from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 2, 2005, 2:59 PM
subject PM says Canada will up oil output to stabilize market in Katrina’s aftermath, Bill Graham discute de collaboration militaire avec son homologue russe
Dear Paul,
Yesterday the sun finally broke and we had a really pleasant evening. The night before we stayed at Marie’s Guest House, she a sweet old Acadian, we spoke french with her and another young couple staying there, from Trois Rivieres, also caught in rain. We did catch a dry period yesterday afternoon to set up camp near Brackley Beach. Bought gas in between hikes; we paid 1.12; it had been .99 the day before. Now it’s 1.38 and I hear you announce that you’re increasing oil production? What the heck took so long? And why is gas so damn expensive in the Maritimes when the largest oil refinery in the country is in our back yard? We perfected our tarp, and dug a ditch to stop water from flowing underneath the tent. While waiting for the rain to stop we got naked and had sex in an abandoned campground. Spent the night nice and dry; we cooked, drank beer, smoked some hash and wandered along the beach contemplating the millions of stars overhead, the origins of astronomy, mythology, the constellations. Very fun. This afternoon on our way to the ferry we found a “Heritage Road” which we consummated by getting stark naked and having sex in the middle of it. Very fun.
At the moment we’re in Antigonish, checking email. We’re camping in Cape Breton tonight; there is a Ceilidh in Dingwall where the wedding is taking place, hopefully we’ll make it.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 6, 2005, 12:49 PM
subject Most young students back in smaller classes than two years ago, McGuinty says, Katrina: les Etats-Unis se disent réconfortés par l’aide du Canada
Dear Paul,
Sorry about the delay. It was harder to get to a computer than I
thought it would be. We were a little strapped for time as well. When
did I last write you? Antigonish? After that we made it as far as
Ingonish Beach, where we camped for the night. In the morning we took
a hike up Mount Franny and took a quick dip in a secluded lake halfway
down. Then we were off to Dingwall to check in to the Inlet, iron our
wedding clothes, and have showers. Then the wedding, outdoors on the
lawns of the Markland, the ocean in the background, a kooky old
minister, very quaint. Andrea and Stéphane were beaming and beautiful,
I saw old friends Christine and Trevor and Bethany and Roger. We had a
fun supper inside then more drinks afterwards in a cottage and then
the dance in the nearby Octagon Arts Centre with live music then a DJ
and lots of dancing. Then a whole bunch of us piled down to the beach
in pitch darkness and stars and waves and swam in the surf teaming
with millions of tiny glow in the dark bacteria. Ben shot off
fireworks and we sat by the bonfire and then drove back to the Inn at
3:30AM, exhausted, full of sand and salt water.
Sunday Anne made us a great breakfast, then we were off to Meat Cove,
then stopping at the Skyline to hike some more, along the highlands,
to a cliff jutting out on the west side of the Cabot Trail. Then to
Cheticamp, to catch the last half hour of the Acadian museum dedicated
to early farm life and rug hooking, in particular to see the rugs of
Elizabeth LeFort, who made intense portraits of presidents, prime
ministers and astronauts. We stopped in a parking lot to cook KD and
then continued driving to Pictou, where we had to camp for the night.
We slipped into the campground just before closing time, the attendant
missing, set up camp, slept, awoke early, slipped out by fraudulently
putting a piece of paper in the permit slot, the gates opened, we were
off. Stopped at Mel’s’ Tea Room in Sackville for breakfast and took
the scenic route through the Kingston Peninsula before arriving back
at Judy’s. Cleaned and aired out the car, washed some laundry, then
headed to my folks for supper and a little campfire in the backyard, a
glass of sambuca, then exhaustion. We were asleep by 10.
This morning it was gallery and email and meeting preparation,
discussing new changes to the bar with Peter, more plaster. Had lunch
with Claudine at Taco Pica and now have an afternoon to prepare for
the brainstorming / programming meeting tonight.
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 7, 2005, 9:04 PM
subject Drop softwood talks, appoint envoy and look to other markets, says Harper, Louise Harel rappelle à l’ordre les candidats à la direction du PQ
Dear Paul,
We were up at 4AM this morning to drive to Moncton for Claudine to
catch her 7Am flight to Toronto. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to visit
her before we coordinate our moves the end of October. We had a
remarkably good week and a half together, especially considering that
most of that time was spent cooped up together in either a car or a
tent. We must be well-suited to one another.
I am becoming increasingly obsessed with the sheer amount of Tim
Horton coffee cups that litter the roadways in NB. I’m starting to
believe it is the work of one person, who is strategically placing the
cups everywhere. I want to photo-document the cups I see and make a
series of paintings based on them. Also want to make a series of
portraits of “Tim Claws”. Should be fun.
Spent the day working on grants and organizing programming for the
gallery for the coming year. Didn’t do any gallery renovations. Found
out we are eligible to apply for funding for french translation; the
deadline for applications is this friday. The canada council grant is
due next thursday and I’ve left four messages with the program officer
over a two week period and have yet to speak with him. Vacation? Maybe
I’m being ignored. I’ll write the damn grants anyway.
