From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sat Oct 2, 2004 4:03:14 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject:
Dear Paul,
The transaction network is slow today, because the switchboard full, there are already many customers waiting in the queue, for number and rate plan changes, that sort of thing. So my phone probably won’t be up and running again until tonight or even tomorrow morning.
I just broke into my own apartment, which will hopefully be the final event in a series of misadventures that began when I decided to make some paintings before going on a petit gallery tour. First off it was too windy to make decent frottages; the fabric kept moving and the image would duplicate or triplicate or continually shift around. The piece of heavier canvas that I had brought with me was too small for the manhole cover. Then I left my keys on the sidewalk, even after making a mental note to myself not to leave them. Of course, they were gone when by the time I cycled back for them. It was only five minutes! So I practiced my french a bit more by going to all the nearby depanneurs and shops, asking if anyone had turned keys in, but nobody had. So I called my landlord to get an extra set, which meant that I also had to pay my rent, which I was hoping to put off until Monday or Tuesday when my last check clears. So now I’m broke, and Andrea and Stephane are arriving and we’re supposed to go out for dinner. I wonder how much I can get for all my beer bottles? I’d have to make a few trips to make it worth my while, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my afternoon doing that. So only one of the two different keys I had cut worked, so I still couldn’t get into the apartment, mon voisin n’est pas resté, so I climbed the balcony like Spidey and kicked in the door like Ah-nuld. Lucky for me I had only locked one of the bolts. It’s a bit unsettling to realize how easy it is to break in, in broad daylight (well, actually it is a bit overcast).
Plus on top of it all I’m hung over and the whole sequence of events is making me depressed. Maybe it started when we decided to skip the Unicorns show at Le Tulipe and went with Kate and Mitch to Petit Campus for bands I wouldn’t want to hear for free, let alone pay for, let alone pay more than ten bucks for. And then we left early anyway because Controller Controller was too loud and so had a nightcap with Kate (Claudine and I offered our psychoanalyzing services). Kate was in town for a vernnisage at Galerie Art Mûr, a group show (A group of seven show, contemporary canadian landscape, etc.). What a great space! Two floors, many chambres, lots of space. It was a petit Baie-St-Paul reunion, Dominique and Sophie and Eric and Mitch, who was in town to play a gig on Thursday at Korova, with Matt and Sarah, a Halifax reunion for me. Did I tell you about that show? No, I don’t suppose I did, as I have been finding it difficult to find the time, not to mention the motivation, to write to you. But supper was good, at a nice authentic Greek place on St. Denis.
But now the church bells are ringing incessantly, that and the sirens are giving me a wicked headache. The apartment needs to be cleaned and I have artwork to catch up on, shows to apply for, but I feel right now like I just need time to breathe, exhale, exhale again, exhale again, and then maybe vacuum.
Oh, by the way, in case you didn’t get my letters on the topic, I think that taking part in the US-led anti-missile defense plan (AKA Star Wars) is a really big stupid idea. If we don’t even consider the fact that such a program probably wouldn’t work (shooting missiles down out of the sky? Is this a video game or real life?), it sounds like a make-work project for the US military, an excuse to build more weapons. It’s pointless; if the US continues to mess with people all over the world, they are going to breed hatred, which will just propagate more violence. And what’s this I hear about you not letting it go to a vote in the H of C? Is this because you know it would lose? Don’t let us be bullied. Ahh, this whole mess gives me a headache, too. I’m off to clean.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Mon Oct 4, 2004 7:24:21 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Liberals enter political minefield of minority government starting Monday, Jean Charest veut accroître les investissements américains au Québec
Dear Paul,
Had the inverse day of Saturday yesterday. The sun was out, muffling a bit the fall chill in the air. Had bagels and coffee with Stephane and Andrea, and then they had to hit the road, get his visa and go back to NYC. They had treated me to dinner at L’etoile de tunise, my favourite place for couscous (well, the closest). So Sunday I dragged some canvas and paper around with me and made some halfway decent sidewalk frottage paintings. Met up with Karen and we went to a bunch of the Biennale exhibits, which were mostly disappointing. The focus on public space was good, but most of the work felt more like architecture or design school graduate work. The big Armand Vaillancourt exhibit was interesting in a historical, retrospective sense, but the works felt awkward and out of place in the big Gazette building. Soem of the work in the catalogue hadn’t been made or displayed yet, and some won’t be up until 2006. Is this a biennale or a bi-biennale? There was a sweet little Kim Adams sculpture at the benefit exhibition that I would buy if I had the extra money, it was a decent price. And if I had money to burn I’d buy Joseph Kosuth’s Ex-Libris (Montréal) black text on acetate for $10,000. Ha! The Ruedi Baur design exhibit at UQAM was just overkill for me; if I had three or four hours to read and digest it all (I might become a qualified designer!), I didn’t feel like taking part in the monstrous public collaborative hallway painting (Will Alsop), I enjoyed the photographs by Rajak Ohanian but not Ed Kostiner, I liked the proposal for the Sky Well in Chi-Chi, Taiwan, but almost missed Hal Ingberg’s Beacon at Place des Arts (ironic, considering its whole raison d’etre was to draw people to it!). It did look like it had attracted unwanted attention; some of the panels were missing and caution tape had been erected around it. Ah, the hazards of public art. Claudine came over to my place in the evening after spending the weekend with her sister (birthday) and folks, and we had supper in (pesto, beets), and then went to a movie (Les Aimants, Cinema Beaubien). A fun movie, lighthearted, sort of Shakespearian, the classic confused identities, playing cupid, etc. Anyway, it’s Monday morning, back to the grind. Good luck in the House, I have a feeling you’re going to need it.