igh-tech tools could help assert Canadian sovereignty in North: minister, L’Équipe provinciale de reconstruction se met en place en Afghanistan
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Mon, Aug 1, 2005 at 12:00 AM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Niagra on the Lake has officially joined Peterborough and Niagra Falls
on the “Never visit again” list. First of all there was the three hour
drive to get there. It must have been due to the Americans exiting
Toronto after Carabana; the highway was basically reduced to a
slow-moving parking lot. Needless to say we were all a little frayed
by the time we arrived. Then there was the two and half million freaky
tourists swarming the road and sidewalks of a fake town filled to an
obscene level with flowers. I know they win some annual national
flower award but come on! It’s disgusting, really. Like perverting
nature into porn. On top of that there was the two-stall ladies
washroom; Claudine felt driven to leave an official complaint. But
then things settled down, we found a decent location for the picnic
near the water and then, BAM! We hit her parents with the big
announcement and they seemed surprisingly, genuinely happy. Her mom
read my letter aloud—the one Claudine helped correct this morning,
after I attempted the translation—and we were all a little emotional,
but otherwise very happy and content and being a bit emotional during
these revealing moments of committing to one person, love being a
sneaky emotion, it all felt normal and surreal at the same time. The
drive back was calm and we went for coffee afterwards before saying
goodbye.
This is what Claudine has to say about it:
Seriously, how much tourist-towning can one take? Do people really
like to pile up in one single street, flanqued in every way with
overpriced junk and decorated with an obscene amount of flowers? I
wonder if we even crossed paths with one resident of
Niagara-on-the-Lake: if I were them, I would flee. Although they might
have moved there in the first place because they enjoyed paying a lot
of money to live by a lake with which’s water you can actually develop
photographs. Anyways, as much as it can sound like a detail, I was
apalled and utterly impatient with the fact that there was only 2
public toilets available in the whole town swamped with people. So
when we got to the village, after “driving” for three hours on a
highway parking lot with my parents, I had to pee so bad I ran to the
Tourist Office, and the line-up was so long to the Ladies I was going
to explode and went into the mens bathroom. Then, fuming, I walked
right into the Chamber of Commerce and asked the quiet teenager behind
the counter for a complaint sheet, on which I wrote:
“It is the second time I set foot in Niagara-on-the-Lake and I have
been each time surprised with the little amount of bathroom facilities
you provide to visitors. There are 2 stalls only in the Ladies room,
and therefore, unable to wait the long line-up, I had to go into the
Mens and scandalize my elders. Seriously, this city should invest more
in basic facilities and less in flowers (of which there is
ridiculously too much) to increase the comfort of tourists who come
and spend their money here.”
For what it’s worth, it relieved me.
Last night we went to Hollenberg’s going away party at Spencer’s
apartment. She’s heading to LA to continue her studies. Ran into a
good chunk of the Halifax gang, including Andrew K. and Tashia, folks
I haven’t seen in a long while. The theme of the party was “Hollywood
B-list”. I wore one of my BDB hand-me-down shirts with a tie Claudine
bought me and a set of cufflinks I bought in Chicago and my Flying-J
straw hat, which gave Swintak the impression that I was a Texan oil
tycoon. It would be nice to have that sort of money to throw around.
Claudine looked smashing in a sequined gown that belongs to her friend
Anne. I smoked a joint and became overly talkative, in that
nonesensical sort of manner. We didn’t stay late but it was fun while
it lasted. Grabbed a tasty slice of pizza from Manadora on the way
home. The owner was friendly and talkative.
Now we’re at home reading new magazines and the New York Times, which
costs $9 for the Sunday edition here in TO. Enough reading for a week,
no doubt. Then maybe a movie but most likely some sex.
-chris
Martin names Vancouver mayor, two Tories to Senate, Cinq personnes sont nommées au Sénat dont la comédienne Andrée Champagne
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Tue, Aug 2, 2005 at 4:39 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Took advantage of the day off yesterday to build my crate and finish
off a few painting jobs, namely at Leah’s down the street, and at
Courtney and Sarah’s new apartment. Their walls and ceiling in the
living room are texturized to resemble something badly pockmarked,
like the aftereffects of a bad case of acne. We tried a few different
faux faux finshes. I painted the bathroom with Courtney, then cycled
downtown to meet Claudine for a movie. We had chosen Wedding Crashers,
and though I admit to finding some parts humorous and others downright
funny (mostly the scenes where Vince is talking so fast and combining
the weirdest images that it was almost impossible to not laugh),
overall the movie relies too much on cardboard stereotypes for cheap
laughs, has a preposterous plotline and is bogged down by trying to
force the audience to care for some cheaply rendered love story. The
only thing that would have saved this movie is if it had remained
solely in the stand-up slapstick genre; no cheesy songs, no music
video cutaways, no convoluted storyline, no pathetic attempts at
stereotypes (the “bad guy” behaves so badly the director might just as
well painted a target on his forehead). And poor Christopher Walken is
just wasted, though the overtime appearance of Wil Farell is nicely
placed. Overall, a far cry from smarter wedding-themed films such as
Wedding Singer.
Afterwards we met Kristiina and her guy Adam for drinks at Sweaty
Betties. Kristiina is one of the artists I’ve selected to show work at
the first Third Space show in the fall, with either her “I love you”
stickie note installation or work from her new series that deals with
security envelope patterns. Have I already told you this? Because I’m
getting deja vu while writing this. Anyway, we spent the evening
talking about Pee Wee Herman, bicycles stolen and retrieved, films,
art and relationships. Swintak and John happened by and I drank the
rest of her whiskey. Before it was too late Claudine and I cycled home
and made some fresh pasta.
Today I’ve occupied myself with laundry and trying to pack up my
stuff. I came to Toronto with far too many things. Time to shed some
more. I leave super early tomorrow to catch my rideshare with Mr.
Bobby and need to pack some more in Montréal. The downside to a
nomadic lifestyle.
