from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 2, 2007 10:56 PM
subject Morale booster for Canadian troops; Les ministres libérales exigent la tête de Jean-François Plante
Dear Stephen,
Sorry I haven’t written lately. You know how it is. Monday we screened Mulholland Drive at the gallery (Claudine was busy with a big contract, so is watching it right now), that was after french class and gallery prep. Tuesday we picked Stephen Fisher and his girlfriend Jeneca up from the ferry terminal. We had to miss the filmpix screening of The lives of others and went to eat at Taco Pica instead. It was actually an early night. Today Claudine and I drove out to my parents’ house to meet my mom and my grandparents, who just arrived from Florida. They are on their way back to Lunenbourg by way of PEI, to visit Mark and Margo. We had coffee and talked about the wedding. This morning we also received a surprise in the mail from Claudine’s parents: an iPod. Will certainly come in handy for the wedding.
Worked on some gallery installation this afternoon with Olivia while Stephen painted away on the black walls. Hung six of his drawings. Tomorrow we’ll hang the globes and get everything else set up. I’m trying to clean up some nasty computer viruses and trojans and back doors and all sorts of popups that are plaguing the office computer. Damn PCs!
Tonight I had book club, at Thjis’ apartment, we were discussing Ronja, the Robber’s Daughter, by Astrid Lindgren. Decent turnout, Bojan, John and Joe. Went to the Beaverbrook Arena afterwards to meet up with the gang to enjoy and evening of professional wrestling. Yes, you read correctly. Greg Hemmings’ production company is making a TV series on the lives of wrestlers, so tonight was actual wrestling. Quite cheesy and over-the-top, but it is what it is. Went out for Chinese food at halftime; we didn’t need to see the second half.
Hope the troops enjoy their visit with the Stanley Cup—speaking of which, I saw the Clarksen’s Cup in Fredericton, it is quite stunning—bet it will really boost their morale and make it all worthwhile.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 7, 2007 9:38 PM
subject Paper urges closer ties with U.S.; L’Assemblée nationale se prépare à vivre un difficile ménage à trois
Dear Stephen,
Sorry I haven’t written lately, I’ve been on Facebook. Yes, it’s true, the online networking behemoth has sucked me in as well. I hear you are on it, but I haven’t searched nor added you as a friend yet. Have you started reading Animal Farm yet? It is the second novel Yann Martel has sent to you. It has been years since I last read it.
Tonight we screened Bladerunner but there was a scratch on the disk so we had to watch the modified version. It would have been nice to see the widescreen version.
It was a crazy weekend, the gallery hop on Friday was nuts, Picaroons gave us 2 kegs, there were hundreds of people, the Strathbutler Awards were a little dry and overly formal but that’s life. Dan Steeves won the main award.
I’ve started renovations to Judith’s office while she and Peter are away in Amsterdam and Spain. It will be an incredibly busy 2 weeks as I am also running the bar, even giving a wine tasting on Saturday, eep. Definitely not my cup of tea. Have some grants and final reports to do as well, and I’ve even foolishly agreed to make a painting for a fundraiser for Saint John Community Loans Foundation. Am I crazy or can I just not say no? We still have a wedding to plan. Vows to write. I should have more time on my hands as Clo and I have taken vows of chastity until we are married—no kidding! It sounds bizarre and perhaps for that reason we are abstaining from sex. Now we just masturbate together!
Please excuse me while I cut this letter short and finish reading Ronia the Robber’s Daughter.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 8, 2007 9:36 PM
subject Payment plan was Black’s idea: Radler; Contesté de toutes parts, André Boisclair quitte son poste de chef du PQ
Dear Stephen,
I started the Punch office renovations fast and heavy today. Managed to tear down an entire wall, bag it up and dispose of it. Ironically, it was just after I signed up for the David Suziki Nature Challenge that I began my multiple trips in the south end disposing of parts of the wall, neatly concealed in many green and black garbage bags. I can still follow through on the ten suggestions, they are quite easy, actually, and I already do most of them, like walking, or eating a meal without meat at least once per week.
The office is going to be more work than I had hoped but part of that is because I’d like to do a really good job.
Claudine started another Master Cleanse fast today. She is coming down with a cold or many allergies. It is probably the air quality in Saint John.
I’m going to try to finish Ronia tonight. Tomorrow I have lots of gallery organizing (APAGA, SJ Arts Grants final reports and new applications, an ad for Fuse Magazine, etc.) plus I have the liquor order to pick up for the bar, then working all night. Maybe Alex will come in later to finish the shift for me, or maybe work 3 hours so I can have supper and help Rae rip up the two layer of tile in the Punch office. Fun stuff!