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Tue Oct 5, 2004 6:55:33 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Tories likely to pull punches to avoid bringing down government in first week, Le Québec met le cap sur l’énergie éolienne avec 1000 mégawatts en Gaspésie
Dear Paul,
I’m getting a bit tired of the construction biz, and so have tripled my efforts to find venues for art shows. I find it a vicious circle; The ideas keep outpacing the resources. The word “if” crops up a lot. It’s like drifting in and out of limbo, living a maybe. I still think like I’m an artist, but don’t seem to have much to show for it. Do five years of unanswered email an art project make? I don’t know how long I can keep up the construction facade, either; I’d rather be painting (art and interiors, so am going to look into some options there). Si j’ai l’argent, je ferais l’art seulement. Mais, maintenant, c’est juste un rêve. Finding the time is hard, you must know what that is like, having almost every minute of the day accounted for. Speaking of which, I still haven’t done my taxes, have been meaning to mail them to my accountant for months. Has that every happened to you? I didn’t think so. So anyway, getting more applications off has become a priority, even though any successes won’t manifest themselves until 2005-06. I need to find some solutions for the short term.
Cycled home in mild rain yesterday, the temperature was cold and got colder through the night. It is now sweater weather. Oh, and get this: an email from Ed. He’s on his way back to NYC to see Billie, can you believe it? He’s stopping in Montreal to crash on my couch tonight. Now there’s a soap opera for you! Anyway, I’m trying to get some writing done before work, as well as some stencils for some public paintings, a bilingual call for help to work alongside/with/against the Wal*Mart stencils (which I haven’t got around to doing yet. Have been noticing new street stencils around town, a zipper has been added to the repertoire of owls, ancient video cameras, electrical plugs, lassoes and vines. I like to see them but they make me feel inadequate at the same time). I’ll post a picture of an early “help” prototype on the website.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Wed Oct 6, 2004 6:46:11 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: British frigate arrives to help stricken Canadian sub off Ireland, Le 2e Congrès contre la peine de mort débute à Montréal aujourd’hui
Dear Paul,
Do you ever feel haunted by guilt, or do you live your life day in and day out with a clear conscience? Sometimes I feel haunted by guilt, about making bad decisions in life, hurting people, and lately, about masquerading as a carpenter when I clearly don’t have specified training. Everything I learned about woodworking I learned from Ken in the NSCAD woodshop—not bad at all, but I didn’t spend much time there. Building frames isn’t rocket science (then again, neither is throwing up a wall, so what am I worried about?). Yesterday I spent a good couple hours at a different job site (I was wondering when it would happen), helping Adam put up some scaffolding. Once back on Barat Street I spent the rest of the afternoon moving material around and sweeping.
Do you ever feel hounded by privilege? Sometimes I feel locked in a perpetual contradiction; trying to eschew privilege, while at the same time trying to achieve some level of comfort and security within North American Society. Maybe I should just move somewhere where I could devote myself to “good”, cut out all the bullshit.
Hier il n’etais pas froid, il etais frête! Mon mains a glissé pendant mon velo a travail. Aujourd’hui, j’ai emporté des moufles a Claudine. Oh yeah, so last night Ed was at my place after class, and we hung out and talked for a bit but I had to leave. I couldn’t handle the intensity, the maelstrom that is Billie. I have my own obsessions and relationships to worry about. Ed has adventures though, that’s for sure. This time he found a ride in a convertible from Nelson to Toronto, where he worked making hammocks for three days, partied, went to Peterborough, hitchhiked to Montréal, found interesting rides, and is now in NYC, until whenever. Quite the rootless existence. I couldn’t handle it; I need a place to call home.
I decided to take the night off from class. I need to clean the apartment a bit, write a bit, get the applications ready. Am cooking the last of my freezer-burnt vegetables with the last of my pesto and some noodles. My cheque from last week still hasn’t cleared. I hate living without cash and so applied to my bank online for overdraft protection. I have $35,000 in loans and no collateral; I wonder if I’ll get it? I feel a bit better about work though. It looks as if our team will be installing the windows; that should keep us busy for at least two more weeks. Plus there are two more rooms to close and three closets to build and close and the kitchen floor to be leveled and the downstairs hallway to be re-floored and the stairs to the basement to be built. After all that I feel I’ll be able to find bits and pieces of work with some of the other sub-contractors, whether painting or carpentry. Providing I don’t do anything too screwy on this job.
