Today’s post comes from perpetual sophomore Bubby Spamden.
Hey, Mr. C.,
I was just about to ask you an important question about girls, but as soon as I started to write it I realized that you don’t know the answer. Not that you’re not old enough to have wisdom and all, because I’m pretty sure you are! But all the old dudes I’ve talked to about this kind of thing are pretty sure they know less about girls than they used to, which I think is totally weird.
How can you live such a long time and get dumber as you go? That doesn’t make any sense.
But then I read a newspaper article about this study that says your brain changes when you get older, and old brains have a harder time getting good sleep than young brains do. And it’s when you’re sleeping really good and deep that the stuff you just learned makes its move to transfer over just-found-out-about-it mode to long term memory! So if you can’t get what they call long wave sleep, it’s harder to learn anything new!
So now it kinda makes sense that you’re so clueless about a lot of new things, and haven’t really picked up any fresh insights since, say, 1975.
But don’t get me wrong. I still respect you for your wisdom and experience and all. I just have a better understanding of why you don’t know anything. So I’m forwarding you a link to the article. Take a look at it! Read it a couple of times for all the good it will do you.
One thing in there that sounds kind of cool – the idea of using electrodes pasted to the scalp to simulate the right brain waves to get the best kind of sleep. How long will it be before you older guys are plugging yourselves in at night, just like a cell phone or a Chevy Volt?
And since I know you’re going to ask anyway, the question I had about girls is why does my girlfriend get mad if I start to fall asleep while she’s talking to me? It’s not like I can help it. But to smooth things over, I told her it’s because I’m trying to commit what she’s saying to long term memory as soon as I hear it. I don’t get it, though. That argument just makes her madder. It’s like she doesn’t believe in science!
Your pal,
Bubby
I think Bubby has been a High School sophomore for so long, he’s the closest thing we have to a teenager/old man hybrid. Still, the most surprising thing in this message is that he thinks he has a girlfriend! I can only assume she comes from the same place as the one that beguiled that Notre Dame football player – Fantasyland. Although she sees through his sad explanation just as clearly as a real person would, so who knows?
What’s your most effective memory-keeping technique?
Trail Baboon 
Good morning. What was the question? Oh, it had to do with forgetting things, right? If I need to remember something I post it on a post it note. I don’t know what aging people, like myself, did before post it notes were developed. How did older people get any thing done without post it note reminders? I remember being told to tie a string around my finger to remind me to do something. I haven’t heard any talk about trying a string around one’s finger for a long time. Maybe that was one of the main ways used to remember things before there were any post it notes.
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Anybody ever tried tying a string around your own finger?… 🙂
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But how do you remember where the post-it note is?
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Tie a string around your finger, if you can manage to do that, and tie the other end of the sting to the note.
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🙂
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hmmm…i think i could manage to tie a string around my finger, but i’m pretty sure i couldn’t tie a string around a post-it note.
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Rise and Shine Baboons!
If Bubby is a hybrid, then was Dr. Larry Kyle his creator? OT, I know, but I need to know.
Meanwhile, I have always had a good memory, that is until age caught up with me. Now that Bubby explains sleeps relationship to memory, I understand why my memory is not worth much now–sleep deprivation.
I would gladly hook up my brain to whatever if I could sleep through the night.
Meanwhile, Bubby, your girlfriend gets mad at you because you are an idiot.
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Bubby, you should listen to Jacque, because she is a professional and knows what she is talking about, not just some random Baboon.
I will now give you the random Baboon opinion, just in case you feel that would be useful:
Bubby, your girlfriend gets mad at you because you are an idiot.
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You know how there are always scientific studies being conducted that ask the obvious and then find the obvious answer? One on Jay Leno’s show last night was “Study: Fish Need Water.” I’m waiting for the one that concludes: “Study Says Old Farts Forget a Lot.” I used to think old folks forgot because they were old. Now I know old folks forget because they don’t get sleep, and they don’t get sleep because they are old.
I fight the tendency to forget by keeping lists and putting appointments on my computer. But then I forget to look at the lists and the computer.
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Or I can’t find the list.
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so riddle me this-why do teenage boys do the same stuff old guys do?