-chris
Evacuation of Air France flight took less than two minutes, officials say, Les vols au départ et à destination de Toronto auraient repris ce matin
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Wed, Aug 3, 2005 at 2:29 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
I’m back in Montréal for the moment. The rideshare with Mr. Bobby was smooth and quick. I met him a the York Mills subway station at 7:15 AM. I couldn’t sleep well all night out of nervousness that I would sleep in, so I was self-waking every forty minutes or so. Claudine and I spent our last evening together cooking tofu on the barbecue, correcting my french email to Jérôme, having great sex and watching a fun movie (Stranger than Paradise). There was another passenger with us, a young American lawyer who quit his job in Texas to travel up to Canada; he’d met a cute Québecoise. Ce la vie, oui? Anyway, I’m not going to ramble on as I’m paying for this email and I still have packing to do and boxes to find and Judy and Peter are meeting me in an hour or so. Do you know anyone who would like to go to the Coldplay concert tonight in Montréal? They have a front row ticket, it won’t be cheap. Call me on my cell, 514-293-8183. Ciao,
-chris
Jobless rate 6.8 per cent in July, up marginally from 6.7 per cent in June, Nationales NEWS
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Fri, Aug 5, 2005 at 10:10 AM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
We arrived in Saint John late last night. We had left Montreal early in the morning but decided to stop in Quebec City for lunch and a little sight-seeing, as it had been many years since Judy had been there. Overall a nice trip; the Element has a ton of legroom in the back. Spent a lot of the trip reading about wine which led me to have weird tasting dreams last night. I dreamt of tasting wines that conjured up scents of “moldy socks”, “battery tires”, “pungent washcloths” and “dusty bricks”. I really hope this is not foreshadowing.
So I failed in my attempt to scalp Coldplay tickets. I couldn’t get even what Judy had paid for them. It was OK, as the concert was actually pretty good. It was heartening to hear that the band being touted as the next U2 announced that their favourite all-time band was in attendance, a local band in fact, and of course referring to The Arcade Fire. We were at the concert with Danika, Peter’s daughter, and her friends Jessie and Eric. Eric had bought extra tickets so he sold one to Rudy, who was in the midst of battling off a bad cold but came out anyway. I had seen Eric (painter Eric) after he had finished work and before he went to his weekly bout of extreme off road cycling. It was nice to see them, however brief.
After the concert we hiked up to Le Pistol to meet Melissa, Sarah R. and Jenn, but Judy and Peter left due to lack of service and a bit of fatigue. Stayed out a bit late and visited with the girls a bit more at the new apartment, which feels comfortable and well-lived in already. Again, the visit was too brief, and I’ll miss the whole gang.
The stopover in Montreal was too brief and I missed a chance to retrieve my TRAFIC artwork from Mathieu, though we did connect by phone and the work is fine in his studio until I can next retrieve it. I think the box simply consists of the suit and the DVD. I didn’t get a chance to see Jen or Karen. Next time.
I’m already feeling a bit of shock at being back in SJ. First of all there is the weather, a good fifteen degrees cooler than what I am used to. Judy assures me this is odd weather but I sense a bit of La Grand Seduction at play. But the Brodie Building looks great and the renovations in both the gallery and the wine bar and coming along nicely. There is a bit more work to do in the gallery but I am anxious to get on it, knock down a wall, rip up a floor, finish at least two rooms, or what will become one main room, before the end of the month.
I do have bad news: my computer died again. It seems to be experiencing the same problem as before. I’ll be seeing Lise later on who can fill me in on where to take a sick Mac in this town. She just came into Judy’s office so I will sign off for now.
-chris
Canada to develop no-fly list as part of security upgrade – transport minister, Un mois après sa libération, Karla Homolka réussit à vivre dans l’anonymat
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Sat, Aug 6, 2005 at 1:42 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
The weather is much nicer today, and I find myself a tad overdressed, a little too warm. Maybe its the polyester shirt. I’m back at the Brodie Building after spending the night out with my parents. Nice and quiet out there. It’s actually fairly quite here, too. It’s also quiet out at Peter and Judy’s. You could almost say that the silence is deafening. My ears have been ringing for the past few days, but that could be from the concert.
So yesterday we had lunch at a new Bistro on Prince William St. called Opera. Karina met us for lunch but we didn’t talk a whole lot. She is not enjoying her job a whole lot and doesn’t seem sure, or able to express, exactly what it is she is doing. Project Coordination, something like that. Spent most of my time talking with Roby, trying to convince him to stop smoking. I wonder if bumming smokes from him at the same time is detrimental to that objective? Anyway, I’m not smoking anymore, at least not until after the half marathon. Which I have to register for this afternoon. I might have to buy some shorts and socks, too. I’m terribly unprepared for it but feel that I’ve now challenged myself and so should probably go through with it. I ordered a big seafood pasta salad for lunch today but it was as big as a truck and tasted like one, too. I swear there was bacon bits and bits of egg in the salad, but nowhere could I taste any seafood. And I stayed up too late last night adding links to the Tiers Espace website. Watched a cheesy movie with my folks that actually wasn’t half bad, A perfect murder, based on the Dial M for murder play. It’s just hard to take Michael Douglas seriously.
This morning we went to an estate auction out in St. Martin’s. Didn’t bid on anything but it was fun to look through the house and watch the auction process. Saw Peter there. He bought a print that was the source of a local painting he has in his house.
Am off to register. Wish me luck.
-chris
Premiers say education and training key to Canada’s economic future, L’éducation et la formation sont la clé de l’économie future du Canada
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Mon, Aug 8, 2005 at 9:33 AM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. I ran the half marathon in the morning and then got burned to a crisp in the afternoon while sitting on the back patio drinking beers and smoking cigarettes with Peter, Judy and her friend Joelle. I didn’t think it was possible to get a sunburn in Saint John but boy was I wrong. And today my legs are paying the price of running 21 km with no prior training. Stairs are a challenge, both ascending and descending. But it was a fun run and I enjoyed running with Judy, though I don’t know if my endless prattle helped or hindered. She said she will hate me forever for running ahead of her for the final couple kilometres. I trust she is kidding. I can also see how these things can be addictive; I’m already thinking of another half marathon in Toronto the end of September that might be nice to run. Though if I do it with Claudine we won’t be able to run together; my ceaseless talking would drive her crazy.
Today I have gallery / wine bar planning to do, and a schedule to make, and possibly a floor to tear up. First I need to pick up my other suitcases that arrived by bus; my work clothes are in them.