I’m off to (finally! at long last!) return some beer bottles to the grocery store. I haven’t done so since I moved in. Am a bit disappointed that there aren’t more bottles; I’ve only got about $7 worth. Pitiful.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Thu Oct 7, 2004 11:46:30 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Last-minute deal saves Liberal minority government, Le gouvernement et l’opposition évitent la collision à la dernière minute
Dear Paul,
A very bizarre scent greeted me upon entering my apartment this evening. I don’t know if it was the stale cat vomit, the days-old dirty dishes fermenting in the sink, or the bowl of french onion soup that Ed had left for me (?) on the top of my fridge, or a combination of all, and probably more. Who knows what lies under the bed!
So another day passes and my cheque still hasn’t arrived in my bank account. I hate being broke, and relying on others to borrow money for food and laundry. I skipped class again tonight to wash three loads and clean the apartment a bit. Last night, after the bottles return, I met Claudine after her Arabic class and we went to L’anecdote for ‘burgers and fries (she had soup). We worked on Illustrator (business cards) after playing a couple games of pool on Mont Royal. Today at lunch I didn’t have enough money to buy a cup of yogurt and a tangerine. I kept the tangerine; I figured at a buck a pop, it would have to be good. It wasn’t.
So after work I met Claudine, we ate (she cooked), and then we went to look at an apartment on Mentana. Adam had mentioned to me a few days ago he had friends that needed to find someone right away, they were moving, and Claudine has been thinking of a change of abode, and so there we were. It’s a neat little place, not a lot bigger than her present place, except for the kitchen, and as well there is a second room, maybe an office, and a great big rear terrace, and real wood floors, older, more character. Great location, not a bad price, either. She has until tomorrow to decide, a rush decision, mais peut être bon hasard?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sat Oct 9, 2004 9:31:45 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: British tug making slow progress towing Canadian sub to Scottish shore, Les funérailles du sous-marinier Chris Saunders auront lieu mercredi
Dear Paul,
My parents arrived safe and sound at my place just as I was getting home from work. Ripped windows out at work, which was fun. I’m planning to use some of the weighting hardware in some new work. My cheque still isn’t in my account and I’m starting to worry that Canada Post might have lost it. The cats gave almost no reaction to seeing Jessie again; maybe they remembered her? We sat and talked for a bit and then headed to Chez Doval for supper. Met Claudine there, and we had a fun evening, they seemed to get along well. Drove up the mountain and looked out at the lights of the city. My french teacher says that Montréal is brightest city at night in the world, is that true? I thought it would be Paris or New York. Maybe it has something to do with the size. Came home and retired early. Woke up early; my phone alarm went off. I thought I had turned it off, but that was my parent’s phone. The Jessie was up, needing to go out but not wanting to; she doesn’t like the stairs. Dad has to carry her up and down the curved, external staircase. So I got up and biked for bagels and coffee. Looked at the photos from my parent’s recent bike trip around the Cabot trail. We’ll head out shortly to walk around, shop, explore.
Did you watch the Bush-Kerry debate, round 2, last night? Who are you rooting for?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:22:19 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Body of naval officer who died after submarine fire returns to Halifax, Le sous-marin canadien NCSM Chicoutimi accoste enfin en Ecosse
Dear Paul,
Walked a lot yesterday. We took the metro to Peel and walked back along Ste. Catherine’s, up St. Laurent. Window shopped. Stopped at Simon’s and bought a cardigan. It’s cardigan weather. Was planning to stop at Schwartz’s for lunch but the lineup outside was incredibly long, at least forty people ahead of us on the sidewalk. So we ate at le vieux St. Laurent instead, a quaint little diner with just about everything under the sun on the menu (except smoked meat). My folks bought me a nice mid-winter jacket for my Xmas present. Continued down Mont Royal, to Papineau, looking at shoes but Mom didn’t find any. Not yet. And then we couldn’t decide what to do for the evening, we were all a little worn out, so we decided to eat in. I drove Schwartz’s for take-out and we made our own smoked meat sandwiches while watching Ladykillers. It was funny in parts but not the Cohen’s best work.