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 11, 2007 9:05 AM
subject MP asks why extremists in B.C. parade; Le taux de chômage au Canada en avril demeure inchangé à 6,1 pour cent.
Dear Stephen,
We didn’t get funding for a summer student for the gallery this year. I wasn’t thinking much about it, given we are a new organization and quite small, until I read in the paper this morning that no non-profit organization in Saint John received funding—including the SJ Boys and Girls Club. Apparently the new scoring criteria places higher emphasis on rural, high unemployment or high crime areas. Saint John isn’t high in crime but I don’t quite see what that has to do with summer job experiences.
Last night I took the night off work at the bar, Alex filled in, Claudine and Stephen and Monica and Rae and I went to see Spider-man 3. For what it is—a comic book hero on film—it was OK, visually, but it was too compressed, too many storylines, no need to introduce so many villains—especially Venom—all in one film. But I found it entertaining.
The renovations in the Punch office are coming alone. Rae was tearing up the floor the other night and ran into a problem: the dreaded glue! But it turns out it was only a strip of glue. That stuff is extremely difficult to pull up.
I managed to spend forty minutes yesterday trying to open the combination lock in the bar; I was 2 digits off the whole time. D’oh!
OK have to go lots and lots of work to do today.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 15, 2007 7:03 AM
subject Tories want passport process shortened; Le caucus du Bloc pardonne à Duceppe qui reprend les rênes de sa formation
Dear Stephen,
It’s been a busy few days, as per usual. Saturday Claudine helped me set up the bar as I was nervous about the wine tasting. It turned out OK, I knew all the participants, it was Julia’s birthday, she is Jeremy’s wife, so half the Evolving Solutions crowd were there and a few Fusionites. They said I did a good job but I was a bit nervous. The rest of the night was OK, a normal Saturday, not too busy, with some stragglers so I was there a bit late, then went to Katie and Rich’s to meet up with the gang.
We met up Sunday morning with Rae and Monica and Stephen at the little restaurant next door to the Falls Restaurant, and watched sea dogs play and hunt for fish with the gulls and ducks in Reversing Falls. It was a nice, normal diner-style breakfast. Claudine and I went for a walk on the beach at the Irving Nature Park and discussed wedding ceremony details.
We went to my parents’ house for barbecue roast for supper. Came home and watched two movies while ironing hems for all the tablecloths which we will use for the wedding. Watched The illusionist, which we both found a bit cheesy, and Fur, an “imaginary” story of the photographer Diane Arbus, which we both found quite good.
Yesterday was full-on busy day at the gallery as I finished final reports and started writing grants for the Saint John Community Arts Funding Program. They are due today. Had my french class and Stéphanie had brought Bon Cop/Bad Cop for viewing. After class we screened Memento.
Today I meet Lise regarding design for the catalogues we currently have in production, then work on the grants, then get cracking on Judith’s office. She and Peter are back on the weekend and her office still looks like a bomb went off in it.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 22, 2007 9:16 PM
subject Jury hears Lord Black on tape; Le premier ministre Harper effectue une visite surprise en Afghanistan
Dear Stephen,
How is your surprise visit in Afghanistan going? Getting some good photo ops I hear, handing out chalk to kids. Trying to turn focus away from the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on the war effort, the mistreatment of detainees, etc. ? Is it working? Perhaps. Honestly, I’ve been in such a whirlwind lately I have no time to read the paper, or even surf the web much. All my efforts lately have been going into planning my month long absence from the gallery, and making wedding preparations. It’s coming along, slowly but surely, but we are running out of time. Tomorrow I have most of the day for errands, plus a massage that Claudine so kindly booked for me, then a “surprise” stag party. Thursday I am in Fredericton for the APAGA and AARCA meetings. Friday is wrap up and packing day and work at the bar and then we leave. Yikes.
Today I added a couple stylised magnets on either side of my compass tattoo,and extended the circular lines a bit. I wanted to do something that related to our upcoming wedding. I think the shopping cart motif would make a nice tattoo as well but I didn’t have enough time. There is never enough time. Or money. This wedding is going to cost a pretty penny. We’ll be putting a good chunk of it on credit, yikes. I plan to work like am demon for the summer to make money to pay off the wedding and prepare for the move back to Montréal.
Sorry, I have to go, I am exhausted.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 22, 2007 9:19 PM
subject Radler ends testimony; Deux avocats affirment que le SCRS était au courant de l’attentat d’Air India
Dear Stephen,
Sorry, here is a letter from a few days ago that must not have been sent. Judith is back from Spain and LOVED the renovations, by the way. I’ll post some photos to Facebook someday. Maybe tonight, if I wasn’t so damn tired.
