My first term of school I bought a digital recorder with some of my tuition money... it's been the best thing ever...it was like 50 bucks.. I've seen them cheaper and more expensive...but they are fantastic... just be sure to get one that lets you flip thru different recordings easily...

but that way I can quickly tape everythign from grocery lists to directions etc... it's great... I can also download mine to my computer... and save certain files.. the sound quality is even decent...

Heather describes this brain fog and how it affected her school work.
I was at my last job for just over 5 years. The first 4 I had good and great annual performance reviews. I took 8 weeks off last year thinking all I needed was some serious rest. 6 weeks into the leave, I'm still feeling like shit and thinking, "uh-oh, this ain't right!" I go back to work in Jan as I said I would and got ripped a new one in my review for '07.
I was shocked and hurt b/c they (HR and my sup) knew I was having health issues! Bottom line though, is that the review shows just how much I've been affected by this shit. My neuro ordered a memory test for me. Well of course when you walk into a room and they tell you they are going to test your memory, you make an extra effort to remember what they ask of you. But when you walk out into the real world and are bombarded by stimuli of all sorts, you don't know what you're going to have to remember in 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 weeks, or 5 years from the time the event happened.
They said my memory was fine. I said bullshit.

No joke there! I bought a car that was listed in Arthritis Today's top ten cars for folks with arthritis. I figured if it was good for them it would be good for me. I almost cried when I gave up my mini-SUV for the Monte Carlo (which also happened to be the cheapest car they listed), but after driving it for a few days I was in love especially with the heated seats. I live in Texas and those suckers are on every time I drive because of my back pain. I used to cringe when I would have to drive to and especially from work, but no more. I can't imagine driving a standard anymore. I do miss the "control" you were talking about Heather, but now it doesn't bother me so much. I stopped reaching for the stick about 2 months after I switched to a vehicle with an automatic transmission.

My favorite brain fog story goes like this. I was outta toilet paper (a total necessity!), so I drive into town thinking I'll stop by the book store and video store before I go to Walmart. I go to the book store and the video store and then I drive to Wally world. As I get into the parking lot I am thinking to myself "what the hell am I doing here?" I leave and start to head home. I get home and the first thing I have to do is use the facilities and once inside I realize "ACK! No TP", so I end up using paper towels (don't laugh I know some of you have done the same). After I do my business I write out a list of things to pick up at Wallyworld and head back out. I get there and realize i left my list at home, so I'm like O.K. I'll just go without the list. I go in shop around check out and head home. I trudge in my goods and look over at the desk and there before me is my list and in that moment I realize - you eeeeeeeiiidiiiiiioooot! you forgot TP. I gave up and went to the local convenience store and payed way too much for a single roll.