-chris
National chief wants premiers to make aboriginal poverty a focus, Les soldats canadiens renforcent la sécurité au camp de Kandahar Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Tue, Aug 9, 2005 at 6:48 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: dearpm@gmail.com
Dear Paul,
Drove Judy to Fredericton this afternoon, after first sleeping in and then spending the morning scraping off a bit more of the floor gunk in the gallery and tearing down most of the drywall in the extraneous wall in between the two main exhibition spaces. The frame will come down tomorrow. We had a nice drive; she wanted a chauffeur because she needed more time to prepare for her meeting, part of the Atlantic Cultural Spaces conference she is helping to organize in SJ this fall. My schedule is fairly open and besides, I love to drive. I somehow managed to get talking and we missed the turnoff and had to pull U-turn and then we ended up on the old road and she was a bit late but it wasn’t a big problem. What IS a problem is that my legs are still not working properly, especially after sitting for a long period of time.
It was quite warm in Fredericton; I had dressed for the fog in SJ, so was waaaay too warm. Even at the end of the day, as soon as we neared SJ, the fog returned (it had never left, actually). We both were wondering if anyone with the tourism department has tried to launch a funky campaign extolling the virtues of the fog. Judy thinks it could be promoted as a naturally air-conditioned city; I just think the fog is mysterious.
Last night Peter, Judy and I had supper on the back patio (Peter cooked; he is a great cook, I hope I don’t become spoiled, but instead perhaps learn a trick or two), and then we attempted to try placing some lights in preparation for their wedding this coming Saturday. It was a bit like something from the pages of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation; lights that needed to be untangled, broken links found, bulbs changed, sizes not compatible, lengths not right, trees too prickly, results too tacky. But near the end of the night, after the sun had set and the bugs had emerged from the blackness, after I had tried wrapping trees tightly and then loosely with lights, after stewing them in the bush, after stuffing them in Chinese lanterns and hanging the lanterns from trees, after stringing up fishing line and attaching the lanterns between the chimney and the neighbouring fence, we made some decisions regarding tea lights, which will be placed by the dozens throughout the garden, so overall it was a productive night.
-chris
Premiers muse about education while monitoring cowboy antics at Alta meeting, Les Canadiens effectuent une première patrouille à pied dans Kandahar
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Wed, Aug 10, 2005 at 10:23 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Tried in vain to set up the TV-VCR at Peter and Judy’s last night so I
could watch some wine videos. Why is it so confusing? Cables and
remote controls and fifteen different potential inputs/outputs,
really, is it all necessary? Anyway, Claudine called and we had a nice
long conversation, something we rarely do. She has some great ideas
for the gallery regarding short-term residencies in the realm of
public interventionist practices. Very fun. I’ll get cracking on all
the gallery stuff once my computer is back. Terra Consulting called at
the end of the day and my computer has been repaired! I’ve asked them
to put an airport card in so I can get wireless internet.
Today Peter and I took down the rest of the wall, bagged up the debris
and took it out for garbage pickup. Spent the rest of the day washing
and scraping up the glue from the floorboards. How was it? Absolutely
disgusting. I’d like to find the guy who decided to glue paper down
overtop perfectly good hardwood floor and kick him where the sun don’t
shine. What an idiot! What stinky, smelly, sticky piles of goop this
creates. The consistency must be a secret blend of molasses, tar and
baby poop. Where does one put it? I feel like I’m just smearing this
shit all over the place. The shovel only helps marginally.
Met my dad at his work where we tried to speed up the process to get
Judy’s divorce certificate, something she had overlooked amidst all
her other wedding plans. It will be a stretch to get the document by
Friday; hopefully it works as she is getting married on Saturday.
Drove to my parents house with my dad where we had a quick supper and
then Mom and I went for a bicycle ride around the Kingston Peninsula.
My parents go every week with another group of riders, but tonight Dad
had repairs to do at their church, so I used his bike and all his
gear. It was a fun ride, the views are spectacular, the hills amazing.
We biked 41km, so I know now another complete marathon route, in case
I ever want to train. I still have the running bug, and plan to begin
running to work when I get my good running shoes from Toronto.
Claudine’s old sneakers, the ones I wore for the half marathon, are a
tad small for me, and it now appears that the toenail on my left large
toe is going to fall off; there is weird purple swelling underneath,
ewwww.
There was a big cruise ship in town today. Visitors had a good look at
the spectacular fog. I noticed it a lot as I was making trips down the
street to empty buckets of swampy baby-poop coloured water down the
storm drains in front of disturbed tourists.
I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but tonight will be like the fourth
night in a row I’ll have gone to bed before midnight. Is it the early
mornings? The fog? Am I getting old?
-chris
Premiers raise softwood lumber, illegal guns with U.S. ambassador, Jean Charest dit que la position américaine sur le bois d’oeuvre mine l’ALENA Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Fri, Aug 12, 2005 at 8:35 AM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: dearpm@gmail.com
Dear Paul,
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. I fell asleep shortly after supper; Peter made succulent pork loins, then Lise came over to help Judy decorate the back yard and I came inside to read (The Rebel Sell, which Claudine lent me), then I was asleep until midnight. I wonder if the whipper-snipping of the backyard wore me out. I had also carried some banquet tables with Robyn, but other than that, not much. Once I woke up again I couldn’t get back to sleep. Watched some cheesy TV with Robyn before heading back to bed around 3AM and having weird, weird dreams.
My day consisted of scraping more of that muck off the gallery floor. It comes off easier with more water but I was afraid to go overboard and cause a leak to the restaurant below. Met up with my dad in the afternoon to get the rest of Judy’s and Peter’s wedding gift. Took the idea from Claudine and we got them a picnic basket; not really a basket, but a satchel, with plates and glasses and cutlery and a wine bottle holder, very fancy. Have to wrap it today.
Judy has been running around decorating and organizing more, but now it seems that the weather forecast is calling for “light showers” tomorrow, so things might need to change once again. Her first idea was that if faced with rain she would buy 75 cheap umbrellas and still have the ceremony outside, with all the guests shielded under a ceiling of umbrellas. It should work; we shall see.
Tonight we are going out for supper at the Asian Palace. Afterwards there is a gallery hop. Should be fun; we shall see.
