The Louvre, She Is Closed ...

[texchan]

I was thinking about my honeymoon today. We went to Paris and London. I remember how excited I was, as it was my first time traveling that far. My first time traveling outside the US. Heck, at that point in my life, the only place I had been outside of Texas was Louisiana. (And they're basically neighbors. >.O) One of the things I was the most excited about was seeing the Louvre. The Louvre!! In person!! I could hardly believe it -- me, a little country-bumpkin of a person, getting to see all that amazing artwork for real, instead of looking at pictures of it in books.



Sadly, it was not to be. When we arrived in Paris, there was a strike. I'm not sure if it was a strike of all city employees ... all museum workers ... or what. But, it was clear that said strike included everyone who worked at the Louvre. It was closed; the doors, locked tight.

Every day, hubby and I would get up, eat breakfast, and walk down to the museum. We would mill around outside as the sun made its presence known in Paris's wintry-gray sky. We weren't alone. There must have been hundreds of other people there -- if not thousands -- all standing around together, unified by our common purpose. As opening time neared, people began to stir. Everyone looked toward the doors, waiting for some sign that today would be the day. The day where our art fantasies and perfect-trip dreams would finally come true. Slowly, the front door opened, and a man appeared. The crowd surged forward, breathless with anticipation and excitement, only to hear ...

"THE STRIKE, SHE IS ON. THE LOUVRE, SHE IS CLOSED!"

To this day, the closest I've come to the Louvre is the nose and hand prints I probably left on the glass as I pressed myself up against it, trying to catch just one glimpse of what was inside.

Ah ... good times. Good times.

So today, my brain is kind of like that. It's in that running-on-automatic-expending-the-least-effort-possible phase at the moment. Just kinda chugging along. Chugga-chugga-chugga.

I've got things to do.

I need to continue the search for my daughter's passport, which is lost ... well, somewhere in our house. Sounds ridiculous, but our house has some black-hole tendencies, particularly because I have a lot of "help" when it comes to putting things away. I intended to strip everything off my desk today to make sure the passport didn't somehow get tossed in with a stack of papers or old bills or something. I need to clean off my desk, anyhow, so it seemed like a good chance to take out the proverbial two birds and all that.

I have Story #3 for my WK Ground Zero series plotted out. I even have notes down for it and everything. So, I need to get off my duff and begin working on that. I just know I could get it done in good time. If I could make myself sit down and work on the stupid thing, that is.

I have Midroc stories that need writing. I thought I would be at least halfway through book #2 by now. Instead, I've written and re-written the beginning paragraphs at least twenty times. Nothing feels right. Nothing fits. I tell myself I just need to let things percolate a bit more. That it'll all come in good time. It's still frustrating as hell, though.

And so, I tell my brain: "Brain, let's get moving. We've got things to do, after all."

And, from my Muses and my Inner Domestic Diva, I get a rousing reply of: "THE STRIKE, SHE IS ON. THE BRAIN ... SHE IS CLOSED!"

Oi.

Comments

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

-throws self over the stoopid hole- It is CLOSED.

Miss you <3

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

Also...really looking forward to Ground Zero number 3, especially after number 2 *-*

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

Well ... nothing much is going to happen in #3, really. I mean, as far as the pairing goes. (Because it's a story that revolves mainly around Aya and Ken -- which is why I'm having a hard time writing it. >.O)

BUT(!!) I do have a rough draft of the final story in the series. Maybe I should send it to you. It'll probably change a bit as the series goes along, but I think the ending is pretty much "set". It might make you happier after everything in story #2. (lolz)

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's alright, you know I'll read it anyway if you wrote it. Love your writing. :)

YES! Yes you should send it to me...this is an excellent idea. ^-^

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

YES! You should send it to me ... this is an excellent idea.

LOLz!

OK. Your wish is my command -- or something like that. I sent it to you in an email. I hope the yahoo addy is still good. *crosses fingers*

[(Anonymous)]

O.M.G. o.o Check your mail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-dies a happy fan girl-

[deathcomes4u.livejournal.com]

Ah....that was me, heh ^^; got a little excited and forgot to sigh in...-sheepish-

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

LOL! I'm glad you liked it. I sent you a long-ish email in reply this afternoon. *hugs*

[skyrat13.livejournal.com]

I had the experience of trying to get a glimpse through those glass pyramids outside the Louvre, without being allowed in too. Although in my case, it simply wasn’t on my teacher’s agenda to let us stop, and I had no say in the itinerary ;__;

You guys going on a trip (I ask since you mention your daughter’s passport)?

Heh, my sister discovered her passport was lost the night before she was supposed to leave to study abroad. That was not a fun evening.

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

Oh, man! That's a bummer. To be that close and not get to go in is really painful. So, yeah -- I understand how you felt. =(

I'll probably never see it in person, which is kind of a bummer. Ah well. Some things are just not meant to be, I guess.

Nah. No trips planned for the foreseeable future. But, my daughter may go to Texas this summer. It's so much easier going through airport security with a passport for her because it functions as picture ID.

Ouch on your sister's passport "adventure". That would be quite a nasty shock! o_o

[animerei.livejournal.com]

Considering how well-traveled I am, I am ashamed to say that I have never been to France. I really would love to see the Louvre some day...

The closest I've ever been is when a now ex-boyfriend sent me a postcard from when HE went there on vacation. Cheap bastard couldn't take ME, of course.

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

Well, if you ever get to go, you can send a postcard to me. Because it's probably as close as I'll ever get to going again! (lolz)

Hopefully you'll get to go one of these days. =)

[lucidscreamer.livejournal.com]

I have Midroc stories that need writing. I thought I would be at least halfway through book #2 by now. Instead, I've written and re-written the beginning paragraphs at least twenty times. Nothing feels right. Nothing fits.

I feel for you! I'm having the same problems with the sequel to SotN. I know it's just a fanfic, but... argh. Still frustrating. :hugs:

[tex-chan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the sympathy/empathy vibez! It helps a lot, believe it or not, because it reminds me I'm not the only writer who goes through this. I think so much about writing is incredibly isolating, so it's easy for me to fall into that trap of thinking: "Gah. I fail. Anyone else wouldn't have this problem."

I wouldn't ever say "just" fanfiction. It's a long story. And a sequel. And, really, writing's writing, right? It all feels the same. And develops in the same way. And it can all be darn hard at times.

Here's hoping things click for you really soon, story-wise. *hugs*