From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 2, 2003 2:32:31 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Census of Agriculture shows farmers working harder to make ends meet
Dear Jean,
Had one of those typical pre-opening Mondays yesterday. Finished the installation, the show is more sparse than usual, but it looks good overall. It never ceases to amaze me how well these group shows turn out. Finished off some pressing paperwork and worked on the upcoming Coast Ad. Not my best design work but fast and made the deadline. Michael’s class started installing a show in the Turret and he drove me to Canadian Tire to get some gallery lights. We dropped off the rented speakers on the way.
The opening wasn’t well attended. Apparently this is crunch week for students. Stayed in the Club and ate pretzels and drank beer and smoked cigarettes for supper. Elizabeth came by to make the draw on the GAP shirt: I won it! Of course, the “crowd” at the Club was shouting that the draw was fixed, but it wasn’t. Stayed in the Club talking to Dusty about how great the Khyber is and how I can hardly stand the place anymore. Went home early with the GAP shirt, watched some TV with Derek but was too dizzy to focus.
So as you can probably guess I didn’t go into work early this morning. Had a nice hangover breakfast with Sarah Fork and her friend Anthony. He lent me an Eels CD. Andréa called from work with bad news: the office iMac is dead. Kaput. Hopefully she can track down Lucas and he’ll be able to revive it. Otherwise…we’ll have a lot of data to track down…arg. The temptation to just up and head to Montréal is getting stronger.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 3, 2003 11:17:39 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Bloc MP Robert Lanctot defects to federal Liberals, supports Canada
Dear Jean,
Lucas fixed the office computer, which was a big relief. Time to make some comprehensive backups, I think. Worked on some posters and ads, but the office was hectic and busy with people coming by asking about booking space, more lights going upstairs to the Turret for Michael’s show, and just generally planning things with Andréa. Just trying to stay on top of things is becoming a struggle. There never seems to be any downtime.
Michael’s class had a great turnout for their exhibition, and the show looks good. Talked with Caroline about possibly getting a ride to Montréal with her in a couple weeks. The artists in the Closet were giving a talk in the Club that seemed to be quite fruitful, as it turned into a nice little discussion involving the audience. I couldn’t hear what they were saying because I was talking with Dan about Frank magazine and sitting too far in the back—in the nosebleed section, so to speak—smoking and drinking beer.
I have a feeling that I will become much more interested in art generally once I extract myself from the current blanket of administration I’m under.
Came home and made chicken-fried rice with Sarah Fork. We shared some of the egg rolls she had brought back from Montréal that Karen’s dad had made. Yummy!
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 4, 2003 12:06:29 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Lawyer for former terror suspect receives death threat; plans to quit cases
Dear Jean,
Diane M passed away a couple days ago. Michael told us in the office yesterday. She hadn’t been well but it still seems so sudden, and shocking. I don’t think I handle death well. Like the Eels song goes: “If you’re scared to die, you better not be scared to live. I’ve been spending all my years giving all I could give”.
Had weird, weird dreams last night. You know how I am: usually sleep deep and sound, and often cannot remember my dreams. Last night Swintak and were set loose in a Mall, and ended up in the basement causing havoc—like a full-on flood, probably caused by us trying to use the piping to invent our own brand of Quicksand®; then I was in the Far North, on the tundra, with a group of Cub Scouts when a tropical (?) storm hit, and we were blown across fields amidst big chunks of hail.
I don’t have very fond memories of being in the Cub Scouts as a kid. Winter camping was the worst.
Worked on the financials for the afternoon while Andréa berated me for being such a grouch and a grump. I just can’t get excited about implementing any Khyber curatorial policies at the moment, I’m sorry. That’s for the next group of staff to deal with.
Have to run, I’m late for work. I like this “working at noon” concept.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 5, 2003 9:01:01 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Canadian premiers confident new council will make Canada work better
Dear Jean,
Took part in a long but highly productive Personnel Committee meeting last night. We discussed all the different element s of my job and effectively split it into three positions that will come available in the New Year. An Interim director will be chosen to overlap between when I leave and when a permanent artistic director is hired, I think for mid-April. The national call should go out next week. A separate administrative director will be sought as well as a special projects manager. Finally, some decent job titles and descriptions!
Worked on the financials all afternoon. Late in the day received a call from Josée from the National Gallery; she is in town for a couple days for a few studio visits but is all booked up. I’m going to work on a package and give it to her at the Rebecca Solni presentation at NSCAD tonight.
Received an email from Warren, he received the four paintings OK and is sending me a cheque. That will come in handy!
Ate some leftovers when I got home and read for a bit before going to bed.
The kitty litter really needs to be cleaned out, and I have to go to the corner store for bread.
Am starting to grow a goutée.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 6, 2003 1:55:38 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Two youths charged in beating death of Vancouver teen as mourners gather
Dear Jean,
Spent most of the afternoon yesterday working on financials again. Almost done. Needs another full afternoon, but I don’t know when exactly that will happen; am cleaning the house this afternoon, and meeting Shannon and Jacob tomorrow afternoon and most likely will be busy with In/Spire details.