-chris
Premiers reach consensus on training and productivity, plan fall summit, Michaëlle Jean doit clarifier sa position, selon certains premiers ministres Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Sat, Aug 13, 2005 at 7:29 AM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: dearpm@gmail.com
Dear Paul,
Had a weird day. Started off by emailing threatening messages to some stupid mobile phone company that is at the heart of a spate of sudden spam text messages. I hate the text messages because they light my phone up like I have a message but then it turns out that it is someone named Darr-lyne wanting me to join its personal network, grrrr. So I found the website for the company and threatened all the staff I could find email addresses for with physical violence if the text messaging continues. Then I went uptown with Judy, grabbed a sandwich at Jeremiah’s in the market, and then went to the office to wrap their present. Met up with Judy again at SNB where she was getting her marriage certificate (it was all worked out in time) and we drove back home and had beers on the patio before going back uptown for supper at The Asian Palace. There was a gallery hop tonight between the three galleries in town but I was somewhat disappointed as the wine ran out after Handworks; both Trinity and Peter Buckland were dry by the time we arrived. And we weren’t that later, either. That, combined with the weird mall-people Tim Horton “Claw Grip” that I am noticing on almost everybody, is making me second-guess my decision to move back here. What the hell am I doing? For crying out loud, the nearest corner stores to Judy’s house are “Jim Bob’s” or “the Pumpkin Patch”. Aaaarg! And when we got back home after the openings we found that Robyn and his friend Mario had spilled Crazy Glue all over Lise’s table and tried to set fire to the new flagstone patio. Sure, he’s 14 years old, but does that give him carte blanch to act like an idiot the day before his mom’s wedding? I find lately that I fantasize more and more about physical violence and that worries me. I’ll go running tomorrow morning and hopefully blow off some steam.
PS. I was going to go running this morning but it is raining. Hard. Judy is freaking out; her wedding ceremony is supposed to be outside this evening. The forecast calls for clearing and overcast conditions, so I’m not too worried, but what does 91% humidity mean? Anyway, I’m off to run a couple errands, namely going to “Jim Bob’s” to get milk and Tim Horton’s (shudder) to get heated chocolate Danishes.
-chris
Canada’s role in Pacific war was minor, but heart-breaking for many , Les obsèques d’Ernest “Smokey” Smith se sont déroulées avec tous les honneurs Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Sun, Aug 14, 2005 at 2:29 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Dear Paul,
The weather cleared up and we even had some sun yesterday afternoon, enough to dry up the lawn and patio before the wedding. The fog rolled in with the guests but it added a certain sparkle to the air. Peter and Judy exchanged vows shortly after her parents arrived from the hospital in the Handi-bus. They were in great shape, all things considered. Her mom started crying when Judy was speaking her vows, which started the waterworks in most of the assembled guests. What’s a wedding without a few teary moments? After they were legally married Debbie got up with a surprise announcement; she wanted all the guests to gather in close to Judy’s parents and everyone was to put their left hands on the shoulder of the person next to them, while Judy and Peter and Danika and Robyn knelt down and Debbie recited spiritual poetry. I wish I had remembered to have my camera with me because the look on Judy’s face was priceless. It was indeed a surprise, especially for the bride who had pretty much organized ever facet of the wedding. Anyhow, despite how unbearably tacky it all sounds it was actually quite touching, and mercifully the poem was brief. After the legalities were taken care of the party continued. By 9pm I was sent to the liquor store to get more wine; the 120 guests were plowing through the ample bar at a quick pace. Got lost in the fog; I’m not that familiar with west Saint John, but I found the liquor store before it closed. Hung out with my parents most of the night, they are great fun. Bummed a smoke from Karina’s new boyfriend John but we didn’t talk much. Bummed a menthol from Robyn and then hypocritically chastised him for smoking. Especially menthols. At some point after midnight Judy moved the whole party, including Mike the DJ and the bar, indoors. The living room became the dance floor and that’s where my memory begins to fade. There was some slam dancing involved, and the whipping of ties, and I recall dancing with Debbie and Janet and Michelle. Michelle and I dated briefly way back in the ‘90s, and we ended up making out a bit, just kissing. She’s married now and has a beautiful baby girl, Eva. Shortly after that I couldn’t stay upright any longer, the DJ had left and Robyn was put in control of music, and I went to bed. Threw up multiple times into a plastic bag that I use for laundry. Lucky for me it was empty. Missed the bag once and hit the duvet cover. Lucky for me wine vomit doesn’t stain, even when it is red. Lovely to hear, I know. My mom called and woke me up this morning wanting to know if I would like to accompany them on a 100km cycle today. I politely declined. They do that every weekend. Easier to do if you stop drinking at a respectable hour. Judy and Peter were halfway through opening gifts when I came downstairs. The sum total of all the gifts they received from Handworks probably equaled the store’s total ceramic sales for the past month. I helped Danika wash and dry wine glasses and dishes. Judy had already cleared up and vacuumed the yard. Peter made a most excellent breakfast of breads and croissants and good coffee (no Tim Claw Grip here). Now I’m on my second beer of the day surfing the ‘net listening to Georges Brassens and Barbara and suddenly realize I haven’t made plans for anyone to look after Kuan while Braden is away, d’oh! I need to deal with some Montreal things straight away.
-chris
Dosanjh defends Canadian health care despite court ruling, foreign comparison, Goodale qualifie de pénibles les relations avec les E-U pour le bois d’oeuvre Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Mon, Aug 15, 2005 at 10:22 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Subject: SMS.ac
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 17:04:13 -0700
From: “Aaron Pierson” <apierson@corp.sms.ac> Add to Address Book
To: chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca
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apierson@corp.sms.ac
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This email is from SMS.ac, Inc. and is intended only for the addressee. This email may contain privileged and confidential information. If you receive this email by mistake, please inform us of the erroneous transmission by replying to the mail and then delete the mail and attachments without opening, copying, distributing or retaining any copies thereof.
From: chris lloyd [mailto:chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 5:14 AM
To: sponsorships; Greg Smith; _bizdev; partnerinfo@corp.sms.ac; prcomm; Customer Support
Subject: STOP TEXT MESSAGING ME OR ELSE!
Dear Mobile Phone Fuckers,
I’ve just changed my cellphone number and guess what? Within two days I’m getting text message spam for a dating service from YOUR website. This leads me to believe you are either
a. randomly text messaging people or,
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In either case, I’d say that unwanted text messaging contravenes at least two principles of your CEO Michael Pousti’s mobile consumers “Bill of Rights”, for whatever it is worth, that offensive piece of crap:
2.
