DEAR PM vol.17
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 3, 2017, 11:21 PM
subject Course au PCC: Kevin O’Leary doit se «brancher», dit Andrew Scheer; Grande Prairie was right to refuse anti-abortion ads on city buses, judge rules
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Sorry I haven’t written in so long. Happy new year! I survived the holidays. Drove back to Ottawa and work this morning, poor Sol was up with an earache at 4:30. I’m past my bedtime but was watching the hockey game (habs beat predators in OT) while going through all my online accounts and closing useless or underused ones. Need to save some $$$ as of now am renting a studio at almost $450/month (dropped all my stuff off tonight), went to the gym, reduced my membership (now need to bring my own towel). What did you do for new years? We partied hard at the studios, lots of weirdness (time-delay motion-capture video projections, DJs, dancing, drugs, indoor playpark for kids, slumber party, breakfast in the studio, sliding, the whole nine yards, really).
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 4, 2017, 11:24 PM
subject La sécurité de la visite royale a coûté 2 millions à la GRC; Reviving per-vote subsidy would be rewarding bad behaviour
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another day at work, went twice with Andrew out to the storage at Polytek to retrieve large and heavy crates. Woke up from a deep sleep and bizarre dreams with bad upper back pain. I’m on pain killers and wine now. Bought a table and chairs at a furniture surplus place out on Industrial road, dropped them off at the studio with my rent cheques, then stayed in with greg and julia watching the junior hockey match. It was an exciting game. Off to bed now, early to give my back time to rest. Will try to get back into All my puny sorrows. Have you been following the Joseph Boyden scandal? What’s your take: did he take advantage willfully, or was it that he just didn’t have the balls to ‘fess up once he started winning awards and gaining success as an “Indigenous” author?
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 5, 2017, 11:44 PM
subject Steven Blaney réduirait les seuils d’immigration; The awesome price we pay for road de-icing: Melting cars, collapsing bridges, billions in damage
Dear Justin,
I am still alive, but Team Canada’s gold medal hopes are not. Watched the third period, overtime and shootout tonight after getting back from more studio setup. I went to IKEA to get some shelves that were a great price, $15 each for these small galvanized metal shelves, I bought three.
Off to bed, too late, I missed the Y, my back still sore, still popping muscle relaxants. I have 2 passengers riding back to Montreal with me tomorrow thru Amigo Express. I need to clean up the car a bit during lunch.
Still no Tim Horton cups for 2017, even though I’ve actually been to one twice this week on break while out at Polytek. Maybe that project really is done? Time to start new things in the studio. A new chapter of a potential doomfest of festering dread awaits.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 6, 2017, 11:47 PM
subject Justin Trudeau a passé les Fêtes sur l’île privée d’un leader spirituel; ‘Pipelines may be straight, but the stories behind them have many twists’: The story of Kinder Morgan’s approval
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Everything was going so well today: work, well everything except the fact that our car was towed this morning because I had parked it in a zone that hadn’t been fully cleared of snow ($85), but luckily the city of ottawa knew where they had taken it and I was only 20 minutes late for work. And work was fun, except the small freight was broken in the morning so our plan to move all the Farmer trailer crates upstairs before 10 was quashed. Actually hung some pictures (one, an Ed Pien, weighed 400lbs due to the overbuilt frame – fun!). I had a full car of Amigo Express riders this afternoon after work, 3 in total, and traffic wasn’t too bad coming into Montreal, and I was home by 6:45, so I thought everything was going to be great, the kids and I were having a blast, Clo went to the studio to work on some things, but then it started getting late and the kids were tired and cranky but wanting to stay up and Rose was pushing her bedroom door shut on Sol and I lost my temper and struck the door with my fist and went clear through a pane of glass, leaving my thumb nicely lacerated and dripping blood on the floor and probably freaking the kids out, though they were both a big help in getting me band aids and Polysporin and wipes and brushing their teeth when asked and after I had cleaned up the broken glass and spilled blood we read stories and they fell asleep and I feel rotten like wondering if I have real anger management issues or what? Can our family survive this back-and-forth until June? Should I give up trying to make my own art altogether? No-one seems to really appreciate it and this Dear PM project only seems to make me depressed. Maybe this studio is my last kick at the can, in some weird way to prove that I can still be an artist if I really wanted to. Whatever.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 9, 2017, 6:34 AM
