APRIL 2017

DEAR PM vol.17

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 3, 2017, 4:42 PM
subject Les électeurs votent dans cinq circonscriptions fédérales lundi; ‘An opportunity to make their displeasure known’: Government pulls funding of pronoun professor

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived the weekend in Montreal, which included an April Fools Beach Party chez Michel and Nathalie, another epic late-night dance party. Annie Q was DJing and Beaver made special musical performances throughout the night, Ran into many of my former DHC crew, but I was slipping into my typical dazed-out MDMA phase where conversation becomes difficult, so I hung mostly on the dance floor, dancing all ‘hunched over’, according to some reports. Anyway, I had fun. Sunday we took things slow but went to a marionettes show at Patro with the kids. It was an older show, written by a neighbour but it had great puppet techniques and both kids liked it, though they also liked running around in the park with their friends afterward (Oona and Lowell were at the show too). Today was another smooth bus ride to Ottawa and a relatively easy day working on touch-ups for the Figure Paintings – they are finally done. Now off to grab gym clothes from home and hit the Y for the first time in a long while.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 4, 2017, 4:34 PM
subject Mélanie Joly refuse de juger une série controversée de CBC sur l’histoire du Canada; Dutch court approves extradition for man accused in Amanda Todd cyberbully case

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another day at work. Last night I made it to the gym, made some supper, watched a little hockey and then spent an hour trying to find something to watch on Netflix to no avail. Went to bed early.

Tonght I’m meeting Nicole for tacos and then to see the film I am not your negro, at the Bytown. It is pouring rain out all day, supposed to rain all week. Lucky I brought my umbrella. Starting to feel a bit of the post- mdma blues but it never really hits me that hard. I guess I am lucky that way.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 5, 2017, 4:30 PM
subject Xavier Barsalou-Duval défend son adjoint et rejette les rumeurs de division; Meet the grave hunters: British retirees battle overgrown cemeteries to find long-lost Canadian war dead

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived the film I am not your negro last night, which was hard to watch but felt necessary towards trying to understand why race is such a divisive issue in the ‘States. Like Baldwin states at the end, the nigger is a white man’s construct. Today was a kind of blah day at work, not too busy (so a bit on the slow and slightly dull side), but I realize that I have about 50 working days left (counting the Friday and Monday stat holidays due to Easter). So it is almost starting to feel like the final stretch. I think I could be biking to work as early as next week, if the rain lets up and the temperature rises just a little bit more. Maybe 5 degrees would do it.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 6, 2017, 4:48 PM
subject Justin Trudeau condamne l’utilisation d’armes chimiques en Syrie; His university under siege, Michael Ignatieff is leading the charge against an increasingly autocratic Hungary

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another day at work (49 to go). Skipped the gym last night and instead had a nap when I got home, then walked to Provigo to get some groceries, made supper and watched some hockey and the new Louis CK stand-up. Went to bed early. Today I survived another day at work (48 to go). More of the same, gathering works to install in LO CAN CON. Now I’m off to the opening here at the NGC of the Photography in Canada 1960-2000 show, part of CGI, that I helped install over 2 weeks ago.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 8, 2017, 11:19 PM
subject Le Canada a été prévenu avant les frappes de Trump en Syrie, dit Trudeau; Montreal man won’t be tried for his wife’s death because it’s taken too long to bring the case to trial