Called the s&h to check in and make sure he had dinner underway-“honey, did you plug in the crockpot an hour ago?” “Sorry Mom, I just did it now because an hour ago I turned on the tea kettle instead”.
I’m so glad this child does not text. Bad enough that he reads while walking.
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I read that title wrong – I thought it said “Study Says Old Forgets Fart a Lot.”
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Lately I have been making lots of use of my computer to get information. If there is something I don’t know or have forgotten, I just do a computer search to find that information. The old dog can learn new tricks. With my new trick I can over come my problems of retaining information in my brain by using my computer to find information that is no longer stored there or never was stored there.
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Writing things down helps, I think because taking the action of making my muscles translate the thought into written word engages a slightly different set of synapses. I have had mixed success with putting reminders in my calendar to do things – works less well when I put the reminder into my work schedule and the day gets busy (which reminds me, I set a reminder a week ago to make a call that I never made…oops). I do, however, live in fear of the day when sleep doesn’t come as easily or for as long as my current state. I like sleep – sleep makes me less cranky. I don’t like me cranky.
Oh and Bubby – one thing you will learn is that sometimes there is no right answer in relationships. No matter what you say or do, the best thing to do sometimes is just own in at apologize.
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If I could just figure out how to wire my house and car into that dandy little Outlook reminder…….
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Today’s Outlook reminder actually worked. Phew.
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Like my father before me, I have become the King of the Post-It Note. I write everything down on post-its or scraps of paper, then usually leave a certain note reminding me of an appointment on the floor between my desk and my office door so I don’t forget the appointment. Or I’ll have a piece of information on that scrap that I want to remember, but only toss it onto my desk with 50 other notes, where it may or may not get read and remembered days, weeks, or months later.
And actually, since I’m such a frugal S.O.B., I don’t even buy post-it notes anymore. I make my own by cutting or tearing up recycled paper, usually junk mail that has a blank side (rarer and rarer, as most solicitations nowadays try to cram as much of their “sales pitch” as possible onto the letter they send me in the vain hope of separating me from my money. So I don’t even stimulate the economy via 3M by purchasing their little pads of sticky paper.
Alas, older age has started to render my note system fallible. Recently I dragged a note saying “Chiropractor” along with me on my errands and work day, to remind me of my 1 pm appointment. Of course I got engrossed in work and completely forgot the appointment, even though my reminder note was snug in my pocket.
My “Senior Moments” are turning into “Senior Much-larger-than-I-ever-expected-chunks-of-time.”
😦
Chris in Owatonna
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alarm buttons on your phone or pocket device are a must ads the brain goes,
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If I can remember to do it, I use a timer to notify me that I should complete a task. I have found that timers used in the kitchen when cooking are useful for reminding me to do other things that need to be done by a certain time.
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Chris-as one frugalista to another, the insides of the envelopes your junk mail comes in are still blank 🙂
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This discussion reminds me of a question that I was asked by a person in Bolivia. This person wondered why some people from the United States don’t write on both sides of note book paper. I think the failure to use both sides of note paper was thought of as a wasteful practice in Bolivia.
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It’s pretty wasteful at my house too.
I have seen old letters from maybe the 19th century in which the writer first covered both sides of the notepaper, top to bottom, then turned the paper 90 degrees and continued the letter over the top of the previous writing.
I have not gone that far yet. Too much junk paper comes into the house for that to be necessary (and that after going on the “do not mail me junk” lists).
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My desk at work is covered with papers that have important information on one side and notes I have written to myself about other things on the other side. This often doesn’t work well, as i have to use one side or the other for mutually exclusive purposes, and my notes to myself get inadvertanly tossed or filed in medical records.
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Oh-h-h god-d-d no, I’m not that bad …. yet!
(but thanks for the tip, M.I.G.)