Had a bit of fun with Michael F in the office late in the afternoon. He came in to congratulate me on the nomination for the national long list for the Sobey Art Award, which he thought was a prize for those under 35. When I told him it was under 40, he mock flipped out, and wanted to talk to Ray. I gave him the number for the AGNS and he left a message on Ray’s machine saying he should have been picked, how he is under forty and I’m WAY over forty. When I told him how old Greg was he called again, leaving a message about selling a monkey. Classic.
Went to the NSCAD Lecture Series last night featuring the writer, critic and activist Rebecca Solnit. She gave a very lyrical, poetic and storytelling talk on getting lost, on faith and hope, on technocracy and finding the time (to think, to create, to react, to respond, to do nothing) and other ways of slowing down, of focusing, of how to write, of how to walk. When she was reading longer passages it was hard to stay focused; a problem many writers seem to have when it comes to reading their own work, their voice slipping into monotony. Plus her topic seemed to induce in me a tendency to daydream. But overall I liked it.
Met up with Josée from the National Gallery after the talk and gave her a package and slides. We didn’t have a chance to talk much; she was tired from traveling and having many studio visits throughout the day.
A bunch of us met up at the Split Crow after the reception (wine and cheese) for a beer. Greg and Graeme were in fine form. Discussed the pros and cons to moving from or staying in Halifax with Jane, who is thinking of Ontario. Left early. Ate some of Sarah Fork’s lasagna when I got home. Went to bed early. Am reading the Unconscious Civilization now; I don’t know if I can finish the rest of Straight From the Heart, sorry.
Went to the market this morning. Have been having difficulty getting out of bed early in the morning. I think it may have something to do with running out of coffee last week, so I bought some at the market. Or it might have to do with being on the verge of so much change, and the weather getting colder, and wanting to retreat, to hibernate. I still think that would be a fun project: to hibernate for say, six months of the year. Sort of along the lines of Tehching Hsieh, but geared more for the Canadian climate.
Am off to vacuum, wash dishes and wash laundry (or drink more coffee, read the paper, surf the Internet—the other day I found a pretty good website devoted to teaching french. I need to allocate some serious time to studying, to not just squeeze it in between a dozen other activities. Maybe I need to downsize?)
-chris
From : <postmaster@mail.hotmail.com>
Sent : December 6, 2003 1:55:42 PM
To : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Delivery Status Notification (Failure)
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pm@pm.gc.ca
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 7, 2003 12:40:40 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Unite-the-right dream becomes reality as Tories vote to merge with Alliance
Dear Jean,
The winner of the Turner Prize will be determined later today. My bet it that the Chapman Brothers pick it up. I saw some of their work at the Boijmans in Rotterdam and it is incredible work.
Spent Saturday afternoon cleaning the house and listening to music. Sarah Fork was supposed to make pizza with me in the evening but she stood me up; she was playing pool with a co-worker. I had leftovers instead. Went to the Club to meet Christine and take in the Gabe and Ruth Minniken show, but she stood me up as well! What’s up with that? I stayed for most of the show, though it was way to mellow for my liking. Smoked too much. Read the Coast and Exclaim! at the bar. Bruce LaBruce’s “Blab” column is ending, after more than ten years.
Came home and read on-line articles and reviews of Jonathan Franzen. I quite enjoy the fact that he snubbed Oprah, though not quite for the same reasons he gave—that he was a “literary artist in the high art tradition”—but moreso because he recognized the artificial power and sway of TV, of what being a part of an institution like Oprah means, of how it is inextricably tied to money. In short, how She runs anathema to everything he is writing about. His excuse was probably just an attempt to be polite.
Anyway, am off to the Khyber this afternoon to meet Shannon and Jacob and help get the Turret set up for their week of 5 Important Books.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 8, 2003 9:36:06 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Calgary lawyer Jim Prentice gets early start in race to lead united right
Dear Jean,
Spent the whole afternoon hitting the books again. They are almost all up to date now.
Larissa picked Shannon and Jacob up from the airport; some flights were being turned back, though the weather didn’t seem too bad—a lot of drizzle, temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, mostly slush on the ground—but their flights came in OK. Shannon’s needed a second pass at the runway.
We went to the Shoe Shop for something to eat and were joined by Craig, who always has a good yarn or two. We talked a lot about David Askevold. We flipped a coin to determine who was going to stay with whom; I got Jacob. Craig drove us to the house and then Jacob and Shannon went to Charlie’s to discuss their plan of action for the week. I watched the Simpsons and checked email.
Stayed up watching MI2 before going to bed. Lots of speed and explosions and drawn out segments of “suspense”. Oh, and lots and lots of motorcycles. Sleeping on the couch in front of the TV may lead to less sleep and weird dreams.
I head to Montréal in one week.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 9, 2003 2:28:29 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Three MPs abandon new Conservative party hours after its birth
Dear Jean,
Slept surprisingly well for the second night in a row on the couch. It’s not bad, actually. Woke up refreshed, with only slight back pain. I could attribute that to almost anything.