Privacy, Opt-in and Opt-out
All pay-for products, including premium SMS (text) messages received on a consumer’s phone must contain clear and easy-to-follow instructions on how to opt-out of the product and/or service, along with confirmation that their opt-out process was successful, delivered on a non-premium message
6.
Customer Confidence
Mobile consumers have the right to say, “NO.”
* NO surprises. Customers only receive goods and services that they requested.
* NO hidden costs.
* NO invisible opt-ins.
* NO spy ware or other forms of intrusive data collection unless clearly specified by the content provider and opted-in to by the customer.
* NO spam. Mobile phone users have the right to a spam-free environment, where only authorized messages are sent to their phones.
So, please stop sending me the fucking text messages before I decide to do something more with my time, perhaps in the class-action variety (I’m unemployed and have looooots of time on my hands at the moment). I’m basically a loose wire, maybe I’ll hunt you fuckers down and get gleeful pleasure from throwing bricks through your windows or slashing your tires, who knows.
Sincerely,
Chris Lloyd
Police conduct Toronto manhunt for man convicted in Alberta school shooting, Goodale qualifie de pénibles les relations avec les E-U pour le bois d’oeuvre Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Mon, Aug 15, 2005 at 10:24 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: STOP TEXT MESSAGING ME OR ELSE!
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 18:14:54 -0700
From: “Bill Zorr” <bzorr@corp.sms.ac> Add to Address Book
To: chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca
Dear Chris Lloyd:
Your email has been forwarded to my attention for action.
I am immediately launching an investigation into this matter and need your address and mobile phone number. I will conclude my investigation within [48] hours. SMS.ac has a refund policy in place and will refund any monies charged to you by SMS.ac for any messages sent by SMS.ac. However, you should know that often the mobile carries will recycle mobile numbers at a rapid pace which introduces message confusion into the mix. Essentially, if the mobile number was recycled, the previous owner of your number may have been registered and activated with SMS.ac. I look forward to your prompt response.
William K. Zorr, Esq.
Assistant General Counsel
SMS.ac, Inc.
255 G Street, Suite 723
San Diego, CA 92101
USA
This email is from SMS.ac, Inc. and is intended only for the addressee. This email may contain privileged and confidential information. If you receive this email by mistake, please inform us of the erroneous transmission
————————————————————————
From: chris lloyd [mailto:chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca]
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2005 5:14 AM
To: sponsorships; Greg Smith; _bizdev; partnerinfo@corp.sms.ac; prcomm; Customer Support
Subject: STOP TEXT MESSAGING ME OR ELSE!
Dear Mobile Phone Fuckers,
I’ve just changed my cellphone number and guess what? Within two days I’m getting text message spam for a dating service from YOUR website. This leads me to believe you are either
a. randomly text messaging people or,
b. you bought my number from my service provider.
In either case, I’d say that unwanted text messaging contravenes at least two principles of your CEO Michael Pousti’s mobile consumers “Bill of Rights”, for whatever it is worth, that offensive piece of crap:
2. Privacy, Opt-in and Opt-out
All pay-for products, including premium SMS (text) messages received on a consumer?s phone must contain clear and easy-to-follow instructions on how to opt-out of the product and/or service, along with confirmation that their opt-out process was successful, delivered on a non-premium message
6. Customer Confidence
Mobile consumers have the right to say, “NO.”
* NO surprises. Customers only receive goods and services that they requested.
* NO hidden costs.
* NO invisible opt-ins.
* NO spy ware or other forms of intrusive data collection unless clearly specified by the content provider and opted-in to by the customer.
* NO spam. Mobile phone users have the right to a spam-free environment, where only authorized messages are sent to their phones.
So, please stop sending me the fucking text messages before I decide to do something more with my time, perhaps in the class-action variety (I’m unemployed and have looooots of time on my hands at the moment). I’m basically a loose wire, maybe I’ll hunt you fuckers down and get gleeful pleasure from throwing bricks through your windows or slashing your tires, who knows.
Sincerely,
Chris Lloyd
Governments balk at lowering gas taxes to reduce pump prices, Michaëlle Jean assure n’avoir “jamais adhéré” à l’idéologie souverainiste
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Wed, Aug 17, 2005 at 9:20 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Sorry I didn’t write yesterday. I felt lazy. I felt redundant and
useless. “Worked on the gallery, blah-blah”, meanwhile the regularity
of my current life is driving me half-crazy. Can a healthy lifestyle
cause harm? Peter cooked for us, as per usual, I went to the hospital
with Judy to chat with her mom and watch her dad try in vain to free
himself of his bed. We did have an interesting experience in Trinity
Gallery, as Judy wanted to buy a birthday gift for her friend Joelle
and the Prozac-dependant salesclerk managed to talk Judy out of a sale
through her sheer babbling, lack of focus and inattention to detail.
In the end I ended up with the commission to make a drawing of one of
Joelle’s heroes, Pierre Elliot Trudeau. I chose an image of him and
the Queen while she signs the Canadian Charter. I of course added my
own dialogue. Before I finished the drawing we watched The Machinist.
Duly noted and added to the roster of my favourite lost memory/
identity movies.
So today Peter and I conducted our Wednesday morning ritual of
dropping off bags of garbage throughout the South End, which goes
fairly quickly. It is certainly more cost-efficient than renting a
dumpster, because we don’t generate a whole lot of garbage. I did
manage to rip up the rest of the floor in the small room. When I work
on the gallery all I think about is art and sex. The building is
slowly surrounding me, tempting me, with beautiful girls. As I plow
ahead with this new life, chock full of déjà vu, I wonder if I am
spinning my wheels or if I will have the fortitude and wisdom to make
the right choices. I hope so.
Claudine sent me the most amazing package of goodies on the bus, many
practical items, like our sleeping bags, my good sneakers, my suit
jacket, other clothes I had left behind, but also great little art
items, drawings, teapots containing rolled up ribbon with poetry
inscribed, photos, a box of naughty fridge magnet poetry (in french,
so I can practice my naughty french words!), all sorts of fun stuff. I
love that girl. Everyone else pales in comparison and slowly fades
away; she is the one I invest myself in.
Went cycling with my folks tonight on the Kingston Peninsula, they had
borrowed a bike from a friend for me. We upped our average speed and
finished the 41-km route in quicker time. I hummed “Rebellion: Lies”
by Arcade Fire almost the whole way.