Today had breakfast at el Coyote and then walked up and down and up St. Hubert after the Jean Talon market, and Mom found shoes. I almost bought work boots. They were insulated and could double as winter boots. I still need to find gloves/mitts. The weather has been fluctuating, cold then mild then cold again, and you can tell that winter is getting closer. We’re resting our legs after all the walking, and we’ll eat at the Khyber Pass at 8:30. I made reservations (even though it didn’t seem to matter at Chez Doval). Dad brought some of their homemade wine, so we’ll bring a bottle or two to the restaurant; c’est un apportez votre vin.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Wed Oct 13, 2004 1:18:32 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Navy docks submarine fleet in wake of fire on HMCS Chicoutimi, Les dissensions apparaissent au grand jour lors du Forum
Dear Paul,
Wow, I never quite realized how right-wing and similar to FOX Global TV has become. Sunday night, before heading out to supper with my folks, we watched a bit of news. They were hosting a “faux trial” on the federal gov’t, and whether it has been negligent when it comes to supporting the armed forces. There were four “experts” offering testimony, but it was all quite one-sided. Why is it that people on the right want so much money put into defense? Is it really just fear of the Other? Of difference? Of course, nowadays we can just call it “terror”, call anything terror, and try to abolish it.
Our dinner Sunday night was fun, I think my folks quite enjoyed the Khyber Pass. The food is excellent. They left early Monday and I spent the day working on exhibition proposals and washing laundry (at SSMs, now SJMs, as I had to go there to feed Bijou, as the girls went to Melissa’s family cottage for the weekend). Finished a proposal for Artcite in Windsor and managed to print it and mail it between 5:30-6pm today, after stopping at Claudine’s to change, where she also fed me supper. I cooked at lamb roast there Monday night (Llllllloydly, I thought you llllllloved me—remember that classic Simpsonss episode?—hard to believe I was a vegetarian until just under two years ago. And I’m boycotting Simpsons, by the way, because of FOX’s rampant and out-of-control Republican support). We didn’t do much else, just hung out at her apartment and went to bed early, which was nice. I wasn’t half as tired as I usually am during french class. Which was fun, by the way. Exams start in 2 weeks but I’ll try not to think of them.
Am thinking about renting gallery space on St. Laurent to have a big show of the rubbings; I’ll keep you posted as to the progress. I have to find out for how much and when the space is available, then get cracking on the work. I’ve been memorizing locations of fun and interesting manhole covers, just need to get cracking and get the work done.
Just came back from Bistro Beaubien where I had some drinks with Sarah R. in celebration of her 25th birthday. oh, and I finally spoke with Mohanad last night, he is enjoying Toronto a lot and is working as a special agent in the downtown Al Qaeda cell (just kidding, he’s doing construction, encore).
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Thu Oct 14, 2004 7:08:59 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Revenue employees reach deal, close with other members of striking workers, Les baisses d’impôt du prochain budget viseront prioritairement les familles
Dear Paul,
I was referred to, indirectly, as a clown yesterday at work. Apparently the ceiling that Mike and I installed in the upstairs hallways was two inches off, according to the plaster molding guys. It wasn’t that bad, and we only straightened that ceiling according to the old one, we didn’t tear it all apart and start anew. Lots of miscommunication on this job. I wonder for how long I can keep up the charade? The painters are now onsite, and their boss is watching everyone like a hawk. Apparently he was with the owner on her last house, and took over when she finally fired the general contractor. Everyone seems to be waiting for when it happens here. I’d like to stay on his good side, and maybe work with him afterwards. Hey, you wouldn’t happen to want your portrait made, would you? Maybe I’ll go through the “official channels”, that sort of thing. I have a fair bit of practice with your predecessor, though from (newspaper) photographs, not live. I’m not terribly hard up for cash at the moment, my money finally arrived in my bank account, though I have some bills and debts to pay down, and want to start saving for the possible rental of galerie espace. It would be nice to find a producer of the show; hey, would you like to? It'[s only $400/week, and $750 for two. I think with the right presentation I would make some decent sales.
Anyway, I’d better go, make a lunch for work. It’s hard getting up this early when it is still dark outside. Watched Sweet and lowdown with Claudine at home last night, she met me after class. Class was fun, we read an exercise that mentioned the Baie-St-Paul Symposium. The movie wasn’t bad, though there were many times when it seemed as if Sean Penn was speaking exactly as if he was Woody Allen. That was a bit annoying.