The back-to-back meetings (fundraising—specifically Holiday Toast—and KDMC) were sort of blah. Though there seems to be a bit of a buzz surrounding the Toast itself, the planning committee itself seems fractured and on the verge of burnout. It will come together, I can feel it. The Xmas CD Shawn is producing through the KDMC will be ready in time for the Toast—there are over 17 artists represented on the disc. People are calling and emailing about tickets already; that has to be a good sign. The KDMC board didn’t have quorum and so we just chatted informally about how the centre has been doing and where it will be going in the New Year when its entire staff changes over. Fun stuff.
Received a nice phone call from Claudine yesterday, which brightened my day considerably. Still working on the financials. Am at the point now where I consider it “fun”.
Met with Jessie and her advisor Susan M. this morning to go over her internship. It was a good talk, and very nice to hear someone else describe the importance of a facility like the Khyber for emerging artists and the community at large, especially someone who was witness to its genesis and all the craziness the ensuing years brought.
Am taking a late lunch break before hitting the books again. I want to have as much ready for the board meeting tonight as possible. Also have to take some digital video and photos of Shannon and Jacob upstairs in the Turret to update the website. I poked my head into their “show” yesterday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised: the set-up is very interesting, and their engagement with the audience is certainly demonstrated and enhanced by the fact that they speak into amplified microphones constantly. The Styrofoam cup pyramids were already huge, and balloons were starting to accumulate on the floor. There were even a few visitors. Hopefully the momentum will continue.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 10, 2003 2:28:59 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : B.C. ferry workers’ union threatens to defy back to work order
Dear Jean,
I really like my combat boots. I bought them from the Army Surplus store on Agricola St. over a year ago. I like the way they hug my shins. I like that there are three different soldiers’ names and numbers penned into the insides. I like the definitive click the heels make on the ground. I like that they keep my feet warm. I like that they give me an extra two inches of height.
Had a productive (but long!) board meeting tonight. Was even excused after halftime so the board could discuss the jobs In Camera. I just sat in the bar and drank. Jacob and Shannon joined me, and Dusty and Dean and Dierdre. Then the board dispersed but I stayed and drank more. Called Claudine; she is setting up her apartment. Her phone is hooked up. I revel in the sound of her voice. Drank more.
Am full of songs. I want to join Jacob’s band in Montréal and be the out-of-tune singer. I feel I have the energy and can contribute to the stage presence. Don’t all visual artists want to be rock stars? I want to dance. Be zany. Be free. Invent stories and live them. Drift. Float. Shake, rattle and roll.
I don’t want to sit in a small car with three other people for fifteen hours; I want to fly like a bird and be in a cool and chilly and snow-covered Montréal and be on a cloud-like bed and drink wine and leave banal business behind. Fast. Enter a steel and aluminum tube and exit through an identical one hundreds of miles and a few minutes away. Terminal one to terminal two; all terminals appear the same. Air travel starts to mimic wormholes. Pass the metal detector and enter in a different city.
Both air travel and highway travel scare me. More things, the little things, scare me as I get older. The fragility of life scares me. It gets snuffed out everywhere all the time. What makes us so special? To continue living?
I want to make my Jean Chrétien “staple” portrait before Friday. Post the image (the poster of the ’90 leadership campaign pin) on a wall, and outline it in 2000 staples. Burn the remaining poster away. Then make a frottage of the remnants, from the staples. Should be fun.
Couldn’t pay my tab tonight; not enough in my bank account! Ha! Have already eaten into the heating oil (bought kitty litter and cat food yesterday). Will let Lyndon bounce my cheque; why not? The Arsehole has turned our back yard into a construction zone since spring. It looks like a Royal dump. Our furnace is out of date and the insulation in the house is non-existent. And he has the nerve to say we should conserve the heat! Conserve it for what? For whom? And more importantly, how? How to conserve heat when it flies immediately from the small vents to the ceiling to the windows to the outside? How? My plan is to leave him with a hefty oil bill; the bastard millionaire can deal with it better than I.
Have been listening to Aimee Mann, from the Magnolia soundtrack. Am all melancholy now. Still drunk, too. Drunk and melancholy and happy and sad all at once.
Sally came by today; she is looking for a place. Am showing the room (my room—I’m going to trade beds with Sarah Fork and thus move into the Closet in January, and rent out my current room) tomorrow night, but I’d rather rent to someone I know. The only possible problem is with her two cats; I don’t think Yaga and Kuan would appreciate another couple furry tenants in their space.
Kuan is getting chubby from lack of exercise. Maybe I should let them outside to burn off steam? What do you think?
Any suggestions for what I should do when you step down this Friday? And by the way, would you like me do paint your official portrait? I do a better job in front of a live subject, promise. And soon I’ll be living in Montréal, not far from Ottawa. I could do a decent job in two or three sittings. Let me know.
You know, Montréal really should have been designated the capital of Canada. What the hell is Ottawa?