subject Le Bloc québécois annonce que 2017 apportera un «vent de changement»; ‘Worried about this one’: Canadian anti-ISIL fighter documented his time in Syria in messages, photos, videos
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the weekend. The cut on my thumb probably needed stitches as it was right along a joint and though it stopped bleeding yesterday it is still wet. Lots of band-aids. Saturday morning Sol wanted to bake a cake, we didn’t have a box mixture nor self-rising flour but we managed to make something edible. Rose was sick during the night, it was more gastro than flu but there was vomit and discomfort and the poor thing stayed inside all weekend. With the exception of a quick jaunt to the market yesterday I stayed inside all weekend, too. I wanted to cook up a storm and ended up with four meals prepared: a lentil paté chinois, a dahl, a vegetable soup and a chili. The chili I did in the slow-cooker outside yesterday but the turnip didn’t cook so I threw the whole thing into a pot and tried to finish it on the stovetop only to burn a layer to the bottom. This follows nicely the onions I burned to a crisp on Saturday night when I jumped in the tub with Sol and totally forgot I had them on the stove. Lucky that pot came clean but boy did it smell bad, both kids complained everytime I brought it in from outside in attempts to clean it. Now my hands are dry and chapped from all the dishes and I forgot to put on cream. Anyway I’m on the bus heading to Ottawa for work, I’m going to try to catch some more sleep before arriving.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 10, 2017, 11:52 PM
subject Remaniement ministériel: Stéphane Dion quitte la vie politique; In a major shuffle, Justin Trudeau re-tools cabinet in preparation for the Donald Trump era
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Survived another day at work, started by floating, then we had a staff meeting (the truck driver job is posted internally again, as they haven’t been able to find a candidate who can A. drive a 5-ton truck, and B. has art-handling experience and C. can install works and D. is bilingual), then helped install some drawing works, some Royal Art Lodge that made me think of the Halifax Drawing Club that we hosted way back in the late 90s and early 2000s. After work I met Pascal for drinks and something to eat at the Manx, then walked to the studio in the snow as the buses were behind schedule. Set up my goalie gear and started what I hope to be a series of quirky sketches and watercolour paintings of the gear in various piles and shapes. Walked home in the rain. I’m tired but wonder if it is worth it to watch some netflix before sleeping. No, I should look into daycare options for Rose for March break, including possibly having her come to Ottawa with me. Oh, and my friend Colin received his 65th birthday greeting card you sent him on my request, he is thrilled with it of course. Thanks for sending it.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 11, 2017, 11:23 PM
subject Jane Fonda comes to Alberta to inform them that oil is bad and they should get other jobs
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Survived another day. Floated a bit, helped hang a real big 5-panel pastel drawing, moved some other works around, the usual. Walked to the studio after work, stopping at Staples on the way to buy those little retractable doohickeys we use at work to keep our key passes on our belts; Rose saw mine last week and wants one, so these will be their “surprises” for when I get home on Friday. I’ll make them their own key passes to use around the house or wherever. Worked in the studio only for an hour or so, finished a watercolour sketch of my goalie gear, thought about other projects, walked home. Ate with Greg and Julia, watched the Habs crush the Jets, washed some laundry, watched some news (WTF is up with Trump and Russia?), and I started a Sketchup of my parents’ living room to help them with design but am exhausted and may just go straight to sleep. Maybe a tiny bit of Black Mirror, but I feel I won’t last very long.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 12, 2017, 11:47 PM
subject Ottawa envisage de créer une nouvelle aide pour les locataires; Trudeau ne voit pas de problème à voyager aux frais de l’Aga Khan
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived work, then the gym, then an opening at Studio Sixty-Six. It’s a good show overall, a bit uneven or young-feeling in places, but they had a great turnout and it was good to see so much enthusiasm for emerging Indigenous artists. I met Nicole on the way there and she fed me some soup before the opening, and we met friends and hung out in my studio for a bit. Came home, packed for the trip back to Montreal tomorrow. Don’t know yet how I’m getting there, will decide tomorrow. Going to sleep now.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 16, 2017, 3:46 PM
subject La commissaire à l’éthique se penchera sur le voyage en hélicoptère de Trudeau; Toronto senior who used cane to kill fellow nursing home resident sentenced to life in prison
