preoccuply

To answer absent-mindedly.

Preoccuply (From a prose adaptation of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross):

"...how are you?" Ricky asked, finally noticing George's agitation.

"Fine," George preoccuplied. "You mean the board...? How am I doing on the board?"

"Okay," Ricky said, slightly bewildered. "The board."

"I'm fucked on the board!"