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 11, 2003 3:00:14 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Montreal commuters scrambling as day of protests kicks off in Quebec
Dear Jean,
I had a really bizarre dream last night about Peter Jackson, the director of the film version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He was crowned a king on a huge podium in the middle of a soccer field and then took part in the soccer match. The odd thing was that he must have weighed eight or nine hundred pounds—he resembled Peter Griffin from that episode of the Family Guy when he loses all his bones. He would run/waddle, then gain momentum like a snowball and just start rolling uncontrollably over the field. He would roll over people and they would become lodged in the folds of his flesh.
Have been talking with Jacob about New Media Art (outside of video games there really isn’t any) and how the Canada Council lost millions of dollars from investments in Nortel that went awry (what is a publicly funded institution like the CC doing speculating tax dollars in the private sector? Doesn’t sound much different from taking the money directly to the casino), and George W. Bush’s plans for world domination. I know I have asked this of you before, but are we actually living in a fascist state disguised as a democracy? It is certainly a corporatist state. And when you look at how police are handling protests and “security” one has to wonder how far from fascism we are.
Anyway. Personally things are looking up, for the time being: I sold a painting from Peter’s gallery in SJ and he wants more; Warren’s cheque came in; I am considering flying to Montréal rather than sit in a small car with three other people for fifteen hours (will look on-line for one of those $1 flights); and I am taking the afternoon off to write and organize and plan and make art and Xmas presents. I bought a box of staples and am going to install my “Man for All Reasons” poster on the plywood wall covering the old Hollis Street parking garage in homage to your ten-year reign as King. The King is dead! Long live the King!
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 12, 2003 1:56:53 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Paul Martin sworn in as Canada’s 21st prime minister
Dear Paul,
Congratulations on becoming PM. I’m sure Jean told you about the daily email correspondence we have had for the past few years. Feel free to jot me a line anytime.
I really enjoyed the Barbarian Invasions last night. I had a double-pass and asked Andréa to come with me. In the words of the junkie character: “It’s heavy”. It is a bit hard to watch a movie about dying; especially when it is more than a character dying, it is almost like a portrayal of a society in its death throes, as ideals and knowledge crumble. But Arcand makes it all look so beautiful at the same time.
We went to the Shoe Shop afterwards for drinks, and ate a bit, and then Peter D joined us and we drank some more and had great conversation about art, artists, mentors, role models, transient towns like Halifax, public disinterest and friends. Peter pulled a fast one on us and paid for everything before slipping out to catch a bus home.
It was mild last night, and rainy and windy. Not ideal conditions to put up posters, but I prefer mild rain to freezing snow. I took my new box of staples and grabbed one of the big posters from the office and headed to Hollis Street. It was a disaster from the get-go: It was way too windy on that corner. The paper kept blowing off, and eventually started tearing as it became wet and soggy. I retreated to a more secluded wall on Water Street. The 2500 staples didn’t cover as much ground as I thought they would; I didn’t have any for the lettering at all, they all went to the face. I’ll try to make a few different kinds of rubbings of it before Monday.
Judy called this morning and we had a good chat. Claudine emailed with URLs for websites about web art; it seems she thinks I was a bit harsh on the new media world in one of my previous letters. She’s right: there is lots of new media artists and artwork, and tons of stuff on the web, and certainly invested individuals and communities—especially in Quebec, where there is a little more funding. But when you see that video game sales are trouncing Hollywood, it’s obviously the dawn of a new era: just as Hollywood co-opted the visual arts and became the dominant form of visual literacy for the masses, Video Games will trump new media art. Part of it centers on critical mass: just about everyone and their dog has a website, but how do you generate enough interest to branch out beyond a small community of surfers? New online video games take interactivity to a new level, beyond affecting lines and squiggles with a mouse. Anyway, I think my beef wasn’t about New Media art per se; it was the local community as I see it, and a frustration with what I interpret as a lack of initiative and imagination, compounded by drastic and chronic underfunding.
Anyway, enough new media talk. I have to finish re-lettering a painting that was damaged in the Juan flood before sending it to Peter in Saint John, and make a painting for friends of Judy, and get some Xmas shopping done.
And this just in: a letter from the Canada Council—and my fourth individual grant application rejection. I suck.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 13, 2003 11:32:16 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Paul Martin becomes 21st prime minister, promises big change
Dear Paul,
Had a bit of a disappointing night, as there was very small turnout for the final performance by Shannon and Jacob. There work was fun and engaging; a cross betweena lecture and Pee Wee’s Playhouse; a sort of reading group get-together and political discussion; a playground for the mind and senses; an aural and sculptural cacophany. The small group of us staying in the Club afterwards eating snacks and drinking beer and smoking cigarettes. There was no band, which was weird: there was nothing. What was weirder was staying until close talking politics and art and then going home and talking more with Jacob until 3:30 in the morning.
Went to the Market this morning and promptly lost Jacob in the crowd while waiting in line at the bank machine. I’m sure he’ll find his way back. Picked up a couple gifts. I hope to do a little more Xmas shopping today, maybe take off from work a couple hours early if everything is under control for tonight.
