mericat_92

Hi everyone,

I finally finished up chapter 16 of Now That You're Here and Lois was kind enough to edit before going on yet another adventure. I hope you enjoy it.

( Chapter 16 )

I know that there have been some problems lately at mericat92.com. I apologize for that. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I have finally solved the problem. I moved. For those who are interested, I've just joined the gang over on Moonshadow Tribe. You can find all my stories at

http://www.mags-nificent.com/MSW/Meredeth.htm

Everything I've ever written is there, including the two stories that I had taken off my site as well as the couple that were posted on my LJ, but never made their way over to my site.

I'm trying to jump back into the fandom, and with any luck I'll have something new for all of you soon.


Thanks for your patience,
Meredeth

First of all, I know I didn't respond to everyone's kind comments about my last chapter. I'm sorry for that. Those of you who have been following my life know that I've been in the middle of some major changes. I'm all moved in to my new place. John is here with me, along with my youngest daughter. John's son is still with his mother, but he should be here in a few days and then the move will be complete. Life is good, but very crazy. We've both been working two jobs for the last month, knowing that once a four year old is here, we're not going to be that flexible. There are so many things that have been put on the back-burner lately, but I'm hoping to start fixing that now.

So thank you to those who commented on chapter 15 but didn't get a reply. I'd never intentionally ignore feedback. I appreciate every kind word that is sent my way more than you can imagine. I planned on going back and replying now, but my time is limited and I really want to spend it on chapter 16. Suddenly inspiration struck and I don't want to lose it. I hope you understand.

I'll keep you all updated in the progress of my writing.

Meredeth

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I did it. I finally finished up chapter 15...and Lois was kind enough to get it back to me in less than a day. She's the best. I hope you guys can pick up where I left off and enjoy the chapter. No promises, but I've already started on the next chapter.

Meredeth

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi everyone,

I know it's been awhile and I still don't have anything new to post on the story front. Just like a broken record, I'll apologize once again for being such a horrible writer and leaving you all in suspense. I just hope that by the time I do post again, I'll still have a few of you out there willing to read my stuff. Excuses don't make it all right, but I do have what I feel is a very valid reason for yet another delay. In my last post I mentioned that John and I had a couple of phone calls after almost two months of silence. Well, things have really progressed since then. We're back together again. After endless phone calls and two very successful visits, we worked through the issues we were having and realized that despite the problems, we still love each other and want to be together. He's been doing his best to make up for being a "stupid guy" and I've forgiven him for running away from his problems instead of facing them. Here's where we are now. He's still living over 600 miles away, but I'm in the process of finding us a place to live. I looked at a really nice house today and with any luck, we'll be moving in on September 1st. For the first time in a long time, I'm actually happy. It feels good to wake up smiling again and I know things will just get better once we're back in the same zip code.

Unfortunately it's been working two jobs and those endless phone calls that have kept me too tired to write anything. I know that most if not all of you will understand my need for putting my relationship first. Now that things seem to be back on track again, I really do plan on writing again. I promise to spend at least a couple of hours a week into my story, and with where I left off, it shouldn't take me long to finish up chapter 15. Thanks...once again...for being patient with me. I know I don't deserve it.

Meredeth

Hi everyone,

I wanted to stop in and say thank you to all those who replied to my last post. I'm getting better day by day, but it hasn't been easy. I not only lost the man that I love, but I lost a best friend, too. That's what we were before the whole relationship started and I think I'm kind of sorry that we stepped over the line. But the past is the past. No use dwelling on it. I actually spoke to him the last two days and I think we're going to try getting back the friendship, although it won't be the same...especially since he's so far away. I still miss him everyday and talking to him breaks my heart, but not talking to him is even harder so for now this is where we are. I'm going to take a couple more weeks to just pull it all together and then I'm going to try and get back into my writing. I really want to do it, I'm just so tired all the time that concentrating on anything is tough. Instead I've been using my nervous energy for cleaning. My house has never been cleaner...my office at work is spotless and completely organized. I've even been organizing one of my co-worker's office...and she's not complaining...lol!