Went out to my folks’ tonight. Dad and I drove around running some
errands, including a stop at Superstore so I could return the
casette/CD player adaptor I had bought for the camping trip. I
actually didn’t work that great, though we had plannedf to return it
anyway. But of course I had left the receipt at home, so will have to
do it tomorrow.
As it was Wednesday we cycled the Kingston Peninsula. Had the
hamburger platter afterwards. That makes three hamburgers this week,
I’d better watch myself.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 10, 2005, 10:06 AM
subject Canada-China open for business despite strong words on human rights, Le président chinois défend son pays en matière de droits humains
Dear Paul,
Sorry about the big huge gaps in my writing. I don’t know what’s
happening lately. I’m even on my computer more than usual, but working
mostly on grants and email to other folks. I may also be in one of
those recurring low moments in the project when I just don’t care
enough about it, I have nothing to say, or I just don’t particularly
feel like sharing, or writing to a wall, or empty air, or can’t decide
whether I really want a response from you or not, and what that
self-awareness actually means, and who the audience is anyway, and why
should anyone possibly care, and if I’m just doing it for myself then
what’s the point in it? or maybe I’m just overwhelmed with everything
that is happening, the move, my junk in Montréal, my cat, feeling
perpetually dis-located, uprooted, floating, not grounded, too loose,
I just want my own goddam place to live and a little money in my
pocket and my sweet love beside me to warm my bed and share my
adventures in life, is that too much to ask? Is it?
So anyway, as if you care, I finally spoke with the program officer at
CC and he helped clarify a few things for me. It all boils down to
applying for 4 program grants, each one an exhibition, each including
a snazzy little catalogue. Our chances improve, even though we are
essentially competing against ourselves with each application. The
deadline is next Thursday, have I mentioned that to you? I’m still
debating whether to apply for a personal grant to stuff 1500 plastic
bottles with the letters and dumping them in the ocean, or more
aggressively trying to land the “official PM portrait-painter” gig. It
sounds illegal or, at best, immoral. The dumping, not the portraits.
Maybe the real art project behind this project is to see for how long
I can make the string of rejection letters last.
I did manage to get the NB Program on the Provision of French-Language
Services grant off on time. Compared to a CC grant it was a walk in
the park. A totally different approach, total different language,
government-speak. But the CC grants are a snap compared to that
dastardly NB Arts Development grant. Now there’s a grant with lots of
hoops. I’ll start work on it next week and I know it will make my head
spin.
So yesterday after work Peter and Judy took me out to a Chinese
restaurant that felt like a cafeteria and tasted even worse. Not
nearly enough authenticity. The we rented a scary movie, The Ring, and
I smoked a tad too much hash and freaked myself right out. We watched
Les Aimants afterwards to alleviate the post-horror flick tension. In
an odd twist of fate we watched Isabelle Blais on a cheesy Québecker
game show before we started the movies. She’s scrumptious. At least
I’ll always have the fond memories of trying to introduce myself to
her in Le dieu de ciel and spilling my beer on her. What a charmer I
can be.
Now, you might call it being pussy-whipped or a being a kept man, but
I’m still smart enough to recognize a too-good-to-be-true scenario
when I see it, and I’m completely happy with the engagement with
Claudine, it grows you know, with passing days, even bits of time
apart, she’s perfect, in every way imaginable, and far too good for
me, so I’ll put up with just about anything here, Tim Claws and cups
everywhere, people who say “right good”, The Irving monopoly, the
price of oil, if she’ll move here to be with me then we’ll take it all
on, Wal•Mart, urban sprawl, climate change, bad taste and dinosaurs,
we’ll tackle it all together, the dynamic duo that we are, we’ll climb
atop Fort Howe or the Martello Tower or that ridiculously-shiny copper
nipple thing right in the middle of town, that poor reminder of
grander days and bolder architecture and vision, and with wind and
music streaming through the air and our hair waving we’ll gaze out to
the ocean and follow the tides to every possible imaginable distant
shore.
But right now I have to go look at an apartment across the street. I
really only need a place for November 1, and preferably a 3-bedroom,
but I figure I might as well start looking early, and see what’s out
there. If you have any tips let me know.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 18, 2005, 11:13 AM
subject President of China concludes 10-day trip with call for increased co-operation, La coopération Chine-Canada profite à toute la zone Asie-Pacifique, dit Hu
Dear Paul,
Everything was going fine Friday night with the film festival launch
at the gallery until I went across the street with Judy, David and
Mary-Ellen and Mike Parker and broke the cardinal rule of drinking by
mixing my drinks, trying out a few of the tasty martinis at
Sebastian’s. Not a good idea. Not pretty. It was like the sensible
person in me just up and fell asleep, or walked out the door, leaving
a nasty, empty shell wandering around blathering on about who knows
what to anyone willing to listen. It was total Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde,
especially later when the evening totally degenerated into me breaking
a lamp of Judith’s and then attacking some random guy on the street
with my infamous tackling move. What a scene. I really have no idea
what happened, it was like blacking out but remaining awake at the
same time. Anyway, Judith managed to get me into a taxi after the
group of guys managed to separate me and my victim, who probably got
the upper hand in the tussle fairly quickly as I now sport a lovely
swollen eye. I remember almost nothing, except thinking I was provoked
somehow, but most likely it was all in my head.