Gotta go, some volunteers are coming in shortly to help with the setup; I’d better make some lists.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 14, 2003 12:24:30 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Paul Martin cancels troubled $40-million ad sponsorship program
Dear Paul,
Had a fun time at the Holiday Toast last night, though it took me a while to warm up to it. Spent the afternoon decorating the Turret Room, then went home to eat and nap. I really didn’t want to go out again, but felt a certain obligation. The turnout was still smaller than we had hoped for, a fact Craig was making all too clear to me near the end of the night, as he has to deal with an extra bar and barstaff for a mostly empty room. Still, once I brought the whip and riding crop over to eyelevel as extra props for the photos with Santa (Greg) things got fun. Eleanor and Graeme were dressed as elves (Graeme was wearing padded hockey shorts and striped knee-high socks) and some of the poses for the Polaroids became nice and raunchy. The idea of taking photos of people on Santa’s knee became more about taking photos of Santa in the can, Santa at the bar, Santa smoking a cigarette. Never did get “Santa in the alleyway with some chick”—oh well. Maybe next year. They could be good promo images for the Christmas at the Khyber CD, which Shawn was selling upstairs from the coat check/media centre. I can hardly believe that he pulled it off: seventeen artists recorded and produced in just over three weeks. And it doesn’t sound half bad. Met Jen’s folks and her brother Joel, which was nice. Talked to her dad about writing letters to politicians; he does it too. Joel was kicking ass on the Khyber Pong video game Lucas and Dean made in the afternoon; they were projecting the game on a wall in the Turret. Emily and Rod came—the first event in the past couple years that they have actually managed to get to Halifax for. It was nice seeing them again, but I only spoke with them briefly. Where does the time go? Booked my plane ticket to Montréal—I fly out tomorrow night!—while scanning a bunch of the Santa Polaroids. Split a slice of pizza with Sarah Fork at the end of the night, then we smoked a joint and I became über-talker, and went on and on and on about who knows what until it was late.
Just had some breakfast and am washing some laundry; have to head back to the Khyber today and strike the members show and clean up the turret. A team of volunteers are coming in to help, which is good news. I need to make some time to finish up some Xmas errands.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 16, 2003 1:48:09 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Harper to officially enter Conservative leadership race Jan. 12
Dear Paul,
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. Spent the day getting ready for the trip to Montréal. It was raining heavy all day, which made running all the errands a little more problematic. Wrapped up the paintings and took them to the bus station; the busses weren’t running though, and freight will be backed up a day or two. There were 24 accidents in the city by noon. The rain was turning the snow that fell overnight into slush and ice. Flights were being cancelled and I was worried mine would be as well but according to the website it was going to be on time.
Almost missed the airport shuttle, as I misjudged how early I would have to be at the Lord Nelson. Finished wrapping some gifts, hopped in the shower, threw some clothes in my suitcase and was off and away.
The folks at Westjet are the friendliest I’ve ever flown with. From the ticket agent, the boarding attendant to the flght attendants, they were all super nice. The plane took off on time and shaved fifteen minutes off the flight time; with the time change, it felt the same as just walking through one airport and directly into another. Hopped on a bus heading downtown and met Claudine at the station; we took the metro to her place. Stopped for some wine. She had prepared supper, which we cooked together. Looked at pictures. Talked. Went to bed early. Stayed up late.
Claudine has to work this week so I have my days to work on some projects. The Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation sent back my application; apparantly I used an older application form. Same info, different form. Have to re-organize my slides, and contact Mohanad and Colin. And I am going to paint some of Claudine’s apartment. Just came from the hardware store to get a few more supplies, actually. And do a little more Christmas shopping and make some cards. And practice my French. I am also going to relax a bit and enjoy the city, the snow, the shops, and a cozy apartment. Hey, if you are going to be in Montréal over the holidays we could meet up and hang out; just send me an email.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 17, 2003 4:16:21 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Former Tory leader Robert Stanfield dies age 89 after long political career
Dear Paul,
Just a quick note today. Mohanad is on his way over to pick me up and take me to his studio; he has a scheme about building coffee tables and having me paint them. The pay will be good but they will besold on consignment, which is potentially bad: no sales, no cash. I did call the company he was working for this fall and left a message saying I would work for them, but the chances are slim that they will need anyone at this time. Plus their relationship with Mohanad soured and I can’t use him as a reference or contact; I have to say I got their name from ‘Ben’, a former Australian employee from a couple years ago whom neither of us has ever met. A bit dodgy but fun.
Finished painting Claudine’s apartment; at least, finished what I could. Ran out of ceiling paint and there is already plenty of green on the walls. Maybe we will get more paint later in the week or on the weekend.
We spent a somewhat quiet night at home last night; neither of us has any money so we have to find cheap, inexpensive or free things to do together to pass the time. I don’t mind at all. We even started our own blog together; a series of dialogues just between the two of us. Made a nice supper and read a bit; the book of poems, or theatrical proposals that Jacob gave me is quite nice. Claudine has a copy of Les Particules Elementaires, so we talked a bit about that and The Swallower Swallowed; our own little mini performance of 5 Important Books.
