Random Awkwardness

I am socially awkward.  I believe that has previously been established.  However, I wanted to provide another example.  Going out intimidates me so much that for days leading up to any social outing, whether it be book club, a baby shower, or a large family dinner, I brainstorm things to talk about with people.  I'll stay up til the wee hours of the morning thinking of TV shows we have in common, how I must ask about home improvement projects or inquire about a common friend's health or whatever.  But you know what?  It never helps!  I inevitably end up sitting next to someone in awkward silence making paltry observations about my kids' behavior.  Then I come home and beat myself up because I forgot everything I wanted to say.  Like how grateful I am that my mother-in-law ground all that wheat for me and we've been baking pizzas, and waffles, and apple crisps with it all week.   Or how I saw the blog photos of  my friend's latest DIY project and it looked fabulous.    It's exhausting.  I guess I need to start bringing notes with me.  Which I suppose leads me to the question, what do you think is worse: reading from a topics of conversation list or chatting about my kids' potty training schedule?