Tomorrow I am getting my computer back, hooray. I have a haircut
scheduled with beautiful Cara Cole for 10 AM; my current hairstyle is
quickly becoming something of the Grizzly Adams look. And I want to
look good for when my baby arrives, in close to 10 days now. Omigosh I
still have route and camping planning to do for our trip. And I am
going to have to borrow money from my folks so my phone won’t be
disconnected; I won’t be drawing any sort of pay for the gallery or
the wine bar until September. Dang I hate being broke. I can hardly
wait until the next time I talk to Katie at student loans and tell her
I probably won’t start repaying until 2006, if ever.
Am going to go to bed early tonight as I am meeting Peter early in the
morning to get drywall for the gallery. Maybe some paint, too.
Since I’ve been in Saint John I’ve lost my sunglasses and my digital
camera. The camera went missing at Judy’s wedding. And I am still
getting annoying text messages. I just wish the person responsible was
within hitting distance. The fuckers all live in California.
-chris
—
Chris Lloyd Projects
http://www.dearpm.blogspot.com
A Division of ADD Painters:
“we’re here to swerve”
Ontario legislature Speaker Alvin Curling among Canada’s newest ambassadors, Jean Charest espère que la controverse sur Michaëlle Jean est close
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Sat, Aug 20, 2005 at 11:37 AM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Am a tad hung over this morning. And was so yesterday morning as well;
went to a 40th birthday party thrown for Tim Issac’s friend Troy at
Lemongrass Thursday night. It was an open bar, my favourite kind,
despite the inherent dangers. Flirted with a cute woman who works for
Tim, and of course Meghan (she made the ‘wax knife sculptures I told
you about last year) and Joanna, the waitresses. Joanna had a bag full
of great buttons, reminiscent for me of the big bag of buttons that
Melissa had given away (old school french). Judy and Peter left early
and I stayed, closed Lemongrass with a shirt full of clanging buttons
and then went to Studio 112 with Megan. Didn’t stay too long, the funk
band was just OK and the crowd far too thin with only young post-hippy
girls and sullen boys. Walked home; that took awhile, about an hour or
more. Walked across the train bridge over the Reversing Falls and
dropped random objects off into the churning mass of dark water below.
Collected other random bits of stuff on my journey home: a piece of
rusted metal, some rope, part of a pipe, some numbers.
During the day I removed the extraneous door to the gallery, built a
frame, added drywall. Peter and I had picked up the drywall from
Ritchie’s earlier in the morning, after we dropped his car off at the
mechanic. 3 sheets of drywall fit comfortably in Judy’s car/truck.
Have now patched both sides quite successfully, just need to sand and
add a skim coat of plaster. Need to paint a wall black for Lisa. She
arrives on Monday.
Had a lunch date with Karina and I apologized for the fact that she
heard about my engagement to Claudine from a drunken Joquim. She said
she would try to be happy for us and she sounded sincere and I was
relieved to sense that everything will turn out OK. Maybe Claudine and
Karina will become friends? Will that be too weird even for me to
handle? The weirder the merrier.
Last night Dave and Mary Ellen, friends of Peter and Judy, came by for
drinks and tapas. Peter is a genius with food, have I mentioned that
before? We drank lots, beer then wine (I know, I know) first on the
patio, then in the premier kitchen when it was too chilly to be
outside, then finally into the oldschool sitting room, surrounded by
antiques and that slightly musty smell of museums. Once we hit the
sweet wine we were discussing the concept of “hate”; do we really ever
hate anybody? And then of course I started ranting about evil
landlords and certain presidents of a neighbouring superpower.
Thankfully I took a wrong turn while exiting the bathroom, ending up
in yet another spare bedroom, and thought to try out the rope
mattress, passing out immediately and sparing the guests any further
mad ranting.
Today Judy drove me uptown while we giggled hysterically oover
supposed vomit on the rear bumper of a car in front of us that she
almost rear-ended, and we shared pastries in the market before she
left for the hospital and I am back at the gallery, about to play in
plaster. But I have my computer back, and the new wireless card picks
up a strong signal in both Judy’s office and the gallery and even in
Lemongrass, though not in the bar.
Yesterday Peter and I went on a mini pub crawl measuring the
neighbouring bars and sampling beers. I can dig this job.
-chris
Canadians shrug off federal budget but still demanding change: poll, Louis Bernard tiendrait rapidement un référendum sur l’indépendance du Québec
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Sun, Aug 21, 2005 at 2:39 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
I was home alone last night so decided to trim some body hair. I went
a little overboard and decided to use my electric razor with no guard,
effectively shaving almost all my body hair off. Now I know how Kuan
must have felt. It feels weird, but not in such a bad way. I hope
Claudine likes it.
Speaking of Claudine, she called yesterday while I was driving back
from Ritchie’s Carpet Warehouse with Peter (buying paint and plaster),
and we started off having a good conversation that deteriorated into
her expressing doubts about moving to SJ after all. It stems from the
potential difficulties between her and Karina both being involved in
the gallery. Hopefully this will be something we can work through.
The conversation and my recent feelings of anxiousness and
restriction, due mostly to lack of money and my relience on Peter and
Judy for my living needs, has sent me into a bit of a depression,
though I don’t think it shows. I even watched half the series on the
history of wine by Hugh Johnson without pulling out my hair or making
obscene gestures or comments at the TV. But Judy and Peter must sense
my underlying frustration with myself and offered to pay me a little
money for the renovation work on the galley. Judy will also hire me
after next week to work with her on the conference, so I’m not so
worried. I still might borrow the money from my parents to pay my
phone bill before it gets cut off.
Anyway, this morning after her run in the rain (I stayed home to watch
wine videos as I don’t care that much for running in the rain) she
made crepes and then we drove to the building. I painted the wall
black and worked on plaster and emails. The bar is coming along, Peter
and Curtis have started framing in around the fridges. It’s all very
exciting.
Gotta go, we are heading back home shortly,
-chris
Prime Minister Paul Martin opens western tour with private think-tank meeting, Jean Charest accuse les syndicats de chercher l’affrontement Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Mon, Aug 22, 2005 at 9:23 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Dear Paul,
We had a nice supper last night, using one of Peter and Judy’s wedding
gift certificates at D’Amico’s. Peter and I split a couple bottles of wine and we all had pizza or pasta. I had leftover pizza and pasta for lunch today. We had rented a movie last night, That new one with Johnny Depp about Peter Pan, but Blockbuster screwed up and gave us The Hours instead, which turned out to be a fine movie about depression and suicide, so I was happy and Judy mortified.
