The Cover Girl – A book review

Posted on September 13, 2025 by karenmeg

I haven’t been writing as much as reading. In fact, one of my writer friends suggested I just put down the darn books and get writing if I have writer’s block – so funny. I suppose I read to be inspired to write. An excuse, I know.

I enjoyed this one…

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Birdie Rhodes, a former model living a quiet life, is thrust back into her past when she receives an invitation to celebrate the 50-year career of famed modeling agent Harriet Golden. Harriet had discovered a young 13-year-old Birdie in a department store, where Birdie was reluctantly shopping with her mother. Birdie was a super tall introvert who slouched to hide as she grew. Ironically she was the most ignored by her parents in an unloving household. Becoming one of Harriet’s girls, she felt a sense of freedom from her sad life, with opportunities for something uniquely hers being provided by Harriet. Glamour, unique outfits, artists, travel – it all unfolds for Birdie. With her parents absent, Harriet is the only adult who watches out for Birdie in some fashion, although it is primarily a professional relationship.

During one of her assignments, a shoot for the album cover of an unnamed “rock star”, Birdie is noticed by this rockstar, who seems to see her, seems to care for her, shows her some real affection for the first time in her life.

The rock star meets with her parents, offers to take her with him on tour and protect her going forward. Her parents (her mother giddily) sign some papers. And Birdie’s life veers into the rock and roll world. Drinks, drugs, parties, money — rock and roll.

She is 15 years old. And now the very public girlfriend of a rock idol in his 30s. This is fully sanctioned by her parents and the world.

This is a heart-rending story of the life of a model who is just yearning for someone to see the real her, to love her. The choices she makes come from that longing, and she continues to be manipulated by most of those around her. She makes so many of these choices before she hits the age of 19. Imagine setting the stage for the rest of your life at that age.
There are two timelines in this book, one of the young Birdie as she lived in the that crazy world which she eventually leaves behind. It alternates seamlessly to the present (2018) with a middle-aged Birdie, coming to terms with what she lived through.

I binged this book. Having grown up in that time, I was drawn to the story and wondered what the glamorous life of a model in the MTV era was like. Supermodel stories were based on that lore. I think so many of us young girls wanted that life. This felt like a memoir, a real-life behind-the-scenes written in the first person. Birdie’s innermost thoughts were brought to life so clearly from the page.
From the young Birdie to the mature Birdie – I lived her experiences with her, cried for her, and felt redemption for her, which is what you get from a memoir. Amazing that it is fiction.

A solid 4 / 5 stars (about a 4.5) . Highly recommended! Thanks to the author, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advance readers copy for review.



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Writing about writer’s block

Posted on September 12, 2025 by karenmeg

Just about halfway through September and I have not posted in forever.

So much for upping the game on writing, journalling, blogging – with more free time now, truly an empty nester – I lack the motivation.

I even started reading this wonderful book of writing prompts by Suleika Jaouad – more for journalling, for inspiration as a daily practice.

I dropped the ball after 12 days. I’ve been missing my memoir writing deadlines.

I met with my writers’ group this week, and asked about motivation for writing. Did my friends’ have a writing habit? Did they schedule their writing time? How did they make time for it in their lives, which from what I know are much busier (kids, family). Do they write only when they have inspiration?

I have writer’s block. But my colleague, who spent years in executive coaching and leadership, with a background in psychology, meditation

, all those good things… thinks I have a “life block.”

I think he hit the nail on the head. I’m at a cross roads, something is blocking me. My experience in writing is totally in sync with where I am in life.

Everything is fine, honestly. I am in a good place. But just sorta stuck.

So I found a bit of freedom – one technique suggested was dictation.

Why not dictate my thoughts, my stories, just as they come to me.

So I did just that for a day.

And was amazed, in all its messy, roller-coaster, multi-directional stream of consciousness glory — I ended up with three drafts. They need editing, lots of thoughts in my head.

Like life, it could use some fine tuning. But it’s a start.

What’s your motivation? What do you do when you’re stuck?

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Happy Anniversary

Posted on August 28, 2025 by karenmeg

This song is probably among the first earworms ever.

We both woke up thinking about it. We laughed this morning while watching this quick video clip.