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i used to do the daytimer and check it every morning to plan my day. there was a 3 ring binder that would hold the notes and there was a reference system to get to it. very complete and you felt very accomplished with reams and reams of notes neatly place in the leather bound binders on the shelves of the bookcase alongside my desk. no one ever saw it and i never referenced it. today it all is in my head and i am screwed if i need to pull it out on my own. today i put everything on the computer and try to come up with a catch phrase so when i need it there is something there to reference. I need to find a company i looked at 5 years ago i need something to pull it back up. i can usually find something. i have taen the memory courses and they are enjoyable . being able to remember freds name by putting him mentally in a flintstones outfit t remember fred by is a kick but when it is issac and you have to remember vomit coming out of his eyes you tend to wonder how far this has to go. my sllep is a thing of wonder and i have nights where i sleep like a baby and i celebrate and others when i wake up and know its going to be a long day. the reason you sleep less when you are old its that the world is out there and you realize your time is finite and there is only so muc h to get done befroe you cash in your chips. youth never realizes what a precious comodity they are sleeping away after watching idiot tv shows until 2 or 3 am. sports center, adam sandler movies, daughters watching disney fluff. i am so sad that the classics dont stand a chance.
hey clyde was the movie you referenced the other day the adam sandelr movie where he is the architect.? i saw it and thought of your comment a couple days ago, had to be the same, this morning i am watching a wonderful foreign film about a child prodigy who doesnt like the expectations that come along with being gifted. i would recommend it. vitus is the name of the movie and the subtitles dont get in the way.
einstein used to say he didnt know his own phone number . why bother clogging up your brain with stuff you can look up? i have lived by this model for a log while and i am so grateful for the ease with which we can look stuff up today. ease and volume. it used ot be only weirdos who did research in the research rooms at the library and came out with yellow legal pads of information to be transposed to the finished project after months and years of time to come to an educated conclusion. today we find everything on the internet. even girlfriends, the more behind the curtain the better. if you need only present an onscreen personna you can do it for numberous blog sessions and then evolve into skype sessions and maybe someday a virtual kiss but why go there it only complicates things. if i remember right its kind of a wet slushy thing that gets cumbersome and loses its way as soon as it begins but my memory isnt what it used to be. good luck bubby we are all rooting for you
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who was it that invented some deal that would act as a timer and lift the book he had predetermined to give 2 hours of his time, up to the desk to interrupt the book he was currently reading thus allowing him to get totally submerged in the one he was reading without having to sidetrack his brain into keeping his minds eye of the time as he was studying. my phone timer keeps me on track unless i only think i put it in my calandar and i stop thinking about it untoil the consequences come whack me. that is becoming an issue too. so you need to remember to hand off your memory and not just assume you are covered. its getting hard isnt it?
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I’ve always only been able to remember things in written form–what I’ve read and what I’ve written down. All I ever had to do to study for exams was reread the text and then copy my class notes out by hand (this also worked because I was a good notetaker). Once I left school I found out that a lot of people prefer to tell you things verbally–not even by email–and then expect you to remember what they said. Unfortunately not many of them understand how to give concise instructions that flow logically, so while they’re talking I have to take notes and try to reorder the information at the same time so I can see where the gaps are and ask the right questions. Tiring.
I also have real trouble remembering faces and names–when I worked at the library I oftentimes forgot who had asked me the question by the time I got the answer and had to roam around looking for a woman in a red sweater. My trick for introducing people is to introduce the person whose name I do remember to the one I don’t remember. Usually the forgotten one picks up the cue and gives his or her name, but if not the other person says “Hi, and you are?” and I’m off the hook…for the time being, anyway. And before anyone asks, if I’ve forgotten both their names I just wait for someone to crack and introduce him/herself first. Sometimes it can take a while.
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I’m also a fan of the act of Writing Stuff Down. It helps my organize my thoughts.
I like having the Spotlight on my Mac – the ability to retrieve obscure stuff from anywhere using a key word is one of the most marvelous things Apple has wrought.
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I do sometimes use that one about association which often works for me – something like “tag the thing you want to remember to something else you know you’re GOING to remember.” I was going to cite an example, but at the moment I can’t remember one.
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The trouble with that is that sometimes you get very side-tracked by making the wrong association.
Example: I need to remember to do something boring, like go to the bank-I know, I’ll tag it to something interesting, like goats (visualizing a goat dressed like Mr. Banks from Mary Poppins)! Hours later–what was I supposed to do? Something about goats–oooh look, new goat pictures!!!!!!