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the weekend, though we didn’t do that much. I caught a ride home on Friday with Jonathan, he was going to the same supper hosted by the Goethe as Clo. We mostly stayed in the house and watched the Back to the Future trilogy with the kids. I washed laundry and cleaned a bit, but didn’t cook so much. Clo was a bit sick on Saturday and Sol started coming down with something on Sunday. He was up at 3, then 4, then finally out of bed at 4:45 eating his Weetabix this morning. He didn’t like the supper I made last night though our dinner guests did, including another 4-year old. In all the confusion of leaving the house this morning without being too disruptful I forgot to bring Clo’s MacBook Air, so I will now write you this week from the tech computers at work. The bus ride this morning was quick and painless and I dozed for most of it. Had a Risk Assessment meeting with the Health and Safety officer this afternoon. Thinking of catching a bus direct to the studio this afternoon and working on some stuff.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 17, 2017, 4:13 PM
subject Les libéraux souffrent d’un «sentiment de méfiance» hérité des conservateurs; Hit man from Hamilton travelled to B.C. after contract taken out on full-patch member of Hells Angels
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Survived another day of work. Caught a bus to the studio yesterday after work and got started on some new Tim Horton hockey card paintings (the ones on the paper I made from found Tim Horton cups back in 2008). Tonight I’m going skiing with Aaron and Chris from work. Greg gave me an old set of skis, I’ll rent boots tonight and look to buy some this weekend. Going to Simons in the mall to spend the rest of my Xmas gift card on socks. Either I wear through socks really fast or socks are just poorly-made nowadays. Probably both.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 19, 2017, 3:38 PM
subject Unilinguisme de Trudeau: le Commissaire aux langues officielles enquête; Northeastern U.S. warms 50% faster than global average — and neighbours in Canada along for the ride
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another day at work, then yesterday after work caught a ride with Jonathan and Nicole to the UQO gallery opening of an ICI exhibition focussed on Harald Szeeman’s 1972 Documenta 5, including a talk by a young director of ICI, then Jonathan drove us back to Ottawa and Nicole and I ate at Shwarma Palace on Rideau before catching a screening of Almodovar’s film Julieta. Walked home, fasted overnight and had my medical exam this morning, including having blood drawn for tests, grabbed a breakfast on the way to work, which has been slow: no work orders today. Will leave work early and go to the studio and maybe the gym. Have lots of things to plan for the weekend and the coming weeks, to use my remaining vacation and parental and family time.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 23, 2017, 6:39 AM
subject «Fausses nouvelles» : la ministre Joly se dit préoccupée; Trump looms large as Canada and allies finalize plans for NATO mission to Latvia
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another rideshare back to Montreal, the best one yet. I met her at 4pm in the parking lot of a McDonalds in Hull and in 2 hours flat was dropped off at the McDonald’s next to the de Castelnau metro. Haven’t been home that early on a Friday in a long time. SRoberts was over for supper Friday night, I bought prepared salmon-cauliflower-potato dishes at the new épicerie which opened near us just before Christmas. Expensive but tasty. Saturday was of course the women’s marches everywhere, I was planning to go with the whole family but Rose had organized her own playdate with aa friend from school so I went with Sol. It was more a gathering than a march, and Sol bored quickly, so we went to the library to return some books and borrow new ones, then walked back up to the Belgo for openings, especially Kim’s. Poor Thomas looked heartbroken that Rose didn’t come, so we made tentative plans to hang out, maybe in Nomininque, next weekend. Left with Sol to get Rose before the speech at SBC (they were opening the first in a year-long Woodland School takeover), made supper and had baths and the kids in bed just after 9. Sunday Rose had another playdate in Laval with her friend from daycare, and I mostly hung out with Sol as Clo had to work (the big CALQ grant due soon). Stopped at Poubelle de ski and bought myself downhill ski boots, a helmet and goggles, and new snowpants for Rose. Not seeing myself climbing out of debt anytime soon, but at least I can ski now without having to rent gear, since Greg kindly gave me his old skis. They worked well. Took Sol to McDonalds for lunch as he was napping in the car and it was close and he was cranky and it was easy. Back when I was in high school and working at a McDonalds I read Ray Kroc’s autobiography but am not sure it would warrant a movie, but I suppose watching Michael Keaton in the title role would be interesting. I wonder if that era of the birth of fast food is what Trump thinks about when he thinks America was great? Before all the obesity and environmental devastation? Not sure about that. Anyway I’m back on the bus heading to Ottawa.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 24, 2017, 11:58 PM
subject Trudeau a aussi séjourné chez l’Aga Khan en 2014; ‘Dumb bitches’: Head of Windsor minor hockey under fire for comment about Canadian women marchers