Hey did you see the second Cheney/Edwards debate? I missed it. How was it? What do you think of Sinclair Broadcasting airing that anti-Kerry documentary on all it’s stations, without commercials, just before the election?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Fri Oct 15, 2004 6:55:27 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Cargo plane with seven crew crashes near Halifax amid huge fireball, Le Forum des générations accouche d’un grand nombre de comités
Dear Paul,
I’ve more work to do than I realized to get the rest of the applications prepared for the October 15 deadline. It’s mostly with getting the images and descriptions prepared. Worked on it a bit last night after class, but was really tired. Am still tired. Have until 9pm tonight, then there is a potluck at SSM for Sarah R’s birthday. Ed is back in town tomorrow. I have to make frottage paintings this weekend. I have to go make a lunch right now, and get those CDs ready. Sorry I can’t write more.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sun Oct 17, 2004 5:02:22 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Martin hears grousing from parliamentary lieutenants about their new roles, Une victoire du PQ signifiera un référendum hâtif sur l’avenir du Québec
Dear Paul,
The weather has been the pits this weekend. Rained again today, rained last night. No frottage paintings. Went home after the scanning at SJM and made supper and then Ed showed up, he had walked from the train station. He broke his bank card in NYC and didn’t have any money, which is why he hadn’t called first. So we ate and then headed down to Pub Jacques Cartier to hear Border Patrol, the “band” that Nick and Jeff have formed. Took the roundabout way, as the directions Melissa gave us via Jeff were somewhat skewed. Just so you know, the #97 does not travel down Papineau. Argued about Billie. She wants him to send some of her things that she left behind in Nelson months ago. I told him he should burn the stuff. It sounds to me she’s leading him on, but he’s blinded by love and can’t see how manipulative she is. Of course, I’ve never met her, so I don’t have the full story. But three hitchhiking journeys across the continent in three months to be abused by someone? Doesn’t make sense to me. As Adam Sandler sings in the Wedding Singer: “Love stinks!” Anyway, the “band” was fun (it was their first gig with a drummer, after only 1 rehearsal with him, so it was a bit rough in places). Nick’s rendition of “Ice ice baby” brought the house down. Took the metro with ed to Mont Royal, where he continued on to my place and I got off to buy a pumpkin and visit Claudine, who was just back from her hiking excursion with Janine in New York state. Had breakfast this morning with Clo and her friends Eli, Kent, and his friend whose name escapes me now. We had interesting conversations about the Northwest Territories, and living in Yellowknife, and economic development and environmental impacts, Cuba, revolutions, and colonialism. Looked through Eli’s photos from her three month stay in Africa, working with a co-op. Now I’m getting a renewed itch to work and travel abroad, to do some good, that sort of thing. Maybe I’ll look into going up north, that could be fun. Any tips?
I’m making a potato-leek soup at the moment, Claudine is coming over and then we’ll all go out to a movie at Cinema Beaubien, probably Vénus et Fleur. Am going to smoke a cigarette with Ed (I still smoke occasionally, 1-2 per day, sometimes none, sometimes three or four if out drinking). Then must vaccuum the rug. Caught Kuan peeing on my futon frame; what’s up with that? It is the second time I have caught her peeing inside. Has she become sauvage from her outdoor excursions? Venting her displeasure with me? What should I do to curb this behavior?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:16:33 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Canada appears set to support U.S. missile defence program, La radicalisation du PQ va profiter à l’ADQ, prédit Mario Dumont
Dear Paul,
Had a soup-off last night. I made two large pots of potato-leek soup, and Sarah R. made a large pot of vegetable soup and a large pot of squash-apple soup. Claudine came over and we watched a little TV and ate some soup and then we, along with Ed, went to SJM’s and watched a movie and ate more soup. The movie sucked, The Rage of Placid Lake, it looked good on the package. Ed liked it. We went for coffee at the King of Smoked meat on St. Hubert and talked more of child support, art and art schools and masters’ programs, billie (of course!) and the fear and exhilaration of hitch-hiking. He is off today for Toronto, I gave him my big black puffy winter jacket for the journey. I spent the night at Claudine’s, I sleep well there, and we talked about us, our feelings, more than usual, as I am not a very good communicator. I need to let go of the apprehension I have about talking about my feelings.
Work was work, the day went quickly, worked with Jay most of the day, put up some walls and ceilings. My drywall skills are improving. At soup for lunch, and have a feeling I will be for at least a few more days. Got a call right after work from Melissa reminding me about the films screening at Concordia as part of some International Democracy day, so I stopped at Clo’s for a shower and we ate at the restaurant on the corner and had unsatisfying General Tao and Lemon chicken, and couldn’t even share a pot of green tea (we did anyway, sipping from the same cup), then cycled downtown. We’d missed one screening, but I didn’t mind as we’d caught the last ten agonizing minutes of repetitive Q&A, poorly-shot and badly-edited documentary (though the bits with Robert MacNamara were OK), and that was enough. The big film of the night was the screening of Weapons of Mass Deception, by Danny Schechter. It had a lot in common with Outfoxed, in that it was a critical examination of the loss of journalistic integrity in a post 9/11 world. Danny gave a loooong introductory speech, but it was sort of quaint as he is even goofier than Michael Moore. I decided it was fair to take a night off french class to satisfy the dormant, radical activist within. You’d think with all the sh*t hitting the public fan lately about Bush, (the lack of WMDs, world opinion, etc.) that he wouldn’t have a chance of re-election. So how come it’s neck and neck, or him ahead by 8 points (depending on which poll/paper you read)? Is it the Republican spin campaign in full gear or is it that 50% of decided american voters are just plain morons? I don’t know which is scarier.
Actually, joining up with the US on missile defense is pretty scary. That such a vote to pass in the commons, because all the conservatives are foaming at the mouth to hop in bed with the US and most liberals will vote as you tell them to, is pretty scary. That the cold war seems to be repeating itself is scary too. What to do?