Tonight Claudine has to prepare for the french class she is teaching; I am hoping to get a free lesson from her.
Hey, if you know of anyone in Montréal who is looking for a painter, let me know. I’m back into the swing of it, and enjoying it quite a bit. I can let my mind wander and still do a good job. Reasonable rates.
chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 18, 2003 2:43:56 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent to run for election as MP in Ottawa
Dear Paul,
Mohanad stopped by yesterday afternoon and we went to the Chinese restaurant on the corner for beer and food. Made supper for Claudine and then Mohanad met up with us again and we went to a neighbourhood bar, Le Boudoir, to wait for Caroline to get off work. We drank beer and smoked Gauloises and laughed at the incredibly loud and drunken antics of the party near to us. One of them was celebrating his 27th birthday, and teasing me for being 30 and over the hill. Met Caroline’s co-worker Carl and then had snowball fights on the way home. It was perfet snowball snow.
We were locked out; the front door wouldn’t open and no-one had a key. Jean, who lives downstairs, tried to knock the doorknob off but his hammer broke in two. I climbed the balcony to the second floor and tried the door and windows but they were all locked. Caroline saved the day with a few well-placed kicks to the door.
Caroline stayed overnight as she had to work early this morning. Worked on some applications and read a bit of The Location of Culture by Homi K. Bhabha; intriguing political and ideologial theories, but a bit dense for my thick head. It will take more than one read. Just had coffee with Rosemary, Claudine’s mom, who stoppped by to drop off more apartment supplies. And food, yay!
I’ll be adding locksmith to my repertoire of tricks today, as I will replace the front doorknob. Am heading out to get more paint and deadbolts and maybe a smoke detector; I don’t trust the wiring here. The apartment is newly renovated but the building was built in 1910 and I think some of the original wiring is still floating around beneath new drywall.
The weather has turned cold and all the soft snow has hardened and turned to ice. Am tempted to just stay inside all day. Maybe work on more Christmas gifts.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 18, 2003 3:39:52 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Strong winds across the Maritimes lead to disruptions in travel
Dear Paul,
I forgot to tell you about the bizarre dreams I had last night:
First there was one about ghosts living in an abandoned apartment building. I was a ghost too, and walked amongst the others, but was carrying some sort of ghost virus that caused other ghosts to lose their souls if we passed through one another.
The next took place in a large warehouse that resembled the Up Country store on Barrington Street. The owner of the store was in the dream as well. Hanging in the centre of the warehouse space was a huge vertical sail, rolled up on a mast. The owner was adjusting the ropes that held the mast in place through a system of weights and pulleys. He had knotted another rope around the supporting rope and was twisting the ropes so the sail would sit quietly and not squeak. Somehow I got ahold of the end of the main rope, and each time an adjustment was made I would be lifted off the ground; I started to take the opportunity to propel myself around the warehouse space, bouncing off walls. It was great fun, until I lost my grip on the rope and fell; the mast also fell, and landed on three people, causing crushing injuries to a hand, a leg and a torso. It was very traumatic for everyone involved.
The third dream involved my innaugral appearance on the BBC as a news anchor. However, seconds before we were to go live to air I realized that I didn’t have any notes; I was quickly handed an ear feed so I would know the news stories, but the feed was wired to something else, and I ended up cracking up and laughing unontrollably as I listened to the backstage antics of the technicians.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 19, 2003 8:21:52 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Lord gearing up for run at leadership of new Conservative party, sources say
Dear Paul,
Had a good day. Was up early as Claudine was teaching at 8:30. Worked on website stuff, surfed, read, and made breakfast. Judy wrote with good news: a couple more paintings (of Jean Chrétien, I’m sure he filled you in on the details of my project) sold at Peter Bs opening last night. Now I can pay my rent in January! Yay!
Headed downtown to meet Claudine and we went to the CCA, the Centre for Contemporary Architecture. An exhibition featuring works by Price, Stirling, Rossi and Gordon Matta-Clark. I liked the plans and maquettes for Price’s Fun Palace, and of course was really drawn to and enamored with the underground, above-ground and cut-apart antiarchitecture of Matta-Clark. What a brilliant artist. I’ll be luky to ahieve half as much. The CCA exhibition space is quite nice, really open and airy and bright, and a nice mix of the old and new. Spent some time drooling in the bookstore. (so many great books: Homer-drool)
Dropped off my revised application and slides to the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation but there was nobody home. We continued up St. Laurent and had lunch at Shwartz’s. (smoked meat: Homer-drool)
Claudine lost her metro pass and fell into a bad mood for a spell. It didn’t last long, and just proved to me that she is human after all. We hit the Dollarama on Mont Royal and I picked up a few items that may come in handy for art projects or may not. We’ll see. Met up with Claudine’s good friend Kent just after we got back to her apartment and we started in on the red wine. We are going to their friend Anne’s place tonight for a party, a reunion of sorts for the group of them that worked together at Air Canada last year. We’re going to have some salad and then head over; we will probably get really drunk, we’ve already finished a bottle of wine and bought a replacement as well as a bottle of vodka.