Not much else to report today. Spent the day at the gallery working on the walls, more plaster, moved doors and garbage around, mopped the floors a bit more. It’s all coming together. Lisa isn’t arriving until tomorrow or the next day.
I paid my Telus bill today but it took a couple trips across the street, as the first bank I went into was the CIBC but they charge $3 to handle bills, and the Teller suggested I go to my own bank, the credit union, which was a great idea, I honestly just hadn’t thought of it, but it turned out to make no difference, as my account is in NS and there is no – let me emphasize this: there is no connection whatsoever between credit unions in the maritimes (what is this? 1980?), so they couldn’t so it, wouldn’t do it at all, so back I was at CIBC to pay a damn cellphone bill, $3 ‘handling’ fee and all, whatever that is supposed to mean. I just don’t get it, any of it, really.
I sense it won’t be long before I become one of those banking customers that raises their voices and screams at the fake plants and artificial people and makes everyone feel uncomfortable. Sometimes I can hardly wait. I hope I remember to catch it all on video or a damn cell phone camera.
-chris
Homolka driven back into hiding Tuesday amid new media exposure, Allégations de bris de conditions d’Homolka: la police refuse de commenter Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Tue, Aug 23, 2005 at 9:27 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Dear Paul,
We had the first board meeting for the gallery tonight. It went well, casual and informal but not unstructured. We talked about a lot of the funding opportunities available, programming, the mandate and vision of the gallery. I had a few moments of deja vu harking back to the Khyber days. And even though we had some beer and wine available at the meeting, the fact that we didn’t all spill down to a bar immediately afterwards was almost shocking to me. Came home with Judy and watched a documentary on oil companies on CBC. I don’t know what regularly scheduled programming got the boot due to the labour dispute but I’m sure it couldn’t have been better. The ads were terrible though. Gerber baby insurance policies, called Grow Up Plans? Was this dug up from the seventies? Give me a break.
Spent most of the day at the gallery, working on plaster. Have almost finished the smaller room. I think I’d like to put Kristiina’s I Love You stick-it note piece in there. It will look good framed by the antique fireplace and tin ceiling. Peter picked up the lighting tracks and tomorrow, hopefully, Wally the electrician will come by and we can start installing. It will be good to have a trained electrician with a good reputation move some wires about, as I keep shorting breakers by trying to move things live. I’m careful though, promise.
Heading out to my folks again tomorrow night for another Kingston ride. Lisa didn’t arrive today so will most likely arrive tomorrow. I spoke briefly with Jerome tonight but was in the middle of the board meeting so we’ll talk tomorrow. I’m excited to get his piece for the show, one of his Marines. My french is rusty which makes me nervous but I guess this will be good practise.
-chris
Hardware-store owner’s Homolka allegations being greeted with skepticism, L’ex-employeur de Karla Homolka a ses propres démêlés judiciaires
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Wed, Aug 24, 2005 at 9:16 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Went for our weekly Kingston cycle this evening. It was a little
colder and looked like it might rain, so we went a different direction
for a slightly shorter ride, heading west along Long Point, though in
the end the weather held. Had the ribs and corn and mashed potato
special at the pub afterwards. I had been daydreaming of a
cheeseburger and beer during the ride, thoughts of food and drink can
actually help power one up a hill, but the special sounded unusually
good. It wasn’t half bad, in fact.
Lisa had arrived in the afternoon and started installing her pins
straight away. She might use as many as 15,000. Wally the electrician
came by to have a look at the gallery and will come back tomorrow to
install the track lighting. He really does curse up a blue streak,
everything is effing that and eff this and eff you. Went with Peter to
Fabricville to buy broadcloth for the window diffusers. Worked on my
essay for the exhibition. It’s fun to get back into art writing and
good practice for the upcoming slate of grants to be written. I spoke
with Jerome this morning and carried on the whole conversation in
french, which must have been painful to his ears but it was fun, once
I got over my nervousness and hesitation. Then I couldn’t shut up. I
really should practice more. I really should. Maybe I’ll start hanging
out at the french bakery in the market harassing the ladies and eating
chocolatines.
-chris
Federal Liberals launch sales pitch that Canada needs a majority government, Le député Jean-Claude Saint-André est lui aussi candidat à la direction du PQ
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Fri, Aug 26, 2005 at 10:09 AM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Had a fun night out on the town last night. Dan Walsh showed up from
Halifax. He left a couple messages on my cell phone, the first time
while my phone was lost in Judy’s truck/car/SUV/Lego Toy Thing after
our lunch hour run through the Irving Nature Park (we took a trail
through the woods and down along the beach which would have been
better to hike through than run, but oh well, live and learn), the
second time while I was charging my phone at the hospital (Judy and I
were visiting her folks, as she does every day and sometimes I tag
along, mostly at suppertime, mooching for scraps, or at the very
least, bad hospital coffee), and so we finally met up at Callahan’s
after wolfing down an excellent Paella Peter had made (he is an
excellent chef, have I mentioned that before? His cooking is going to
spoil me). The last time I was in Callahan’s I tackled some guy who
had made a rude comment to Elizabeth. No such incident this time,
however, as we were a more mellow bunch: Dan’s friends Amy and her
forester boyfriend, and Sam, and Cara Cole with her mom and a friend.
Cara’s mom gave me an excellent idea for the nver-ending Pm project.
You’ll hear about it when I send you the bill. Dan bought many rounds
of beer. He is still working for Frank and had actually tracked me
down using his sharp investigative skills. I was under the assumption
that only about three or four people know my new cell phone number but
apparently some while back I sent it to you and inadvertantly posted
it on the blog. I think it was in the letter ranting about the
spamming text messages (I haven’t received any in about a week, by the
way). After Callahan’s I gave a brief gallery tour (Lisa’s wall
drawing of pins is coming along splendidly) and then Sam and Dan and I
went up to Tapps to hear Old Man Ludeke (Dan wanted to talk during the
set in the hope that Joel Plaskett were emerge from nowhere and tell
us to shut up, like the last time we were at an Old Man Ludeke show at
the Khyber, but no such luck, he wasn’t there). Got some camping tips
from Chris’ girlfriend after the show. Sam and Dan dragged me, kicking
and screaming, to a Tim Horton’s after Tapps closed because apparently
I needed “sobering up” (I had driven Judy’s car uptown; no more
walking back to the West Side or sleeping in a ditch for me, see). We
tried to order coffee from the drive thru but the girl wouldn’t serve
us; she said it was a traffic hazard. But then she told us a car had
just pulled up and we could ask the driver to order our coffee for us.