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived work and then a rideshare to Montreal yesterday, again getting caught in traffic on the 40 and 15 but since we left Ottawa at around 3:45 I was home by 6:30. The kids were excited to see me, even though I didn’t have surprises for them. No supper guests, though Clo came back from a discussion at Galerie Espace with Nadège, Yannick and Pascal for a quick bite and beer and tea and discussions. Today there was an opening at Oboro so Clo was working the afternoon, we visited a bazaar at Centre Lajeunesse, then I took the kids to see Boss Baby, which they both thoroughly enjoyed. Rose loves the entire movie- going experience, and Sol unusually stayed in the theatre for the whole movie, and waited to play on the video games until afterwards. Then we stopped at a park in Parc Ex on our way to Oboro for the opening, where they ate mostly cookies and bread for supper. It’s great, they know the place so well now that I could drop them off at the front door and then drive around looking for parking, they were totally fine, walked up to the third floor themselves, settled in nicely. They were exhausted by the time I drove them home and got them in bed, both asleep by 9:15 or so. And now that I’ve showered and shaved I’m not long from bedtime, either. Chips for supper, mmmm.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 10, 2017, 4:27 PM
subject Légalisation du cannabis: le projet de loi déposé jeudi; ‘Everybody was kicking me’: Alleged beating by Canadian man at D.C. protest leads to condemnation of Jewish Defence League

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived the rest of the weekend, a nice long family walk in Parc Jarry Sunday, getting some groceries with the kids at the market, watching Toy Story 3 with them while preparing supper. Didn’t sleep well, though Sol appears to have kicked the pull-ups overnight habit; he woke me up at 3:30 to have me crawl back into bed with him, and he told me he had already peed in the toilet. And I don’t think he’s had an overnight accident in over a week. He listens to an album by the Beatles now at bedtime, and again early this morning, which is weird but also endearing. Anyway I needed to email our life insurance agent to book a visit with a nurse so that Claudine can be dropped from “occasional smoker” status to “non-smoker” and we save $150 per year. And now I really need to get outside and soak up some of that sun and 20 degree temperature. Long leisurely walk by the canal, listening to Infinite Jest.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 12, 2017, 10:10 PM
subject Le Parti conservateur modifie le format du débat des candidats à la direction; Accused Canadian in international email hacking case to appeal judge’s harsh bail denial

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived the bus ride back to Montreal last night, and getting the kids off to school and daycare this morning. They were pretty stoked to have me here I think. I printed off my single photo evidence of the confusing no parking status for my defence this morning in time to get to court but the process was bumped to October because, even with a procuration I could not represent Claudine, she needed to be there since the car was in her name when I got the ticket. Had lunch with Victoria and ran errands, made butter chicken for supper and picked the kids up early to spend more time with them. And now getting ready for bed as I am hitting the road early to get to Ottawa for work by 8am. Feeling tired and sore from interrupted sleep last night (Sol had me up at 3 to go to his bed – and listen to the Beatles – and then again at 5:30 to eat cereal). And also I think I pushed myself a bit too hard at the gym on Monday. Hey are you watching the hockey game? I’m not, not feeling it.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 18, 2017, 4:33 PM
subject Un colis suspect force l’évacuation d’une partie du Parlement à Ottawa; Air Canada pilot doesn’t notice as wheel snaps during take-off — manages ‘miracle’ landing in England

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived Easter Long Weekend, including a 10-person dinner party chez nous on Friday and then almost 20-people (including kids) over fro Easter brunch on Sunday. Claudie made fritatas and pain doré Saturday night and I had set up my studio table so we could seat more people. Had an Easter egg hunt in the back yard and rouelle. SRoberts had her baby early Sunday morning! Now back in Ottawa, glad it is a short week, I`m back to Montreal Thursday to prepare for Judith and Robert`s weekend visit chez nous. Claudine is feeling emotionally drained and exhausted from this whole past year so I am literally counting the days and weeks until June 16 and my unemployment! Oh and I received a call last week to attend an info session at the clinique in St-Julie for a vasectomy, and it is scheduled for May 5. Had been almost a year that I have been on their waiting list, it is a different process from that offered at most hospitals, “sans bistourie”. After the procedure I have 3 months to have about 60 ejaculations before testing to confirm sterility, which seems a lot, but I guess it will be something to do while on vacation.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 19, 2017, 4:22 PM
subject Gestion de l’offre: Maxime Bernier donne raison à Trump; Take away federal funding if universities don’t protect free speech on campus, Andrew Scheer says