We’ll finish painting the apartment tomorrow, if we are not too hung over.
Oh, we were wondering what your exiting new plans are for the arts in Canada?
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 21, 2003 12:32:09 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.a
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : A kiss by two Michaels changed the meaning of marriage in Canada in 2003
Dear Paul,
We survived the house party. It was actually quite fun. The three of us drank a couple bottles of wine with supper and began sipping the vodka straight while on the long bus ride to Côte-des-Neiges. We were the first to arrive and were immediately assailed with jello shooters, a good indication of how the night would progress. There was Welcome Punch as well, and we had beer for when the vodka ran out, and numerous sweet-rum shooters with Eric, and of course a few tokes. Being the only anglo at the party meant I had more time to drink and smoke cigarettes. When Claudine and I both seemed to be as drunk as we could get without falling down, we left. Sometime after 2am, or close to 3. She actually hailed a police cruiser to ask for a lift to the bus stop; and he gave it to us. Then we waited for what seemed an hour or more but the bus never showed. We got fed up with waiting and tried to hitchhike, then eventually hailed a cab.
It was a foggy hangover morning/afternoon, though we had a nice breakfast: picked up a copy of Le Devoir and some OJ and some croissonts, had fresh ground coffee, then spent more time in bed.
Finally spoke with Colin on the phone and he came over from Point Claire to meet us at St. Viateur Bagel. We talked a while about our past adventures and came back to Claudine’s apartment and made supper. He seems well, and in good spirits. There are some interesting 6 degrees of seperation that sort of re-connect him with my old roommate family. He had to leave in the early evening to tend to his dogs. He is leaving tomorrow to visit his folks in Calgary, so it was nice to see him again; it had been his wedding four years ago that I had seen him last.
Claudine went out to meet her friends Anne and Eli, so I am catching up on some web stuff and email. Sally McKay has a new website at http://www.digitalmediatree.com/sallymckay/ with good links to other art disussion blogs that is worth checking out. I’ll add it as a link on my website, now that I know how. Will read for a bit more.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 21, 2003 11:19:23 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : West Nile virus tightened its grip on Canada in 2003
Dear Paul,
Had dreams last night about swimming in Saint John harbour. I was guiding a canoe filled with blocks of granite through lines of submarines and other boats. The harbour was packed.
Slept in a bit this morning, had breakfast and then we walked to the laundromat. Stopped at the hardware store for more paint. Painted for most of the afternoon; a dark orange for the archway between the kitchen and living room, and a pale cream for the rest of the walls.
Had leftovers for supper and was a bit restless as we waited for plans to materialize with Mohanad and Rebecca, but after numerous phone calls and arrangements made and then delayed we called it off; it is just getting too late.
Caroline thinks that Claudine and I resemble André and Nicole, two characters from a Réjean Ducharme novel who stay cooped up in an apartment together with no money. In this heightened world of over-consumption—and especially with its peak season upon us—it is refreshing to live simply and relish in the senses of living day-to-day. Talking, reading, taking different voyages of discovery.
Suddenly, we’re breaking out: going to Bôite Noir to rent a movie.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 23, 2003 12:25:29 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com, thebirdfox@hotmail.com
Subject : High court set to rule on whether minor pot possession should be a crime
Dear Paul,
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. Went out for drinks with Mo and Rebecca (yes! she actually came out!), and Caro and Carl. We all met at Claudine’s first, and then went to a trendy little bar around the corner. We talked about relationships most of the night. It was really nice seeing Rebecca again, and catching up on all the news. Came home drunk and speaking fractured french.
Claudine didn’t come out as she was teaching a class really early this morning, but she shut off the alarm between snoozes and slept in. She was only eight minutes late for her appointment; she woke with a start, like popcorn, and was out the door in a flurry.
I slept in too (but for much longer, and hit the snooze button many times) and had bizarre art dreams. I dreamed I was at a museum with room after room of fun, fun art! Multiple wacky costumes that visitors could try on and wear throughout, and a room of robot toys all moving in a big herd, escaping through the doors and some captured on video and projected on the wall shown in primordial fits of tug-of-war. Craig Power was tending bar. I wonder if he is still in Spain?
Spent most of yesterday finishing up some of the painting in the apartment, cleaning some edges and painting trim. Installed some shelves and lighting. Worked on another Tupperware art project: a set of daily pill containers with Xmas lights as the “pills”. It now sits on the floor in a mass of coiled wires, blinking. When Claudine came home from work we had a great little supper together. I could get used to this lifestyle—the stay-at-home man about the house.
Am going to paint one more wall and then run some errands. Tonight we are going to a mall to take pictures of the humanity/insanity.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 28, 2003 11:06:41 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Provinces urge cattlemen to wait for results of DNA tests on U.S. mad cow
Dear Paul,
Sorry I haven’t written in a while. Combination of it being the holidays (even I need a break every once in a while) and technical problems. I broke the computer mouse a few days ago while moving the computer, which is needed to cut and paste the letters that don’t work on the keyboard: the c, x and z. And since I dropped the keyboard now the spacebar doesn’t work so well either. We picked up a second-hand replacement mouse on Boxing Day—don’t even get me started on how or why we ended up trapped in a throng of stinky humans in the Future Shop on Ste-Catherine’s—but that mouse didn’t work properly either. Replaced it again yesterday, and now it works fine.