We’re obviously meant to be together.

32 years.

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A Meme for Monday

Posted on July 21, 2025 by karenmeg

I borrowed this from my blog friend Julie, and it’s a perfect, easier post for a summer Monday:

  • Steak or Seafood: Seafood
  • Italian or Chinese: Chinese (I come by it honestly)
  • Favorite soda: Diet Pepsi
  • Chocolate or Vanilla: Vanilla
  • How many tattoos: 0
  • Ever hit a deer: No
  • Favorite season: Spring
  • Broken bones: 0
  • Beach or mountains: Beach
  • Dogs or cats: Dogs
  • Early morning person: Yes
  • Surgeries: 1
  • Favorite color: Purple
  • Have you ever flown in a plane? Yes
  • Mild or hot salsa: Medium
  • Waffles or pancakes: Waffles (when I allow myself – trying to stay off carbs)
  • Favorite holiday: Christmas
  • Smooth or crunchy peanut butter: Smooth
  • Large or small curd cottage cheese: Small
  • Best Foods or Miracle Whip: Not Miracle Whip – Hellmann’s all the way
  • Country or Rock: Rock
  • Favorite Sport: Just realized I don’t do much outside of the gym. I tried pickleball and like it though. To watch, I like hockey and Olympics.
  • Like to dance: Yes probably too much
  • Have you been on a cruise: Yes
  • Do you like cilantro: Yes
  • Fear of heights: Yes

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Mid week mind dump – non wordless Wednesday

Posted on July 16, 2025 by karenmeg

It’s 6:42 AM. I’ve finally settled with my laptop and my fresh Keurig coffee to enjoy the inspiration of little Bass Lake. I hear the roar of a large truck, with distinct beeping of a vehicle backing up.

They pick up garbage mad-early in cottage country.

Well, I can’t complain. Look at the view.

This is our last day in this little piece of Muskoka paradise. We booked it at the last minute, so it wasn’t cheap, but it was nice for a change of scenery. We had picture perfect weather, it averaged about 27 deg C the entire time we were up here. It wasn’t too busy on the lake, but it is small. So we experienced a bit of water traffic on the weekend. A couple of mini booze cruises (although by the looks of it, more seniors on the boat so not boisterous), some sea-doos, some boats pulling cuties on tubes, and of course, boys with their toys, there was the speedboat whipping back and forth, the man at the wheel trying to impress his female companion. Likely bored up here, my daughter commented.

The woodpeckers pecked and robins sang. We had a couple of daily visitors

But other than that, it was a very quiet few days.

This is the first non pet-friendly cottage we have rented in 12 years. The space next to me, this time on a wicker love seat, still seems empty. Grief still comes at me in small spurts. I’m glad we have so many photos – of the over 10,000 I have on my iCloud I bet a couple thousand include Cody, usually as the star.

I was supposed to write the entire time I’ve been up here. I did do some editing, and some drafting for my memoir. But mostly I’ve been reading, helping my writers’ group with their pieces, and reading a couple of good books…

First up, “A Change of Habit” by Sister Monica Clare. She’s a Tik Tok rockstar

Next up, “Mix Tape” by Jane Sanderson.

I was scrolling through entertainment news, I saw it was being made into a mini series starring Jim Burgess and Teresa Palmer. Jim Burgess is such an amazing actor, he hasn’t really hit it huge as the projects he’s in never quite make it huge. But he’s so good in everything I’ve seen him in.

It’s the type of book that is right up my alley – romance, first loves, shared memories, music – there’s even a playlist on Spotify capturing some of the great music written about in the book. Music as a message. The messages contain mostly 80’s and some more recent songs. How could I not love a book that mentions Bowie, the Cure, Aztec Camera, Nick Drake, Frank Ocean, Artic Monkeys, oh it goes on… It reminded me a tiny bit of the book “One Day“, which was also made into not one, but two screen versions. The first, with Anne Hathaway, and yes, Jim Burgess, I was not a big fan of. I really preferred the book. The Netflix version of One Day – I loved and watched with my daughter

Unfortunately the mini series is only available in the UK at the moment. I devoured the book though. Most of my experiences with books made to movies, have been disappointing so it was imperative that I read it first. The book was so good.