I’m going to bed, I’ve stayed up too late as it is surfing the net. Not much good news out there.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:42:13 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Cockpit recorder from crashed cargo jet too damaged to be of use, Le député de Vanier pour l’ADQ boude la cérémonie d’accueil des nouveaux élus
Dear Paul,
I don’t know if eating supper after midnight is good for me or not. I’m exhausted and want to sleep but now my belly is full, that and I’m a bit wired from the allongé I had at Café Esperanza with Melissa after french class. We talked about urban planning and the lack thereof, and les gens sans abri, et les commandites et avertisements and the really cool street paintings that keep popping up. Did I tell you that I’ve even been dreaming about them? I’m artistically envious of the speed with which the stencils are popping up as well as the beautiful simplicity of the designs. I’ve some new ideas in mind for stencils, just need to get the materials and find the time to execute them.
I’ve also been thinking of moving to the NYT or Yukon. Am going to look into some jobs there, when I have time. Boy, I’m sick of saying that.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Fri Oct 22, 2004 6:52:52 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Investigators say cargo jet going too slow when it crashed, Des groupes sociaux sont sceptiques face à la conciliation travail-famille
Dear Paul,
Sorry I haven’t written in a while. Am trying to do too much with my time. This week, since Wednesday, I’ve been to a film (The Adventures of Iron Pussy, playing at Cinéma l’Amour on St. Laurent as part of the festival du nouveau cinéma. No, not a porno, but a bizarre Thaï-transexual-superhero-spy-love-story-adventure-comedy Claudine brought me to after class), and last night we took in some bands at Club Soda as part of MEG—Montreal Electronic Groove. The Teamtendo duo were really fun and energetic (animal costumes certainly don’t hurt electronica stage presence), but we left during the Nouvelle Vague set. Not much to them other than a couple pretty girls singing covertunes in their nighties. But the late nights are playing havoc with my work schedule. This morning I hit the snooze button for my whole half-hour preparation period. But breakfast at Chez Cora’s with Claudine a few mornings ago was fun. We are communicating better, and also joking about communicating better. But right now I’m trying to clear a clogged pipe in my bathroom. Some advice: when using Drain-O, get the crystals. The cheaper liquid stuff doesn’t work nearly as well. Or in my present case, not at all. Tonight I’m going to another film with S&M and maybe Jen&Nick.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sun Oct 24, 2004 1:53:37 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Pit bull owners rally in Toronto against proposed ban; call it wrong solution, La crise actuelle au PQ nuit au mouvement souverainiste, admet Duceppe
Dear Paul,
I found a pair of black shoes on the street last night while walking downtown to Cinema du Parc with Sarah R. They add a good two inches to my height and make a smart clicking noise when I walk in them. We went to Jen & Nick’s and immediately met up with Jeff & Melissa and their new best friend, a bottle of tequila. We had a few strong bolts before the movie, which helped me sit through it all. We saw <a href=”http://www.i-saw-tarnation.com/“>Tarnation</a>. Whoa. Hard to tell if it is really, really good or really, really bad. I thought it could have used a lot less of the multiple split screen and other cheesy digital effects, but in some places they were effective in transmitting the various psychotic states of mind at play. I felt it was strongest when there was longer, tension-filled dialogues between the central players, his mom and grandparents, the scene near the end is heart-wrenching and bizarre. The footage he shot when young, acting out, playing his “testimonials”, was also particularly strong. A documentary twenty years in the making. It has been described as a “fever dream”—and that feels quite accurate. Somehow, Sarah managed to fall asleep after fifteen minutes. The rest of us had a twenty-minute discussion of the film in the lobby. Going in, I ran into Francois, the filmmaker I met in Baie-St-Paul last year. Upon arriving home in the evening I was confronted yet again with blocked pipes and a spraying cat. According to some websites I visited it appears that Kuan is suffering through some trauma, either from me being away so much or a freak run-in with Yaga. They could be having a territorial dispute. Or the litter box may not be clean enough. Or she is sick. Today I called my landlord about the pipes, after three attempts with the Draino. He said a plumber is looking at the problem tomorrow, as the apartment downstairs is blocked too. Sunday morning house calls can’t be cheap, so I’m not holding my breath.