The renovations to the Punch office have become almost all-engrossing. I was up super-early (by my standards, at least), 7:30am, to drop the car off to Auto Tech and then walk in the almost freezing rain to meet Danika at Turnbull Home (quick visit with Mary), dropping Danika off at the University for work then picking up the floor sanders using Judith’s truck. Rented from Home Depot but the guy was super nice and the gear in tip-top shape. Worked in the office all day, then picked Danika, then she dropped me off at Auto Tech where I signed over $625 worth of repairs. Gotta love automobile ownership.
Claudine made a super-excellent supper tonight for Rae and I and he cancelled his drawing class tonight so he could help sand the floors. The place is really coming together. Alex worked for me until about 8pm, so I continued with some plaster and woodwork. Now I’m at work at the bar.
Here’s the latest from Mediascout:
(message ended; probably my computer battery died or the Internet went out). The Media scout was about Paul Wolfowitz and his Golden Handshake from the World Bank.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 24, 2007 11:23 PM
subject Police took too long to start investigation; Jean Charest garde le cap sur des baisses d’impôts de 950 millions $
Dear Stephen,
Just came back from the APAGA and AARCA meetings and Culture Crawl and supper in Fredericton. It was a bit of a miracle that I woke up in time as the guys “surprised” me last night at the end of french class and whisked me away for a night of boozing, bowling and babes. Yes, we finally visited Club Blush. The boys paid me a private dance with a couple ladies but it really just felt odd to watch girls make out. I think a swingers party or something would be more interesting; at least there would be some interactivity!
It was nice to reconnect with many of my Halifax colleagues but thinking of gallery things, and my “official” departure from the gallery in the fall, is stressful. Add to that my pre-wedding jitters: I’m nervous ans stressed about everything from my vows (still not done) to the ceremony, our first dance, the decorations, the overall cost, the weather, just getting packed. I’m a bundle of nerves. Were you nervous before your wedding? I picked up the buttons that Jen P made for us, I actually ran into her by accident on the street. She had left the buttons for me in her mailbox. They look good. At least that’s another thing done.
Claudine is still out at her stagette party; they were having a hot tub party at Judy’s, then painting toenails and going to Sun Star karaoke Lounge. I’m exhausted and my back hurts, which is a shame because I had a great massage yesterday that now my back seems to have forgotten.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 27, 2007 10:45 PM
subject Mass rally protests manufacturing cuts; Les propriétaires de logements invitent le gouvernement Charest à bouger
Dear Stephen,
Six days to go. Yesterday we were up early but didn’t leave the house until 10pm. We stopped and chatted with Judith and borrowed white lights and picked up the last of the candle holders that she had cut. Then we were on the road. We made many a wrong turn, the first directly after crossing the border when we took the more scenic #1 instead of the more direct #9. It seemed that my tattoos helped us gain entry easily as the border guard had just asked if we were travelling with any alcohol (only about five cases of beer in the trunk!) when he saw my tattoos and rapid-fire changed his line of questioning. Apparently my new tattoos are too deep. I managed to keep hidden from Claudine the new shopping cart tattoo but only until suppertime at Joanne and Philippe’s.
Today was Nataniel’s baptism. Clo was up early with him, as she heard him on the baby monitor, and she brought him down to the basement with us. He has gotten larger since we last saw him in February. The house quickly filled up with relatives—grandparents, sons, daughters, grand kids, cousins, nephews, nieces, It was noisy and boisterous and very french. Quickly everyone piled into vehicles and drove ten minutes in the rain to the church, where we assembled. The priest was baptising 2 babies at the same time, and six in total for the day. Nataniel was the first and only boy in the group. Odd. He was bright and cheerful throughout the ceremony and at times even had the priest joking with him. I fulfilled my duties as parain, lighting a candle and ringing the bells at the end. Then it was back to the house for sandwiches and snacks and sparkling wine and gifts. Baptisms are big events it seems, at least in Québec. Eventually everyone left except for Philippe’s parents, who can talk non-stop forever. Interesting subjects, but eventually I was nodding off. Claudine and I still have so much scheduling to do it is causing some stress. What, weddings cause stress? But overall I think it will be a great party.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 28, 2007 11:22 PM
subject Former officials clash over meeting; Pour éviter des élections, le gouvernement libéral négocie avec le PQ
Dear Stephen,
Five days to go!