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another day at work. Watched the Habs lose to the Rangers last night with Julia and Greg. Heading off now to hear a couple artist talks at Daimon. Will take a bus there as it is raining out. April showers brings May flowers, supposedly.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 24, 2017, 4:35 PM
subject Bois d’oeuvre: l’aide d’Ottawa ne sera pas immediate; We paralyzed FDR and broke up the Beatles: The Canadian history CBC’s boring documentary missed

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived a slightly-longer weekend with Robert and Judith, a dinner party chez nous Friday night, Saturday a quick visit to le Foire Papier then supper out at a fancy restaurant (le vin papillon – absolutely delicious), lots of wine and cheeses, visiting the hotel pool Sunday morning (our futon mattress in the guest room did not allow Robert and Judith a wink of sleep Friday so they rented at the Delta for the rest of their trip – we are terrible hosts!), visiting Claudine’s studio. Lots of tears and laughter, many touchy subjects discussed (art, censorship, the Ijeoma Oluo interview with Rachel Dolezal, cultural appropriation, white privilege, and when are we moving to New Brunswick?). 51 days until CIG opens (oddly enough, today moved a couple Miller Brittain paintings and a Jack Humphrey up to A109 for placement), 52 more days until I am off on vacation, including weekends. Less than 8 weeks to go, 38 working days. I think I should get my EI profile up-to-date.

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 25, 2017, 4:49 PM
subject Justin Trudeau parle de marijuana avec le public; Police charge man who allegedly yelled sexist ‘FHRITP’ slur at female TV reporter in Newfoundland

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another day at work, continuing with more of the Canadian and Indigenous Galleries. I find the experience of working with multiple curators, designers, conservators, project managers and assistants a bit like trying to do the bidding of a herd of cats, who sometimes come together at once but more often than not wander in and out of the spaces at their own whim and fancy. Surprisingly, progress is being made. Tonight I’m planning to stop at Simons and get myself a new spring jacket; my current jacket is a good 6-7 years old and Claudine has had quite enough of it, thanks very much. Time for some renewal, and now that I am not paying for an over-priced studio, I can afford to buy some new clothes. Barely.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 26, 2017, 4:53 PM
subject Parti conservateur: Kevin O’Leary se retire de la course; Stunning images capture woman perched on downtown Toronto crane — and her dramatic rescue

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another day of the herding cats. Actually it was a long day of maintaining a holding pattern, a bit of “hurry up and wait”. There were conflicts erupting between curators and directors, and now works and rooms we have hung in the past week might need to be re-hung. One step forward, two steps back. How is it possible that after seven months of planning there could be so much disorganization and lack of communication? Anyway, the weather is nice, and I’m cycling to visit old friends Peter and Jenn at their apartment for supper tonight. I stopped at Simons last night looking for a new spring jacket but didn’t really find anything I liked enough, so the plan is to go with Clo this weekend. We’ll go to the one in Laval as we are dropping Rose off at her friend’s house for a sleepover.

-chris

from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Apr 29, 2017, 12:06 AM
subject Entretien des bâtiments fédéraux: les coûts ont explosé de 465 % en 10 ans; Harjit Sajjan the soldier wouldn’t have claimed credit for being ‘architect’ of operation, top NATO officer says

Dear Justin,

I am still alive. I survived another couple days at work, the screening of Angry Inuk at the gallery last night, and the rideshare to Montreal tonight. That movie is so good and it makes me feel like there is so much to do to sensitize people to the the harm that so-called animal rights groups are doing. Seals aren’t endangered and the seal hunt is not cruel, point. A few key individuals, like Sheryl Fink, continue to mis-represent the arctic seal hunt, and use images of baby seals to generate millions of dollars towards their cause. The EU ban on seal hunting is harming the entire Inuit community. The situation was bad under Harper but isn’t getting any better under your leadership. Time to step up to the plate, Justin. Now I’m falling down a rabbit hole of Fink’s so-called articles online, as Claudine is out for a cribbage tournament.

-chris