Today I cleaned the apartment a bit, chasing after Kuan and thwarting her attempts to spray. Worked on the computer a bit, bought some groceries and then went out and made some sidewalk paintings. Cycled to Westmount to get some of the manhole covers I’ve had my eyes on. Didn’t bring enough canvas though; the paintings are getting larger as I try to capture more of the texture beyond the manholes. I have ideas now to make paintings of 100 square feet of given streetspace in Montréal, or 100 feet in a row, something like that. Need more fabric, and space, and warmer weather. Washed my fall jacket today; I hit some mud while cycling on Sherbrooke, that really did it in. Washed four loads at the 24-hour laundromat on St. Zotique. Worked on some stencils. Listened to the radio and watched some TV. Can’t decide whether I should stay up late and go on a stenciling spree or do it early, early in the morning.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Mon Oct 25, 2004 6:52:09 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Navy flies widow of submariner killed in fire to Scotland to witness inquiry, Ottawa et les provinces discuteront de péréquation sans négocier les montants
Dear Paul,
Here it is, another Monday morning. Have I told you before how I am always able to wake up early on Monday mornings? I believe I have. I wasn’t up too late last night, which might have helped. Claudine and I spent the afternoon together. We had planned to see the <a href=”http://www.edwardburtynsky.com/“>Edward Burtynsky</a> show at the MACM, but the weather was just too nice to be inside. We spent some time in Parc Lafontaine and then strolled along St. Laurent in search of gloves. I bought some more canvas for more paintings; I’ll try to make some more this week. We bought some fish and made supper at my place and watched Jesus of Montreal on TV. Have you ever seen it? The electric guitar solos and big poofy hairdos certainly date it as a mid-eighties film, but it is strong and powerful. Kuan seems to be back to normal, I haven’t caught her spraying in a couple days.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:55:08 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Martin, premiers reach $28-billion equalization deal; Williams storms out, Ottawa et les provinces concluent un accord sur la péréquation
Dear Paul,
My apartment still has a funny smell but it’s not as strong. The candles and lysol and the Hertel, general cleaning and moving the food dishes away from the litter seem to have helped a bit. And I haven’t caught Kuan spraying, not seen traces of it. I came home from class early tonight and Kuan and Yaga were both conked out on my bed, snoozing cat-peacefully, so they seem to be getting along better. Hopefully this was an isolated spraying incident.
Further on the plus side, my pipes are unblocked, so I can resume bathing. I had a quick shower last night before heading to Claudine’s. Made a frottage painting on St. Laurent on the way. The canvases keep getting bigger and bigger; they need more room, there are more and more details to capture. I’m becoming more interested in the rest of the sidewalk, the cracks make beautiful patterns and shapes.
We watched a few more episodes of Six Feet Under. They are becoming interesting again, there seems to be more of a consistent inquiry into the nature of death. I know you claim to be Catholic, but what do you really think happens to us when we die? Is the universe happening according to some grand blueprint or just via a series of bizarre coincidences?
Work has been going well. I feel lately as if I have been apprenticing under the young cabinet-maker, Jimmy. I’ve been helping him with windows and today, shelves. Ahh, there is nothing quite like working with Medium Density Fibreboard for one’s daily intake of formaldehyde. Today the moldings were finally delivered, weeks late and after weeks of anticipation, to expected results: derision on the part of all the tradesworkers present. Hundreds and hundreds of feet of molding that was cut to shape (poorly) on a tablesaw and will require untold hours of sanding and shaping to make workable, but they were approved by the boss so for the time being we are stuck with them. Maybe Tom’s prediction that the boss hired some guys with a tablesaw in the back alley of Home Depot wasn’t so far off the mark. Maybe the owner will see them this week and reject them. Maybe it will be the breaking straw? Maybe I’ll be looking for work really soon? Which—insert Odd Todd voice here—aside from the “no work, no money” aspect, wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I’d have time to finish some art projects and start others, as well as time to look for other forms of work.
Anyway, I’ve used my extra free time tonight (as a result of the exam, which was short and sweet) to make supper, wash dishes, check email and write to you. I’m meeting Claudine tonight to see the new film Memoires Affectives. I like movies that deal with memory. Maybe because mine is so erratic?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Wed Oct 27, 2004 11:55:10 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Martin shuts down nomination battles to avoid repeat of bitter Liberal fights, Jean Charest juge qu’Ottawa n’en a pas fait assez pour la péréquation
Dear Paul,
I really have to take some time and de-frost my refrigerator. The freezer portion is totally iced up, and ice is melting and water dripping into the fridge part, pooling on top of various tupperware containers. I’ll add it to the list of household things to do, like find the source of that smell, and put plastic on the windows.
Hey, did you catch the total eclipse of the moon tonight? I like it when it turns all blood-like, very freaky. That reminds me, I have been having anxiety attacks (not really, just an expression) that Bush will win the election. What on earth will that mean? And on the other hand, would Kerry be that much better? It all comes down to that classic Simpsons episode, when Kodos and Kang kidnap Dole and Clinton and hijack the ’96 election. When their plot is revealed the “elections” go ahead anyhow, even though Kang and Kodos have the same objective. I can’t remember who won, but Homer claims to have voted for the other, as if it would have made a difference. Today on CHOM (Bad Classic Rock Commerical Radio Station) I heard of a method that has apparently accurately predicted the outcome of every US presidential election since 1932: <a href=”http://jazzmaniac.dailykos.com/story/2004/10/2/62010/6141“>The Washington Redskins</la>. If they lose or tie to the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, Halloween, then Bush is out. If they win, so does Kerry. Almost more nerve-wracking than November 2 itself. As a distraction, I think I’ll pick up Sheila Copps’ new book, Worth Fighting For. Fiction or non-fiction, I’m sure it will be an entertaining read. Actually, I’m listening to her being interviewed sur Radio-Canada maintenant. Je pense que j’ai fait mal en mes examens ce soir. Pas trôp mal sur l’examen ecouté, mais il y a fait beaucoup de temp pour je suis diru avec confiance et avec un petit vitesse. It takes me a while to warm up, and then the time is up.
