Okay, downtown living can be a problem in the summer time, I see, when it comes to writing. Too much going on and too many distractions. I'm walking distance from the riverfront, the Cardinals baseball stadium (and I LOVE baseball) and the Rams football stadium (oh, and I LOVE football). And this weekend is the weekend of Fair St. Louis. Along the riverfront, theirs food vendors, misc. vendors, live bands and concerts, airplane shows, and just people everywhere. It's a festh-ival! LOL The last thing I needed was more procrastination tools. And it is extremely tough when you can hear everything from your apartment. Yesterday, all I had to do was stand at my window to watch the annual parade. I had never been to it before and this year, I didn't have to leave my apartment or change out of my pajamas to see it. Sure hope nobody had binoculars.

As I type this post, I'm listening to the airplane show which goes on every few hours throughout the holiday weekend. Yesterday, I gave it. BUT, and a very important but, I took my laptop with me. So I could write. I went to the riverfront, walked around a bit, then took a seat on the lawn (brought a blanket) and waited for the Blackeyed Peas to perform. I know what you're thinking (because I was too). There's no way to get writing done in that type of environment. There was thousands of people and stuff going on everywhere. But, believe it or not, I did get a lot of writing accomplished (even if I'm not happy with what I wrote). I wrote, then sat back and enjoyed the free concert and the fireworks show afterwards. I'm the type of writing that can't write in silence. I need something blaring in the background and it's usually either TV or a radio talk show. Somehow, music and silence drives me crazy and I can't concentrate. So, that type of environment on the riverfront was perfect. I get around noise, then tune it out. Sounds senseless, I know. But it works for me. I know people thought I was crazy. I didn't see anybody else with a laptop out there trying to work. Hey, but you got to roll with what works for you. ;-)

Now, today was a little different. I decided to go to my first game of the year at Busch Stadium. I LOVE baseball, as I stated before. I had planned to write at least my daily quota there, but somehow, that doesn't work for me. Because I want to watch the game. I guess the distractions I need with writing has to be something that's not at the top of my list of things I enjoy. Meanwhile, I'm the only nut at the stadium with a laptop hanging from my shoulder. So, I came back home to do a little more writing, and I'm going to sacrifice the rest of the day and stay in and get it done. Hey! You find out what works for you and what doesn't.

I have a goal of 2 novels and 2 or 3 short stories by year's end. It's going to be tough to do from now through Labor Day with excitement right at my doorstep. But I'm going to have to continue to buckle down, sacrifice, and get it done.