# What simple everyday stuff have you forgotten how to do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2000, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368 "2000-12-13T16:46:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/21 "2000-12-13T19:17:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by idiotboy \* > \*\*Do you live in Columbus? My father works at AT&T (Now Lucent) on Broad St. just off I-270 here in CowTown. Been working there for 20+ years now…maybe it’s just a coinky-dink… 😃 > > On that note, is there more than one “I-270” in USA?? \*\* I live in St Louis, MO. I-270 goes North-South through the city, then turns and goes East-West once it gets to the edge of North County, maybe it turns North-South again after crossing the Mississippi at some point when it gets to Columbus. ---
**Author:** ![idiotboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@idiotboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/idiotboy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/22 "2000-12-13T19:34:29Z")
\ [QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* \*\* > [@](#): > > I live in St Louis, MO. I-270 goes North-South through the city, then turns and goes East-West once it gets to the edge of North County, maybe it turns North-South again after crossing the Mississippi at some point when it gets to Columbus.\*\* Heheh, not likely. Here in Columbus, I-270 is a big giant loop circling the entire metro area, [as you can see in this map.](http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=&city=Columbus&state=OH&slt=39.961102&sln=-82.998901&name=&zip=&country=us&BFCat=&BFClient=&mag=7&desc=&cs=7&newmag=6) \ ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/23 "2000-12-13T20:04:00Z")
Because I kept forgetting phone numbers, I tried to turn them into words. It doesn’t work well if there are 1s or 0s in the number, though. But one of my friends lives at FRY-ROME. (Insert obligatory joke about fiddling while Rome burns) I forgot how to catch a baseball - mostly because I stopped playing baseball and started juggling sometime back in high school. When I joined the company softball team, it took me a long time to get used to catching the ball in the pocket of the glove rather than where my hand actually is. I can’t write in cursive to save my life. My signature has degenerated over years, but it’s nowhere near as bad as the illegible scribbles of some other people. It’s gotten to the point where I have to actively concentrate on writing “two hundred thirty-seven dollars” on a check, though. I feel like I’m in second grade. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/24 "2000-12-13T20:07:45Z")
Once when I was a junior high kid, someone asked me what grade I was in… “4th” ::wait, that sounds wrong. I’m not in 4th grade any more:: “…I mean 5th. Uh, 6th. Geez…” ::OK what school do I go to? Who is my teacher?:: “…7th grade.” Of course everyone standing around me wasn’t standing any more! ---
**Author:** ![cblackhand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecc23a/32.png) [@cblackhand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cblackhand)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/25 "2000-12-13T20:16:59Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by idiotboy \* \*\*\ > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Crunchy Frog \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > I live in St Louis, MO. I-270 goes North-South through the city, then turns and goes East-West once it gets to the edge of North County, maybe it turns North-South again after crossing the Mississippi at some point when it gets to Columbus.\*\* > > Heheh, not likely. Here in Columbus, I-270 is a big giant loop circling the entire metro area, [as you can see in this map.](http://maps.yahoo.com/py/maps.py?Pyt=Tmap&addr=&city=Columbus&state=OH&slt=39.961102&sln=-82.998901&name=&zip=&country=us&BFCat=&BFClient=&mag=7&desc=&cs=7&newmag=6) > > \ \*\* Here in Denver I-270 is a 4 mile long stretch of highway with about 3 exits. It forms the hypoteneuse of a triangle with I-70 and I-25. As far as I know the only connection it has to any other I-270 is the number. Back to the OP I forget words and which hand is right. The most mundane thing I ever forgot how to do was drive. I literally could not remember how to start the car. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/26 "2000-12-13T20:32:27Z")
I have… …picked up the phone handset and stared at my PC keyboard, trying to remember how to dial. …to do the math to remember how old I am. Every time. …to keep my home address and phone number in my wallet. …looked directly at a cow-orker and could not remember their name - after having worked together for over 5 years. I really should look into assisted living… ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/27 "2000-12-13T20:34:24Z")
i CANNOT use an electric can opener. if i do not have a good handheld can-opener, i am so screwed. i still do not type well. i cannot tie my shoes, i am always retying them. on the bright side, i can now fill a portable oxygen tank. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/28 "2000-12-13T20:45:39Z")