Which is, of course, the scary part. What the hell is going on with
me? It can’t just be blamed on abuse of alcohol. Besides, at my age I
should know not to mix my drinks. Why is it only in this city that I
get the urge to be violent? This town is too small for crap like this
to happen, this crap can just not happen. I can’t be setting examples
like this, I can’t be repaying the generosity of my friends and family
like this, it’s just stupid, inane, it can’t happen like this.
Long-distance relationships suck, they suck big time. This crap
wouldn’t happen if Claudine were here. It drives me half out of my
skull to be away from her like this.
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 20, 2005, 12:10 PM
subject CAW and DaimlerChrysler make deal early Tuesday, avert strike, Paul Martin présente son plan d’action pour les prochains mois à Gatineau
Dear Paul,
So sorry. Again. about not writing. I’ve been feeling depressed and
didn’t want to write and pester you with it. You know the drill.
Anyway, I started sanding the floors in the gallery this morning and
so now I feel better. It’s nice to get back to work. It can be
relaxing in the ‘burbs but I ended up just watching too much TV and
letting the cats in and out of the house every fifteen minutes.
Restless! My eye feels better today, though it’s starting to take on
that odd yellowish bruise colour. And it looks like I’m wearing bright
mauve eyeshadow. Judith filled me in more on the bout; the guy I
tackled outweighed me by 70 pounds. I have to learn to be more prudent
with my ambition.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 24, 2005, 5:00 PM
subject Rita’s impact less than expected for many Canadians in U.S. Gulf Coast areas, Jean Charest plaide pour la diversité culturelle auprès des Chinois
Dear Paul,
I forgot to tell you about the apartment I visited yesterday with my
Dad. He had seen the place briefly during one of his inspections and
thought it might be a possibility, as it was fairly cheap with loads
of space. But after a closer look I think the cons outweigh the pros.
For starters, the windows were rotting. So was the asbestos siding.
And there were no kitchen appliances whatsoever. No tub, only a
shower. And the landlord wasn’t prepared to invest any money to make
it a little more hospitable, which could have included addressing any
of the previous or any of the following: tearing up the brown carpet
and the faux wood paneling and replacing flourescent light fixtures.
The place is more suited to an office, which is what it was
previously. Kind of reminded me of what the offices of a really low
grade film company might resemble.
Today I slept in a bit, washed dishes, washed laundry, picked up some
caulking from Canadian Tire and drove Robyn downtown with me. Worked
on the baseboards in the gallery. Consulted with Peter and Judy on
issues with the bar. The glass washer was working, but it leaks, and
it is far too loud. Peter is switching to plan ‘B’, a cleaning unit
mounted in a third sink.
We had lunch on the boardwalk and watched the festivities for the
Harvesting the Arts festival, including performances by the Saint John
Idol winner, a Pakistani rock group, An Indian dancer, a Chinese fan
dance, Square Dancing Dogs, a Salsa dancing couple and a folk singer.
It was diverse and fun and the sun had come out, burning off that
brutal morning chill that just came out of nowhere last night.
I finished the baseboards and primed them and now I just need to
vacuum the walls free of all the dust that I kicked up this week.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sep 28, 2005, 12:15 PM
subject Michaelle Jean says time of ‘two solitudes’ is past, calls for unity, Québec tente de séduire tour à tour les deux pays les plus populeux du globe
Dear Paul,
Sounds like you had a blast at Michaelle Jean’s inauguration yesterday. Shortly after I wrote you yesterday morning I was pulled over by the cops while driving Judy to work while she was eating a bowl of oatmeal. Luckily the lady cop didn’t give me a ticket, though she must have thought we were both crazy to be going to work at 5:30AM before the phones start ringing. Which is what they do, starting at 9AM sharp.
Good news on the gallery front. Erin, a friend of Suzanne’s who just moved here in the summer (whose husband is now on strike at CBC and has been longer than he’s been working; anything you can do to speed up a solution to this problem would be greatly appreciated, not just for their sake but for the love of this country, the CBC, for crying out loud, do we really want to rely on commercial radio and TV for our news and programming?). Anyway, Erin helped me with Donna’s Business Mandala piece, getting it started was the trickiest part. Later in the afternoon I started in on Jérôme’s piece, and managed to finish it in the evening after running more errands with Judy. We got home late, had some wine and all fell asleep to the Godfather.
The two circular pieces in the gallery look great, like planets and starbursts, and the pins are like little stars and constellations.
This morning I slept in (until 6AM) and we were on the road shortly thereafter. Ran errands most of the morning. Such as taking the new guitar starter kit that Judy bought Robyn for his birthday and hiding it in Judy’s parent’s hospital room. We’re having a party there later this afternoon. The guitar wouldn’t fit under the bed or in her locker so it is hiding behind her curtain. The cake is in the locker. Going to go paint baseboards in the gallery and see if Peter wants help with the bar ceiling.
-chris
DEAR PM 