"Earth To Kenzie...."

See the laptop at the left of the table?  That is my usual work space:)  On any given day, breakfast is eaten where Miss Alex is standing, and the spouse sits in his chair, drinking his coffee.  In this picture, I'd finished checking social media and email; the spouse decided to fix fried potatoes with the granddaughter 'supervising'.  

A few weeks ago, a new story consumed me and I barely knew who was in the kitchen, much less where the time went while I was writing.

When I'm by myself, I turn on the radio or a CD and write to anything from Lifehouse, Prince, Bon Jovi, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder, or whatever happens to be on the radio or what I pull out of the CD collection.

I used to write to Hooked On Classics while sitting alone in the living room (before computers) while my children napped. I also wrote some of my best work at the laundromat, listening to AC/DC, Duran Duran, and Don Hendley on the juke box, or whatever was playing until my selections were next.

At our old house, I had a spare bedroom where I'd hole up until the kids came home, or the dogs needed attention. Remember when internet was tied to the phone lines, and the only way people knew you were home was because of the busy signal? Thank god the dog barked if anyone came to the door; usually I had the music up so loud I didn't hear them knocking! But true friends knew where I was; they knew my dog was kind, and would just walk on in. Ah, the good old days!

Six years ago, I learned I could write with the Fairly Odd Parents (or any Nickelodean show), or DIY, or SyFy channel on the TV. Once in a while, I would go to my favorite coffee shop with the local radio station and conversations all around me.

I also used to write at the ball field, and once outlined an entire book while sitting in a bar, waiting for a job interview. I got the job, but didn't keep it long. I started working, only to discover I was pregnant again!

But why the title? I can successfully block out everything around me, and sometimes my family jokes the house could catch on fire and burn down around me before I'd notice. And that's only because the power would go out and I'd scream because I hadn't saved my document! 'Oh my...that's why I was coughing? I thought it was my asthma...'

Let's hope I never have to actually test that theory??

And by the way, before I received my laptop three years ago, I worked at my desk top computer, which collects so much 'stuff', I call it 'organized chaos'.  

What does your work space look like?  Can you work in the middle of a busy household, or do you have to have absolute quiet?