I’ve never been able to remember any kind of number, so that really doesn’t count as something I’ve “forgotten.” I do, however, forget my own age pretty frequently anymore. I usually start rounding up about midway through the year (it lessens the shock on the birthday), and I forget if the age I’m remembering is my actual age or the one I’m going to be. I was helping my second-grader with her homework the other day when I realized that I’ve forgotten how to write capital F, I, Q, and Z in script. We had to get the book out. The most frightening lapse was a week or so ago. I was driving in heavy traffic and just for a second I forgot what those red lights on the back of a car mean. Luckily, I hadn’t forgotten about not following too closely. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/29 "2000-12-13T20:48:30Z")
Before I have caffeine in me is when I can’t think straight, and it’s a catch-22. Sometimes I forget to put water in the coffee maker. Sometimes I forget to put coffee in the coffee maker. Once I forgot both. I just switched the machine on an expected coffee to come. (It never did). ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/30 "2000-12-13T21:05:31Z")
I forget nouns. I started “losing” nouns after I had my first child. Probably from sleep deprivation ;). Ask me where something is, and I’ll tell you it’s in, on, under, around the …_thing_. I have a mental picture of the object, just not the—whatzit—name. I can describe the thing in some detail: "It’s in the _place where you hang your coat_…ummm…hall closet. My family calls it “Mom Disease”. I noted that **Fairy Chat Mom** and **SoMoMom** also do this. Nounless Moms Unite!! We’ll have a meeting in the…ummm…the…ummm. ---
**Author:** ![absoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@absoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/absoul)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/31 "2000-12-13T21:07:47Z")
This morning the phone was ringing. I got out of bed and answered the front door. I am not a morning person. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Nen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/32 "2000-12-13T21:13:05Z")
I forgot…um…what the hell do I do with this thing with the keys? ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/33 "2000-12-13T21:23:52Z")
I used to know how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, but I’ve completely forgotten all the moves. Is that pathetic enough to qualify? Oh, and **lolagranola,** that sig is hilarious. whoever that Chef Troy guy is, he must keep everyone around him laughing so much that tour guides point the milk fountaining out of their noses to tourists. ---
**Author:** ![Serendipity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@Serendipity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serendipity)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/34 "2000-12-13T21:34:41Z")
I have a tendency to lose nouns, too. Invariably, I replace the missing noun with “whoosher.” As in, “I have to get money out of the ATM. Where’s my… my… where’s my _whoosher_? You know, that swipey thing?” ---
**Author:** ![Nen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Nen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/35 "2000-12-13T21:37:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zyzzyva \* > For some reason, my brain just couldn’t register the normal “lift your right leg up and over while hopping off on the left foot” method. I ended up riding around in a circle a couple of times, then just dropped off the back, landing with both feet simultaneously. Pretty cool, actually, but there was the problem of having the bike fall over in front of me. I tried it again a few times later, but always ended up getting whacked in the shin by the rear wheel. Doh! Something just occurred to me: are you sure you should be taking a several hundred mile bike ride if you can’t even get off the bike? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2000, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368/36 "2000-12-13T22:15:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nen \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by zyzzyva \* > > For some reason, my brain just couldn’t register the normal “lift your right leg up and over while hopping off on the left foot” method. I ended up riding around in a circle a couple of times, then just dropped off the back, landing with both feet simultaneously. Pretty cool, actually, but there was the problem of having the bike fall over in front of me. I tried it again a few times later, but always ended up getting whacked in the shin by the rear wheel. Doh! > > Something just occurred to me: are you sure you should be taking a several hundred mile bike ride if you can’t even get off the bike? 😉 \*\* That’s why it’s a several hundred mile ride. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-simple-everyday-stuff-have-you-forgotten-how-to-do/45368.md?page=1)