Remembering to do things, missing important details

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I've struggled with remembering to do things that other people take for granted my entire life. I always forget stupid things, or miss important details. This has gotten me into no small amount of trouble over the years. When I was a kid, people used to tell me I was stupid or lazy. In a way, getting my diagnosis as an adult really made me feel a little better, because it meant that I wasn't just dumb or lazy, that there were real issues I had to deal with.

Anyway, I came home last night and found that I had left a burner on the stove for several hours while I was out of the house. Obviously, this was an easy thing to miss, but it could have had grave consequences. My wife was really freaked out and worried, and very upset. She pointed out that I could've started a fire, that the fumes from the gas could've killed the cat, and that our gas bill was now going to be through the roof. All of these things were true, and I felt terrible. While I've never left the burner on the stove on unattended before, I forget things like that all the time. I think I'm a little better about it now than when I was younger, but it obviously still happens.

It frustrates me to no end, because while I remember almost everything I read and every conversation I have verbatim, I can't remember to do things or to check on stuff, and while I catch all sorts of details no one else picks up on, I can't spot things like a burner that's been left on.

Do any of you struggle with this?

I have left the oven on more than a few times. Once I even left it on overnight. Fortunately I had not left any food in it so no fire occurred, I just had a very warm kitchen when I got up the next morning!

I am always forgetting everyday stuff.

The irony? I go A grades in my Exams at college without having to revise. For academics I have an outstanding memory (usually), for mundane stuff...no so much. I was the worlds most disorganised student for a start off...

I also have that kind of problem. I have an affinity for trivial information, but important things either go over my head or in one ear and out the other. I remember when I accidentally let something burn on the stove-top; I was so hungry that afternoon that while I was looking for a snack, I failed to notice how much smoke there was in the kitchen. Fortunately, I have a few tricks for dealing with memory problems; they haven't worked for me, but they still might be useful.

1) Always get a good night's sleep. (I have trouble falling asleep and feeling rested afterwards.)
2) Eat healthier. (For the past few weeks, I have been getting up at around 10 AM or later, so I eat a late breakfast, and my whole day feels out of whack.)
3) Carry something to help you record information, like a notepad, a tape recorder, an iPod, etc. (Since I don't sleep well or eat well, I am usually so scatter-brained that I forget to bring something to help me remember what goes on throughout the day.)
4) Exercise every day. (I do exercise, but I don't remember to do it often enough.)

Yes and Yes. For example let's say I am going to an interview. While it sounds simple it actually requires remembering to do a whole bunch of things. Layout dress clothes remember to bring this and that, remember to get directions, remember the time the interview is being held etc. I will go over and over did I remember to take this did I do that. But invariably I will forget an important like my business cards.