from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 10:32 PM
subject Alimentation: guerre de mots entre Ottawa et l’ONU; Outrage over B.C. government’s ethnic outreach little more than political theatre
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a surprise birthday party that Claudine
had organized for me yesterday at Peter’s studio. I thought it was
going to be a little afternoon studio party. Upon arriving, I wondered
aloud at the lack of music: “doesn’t sound like much of a party”, I
said to Clo before everyone shouted “surprise”. I wasn’t as
heart-attack inducing surprised as I was the last time she pulled
this, in 2006 in Saint John, because at that time I wasn’t expecting
anyone – the bar was closed and locked and there shouldn’t have been
people lurking in the dark. I was perplexed at first: OK, here is the
party, but why…it took a second to sink in, to make the birthday
connection. It was a really fantastic piece of subterfuge and
excellent party-planning.
And there were so many people there: even many from the night before,
from the Nuit Blanche karaoke extravaganza at SKOL. Also, to note,
Rose and I had spent Saturday afternoon with Etienne and Femke at the
great aquatic centre in Lasalle, a good half-hour drive from here.
Rose LOVES swimming, she has no fear, loves to float with her
floaters, kicks around, climbs out and jumps repeatedly in.
In other somewhat related birthday news, I received my very own visa
card in the mail today and spent a lot of time on the phone with TD
confirming the card, then changing to an Emerald for a better interest
rate (12.75%, not too shabby), and transferred the balance from the
secondary credit card under my dad’s name. It is part of a gift from
me to my folks, on the eve of my forty years of existence, to have my
own credit. It will still take me the rest of the year to pay it all
off, and I still owe about $1200 on their line of credit, but at least
I am more financially independent. The collection agency has not yet
called me back to ask if I have the $15,000 loan to pay them off right
away. Smells a bit like last-ditch effort extortion. I’m actually
looking forward to their call.
Off to bed. Tomorrow I return the karaoke machine and Clo and Sol have
their first post-birth medical checkup.
Oh, and regarding the AGM for Papineau, I have had a phone call and an
email RSVP, so potentially 2-3 new people will be there. Wow!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 11:31 PM
subject Les dons politiques formellement interdits aux membres du CSARS; Ouellet wants more church powers for women, but not as Catholic priests
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived my birthday; I have now been alive for forty years. I’ve been writing to the PM digitally for twelve of those years. I’ve been with my wife for almost ten. My first-born daughter is almost three. I’ve been president of the EDA for Papineau for almost one year. Speaking of Papineau, I received the weirdest email exchange ever in response to the invitation to the AGM. What do you make of this:
ConsultationAngeloInc wrote:
Right near the cousin to George Nehme auto body shop of a time ago.
—– Original Message —–
From: ConsultationAngeloInc
To: dearpm@gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 05, 2013 2:14 PM
Subject: Papineau St ….its also big rubber for money street.
Is the Pizza event cancelled this March 13th? Papineau Street is Montreal’s motor street where I’ve sold rubber for money. Big rubber.
—– Original Message —–
From: ConsultationAngeloInc
To: dearpm@gmail.com
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 12:30 PM
Subject: Subject: Annual General Meeting…Papineau. Restaurant Pizza Mina
Chris,
Thank you for your letter inviting me to the meeting. I appreciate it and will try to attend.
Best Regards,
Angelo
Is it just me or is this a very, very odd series of letters?
Anyway, today we had Sol’s first medical appointment and all is good. We went to IKEA (which is renovating to become the largest in North America, over 550,000 square feet, how obscene!), but we were disappointed with the track and panel options for our closet so we are going with curtains. We will leave the big mirrors where they are for the time being. Tonight Clo treated me to supper at Tapeo, it was delish. Léa came over to watch Rose who was thrilled.