Did you write your own vows when you got married? Wedding speech? Ceremony? OK, our ceremony is pretty much done, thanks mostly to Claudine for getting that done. And my vows are…close to being finished. It’s hard to say something succinctly within this context of weddings without falling into the arena of kitsch or sticky-sweet sentimentality. But I guess there is something inherently sentimental about weddings so maybe I shouldn’t worry so much. One thing I should start to worry about is the shirt I’ll be wearing for the wedding. I still don’t have one! So today, after breakfast with Philippe’s parents and he returned after dropping them off at his brother, Jo, Clo, Phillipe and I went over the ceremony and discussed some of the MC details. Then Clo and I drove downtown and picked up a few gift-preparation tools from Omer deSerres (which in a previous letter to a PM I had mis-spelled as Omar de Serres which I found out though Google, of course), then Clo went to meet Caro for the night and I drove to Centre Rockland to find the white Bertigo shirt with the square orange buttons. Of course, the Decarie was slow and the Metropolitain 40 slow as molasses going west…which was the wrong direction, I needed east, and it wasn’t much faster going east. Then I missed the Rockland exit and had to turn around. By the time I actually made it to the mall I had an hour before the stores closed. I found the store—Style Exchange—but of course they didn’t have the shirt, in fact the girl didn’t even know the brand. The Glamus store manager in Moncton was probably handing me a bunch of bull to weasel his way out of not ordering my shirt in the first place. Anyway, I checked out H&M, which usually works for me, but they had a poor selection, not to mention the fact that there was almost nothing in my size. In a random coincidence I bumped into Kim Waldron, a photographer I had known from Halifax, she had exhibited at the Khyber and most recently at Eastern Edge. Still no shirt, I tried Harry Rosen but a simple white shirt and flashy orange tie would set me back about $350, something I am not yet prepared to do. We still have Simons in Québec City and will undoubtedly find something good there, if we find the time to shop. I grabbed a bite at Les trois brasseurs on St. Denis and doodled and made notes before heading back to Isle-Perrot. There were accidents on the 40 this afternoon but given the manner in which so many Quebecois drive and the state of the roads I’m surprised there aren’t more. I miss this city though: it’s bustle, it’s energy, it’s vibrancy. When I got back to Jo and Phillipe’s I worked on my vows, the speech, uploaded songs to the iPod and watched the last minute of the Senators losing to Anaheim. Not a great start to the final.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca,
date May 30, 2007 12:05 PM
subject Calif., Ont. leaders sign deals; Funérailles des soldats: une famille contredit le ministre de la Défense
Dear Stephen,
Woke up early Tuesday and had breakfast with Philippe. Jo and Nataniel had an appointment and so were gone for the morning. Philippe helped me with my vows and speech. Then I was off to meet Claudine at one of our favourite Montréal spots, La Pharmacie Esperanza. I had a bit of extra time and so stopped at the Le Chateau Entrepot at the end of Jean Talon. Managed to find a decent white shirt for the wedding and a more casual summery shirt, possibly for the brunch the day after.
After meeting Claudine and having a bite to eat and exchanging stories we did a little more shopping along St. Viateur and then Mont Royal and St. Denis. Clo bought a sharp little dress for the brunch. It is black though; do you think this is an appropriate colour for the brunch after the wedding ceremony? No matter, she likes it and looks good in it so that is what it will be, balls to Monty!
The drive to Baie-St-Paul was pleasant, save for the other lunatics out there on the road. I witnessed two drivers that slowed to a stop on the highway in Trois Rivieres to argue with one another about who was at fault for a lousy merge. Claudine was cut off more than once by drivers that think 145km / hour is a safe speed to make multiple lane changes. We kept calm by reading a great article about the Prelinger Library in San Francisco.
We stopped by Les Saveurs Oubliée just to check out the site; it will be a great wedding! The farm is directly beside the road just on the outskirts of Les Éboulements. We continued on to St-Joseph-de-la-Rive. We had two surprises in store for us.
The first was very sad. In the little village we saw a cat in the road; it was investigating another, which had been struck by a car. I moved the cat out of the road, close to where its’ brother or sisters were. They were clearly curious about what had happened. Who hits a cat with their car and just leaves it?
The second surprise was getting to our chalet. We basically climbed a dirt road straight up the side of a mountain. We stalled the car a couple times and had to descend to a farmer’s lot and take another run at the hill. But once at the top, what a surprise! The chalet is all stone on the outside and wood on the inside, super-cute, quaint, a little slice of heaven.
We had a nice bath and a long restful sleep. We are staying true to the vow of chastity, which is hard but I’m sure it will pay off! We had a little breakfast, worked on speeches and vows, and are getting ready for a day of little errands and last-minute shopping in Québec City. We still need to find a shopping cart!
I might not be able to send you a letter until after the ceremony; limited access out here, so it will depend on timing and if and when we get to the Internet café in Baie-St-Paul.
-chris
DEAR PM 