Hey, I knew you were a millionaire and all, but I didn’t realize you were worth $25 million. That’s a lot of dough! Are you sure you don’t want a prime ministerial portrait of yourself painted by yours truly? I’ll give you a good deal, I promise: Just a few sittings, no more than two hours each time, some photographs, travel to and from Ottawa, hotels, meals, hourly per-diem, materials and a commission fee of $10, 000. Would you want to see some slides of my past work?
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Fri Oct 29, 2004 7:12:49 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Truscott saga to drag on after Cotler asks appeal court to review case, Le comité sur les infections à l’hôpital fait ses recommandations
Dear Paul,
Went to see a play with Claudine last night at <a href=”http://www.quatsous.com/index_ok.html“>Theatre Quat Sous</a>, Les Mains. There was a great set with lots of trap doors and actors appearing and exiting in odd places, great lighting and good music. The characters were really well done and the story, well, a little hard for me to follow but I understood a fair bit. The story grew from a series of improvisations. Oh, and somehow I managed to pass my french class and am moving on to Niveau 5, I picked up my marks before supper. And guess what? Mohanad is in town, we met up with him and Jarra and Jolina and some others, Kim and Jeremy and Janice were there too, at—where else?—the Reservoir, for a drink. We’ll meet up again tonight. Anyway, I’d best bring the cats inside; one of the neighborhood cats tried to get in and Kuan kicked some hairy butt, but then ended up scrapping with Yaga too, who came running to see what all the commotion was about. I hope these sorts of misunderstandings don’t lead to a reoccurrence of the sprayings. My apartment still has an odd odor.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sat Oct 30, 2004 11:42:18 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Martin refuses to take sides in Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election, Martin refuse de prendre parti dans le cadre de la campagne américaine
Dear Paul,
Am heading out for some Halloween madness. Just biked home from Biftek on St. Laurent where I held a pool table hostage with a neighbour of Jarra’s, Vincent, from Oakville, a fire fighter in Manitoba these past five summers, both drunk and fending off all takers. Until we lost, and I cycled home in the rain to dress up as a dandy, sleeves and a costume I can’t even describe, I’ll take pictures. The gang (Sarah R., Mark, Jen and Nick) are on their way over and then it is to Geoff Roy’s party and then maybe dancing. Spent the afternoon very content and happy gallery-going with Claudine, loved Joyce Yahouda’s Store, will apply tout-suite, have other art applications to make tomorrow. Good work at Galerie René Blouin, an artist from Lyon, Sylvie Barré, and next week there a vernissage avec <a href=”http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/hatoum_mona.html“>Mona Hatoum</a>, I adore her work.
So you’re not playing a Bin laden and taking sides in the US election? Come on, if you root for Kerry we can kiss that dumb-ass bouclier anti-missile plan away.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <chrislloyd@videotron.ca>
Date: Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:33:49 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Klein’s mother Florence Gray dies at age 80 amid Alberta election campaign, Après les provinces, Ottawa devra penser à ses responsabilités, dit Lapierre
Dear Paul,
So the <a href=”http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/election.asp“>Redskins</a> lost; should we take it as a sign that Dubya will be turfed from la maison blanche? Let’s hope the streak continues.
Had a bit of a lazy hangover day, despite getting up ridiculously early due to the time change. Came home from Geoff’s party quite late to find a note on my door warning me not to bring anyone home; Clo had arrived before me, coming from another party. I thought that was really cute, and thoughtful and practical as well. Good thing I didn’t have anyone with me! Had fun at the party dancing with Jen and Nick and making up words to cheesy songs from the eighties. And singing really loud. There were some good costumes; I’ll post a picture of the giant penis on my website, if you’d like to see it.
Gotta go. I’m making stew (Clo and I went to el Coyote for breakfast, then to the Jean Talon Market for veggies, then down St. Hubert where I finally bought my winter/work boots, then picked up a movie, The legend of 1900, which we didn’t watch because my VCR is acting screwy, though it worked fine while we watched and fell asleep to the Best of Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live, afterwards when I tried to fiddle with it I realized that Kuan had sprayed it at some point, which explains a bit why the apartment still smells, but was a rather disgusting discovery all the same), and have to work on a couple art exhibition applications. Am heading out tonight to see Geoff and Nick perform, I’ll wear a version of my “dandy” costume from last night, Clo lent me frilly sleeves and a frilly tie thingy, I wore my tux jacket with tails, Jen painted a mustache on my face.
Alex Trebek says: You drink water from this. And the question is: What is a man’s glove?” (said with a thick Sean Connery accent).
-chris
DEAR PM 