Hang in there for a few more weeks and I'll do what I can to post the next chapter. I was close to the end before all this happened, so it shouldn't take too much to finish it. How I wish the next convention was close. A few days with my QAF buddies would work wonders right about now. Then again, any trip out of Jersey right now would be great!

Meredeth

Hello everyone!

I did not drop off the face of the earth. My boyfriend and I broke up last month and I've been keeping to myself while my heart heals. Most of you know that he had a lot of personal problems that he's been trying to deal with. Problems that almost forced him to move away over the summer. Well things didn't get any better. In fact, they actually got worse. At the beginning of March he felt he had no choice but to move away. He's living in South Carolina right now with his Step-mother and his son. I miss him so much that I can't even begin to think about writing. I know it will get easier and once it does, I will pick back up where I left off on my story. It's strange, but when my ex-husband and I split up, all I did was write. This time around I can't seem to focus on anything for long. I guess it's because my marriage was in trouble for awhile before the split, but my relationship with John wasn't. We were both still happy with each other and in love. Losing someone under those circumstances just really sucks. It's all probably for the best. His life is so unstable and probably will be for awhile. I don't know how much more I could've handled. My schedule is pretty full just trying to worry about my own life. I don't need to worry about him, too. Thanks once again for being patient with me. I will be back as soon as I can.

Meredeth

Hi Everyone,

Yes, I'm still alive. It was almost touch and go last week, though. I was in bed with the flu for six days. For those of you who have never actually had the flu, let me tell you...it was awful. I've had plenty of illnesses in the past, but nothing ever hit me as hard as this did. When you stand in the shower and just cry because the water hitting your body hurts that much, you know it's bad. Needless to say, I survived. I went back to work yesterday and although I'm not 100% yet, I'm definitely on the road to recovery.

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I know I haven't been around that much, so it was especially nice of those who took the time to wish me well. I had a great day despite the fact that I just keep getting older and older...lol. Now to answer the questions that have been trickling into my inbox, yes I am planning on continuing my writing. Once again, I would never walk away and leave a story unfinished, and even though I'm not around much anymore, I really don't think I'm ready to give up on my writing entirely. I just wish that I had more time and energy to devote to what I enjoy most. I will say that I gave up my second job for awhile. Hopefully that will give me a little more time to myself. I do have five pages of Now That You're Here finished. I just have to work on the final scene. It's giving me a little trouble so I haven't even tried to write anything in a while, but I'm hoping to rectify that soon. I can't promise anything, but I am planning on writing this coming weekend. With any luck, I'll have chapter 15 up by Sunday.

Thank you for being so patient with me. It's more than I deserve considering the waiting I've been making you do.

Meredeth

Hi everybody...just a little personal note that I need to share. Don't worry. I'm working on chapter 15 and hope to have it up soon.


Last night I found out that friend of the family, someone whose grandmother was best friends with my grandmother, was found dead by his mother on October 17th. He was 26 years old and died of an accidental drug overdose. I think I'm still in shock by the news. I used to babysit the boy when he was a child. I changed his diapers and read him bedtime stories. I can't believe that his life is over at such a young age. His mother is devastated. Being somewhere in her 50's, she realizes that her family is gone. Both of her parents have passed away and now her son, an only child, is gone, too.

It makes you wonder what goes on in a person's mind that they think they're immune to all the bad things in life. I'm not saying that I've been an angel in the past, but with knowing what we all know about drugs, why do people still feel the need to throw their lives away? If a person can't think about what drugs do to their own lives, why can't they think about what their doing to someone else's. Parents should not have to bury their own children. It's not the natural course of life, and I hope it's something that I never have to experience myself. This poor woman is beside herself with grief, and knowing that it could've been prevented has to make it that much harder.

It makes me thankful once again that I have to great girls. I know they're not perfect...far from it. But I also know that at this point they're drug free. On a day like today, that's the most important thing to me.

Meredeth

Due to some internet problems, it took me all week to post...but here it is. The long awaited chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Lois was a big help in not only editing my mistakes, but in helping me to decide what comes next. I'm going to try working on chapter 15 this weekend. Wish me luck.