I just heard some noises from Sol’s bum so will go change him then head to bed.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 9:11 PM
subject La loi sur la clarté semble être là pour rester; High hopes for Ashley Smith inquest
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived yet another night of Rose waking in the middle of the night then battling us to try to stay in our bed. At least I was able to get back to sleep at around 3 or so, not like the other night when I couldn’t get back to sleep. Of course, all this means is it is not yet even nine o’clock and all I want to do is go to bed. What else happened today? Clo and I hung out, went for a walk down to Beaubien with Sol, I semi-fixed the bad wiring job I started at Sarah’s house, we picked up some groceries, I picked up Rose from daycare, I shoveled some of the ice away from the street drains, I shaved, I bathed Rose, I checked Facebook, I digitally rolled up the rim. I survived a ten-minute Internet breakdown just now. Off to read New Yorker and maybe online articles before bed. Procrastinating on art show applications. Procrastinating on taxes. Procrastinating on making art. I am, however, going to see a dentist tomorrow. After that I might even book an appointment to get a full physical. Still no call back from the sketchy collection agency.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, Mar 8, 2013 at 10:36 PM
subject Étiquetage de la viande: Ottawa pourrait répliquer aux États-Unis; Stephen Harper’s former aide gets appointment as citizenship judge
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I am too tired to write.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 2:29 PM
subject Nouveau guide du SCRS: gare aux espions à l’étranger; New pope must serve very different churches in the West and developing world
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a second birthday surprise. I knew that Claudine had planned a brunch for yesterday but she was keeping the guest list a secret. When the first guests knocked on the door I opened to find a little boy standing on the porch, but I couldn’t quite place him. Then a man stepped into view wearing sunglasses and a scarf; again, I didn’t know who it was. Finally Monica stepped into view, so it was a big surprise, as Chantal, Stephen, Monica and little Hugo were the surprise guests! And brunch was fantastic which Claudine managed to make despite our oven not working. We all met up again at Oboro for Kim’s opening. I bought her self-published book, called the Do-It-Yourself cookbook. Afterwards we ate out at Nil Bleu, which was perhaps a bit too much excitement for Rose, who seems to be developing an ear infection. She complained of ear pain during her short nap, and though she has not been getting up at night lately she doesn’t seem to be getting enough sleep. She has a bit of a cold, the perpetual runny nose, poor thing. Today we’re hanging out inside, resting, and may go with S&M (and their nanny, Shawna, also the current president of third space) to see DHC and PHI. If Rose seems up for it. I’m down for a nap myself.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 2:43 AM
subject Guerre en Irak: quand Chrétien a tenu tête à Bush et Blair; Canadian Forces quietly get a new, tougher name
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a day of visiting with S&M&H&S after an
evening only best described as “hellish”. This is what I posted to
Facebook at 2am, just to give you an idea:
“Girl goes to bed. Girl wakes up. Dad puts girl to bed. Girl wakes up.
Dad puts girl to bed. Dad sleeps 1 hour. Girl wakes up. Dad puts girl
to bed. Baby wakes up. Mom feeds baby. Dad puts baby to bed. Dad
checks Facebook. Repeat.”
Actually it was worse that I described as Rose has an ear infection
and both ears were leaking. We sent her to daycare anyway as she has
been home four days in a row and we all miss her routine. And tonight,
despite taking over an hour to get to bed and stay there, she is doing
much better. Her ears do not even seem to be leaking.
Damn our Internet is slow today/tonight! It took minutes to load the
Canada dot com national news headline page. It is taking minutes to
load every page, in fact.
Sol is making dinosaur noises again. I will go back to Facebook to try
to fall back asleep. Tomorrow evening is my EDA AGM, Have three random
calls as tentative RSVPs. Will let you know how it all goes down.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 10:23 PM
subject Mission au Mali: Jean-Marc Ayrault remercie le Canada; Garneau leaving Liberal leadership race, feels Trudeau can’t be stopped
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another hellish night with Rose, dropping
her off at daycare only to pick her up after lunch as she was crying
and not sleeping due to sickness and exhaustion. Clo and I managed a
brief nap during the time that Rose slept but it was all too brief.
Rose and I went for a walk, went to a couple playgrounds and the
market, I picked up some food and Clo cooked supper and she had way
better luck with the bath and bedtime tonight. I had to go to the EDA
Papineau ACE AGM. Two of my executive were no-shows, there was one new
person who is now our VP, and of course Michel and Jerry were there,
as was Louis-Phillippe. I signed up to go to the regional fundraiser
on the 19th of April as well as will try to sell 3 more tickets. I
doubt I will as they are $150 each, a bit steep even with a half-hour
tour of the Bell Centre included, and the presence of Jacques Demers.
