on, forgetting to wash his hair and so forth. Yeah, that's it. I'm like Einstein, only not as smart, and not as dishevelled.

[staph]

A better question for me would be "are you ever presentminded"?

I refuse to use memory aides though. I suspect that they would only make me worse.

[ast3r3x]

"I just remembered that I'm absent minded, wait, I mean I lost my mind, I can't find it."

Good ole' eminem.