What's New with Sharon?

We are counting down our month of celebrating motherhood and exploring the new beginnings in our lives. Next up are the fabulous launch parties for Lydia Dare (Again girls? You must be exhausted!), Shana Galen, and Ashlyn Chase. After that we will spend the entire glorious month of June delving into SUMMERTIME!! I know I am ready for summer and all the fun to be had.

But for now I am forced to write about new beginnings. LOL! Ok, only joking as it is a wonderful topic and the blogs have been enlightening, encouraging, and entertaining. Yet I have to say that I have been scratching my head over what to talk about. Writing wise I am finishing up my fifth novel – tentative title The Trouble with Mr. Darcy due for release in April 2011 in case you were curious about that, hehehe…. Actually, it is done, although I haven’t typed The End as yet because I have to go over the whole thing at least one more time before I will feel it is truly DONE, ya know? My next project is already half way written, so I won’t technically be starting something new once I turn my full attention to that. So no help was to be found there.

Then I looked around at my life.

Yeah, crickets chirping! Nothing much is new with yours truly. My life really is that boring. Ha! “But there must be something, Sharon,” you ask. Fine! Since you are forcing me to talk about it, I did start a serious diet and exercise regime. Happy now? Not me. I HATE dieting. And as much as I hate dieting, I HATE exercising about ten times more. Yuck. Double yuck. Yet after 4 different doctors placed the blame for my various health issues primarily on my being “heavy” – that polite euphemism for “fat” – and not my bum knee or hypothyroidism, I figured I better listen to them! Dadgummit. By the way, I think I prefer the term “Rubenesque” and will start using that. What do you think? It is classic art, after all....
So because I love food WAY too much – hence being Rubenesque – and have nearly zero willpower, I paid the bucks to be on a program. Jenny Craig, to be precise, so Valerie Bertinelli, Jason Alexander, and I are now pals. So far so good, but then it has only been a week so don’t pat me too firmly on the back as yet. Next was the exercising thing. Triple yuck. I dug out the Total Gym my hubby and I bought ages ago at some other time when we were determined to get-in-shape (clearly that did not work), but since Christie Brinkley and Chuck Norris still look pretty good even though they have to be nearing 70 by now, I figured it would suffice. At least until I am skinny enough to not be embarrassed to wear spandex at the gym! On top of that we have been taking long walks around the neighborhood. That has been great fun and will work until it hits the triple digits at which point this girl will not be out of the AC for that long. Wish me luck as I will definitely need it.

What else is new? Oh yeah, we have a new pet. Well, we have had him since late March, but that is fairly new. He is a crested gecko name Leonidas who has a fabulous home inside an old 30 gal. aquarium we converted. I am a reptile lover, so he has been a fascinating addition to the pet family, even if he doesn’t do a whole lot. Until you put crickets in. Then he is quite lively! Since I hate any type of bug with a vengeance bordering on insanity, I will confess to obtaining perverted pleasure at their demise. Leonidas is very sweet and fun to hold, although we have to be careful because he is so fast with those sucker feet of his.
Speaking of pets - Thanks to a lady I work with who is a self-proclaimed “cat person” with 5 of the critters in her house, we discovered a new cat litter system that is simply amazing! I will spare the gory details, but suffice to say our obnoxious cat - just the one, mind you – has given us fits over his persnickety preferences when it comes to his cat box. We have tried them all and never found one that he, 1) likes and will use appropriately, 2) is easy to clean, or 3) does not scatter litter all over the house, literally. I give you the Breeze System by Tidy Cat! Seriously, this is the most awesome cat care system I have ever seen or used. Better yet, Belgarath made the transition easily and loves it! Since the cat box is in my office, I am especially overjoyed. If you have a cat, check it out: Breeze System website

My son has started working out at the gym like a maniac. He goes just about every day with a discipline and devotion I wish he would apply to cleaning his room or doing schoolwork, but I am happy to see the attribute somewhere. The weird part is watching my 17-year-old baby morph into a man befitting the cover of a romance novel! He is about 6’4” with muscles and 6-pack abs and even chest hair! Eek! A little freaky, but we are very proud of him. Plus, his attention to health has spilled into his eating habits, which is helpful for me. When I am brave enough to join the gym he has promised to be my personal trainer, although he did say he would work me until I cried, so I am not sure about that!

Oh Yeah, I received the ARC for In the Arms of Mr. Darcy (release date October), which was a fabulous new thing for me since I have never gotten an ARC before. Isn't it gorgeous? Even without the pretty silvery foiling.

Then I was sent the ARC image for A Darcy Christmas due in November. Love it!! I am crossing my fingers for an ARC of this one too.
Well, I guess there are a few new beginnings in my life! What about you? As we wind up our month, share what new stuff is happening in your life.