Book reviews for both are upcoming!

Speaking of nostalgia, it was the weekend of the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. I can’t remember what I was doing that Saturday, I was 19 so likely not glued to the tube, hopefully enjoying the summer that I turned pretty (yes, I have shared some of my exploits, tame version, with my 20 year old daughter who is older than I was when Live Aid happened). So this past Saturday, while my daughter and hubs watched Dexter on Netflix, I watched several parts of the re-broadcast while cooking…the line up, kept going. At Wembley, then in the US. Absolutely incredible …

That’s Midge Ure! Dancing with tears in my eyes. We saw him in concert last year at the El Mocambo where I was so close I could almost touch him.. but then had to move because it got bloody hot in there and I thought I was going to pass out. OMG. His voice is still magic, though his hair is gone – he sports a great bald look these days.

Tony Hadley, Spandau Ballet. So cute! What a voice. Also still touring. I saw that he still has that long leather coat that seemed the look all the cool singers were wearing back then. And Paul Young alone and then with Alison Moyet. Wow, what a performer.

The Cars, Madonna, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, Simple Minds, U2 when they were phenomenal, George, Wham, Elton John, INXS, of course Queen… mindblowing. What a time for music.

What else have I been up to here? I’ve been eating all the things … all dressed chips, coated in guacamole, tacos, chicken alfredo made with real cream, sausages, hotdogs, pancakes, pork souvlaki. I don’t usually eat breakfast. I’ve been drinking coffee, watered down pink rose, watered down pinot grigio, non alcoholic mojitos, a Caesar and beer (it’s Canada and it’s cottage country.) I know, so bad, so bloated.

But I have my ipad so at least got a couple of Les Mills On Demand Body Combat workouts in.

I need to get back on that workout wagon. Summer shouldn’t make me so lazy. If only I were 19 again and it could all melt away with one workout.

Wishful thinking..

(this was on the very first mixed tape my husband made for me and sent by post mail back in 1986 – very romantic 🙂

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The Book of Records – a book review

Posted on June 30, 2025 by karenmeg

The Book of Records by Madeleine Thien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Book of Records is the story of Lina, a young girl who with her sick father escapes her homeland and settles in something called “the Sea”. This is a fluid setting, where the sense of time moves from past to present to future – there’s a lot of back and forth, flashbacks and flash forwards. Lina makes friends with three neighbors, each representative of a real life historical figure: a Jewish philosopher, a German philosopher fleeing the Nazis, and a Chinese poet. We then follow each of these character’s lives, persecution, intermixed with real life historical events.

Through their stories and Lina’s own, there are themes of migration, displacement, and the power of independent thought and ideas, explored in this book. It ultimately focuses on Lina’s own family’s past and the impact of the political, ideologies and their impact on everyday people’s lives, and what people need to do to survive.

I found this book a little hard to follow – it is not one that you can put down and pick up frequently, without losing the flow. It is quite an intellectual read – needs some focus. It is not a beach read. I think you have to be in the mood for a thinking book to remain engaged. The writing was very good, well researched, but I’m not sure it is for everyone.

So 3 stars, and I thank the author, Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada ARC.



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Bereft

Posted on June 25, 2025 by karenmeg

It’s been two weeks. I still feel his presence, as if he’s lying just next to me in his favourite place, sleeping again. Most mornings, it would be just the two of us here in the family room at this time. The first ones awake and up for the day. He’s done his Austin Powers business outside (longest pee ever!); I’ve made the pot of coffee, I’ve settled on the couch to watch Breakfast Television, and he’s off to snooze again. My fuzzy old Cody Bear.

We made the difficult decision and booked an end of life appointment for our little guy. He was just in such decline, sleeping all day and only waking to go to out to relieve himself. He was struggling to stand, forgetting to eat or drink unless we brought him to the food or the food to him. Blind, deaf, he’d survived cancer, but the dementia was the worst. It was so hard for him at night, just circling, panting, looking for something in the corners of the house, hiding, in such distress. It was time.