The few days over Christmas were fun. Claudine and I holed up in her apartment, cooked great food, drank wine and Triple Sec and Baileys with our coffees, moved her bed into the living room (it fills the living room), watched movies on her computer (Gerry: typical behavior of males when lost, with beautiful visuals, and Bend it Like Beckham: good initiative, but uneven shooting and tries too hard to please everybody), and had lots of great sex.
Today we went to the Forum to see Big Fish, Tim Burton’s latest film. If I was to give advice to Tim it would be for him to stick with animation and fantasy; the human dialogue was terrible—the human emotions even worse—the soundtrack horrendous, and the cinematography uneven. The whole thing felt tired and forced. You probably wouldn’t like it. And while I’m in movie-review mode, you should really make an effort to see Les Triplettes de Bellville: the animation is superb, and the sound exquisite. Montréal is lucky to have a benefactor like Daniel Lanois: I was blown away by the stunning architeture of ExCentris.
After Big Fish we took the Metro to Rosemont where Karen’s parents have their restaurant, Aux Sept Bonheurs. They fed us to the gills with great Cantonese dishes, and now we can barely move. They also gave us a huge bag of eggrolls to take home. More than can fit in Claudine’s freezer. They are really sweet; I’ll be sure to give them one of the artist books I have been working on. Hey, I’ll give you one too. Should I mail it to 24 Sussex Drive? Have you moved in yet? Any plans for re-deorating?
I’m probably heading back to Halifax on the first. I’m starting to get anxious dreams about work. Today is the day that the Khyber building traditionally runs out of heating oil. And I have no idea who is picking up the mail. I’ll email Shawn and ask that he look after it; he’s currently working in the Turret on his Aliant project.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 30, 2003 8:54:16 AM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Federal ag minister says U.S. mad cow should not delay border opening
Dear Paul,
You wouldn’t believe the weird coincidence that happened to me yesterday. I had made a few phone calls inquiring about rooms for Sarah Fork, and made arrangements to see a place north on St. Denis. The apartment was great, and the girl who was showing it to me told me her other roommate was in Dartmouth visiting family. How many people do I know who live in Dartmouth? Not many. Andrew and Rebecca are from there, as aresome of the coleharbour.ca crew. It turns out that the roommate is Rebecca’s younger sister! Maybe Jean didn’t tell you, but Rebecca was our roommate for over two years. So her sister and Sarah Fork are meeting today in Halifax to guage assess each other. Meanwhile, I am heading downtown to look at another apartment, then pick up some materials to make covers for the books I have been making. They have become needlessly elaborate, and now feature tabs on some of the pages and envelopes inside holding extra goodies. I’m still not quite sure how the sticky notes will fit in. I re-arranged some of the pages and overall it has better flow, for what it is.
When Claudine came home from work last night we ate supper and watched the rest of Amadeus. Now there is a movie with some decent dialogue!
Have to go, I think today is garbage day (we’ve missed it the past two weeks).
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
Sent : December 31, 2003 2:43:13 PM
To : pm@pm.gc.ca
CC : chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com
Subject : Report of possible mad cow link to Edmonton rendering plant called premature
Dear Paul,
Had a weird and disconcerting dream about being in an airplane crash last night. Poppy was one of the pilots. It was a soft landing in water, however, and everyone escaped wearing lifejackets. We swam to a deserted island and then a man rode by on a bicycle and said we were close to Toronto. Which was good, as we had a troupe of Khyber Kids with us who needed more art supplies. I was disappointed about the fate of my laptop and slides, however: electrical components and photograhic emulsion don’t react well with water. I can’t remember if it was salt or fresh water.
I worked on my books all day yesterday; they have become needlessly complex. And I ran out of tabs and blue thread. The constant folding just about drove me bonkers. It takes so long and is so repetative!
Claudine and I had supper and listened to travel stories from an aquaintence of hers, Philip, who stopped by to say hi. He had been living in a small town in France for nine months. We had some of the Tam’s eggrolls. The freezer is still full. Couldn’t decide what to do in the evening and eventually just went to bed early. Which was fine. We had been up early.
I looked at another apartment for Sarah Fork, but it was a bit of a dump. Too many McGill/Concordia students had lived there over the years. Lucky for her Rebecca’s sister and her roommate are taking her. I’m a bit envious, the apartment is really nice.
Walked Claudine to work this morning and picked up more bookbinding supplies on my way home. Spoke to Judy on the phone; she is doing well, all things considered, but a little disappointed I am not stopping in Saint John on my way home. My folks are too. It’s just too expensive to fly or take the train/bus there; it has become more and more off the beaten trail. Plus it might be weird visiting, what with Karina there; we haven’t spoken since she left. And according to Sarah Fork the cats really miss me. I’ll certainly miss Montréal.
-chris
DEAR PM 