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived a couple days at work, a workout at the Y last night, and skiing tonight. Conditions were good, my new boots warm and comfortable, but we were caught driving behind slow snowplows coming back into ottawa and now it’s late and past my bedtime and I need to get some sleep.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 25, 2017, 11:41 PM
subject L’absence d’un lieutenant politique nuit au Québec, selon les conservateurs; Three accused Sun Sea human smugglers found not guilty, mistrial for fourth man
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another day of work, a couple hours in the studio working on Tim Horton paintings, then caught a lift with Stephanie, José and Maura to Axnéo7 for openings and performances. They were durational, three-hour performances with local performers in costumes designed by a Brooklyn-based artist, kind of sensual and melancholy but quite well-done. Didn’t have much time to watch the videos by the couple from Finland, eating and talking and all. Too tired now to go on an anti-Trump or anti-pipeline rant so will just go to bed. Tomorrow I am in training all day for fall arrest and elevated platforms. Oh, booked a cabin with Airbnb for the weekend after Clo’s birthday so she can ski and play crib.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 26, 2017, 11:06 PM
subject Justin Trudeau accueilli par des manifestants en Saskatchewan; Skull recreated in attempt to solve ‘perfect mystery’ behind untimely death of artist Tom Thomson
Dear Justin,
I am still alive, I survived fall-arrest and elevated platform training all day today, then a drink at Earl of Sussex with colleagues from work to celebrate Stepahnie’s 30th birthday, then off to the openings at City Hall for the OAG (pronounced ‘orgies’) in their off-site annex space, where I met Peter finally after all this time but then I went to my alt-life ottawa host home for supper and watched the Habs lose and the Sens lose and fiddled online on bullshit stuff and Messanger-argued with Clo about money and studio rent and why- the-fuck-make-art-anyway and now in a bad mood and Fuck Trump and Fuck pipelines and Fuck you too for having no real spine. Fuck me as well for not standing up or speaking out or really doing fuck-all of anything for anyone.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 30, 2017, 6:30 AM
subject En visite à Vancouver, Justin Trudeau ne répond pas aux journalistes; Quebec City mosque shooting kills six people: ‘We condemn this terrorist attack on Muslims,’ PM says
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the rideshare back to Montreal, and the weekend in Nominingue visiting Kim, Jean-Michel, Thomas and Margot. The kids had a blast, we went to a local sliding hill yesterday which was really fun, and played monopoly after supper on Saturday, introducing the kids to some of the acute business practices of the new president of the USA. Speaking of which, Steve Bannen on the national security council? And the shooting last night in Quebec City? Sometimes hard to believe the hashtag that LoveTrumpsHate, but we must hold on to those thoughts, and find actions to express it. On bus now, heading back to Ottawa for work. The kids were still asleep in their own beds when I left. They were such joys to be around this weekend, even the traffic southbound on the 15 was enjoyable. Time is precious.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 30, 2017, 10:44 PM
subject L’appui de Trump à la torture accroît la pression de divers groupes sur Ottawa; Quebec mosque shooting suspect Alexandre Bissonnette charged with six counts of murder
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the bus ride, though I was a bit later for work than usual. Today we started dismantling the Ai Wei Wei tree. I was also called on to set up a Tracey Emin bird on a 19-foot long pole. At lunch there was the human chain protest at the US Embassy, a bunch of us from work went. I went to the Y after work and came back to eat with Greg and Julia. Am trying to stay positive in the wake of the shootings, a week of Trump and his executive orders, Steve Bannen, Sally Yates, the list goes on and on. And Facebook doesn’t help.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jan 31, 2017, 10:59 PM
subject Stéphane Dion devient ambassadeur en Allemagne; Not paralyzed enough: N.S. man sues to be recognized as paraplegic after insurance claim denied
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another day at work, survived another day, day eleven, of Trump’s presidency and all the lunacy he has unveiled. The Facebook feed becomes more addictive as his announcements become crazier. I just now lost another twenty minutes and for what? Luckily tonight my ski night was switched to tomorrow so I took the opportunity to skate to the studio after supper. I couldn’t skate all the way, but walked from the 5th ave stop, had my skates sharpened there which made a big difference for the return. It wasn’t so cold out, better than the walk to work this morning. Darn it Facebook almost caught me again. I’m shutting the computer down and going to read a bit of The Revenant before bed.
-chris
DEAR PM 