We were fortunate that his vet does in-home visits, and was able to come to our home. She was so gentle, empathetic and understanding, and she was familiar with him as she had performed a couple of his surgeries. Cody fell asleep in his favourite corner, while eating his favourite freeze dried chicken treats. We were able to cuddle him and pet him while he crossed the rainbow bridge. We had a big family hug and cry after.

We adopted Cody when he was 4. The kids wanted a dog so badly and we had resisted for the longest time. We had busy careers, Ian and I both traveled internationally for work, there just seemed no way we could care for a dog. Especially as the kids were in elementary school and starting to get into the busy extracurricular schedules.

“Mommy, the solution is to get a nanny – they can take care of the dog AND us!”

Get a nanny for the dog? Well, it turned out to be not such a bad idea. We hired a live-in, Abie, not only to watch the kids, help me with the household, but also for a dog. So with that, I started scrolling through Petfinder, applied for about half a dozen little dogs with little luck.

And then early on a Sunday morning, alone with my coffee, I saw him. This little Shih Tzu with a bad haircut, looking back at me from my phone. “Teddy” was his name. I applied for him, and then when the kids and Ian woke up I excitedly told them and wanted to show them his photo. Ironically, because I had applied, his photo was taken off the app. It turns out that Tiny Paws Rescue reviewed each application as it came in – the best thing for us. Our chances were great, and when we finally got him, he came running into the house in his cute varsity jacket to play hide-and-seek, our hearts just melted. He was everyone’s constant companion.

Well, except other dogs, he was the Joe Pesci of our neighbourhood, tough little guy with a huge bark.

Cody was with us for almost 13 years – they were such great years. He was the absolute best, the hole in my heart will be here for a long while.

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Summer concerts – let’s go

Posted on June 11, 2025 by karenmeg

It’s June and not quite officially summer yet, but there’s nothing like music concerts in the summer.

I got tickets for a concert at one of my favourite outdoor stages in Toronto, Budweiser Stage, for one of my favourite bands (an old favourite, in that it’s always just been there, I have the essentials playlist and play it when I’m in that kinda mood…). I brought my brother who discovered them before I did, and the sweet guy that he is, he burned a CD of their music for us. It made for a perfect birthday present for him. We had a really nice dinner pre-show at the Roses Social in Hotel X, which is across the street. An extremely long street, Lakeshore Blvd, along that way is more like an Indy race route, but we felt safety in numbers there were hundreds of us crossing.

So the band –

METRIC!!! On their anniversary tour of their Fantasies album from 2009. I saw them when they first debuted this album in the summer 2010, at the same venue outdoors by the lake. It was the Molson Ampitheatre back then. 15 years, quite a few changes since then including the sponsorship, but it stll beer. And wow, didn’t realize my T shirt was that old!!

But what hasn’t changed? The performance, it was electric.

The opener was Sam Roberts, also a favourite of my brother’s – initially. it was to be Bloc Party, but Metric cancelled the US portion of their tour (wonder why), but kept the Canadian dates, added a few more and added phenomenal Sam Roberts Band. A Canadian self-professed hoser band. A treat for me, I had not seen them live before – turns out my brother has seen them twice!

Metric did not disappoint – so many have tried to emulate their sound but there’s nothing like the original. And how can Emily Haines be in her 50s – Ser-i-ous-ly (a play on the lyric from Gimme Sympathy …). Sparkly shorts on a cool girl. A Canadian cool girl.

Help I’m Alive

Both acts have stood the test of time – the energy and the music. Fabulous 50s, these rockers!

Next up, the Beaches (I won tickets!) and Simple Minds ... and that’s just June.

Let the music play!

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Zzzzzz – it’s all about the sleep

Posted on May 24, 2025 by karenmeg

Finishing off my A-Z blogging journey with a post about sleep.