I don’t know about an old brain, so much as a determinedly undisciplined brain.
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Mine are more like: when I open the car door, I will remember to put out the garbage cans… then visualizing it. Works if I don’t change plans and decide to stay home that day, never getting to the car door!
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yup, routines work, so long as you’re having a “routine” day.
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Here will be a tricky memory-related issue: we are going to move across the hall, we think, will finalize in an hour or two if we do, which means we will have the same street address but our apartment number will switch from 102 to 101. How much confusion do you think that will cause?
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My folks did that in the late 90s – wasn’t as bad as you’d think, I think partly because they were so happy with the new one (no longer on 3rd floor) they were really on board for it.
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Yep. We are doing it, a door-to-door move of ten feet. Giving up a bedroom bur gaining a view of a woodsy ravine and more light, a more open space. I’ll be dropping my art work setup, getting rid of lots of books (most of my travel books collection), and some antique furniture. The management is pretty much giving us a month to do it. Nice.
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Don’t forget to re-register to vote! A one-digit apartment number change is enough to necessitate that.
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sounds like a plan. glad it is so workable. sorry for the loss of your art spot. now the kitchen table overlooking the woods will have to do. the pastels are your friend. keep it up.
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Here’s what I do: repeat what I have to do three times while repeatedly tapping on the side of my head. ” (tap) Bank (tap)(Tap)(Tap), Bank (tap), (tap) Tap), Bank (tap) (Tap).
I guarantee results.
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I’d like to know what kind of results, Ben?
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🙂
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i can do that
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Morning all. “How long will it be before you older guys are plugging yourselves in at night, just like a cell phone or a Chevy Volt?” — I snorted my tea up my nose when I read this. And I’m thinking if it would make for better sleep, I WOULD plug myself in like a Chevy Volt!
I am a master-organizer so have several ways to keep track of things. I am a Daytimer devotee as well as a post-it note fan. I probably have at least 25 different pads of post-it notes at my house and I also have a post-it app on my phone.
I also use mnemonics to remember everyday things (like my license plates, my library card number, Roman numerals (this one is not fool proof), which lane I should be in when driving towards downtown on 35W. Last year I read a few books about memory and one of them described in great detail the “memory palace” technique. It was interesting and I tried it out – seemed to work but is a little cumbersome for every day living (IMHO).
Missed you guys the last few days; I’ll have to go back and read everything. Work is wild the last week or so.
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Hang in there.
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I have a master to-do list on the computer. If I check it in the morning and there are three or more urgent things on it – most days there are – I write everything on a junk mail envelope that was on its way to the recycling bin, and stash it in my purse. A PDA would be useful, but I can’t justify the expense, plus I would forget to keep it charged.
I have no idea how someone who accomplishes as little as I do acquires so many obligations.
I would plug myself in if it would guarantee a good night’s sleep. Right now I’m sleeping well, but I can’t rely on that consistently. And it really, really does make a difference. But I am already a little overstocked on medical apparatus – I’m a little concerned that my bedroom will begin to resemble a mad scientist’s lab.
This all reminds me that the production company that gave us MST3K was called Best Brains.
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Hmmmm… I may have to try that master list on computer trick.
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I maintain my memory by using it. I’ve never been in the habit of making lists. I keep appointments and shopping lists in my head, for the most part. I suspect my habit stems from the fact that I was never able to take adequate notes in school. If I wrote, I tended not to hear. So I got into the habit of listening carefully and memorizing.
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We’ll talk to you in 10 years and see how it’s going. 🙂
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My dad had the words of this song taped on the wall of the shower so he could sing it in the shower. He and Mom were married in September.
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Sweet!
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nice tune. we sang it in choir an i loved/love it. my dad sang in the shower too but they were married in august and there aren’t any good songs about august weddings. why is that?
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OT: We’re getting up at 3 a.m. to Fly South at 5:30. See you in a week, baboons, have a good 7 days. Hopefully I’ll have material for a guest blog, Dale. (I have been remiss lately.)
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st thomas in february sounds perfect. enjoy.
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