Constant conscious thought stream.
That's how my brain works, I always am actively processing thoughts, normally two or three streams running at a time, each given a cycle. I throw new streams in all the time, they run their course, and are again replaced by the conscious thought stream. It always was, but has evolved. It sometimes goes to very dark places. I don't express those, because in word they are frightening, in deed, they're dastardly. I can steer the thought stream, but only gently, and that always causes rip tides, trying to pull in other streams. I tend to let that stream run it's course, and have full stops for my immediate needs (i.e. if I need to change the tire, I start a new stream, collect all of the information I need, consciously execute the steps, and then return to regularly scheduled programming.) The biggest problem with this thought system is that I lose streams. If a stream is a run-once (such as the tire) and I need to interrupt IT, I can, but it doesn't halt, it terminates. When I begin the tire again I can loop up to where I was, but I have to start from "Shit, I gotta' fix that tire, it's sketchy."
There are, of course, those "run once" thoughts that DO pause. These actually pause of their own volition, though. Say for instance I'm going to grow an Exodus Cheese with an Afghan hash plant. Well, that generates 3 streams, Male and Female Ex, Male and Female hash plant, and grow. Just like a stream, each of these has their own little offshoots, smaller streams. These are a lot like complex programs, designed to be executed, and wait for certain responses (such as pre-flower light switch sexing. Nutrients, lights, filtration of air and nutrient compound, anti-fungal methods, etc.)
-- Sorry for these -- this is rjj, though, and I like to sometimes express myself, the boss lady has a saint's patience. She sees me unmasked every day, she hears parts of the thought stream.
Flaming (and any other parent that might second guess these...) Never lie to your kids. Santa, the Easter Bunny, honest lawyers, equal treatment. They're all lies. And, monsters DO exist! They look JUST LIKE PEOPLE, but, when you are unfortunate enough to look 'em in the eyes, there's nothing there. I see so much emphasis on keeping kids safe, do 'em a favor, and teach them how to keep themselves safe! I know other kids will believe in a lot of the crap. When I dealt with that, I said "don't answer the question, if they persist, and mock you, then give them proof that they're wrong." If a kid's old enough to be mean, they're old enough to have their belief system crushed. Don't be gentle about parenting, but don't beat or torture your kid. (There are monsters out there that like to prey on people that hurt their kids... They used to be innocent kids, until it happened to them.)