Is it possible you had the apparently 'empty' fish bowl in your field of vision during the morning and a part of your mind registered that departure from normality, hence as it was working its way from your unconscious to your conscious brain it resulted in that queer 'block' on your actions?

Reminds me of the pilot who saved a man's life because as he was flying over the man's cabin in winter he realized there was no smoke coming from the man's chimney. He'd had a heart attack and was lying on the floor.

Good story well told daylia.