We ended up walking back, ordering for ourselves at the speaker, then
walking back up to the window to pay and collect our coffees. It was
very strange, as it seemed that this method was more complicated and
more of a traffic hazard. We wandered about uptown ranting about
politics and the Irvings and kicking around other Tim Horton cups
(there are a lot of them lying around here! It is the Curse of the Tim
Claw!) until I was sober enough to drive home.
Had a couple funny situations with Judy in the afternoon. When we left
work we stopped at The Framing Factory to pick up some posters she had
bought in Holland and was getting framed. Mr. Chang, the quadruple
black-belt karate instructor, still owns the business and does great
work. He handed Judy both receipts after she had paid with Interac,
thinking she needed to sign them (he must have thought she paid with
Visa). Judy held both receipts in her hands, looked Mr. Chang straight
in the eye and asked him, “Are you white or are you yellow?”, meaning,
of course, the receipts. I don’t think he quite heard her or, if he
did, he made no sign of it. Outside on the street, as soon as Judy
caught my eye, we both cracked right up. I think she peed her pants,
actually. She laughed half the way to the hospital. She couldn’t
believe she had actually said what she said. Then, as we were entering
her parent’s floor, she opened the door for David, one of the patients
in a wheelchair, who was locked out because he can’t open the door and
drive his chair at the same time. Judy said to him “I’m your night in
shining armour”, but couldn’t leave it at that, no, she had to add,
“But I don’t come on a horse”, causing me to burst out laughing all
over again. She peed her pants again with that one. I can hardly
believe how someone can be so successful in the public sphere while
making so many verbal gaffes and wetting herself as well. Must be the
entertainment.
Anyway, one a more prosaic note, I finally heard back from Four Mile
Beach Inn and booked a room for the night of Andrea’s wedding. They
upsold me to the larger room but with good reason; seperate entrance
and our own bathroom. Probably nothing worse than stumbling into a B&B
drunk from a wedding at three in the morning and puking in a shared
bathroom. Potentially nasty for all concerned. We’ll try to avoid that
scenario altogether.
-chris
Ambassador’s comments over softwood lumber ‘out of line,’ Harper says, Stephen Harper juge exagérés les propos de l’ambassadeur David Wilkins Inbox
chris lloyd <chrislloyd6627@yahoo.ca> Sat, Aug 27, 2005 at 10:31 PM
To: paul martin <martin.p@parl.gc.ca>, paul martin <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
Dear Paul,
Spent a nice Saturday out at the Big Box Stores with Judy and her parents and Robyn today. It was an interesting excursion. We were a tad hung over from the going away party held at the house last night for Danika and Luba. There seems to be a never-ending supply of wine and beer left over from the wedding. So this afternoon the Handibus droped Judy’s parents off at Swiss Chalet, which is conveniently located in the middle of a park. A parking lot, that is. While in the process of helping to feed her mother she projectile-sneezed a large mouthful of apple pie and ice cream all over my head. It was all quite amusing. She even managed to hit Robyn at the other end of the table. We toured the wheelchairs around the parking lot to do a little shopping but Bert finally lost his patience and had a bit of a tantrum when we went into Kent’s to grab some coffee from Tim Horton’s. I don’t blame him, I also tend to fly into fits of rage when entering those larger-than-life box stores. Something to do with the lighting and just the sheer amount of stuff. So after about four hours of visiting Judy and I came back to the deck and drank many beer in the sunlight. Peter came home from an afternoon of auctioning and made supper while the rest of us napped. Have I told you before what a chef he is? He made pork loins and vegetables and potatoes and everything was presented as if in a restaurant. Danika was home packing; tomorrow she moves to Halifax to continue her studies at Kings. Tonight we finally watched Finding Neverland, the movie we had rented last week but was misplaced with The Hours. It was fun, fanciful fare, very imaginative and uplifting. All the while I’m going a bit crazy, waiting down the hours, the time, the clock until tomorrow afternoon when I can drive to Moncton and pick up my sweetheart from the airport. I miss her like you would never believe.
-chris
Cause for concern but no sign of torture when he met Arar, says diplomat, L’ambassadeur McKenna prédit un durcissement des règles commerciales
chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com> Wed, Aug 31, 2005 at 1:40 PM
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Dear Paul,
Sorry I haven’t written lately. Been a tad occupied with Claudine. Lots of great sex and touring around SJ and showing off the gallery and wine bar and meeting people and doing the general Grand Seduction thing. We’ve been having a good visit, but the weather has been shitty. Monday we had supper with my folks and finally told them we are getting married; it certainly came as a surprise, but it seemed a good one, my dad in particular was really happy. Yesterday we left for our camping trip, the car loaded with gear and beer. It has been raining steadily since yesterday. We hit Frenchy’s in SJ and Claudine bought a working Polaroid for $5. We hiked a bit of the Big Salmon River at the end of the Fundy Trail, crossed the river in our bare feet actually, and drove into Fundy National Park in the falling darkness. Managed to set up the tent and tarps and start a fire and cook some supper on the propane stove all before 9PM, and all in the rain. We stayed dry all night but in the morning I awoke to a large puddle underneath my blue foam mattress. Uck. We decided to pass on our tentatively planned Wolfe Point hike and drove instead to Cape Enrage, where we met up with a friendly Acadian who took us on a walking tour along the base of the rocks; the tide was just going out, so we had just enough room in spots. Unexpected hiking in the rain is more fun that planned hiking in the rain. Anyway, we’ve decided to find a hostel in PEI tonight, if it is still raining. Camping in the rain is only so much fun, and only then if your gear is dry. We’re in Moncton at the moment, going insane with the slow-moving traffic. Too much construction and small roads. I’m guessing that there will be riots before and after the ‘Stones concert due to road rage. And I have to get out of this “internet cafe” before I go nuts myself; the black lights, banks of gaming terminals and tacky dance music is a little much for this hour of the day. Despite the fog and rain it is still nice to drive the coastal routes and I’d like to get back to it.
-chris
DEAR PM 