She's No Spring Chicken.

I've not only noticed that I'm getting older, I've started retraining myself against it.

I do a lot of brain training.... mostly because I like those kinds of things... I have a stack of puzzle magazines, the kinds with kakuros and logic problems and the word ones where you can derive the answer (as opposed to the crosswords which rely upon you doing lots of crosswords before you have done one or you will fail or, if it's easy enough, think they're stupid). I really enjoy the "syllacrostics" where there is a clue to the word, the number of letters is show with underlines, it says how many syllables there are in the answer, and all the syllables are given at the top in alphabetical order. Additionally the first and last letters of the answers (in order) spell out an author & quote combination. So it sounds really easy but they can give really hard clues and really rare words--- words that I have to look up.... [There are levels of these puzzle magazines, the "family" one is for idiots. The "challenger" ones can be insane. The Dell/Penny Press website explained the levels when I looked and I just remembered which ones were the most advanced and I only buy those. Simon prefers the puzzle magazines by Games Magazine, but I can't do most of them. They're too hard and focus too much on the arrangement of stuff.]

but I've also started doing things like listing out ordinary things one must do and tracking intermittent things. I have a gallon jug of water next to my desk, to encourage refills of my water glass even when I'm busy. I refill it at the tap so it's not an environmental issue. But I need to know how often I refill it. My list of tasks often includes "gym, shower, lunch" and sadly, most days I do not do all those things. But it allows me to tick off more boxes of accomplishment.

Today I realized I'd developed a slovenly driving habit. I get in the car, turn the key, open the garage door, release the emergency brake, put the car in drive (I back into my spot.) and then fasten my seatbelt. Obviously this optimizes for time because the garage door is slow and the car must be over the sensor or it will begin closing immediately after opening. But it requires more body dexterity and mental attention than it used to. It's a better idea to fasten the seatbelt without the car in gear. (Although I do have to open the garage door before fastening the belt because the buckle interferes with my pocket access.) I think I should stop assuming I will have fast enough reaction times to correct a problem even while I'm distracted.

I haven't had a problem with the driving. But I have had problems where I eat lunch and then don't want to go to the gym. I have also had problems where I shower and then go to the gym whereupon I need to shower. Then I cook something messy and discover I have flour in my hair and need to shower. I get so angry and frustrated with myself when I am that disorganized. Even though there are often reasons to shower before going to the gym... like today I showered because Simon wanted a ride to the train and I wanted to buy more milk at the store. I'm almost certain to see someone I know at the store, so I try to have some pride in my appearance. I am planning to go to the gym in a few minutes though. Have to go before lunch...