like an absent-minded professor

careless distracted inattentive sloppy

unmindful

absent absent-minded abstracted airheaded amnemonic amnesic asleep on the job bemused dreamy heedless lax looking out window mooning moony neglectful negligent nirvanic not on the job oblivious out of it out to lunch pipe dreaming preoccupied remiss slack unwitting woolgathering

attentive

mindful recalling remembering retentive