Delegates for the convention was discussed as well but the dates are
bad for me this year as it falls at right around the same time as the
Corey Arcangel opening. Also, I can’t afford to go to Calgary for
three days, I need to save for our vacation to Venice. Now, to close
Facebook and get some sleep in case Rose wakes up later…
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, Mar 15, 2013 at 1:52 AM
subject Développement humain: le Canada glisse au 11e rang mondial; Federal budget to be delivered March 21, same day budget officer takes government to court
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived the morning alone with Sol (2 bottles and
1 bath) as Claudine was having some fillings repaired, then in the
afternoon I myself survived a trip to the dentist to have a cavity
filled. My first cavity, if I remember correctly.
Made a stir-fry for supper, the freezing wore off shortly after we
finished. Rose has been up and into our room three times since 12:30,
though she initially went to bed OK. Tomorrow we will introduce a
system where she has a “get out of bed free” card that she can use
anytime throughout the night to get a hug, a kiss, a glass of water,
but she will only have one card. Also we don’t know yet if she is
going to daycare or the walk-in clinic tomorrow. Her ears seem a bit
better and she has no fever, but she is still not herself.
Oh, and my new friend Leo from the collection agency called the other
day. I told him I was not taking out the $15-thousand loan to pay
them. He seemed to take it fairly well.
From a related news article: “Most student finance experts say
forgiving unpaid student debt is simply the cost of doing business,
with the government taking on risk to help thousands of people get an
education who otherwise couldn’t afford it. They also say the federal
student loans system is simpler and more forgiving than it was 10 or
15 years ago.
According to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, which is
responsible for the federal student loans program, nearly all
write-offs in 2012-13 were due to the expiry of a six-year limitation
period between when the borrower last acknowledged a loan and any
legal activity by the Crown to recoup that debt. After that six-year
period of unsuccessful collection efforts, the government, under
federal law, no longer has the authority to collect the debt.”
My only question is, did the federal government write off my loan in
2006 or in 2012, and in either case, why is this collection agency
still calling me? Will I hear from Leo again?
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sun, Mar 17, 2013 at 11:17 PM
subject Réforme du Sénat: la représentation des francophones menacée?; Mulcair and Keystone: Where is the NDP’s Tony Blair?
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived St. Patrick’s Day, though in all honesty
we didn’t even acknowledge it this year. We had Anne-Laure and Victor
over for a visit mid-morning (she made Sol a lovely hand-made toy cat)
and Victor and Rose had fun playing together (I played the fish match
game, Croque Carrotte and helped them assemble a puzzle). Later in the
afternoon I had a nice long nap. Rose is sleeping better; the “get out
of bed free” card really seems to be working. She used it once last
night around 2:30. Also, since Friday when Clo took her to the clinic
and she started on antibiotics her ears and overall health and humour
has improved. She will be in much better form for daycare tomorrow.
I’m back to work tomorrow, paternity leave is over. A new phase of
working life and routine begins.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, Mar 18, 2013 at 11:58 PM
subject Les conservateurs s’attaquent à Amir Khadir; Flaherty needs to address long-term challenges, notably the aging population
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another Monday. This was also the first Monday back at work since Sol was born and I took 1 month paternity leave. Work was fine, Lorna and I changed the films Escalator and Rain and cleaned the rollers, exciting stuff like that. Keeps the show looking slick and fresh.
Today dropped Rose off at daycare, picked her up after work, bought groceries at market, made supper (cod, veggies, pasta), then cleaned Rose up and put her to bed. She used her “get out of bed free” card within five minutes and also peed her pull-up (I think on purpose). But overall she is sleeping much better. I for one can live with one wakeup per night. Clo is handling Sol, though I change him once or twice throughout the night.
I need one more follower on Twitter to hit 300!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, Mar 19, 2013 at 9:54 PM
subject Publicité à saveur électorale pour l’ex-ministre Penashue; Will the federal budget help match aboriginal Canadians with good jobs?