Meredeth

 

Hi guys. Guess what? I finally finished up chapter 14. Once again, I am so sorry for such a long delay. I don't know what was wrong with me. Yes, life got really crazy for awhile there, but aside from that, I just didn't have the desire to sit down and write. It was awful for me. You all know how much I usually enjoy writing. Anyway, I'm sending the chapter to Lois now. Usually I would skip the editing process and just post, but since I've been writing 14 in bits and pieces for so long, I'm afraid to just send it out without someone's okay. I want to make sure it all flows before putting it out there.

I haven't talked to Lois in awhile, but as long as she doesn't have any major issues in her life, she'll get it back to me fairly quickly...and once I get it back, I will post. Thank you for being so patient with me. With any luck, my writer's block is gone and I'll be able to get chapter 15 up faster.

Meredeth

Hi everyone,

I haven't forgotten my promise to finish up the next chapter. I've just been really busy with the new job. Things are really good right now, and I'm trying to enjoy them while they last. I know that's a real pessimistic attitude, but considering the way things have been going lately, I can't help it. I'm leaving in a few hours to head back up to the Berkshires for Randy's opening. I'm so excited because this time I'm bringing John with me. Nothing against my past traveling buddies...Lois, Judy, Tracy, etc...but John and I haven't taken a real trip together yet and after the last two stressful months, it's just what we need. I have done a little more work on the story though, and will finish up the chapter soon. I'm ashamed of myself for going so long without posting. Falling in love is a lot more complicated than I remember it being...lol!

Meredeth

Guess what everybody? Good news for a change!

First of all...I'm not 100% sure yet, but it looks like John isn't going to be moving away! He still has one final detail to take care of, but he said he just doesn't think he can leave here. He'd not only be leaving me, but also his three daughters...and he just doesn't want to do it. I am so excited, although I'm trying to stay calm until he's got everything worked out just in case he still ends up going. We did have a really good talk last week though, and I was feeling much better about the move...but him staying here would be perfect!

The second part of my excitement is that I finally found another job! I start on August 1st! I can't wait. Not only is it a much better job...a desk job...but I'll be making over eleven thousand more a year! Everybody do the happy dance with me! :) I feel like it's Christmas in July!

With any luck, I'll have the next chapter of NTYH posted...maybe this weekend. It'll be so much easier to write now that things around here are finally looking up!

Thanks to all those who listened to me whine. Life has been pretty rough for awhile, but hopefully they're going to be back on track now!

Meredeth

Okay, so I guess things could be worse. My guy...John...and I are staying together. It's going to be rough for awhile. He's moving to Massachusetts and I'm staying in Jersey. At least for a little while till we see how things go. If things don't work out for him up there, he'll be back. If things go great for him, I'll end up moving up there to be with him. Assuming we can maintain our long distance relationship through it all. I guess I'll be spending a lot of time on the road. It'll be over 300 miles one way to see him. I don't think I've ever really dated someone who lived out of my town before, so it should be a challange.

Anyway, he's going to be leaving in about 3 weeks. Until then, I'm going to try to write a bit but I don't know how it will go. Once he's gone I'll have a lot of free time on my hands and should be able to post something. I'm sorry about my ramblings and for such a long delay. Now I know why I swore off relationships after my divorce. They're way too complicated. Thank you for listening to me. I really do miss being part of the fandom and hope that I'll be able to rejoin regularly again soon.

On a brighter note...Judy is flying in next Thursday so that we can be at Randy's play Friday for opening night. Now that some of the drama is easing, I'm starting to get really excited. And since we'll be spending plenty of time traveling next weekend, hopefully she'll be able to help me brainstorm and give me some ideas as to where to go next with my story. I've been out of the loop too long.

Meredeth

Hey guys,

I know I say I'm sorry a lot, but I really do mean it when I say it. RL once again kicked me when I was down. All the plans I was making fell through. I'm still at my same crappy job. I'm still living in the same place...and the guy I was seeing? Well, technically we're still together, but probably not for long. In fact, it might be over before some of you even read this. His world got turned upside down in the blink of an eye and he's having trouble coping with all the changes. Sadly, it's put a serious strain on our relationship. I had hopes of working it all out, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. For right now, I'm just trying to hang in there. It sucks, though. Despite it all, I did write a little bit more, but still not enough to post. I wish I could do more. Maybe my trip to see Randy in two weeks will help with my mood. I'm not sure.