Catching enough Zzzz’s has become a priority more recently. I did blog about matrimonial sleep wars not long ago. But these days, this lofty thing called a good night’s sleep has become a mighty challenge and more unattainable. Mostly because of this little guy:

Cody will be turning 17 in October. By all accounts, he is the best sleeper in the house. This is where he sleeps nowadays. It’s in our family room, he takes up the most real estate on our sectional as we barricade him here so he doesn’t wander. Lest he does all the things that blind, deaf, senior dogs with dementia might be inclined to do in the middle of the night. Since we got all new hardwood floors in earlier this year, this has been a cause for concern. Cody has always been a big sleeper, but now he sleeps the majority of the day – and wakes at night. It’s classic sundowner syndrome in dementia patients (humans, too) and Cody has had it for quite a while now. It is hard for him to settle in the evening, and despite medications and trying to course correct his behaviour by keeping him up more in the day, it’s hit or miss.

So when he wakes up, someone has to take him out, right? Hubby and I are taking turns sleeping on the couch downstairs with Cody. We negotiate, based on who has the busier the next day and could use a better night’s sleep. I know, it’s insanity. Whenever I stay with him, he usually only wakes up a couple of times – with my better half, he’s been up as many as 6 times. I’ve experienced that with Cody, and it’s brutal. Reminds me of those early days of parenthood, when I would get up to nurse my kids – but even then I would usually get at least 2 hours in between feedings (my babies were pretty good). This once-an-hour thing is pretty awful at 3 or 4 AM. Our kids grew out of it; Cody will not.

This is me this morning after 4.5 hours sleep:

I do all the things – Magnesium check; Loop earplugs check; Sleep eye mask check. And I was having a good sleep. But it’s a delicate balance as I still have to be at the ready. Apparently we have yet to strike the right balance – the beast got out of the gate of cushions, got past the rug and peed on the floor, and then made his way over to my part of the couch and dropped a poop nugget on the rug right where I could have stepped on it. All before I woke up to his footsteps on the wood at 5:30 AM. Ugh.

We’ve been grappling with a decision, a really hard one, for the last few months. It’s difficult enough when you have issues with sleep, and I certainly have had them since menopause. But compounding the lack of sleep is a real impact on our daily lives (we can’t even leave him alone in the house for more than an hour or so tops). We can barely go out to shop for groceries let alone think about actually getting out – together even- which is what people our age ie empty nesters, should be doing. Doing things as a couple is only possible if our daughter is home. We’ve taken him to my siblings’ lately but had to hold him most of the time. His quality of life is also questionable, he eats really well but we need to bring him to his food, and remind him to drink. And when he’s awake, he’s usually confused and wanders about. Another ugh.

Anyway, another topic for another day.

Since I am able to watch TV while on the sectional, last night I caught a new show on Apple TV (new to me anyway, it looks like it was made a couple of years ago). It’s pretty cute. Too bad it only lasted one season.

Well, off to the rest of the weekend – hope you have a good one and manage to get some sleep in time!

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Y – for Yaz – Alison Moyet and Yay!

Posted on May 10, 2025 by karenmeg

This past Monday I went to a live concert with my sister for the first time in over 40 years!

Way overdue.

Concerts are a big couple thing in this household. Especially 80s bands (if you’ve been reading this blog or following any of my writing before this, you’d probably be aware that’s my era. Although let’s be clear, I still qualify as Gen-X even if I am at the upper limit). The one thing we have been almost totally sympatico on is our musical taste, which swings pretty wildly sometimes.

But there are some outliers, and Yaz/ Alison Moyet happened to be one of them. When I saw that she was coming on her Keys tour to a great venue here in Toronto (where we saw the Dandy Warhols not long ago) I was excited to book the tickets. But Ian wasn’t really interested. So I sent a text to my sister and asked if she wanted to go with me.

She texted back ” Is this love?”

And it was and she was in.

What a great evening!

She played songs from her new album Keys, and had the perfect balance of storytelling, banter with the audience, smooth dance moves, finding easy rapport with us, her audience who understand exactly where she is. I loved that she’s “impervious “ -what a great, well deserved attitude.

We -the crowd including me and my sister-lost it during the encore when she brought out the greatest -“Situation”, “Don’t Go”, “Love Resurrection” . The venue was perfect as we were in the balcony but still felt part of the party, as if we were on the ground floor.

The evening ended early enough for me to get home and watch the Leafs win Game 1 over the Panthers in round 2 of the Playoffs! Bonus.

More live music is on the horizon now that warmer weather is here, and I can’t wait.

Do you enjoy live music?

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