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived an impressive dumping of snow today. Even
managed to get Rose to daycare and get to work (almost) on time. Poor
Stacy was stuck waiting for a bus and didn’t get in until 10, and this
after flying in from Cuba at 3am the night before. All in all it was a
bit of a blah day at work, I spent the afternoon trying to locate
missing adaptors, parts, bits, papers, documents, drills, etc. Not
terribly exciting. Left early to pick up Rose, then we walked to the
market after getting home, bought some dish soap. Am very quickly
running out of money. I received a retroactive increase in my
paternity leave payments which will help, but things will be lean for
the next 2 weeks.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Wed, Mar 20, 2013 at 10:09 PM
subject Ottawa ne veut pas parler de Constitution; Senate report urges sweeping changes to money laundering legislation
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another day at work (re-organizing my
desk, files and added a larger flatscreen TV as my secondary monitor).
I also survived a family night out to go to DA6’s opening at Parisian
Laundry. I came home on the metro, picked up Rose, shoveled out the
car, then we all piled in and drove down to the gallery, parked, and
visited the artwork for a good 30-45 minutes before hopping back in
the car and driving to the Mile End where we stopped for fish n chips
(and a hot dog -all beef- for Rose) at Comptoir 21. I just finished
getting her ready for bed and reading stories to Rose and am now in my
pyjamas, exhausted.
Today I also survived another round of telephone calls with the young
folks manning the phones at C-Vote (interns?), trying to register.
Still not working.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Fri, Mar 22, 2013 at 11:19 PM
subject Direction du PLC: Justin Trudeau a amassé plus de 1 million $; Decision to roll aid agency into Foreign Affairs seen as both an opportunity and a disaster
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a couple days off and Rose reverting to
her habitual nocturnal visits; at least 6 last night, 4 or 5 the night
before. A bit discouraging but that’s life, eh? There are fewer grosse
colères, which is nice, and sometimes she is damn cute, and heck she
probably can’t help it if she is wide awake.
So yesterday was a bit of a write-off, I had a nap, I watched Sol as
Clo had yoga in the morning, but today I did a bunch of home-reno
stuff. I re-applied for C-Vote. I received a call from CCA, my
favourite collection agency, this time it was a lady, not Leo, and she
was rude and abrupt and mean as nails. She says they will call
everyday. Ha! I am tempted to pre-empt them and call THEM everyday.
Fuckers.
You know who else is an ass? The SPVM riot squad. And the whole
administration of Montreal. And most of the construction companies.
Bah!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Sat, Mar 23, 2013 at 10:42 PM
subject L’idée de Couillard n’est pas prioritaire, dit Trudeau; RCMP: Second Canadian identified among suspected terrorists killed at Algeria gas plant
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived a day-visit from femke, etienne and sarah, and then my parents. Our landlord was supposed to have someone come by today to fix our oven. It hasn’t worked in over three weeks. No-one came. Still no pizza, casseroles, baked goods or re-heated suppers. I am tempted to buy a wall-mounted electric but Clo is more patient.
I was up to 301 Twitter followers a few days back but have since dropped to 298.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Mon, Mar 25, 2013 at 10:46 PM
subject Ottawa se souciait de la mauvaise publicité sur le Northern Gateway; With the new Canada Job Grant, conditional transfers are back — only with a twist
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another Monday at work. Lorna and I
changed Rain again; we had not wound the film correctly last week and
many scratches appeared throughout the week. Currently I am working on
an application for Sporobole for a video series about Art and Sport.
My Everyday Goalie series is perfect, I just need to write about it in
a way that appears intelligent and artsy. Really I just want to send
the links and say nothing. I’m tired and out of practice when it comes
to writing about my work, about any work. I can hardly even read about
art any more. I can hardly focus on anything that is more complex than
Dr. Seuss or Beatrix Potter. Pandas, Arachnopanda, Idle no more,
Pipelines, culture of rape: contemporary news is getting me down, and
parenthood wearing me out.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 11:14 PM
subject Gaz de schiste: démarches illégales d’un ex-ministre conservateur; Government won’t limit itself to chief electoral officer Marc Mayrand’s recommendations for robocalls law
Dear Stephen,
I am still alive. I survived another day of work, and then another
long board meeting at SKOL (anticipated 1h47, finished after 3h20).
Sometimes I wonder why I stay aboard. Checked out the membership forms
for RAAV, as I plan to become a member. While at work I tried to sort
through some of the goalie footage we shot last summer on the lake at
James’ cottage. I’m missing the proper codec to view the footage
properly. Now, to sleep.
-chris
DEAR PM 