There's no need to reply to this. I've been doing my best to try to ignore the entire situation and just let it play out. I know there are those who will want to offer their support, and I appreciate that. I just can't deal with it right now. I hope that doesn't sound harsh. It is in no way intended to be. I'm just juggling with a lot of emotions right now and trying to keep it together. I just wanted to let everyone know what was going on. I will be back...just as soon as all this passes.

Meredeth

Okay, this is a personal post and has nothing what so ever to do about Brian and Justin. Since I don't normally use my journal for this, I'll put my ramblings behind a cut so those who aren't interested in listening to me can ignore me. Anyone who is interested in my thoughts at the moment, feel free to give me your opinion on the subject. On a brighter note though...I did write a little bit on the next chapter of Now That You're Here. Not much, but it's something. :)

Meredeth

Hey everyone,

I'm really sorry for yet another long delay. I have a lot of big changes going on in my life right now and never seem to have any time for my computer. I will share my story with those who are interested just as soon as I finish working out all of the details. One the bright side, the school semester ends next week, which should make my life a little bit easier. I won't even bother trying to promise a new chapter at this point, but I'm hoping it won't be too much longer. That's the best I can offer right now. Thank you for being so patient with me. I really do feel guilty about not writing...and I miss it tremendously...but I just don't have the time or the mind frame right now. Sorry.

Meredeth

Hi everyone,

I've been feeling very blah lately. I'm not exactly sure why. Well, I have some idea, but nothing anyone here wants to listen to. It's been so bad that I rarely ever look at my computer anymore. That's so out of character for me, but I just don't have the desire to sit and stare at a monitor right now. No, I shouldn't say desire. I have the desire...I want to do it...I guess I'm lacking ambition. It sucks, too. A good friend of mine is starting to get worried...he knows how much my writing means to me and isn't happy that I've been away from it for so long. Well, I'm trying to fix that now. I'm on spring break from school and took a couple of days off of work, so with any luck, I'll be back to normal soon. I apologize for the delay in the next chapter of Now that You're Here. I can't even say that it's in progress, because honestly...I haven't given the story a thought since I posted the last chapter. Could it be that my days here in the fandom are coming to an end? I hope not. I don't want them to. And since I would never abandon a series, I'm hoping that when I start writing for this story again, it will inspire me to do more. I have so much in the works and I really do want to continue on.

Anyway, I just wanted to give everyone a heads up.  I'm going to do my best to give you all something to read in the somewhat near future.

Meredeth

No, I'm not dead. I had a string of bad luck that kept me away from the computer for a little while. (Those who really know me must see a pattern by now...lol! Anyway, sorry for the major delay. With any luck, things should be smooth sailing for awhile now. Enjoy the chapter. It's just a little Chris and Justin bonding.  :-)

 

Hi guys,

I figured it would be a lot easier to reply to everyone at once. Thank you so much for your support after my rant last week. I was really feeling the pressure of the new semester and started to panic. I'm feeling much better now, partly due to everyone's well wishes.You know, I have now learned how important it is to go to college right after high school. (Hindsight is always 20/20) I know I'm not as old as some of the people in this fandom, but I'll be 36 next week and I think I'm getting too old for this crap...lol. The rushing around, the stress of upcoming tests, the hours of homework, the ridiculous bull at the work place, and the constant drama that comes from having a 14 year old and an 18 year old gets to be very trying on a person's mental health. Throw in my creative mind and my need to write and well...I'll be lucky if I don't end up in a straight jacket within a year. God forbid I somehow develop a social life. I'll be doomed!

But I'm going to hang in there and hope for the best. I have two healthy kids, my own health is pretty good, and we have a roof over our heads. Not too mention all the people in the fandom that I have come to know and love. Life could be so much worse.

Thanks again, and hugs to you all!

Meredeth