DEAR PM vol.17
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 1, 2017, 5:32 PM
subject Justin Trudeau: «On ne rouvre pas la Constitution»; A single MLA with diarrhea could topple the government: A playlist of just how crazy things could get in B.C.
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. My ass is still itchy like crazy I didn’t find cream yesterday I am going to find some tonight on my way home. It has been waking me up in the middle of the night and drives me crazy throughout the day. Heard two crazy pieces of news today: First, that Donald Fucking Trump is going to take the US out of the Paris Accord (booo!) and second, Arcade Fire have finally announced a launch date for their new album, tour, and the first single and video clip is up and it is amazing (as per usual). So I feel balanced somehow. OK off to get some bum cream.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 6, 2017, 6:11 PM
subject Ottawa ne peut plus compter sur Washington comme leader mondial; Witches and duellers rejoice (probably) as the government scraps outdated laws
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the quick weekend back home, including Surviva! (The Viva performance art festival fundraiser), and hanging with the kids including an overnight playdate with Femke (Clo was hosting a Thomson Highway lecture at Oboro), and then the announced rain didn’t materialize so we had outdoor brunch in our yard on Sunday. The Preparation H worked so no more itchy bum. I took the car this week so I wouldn’t be late Monday morning, and am continuing my 10-hour days to catch up on my hours. Also think I found a roof box for the car, so will go put on the roofracks.
8 more working days! -chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 8, 2017, 4:53 PM
subject Sommet du G7 de 2018: Trudeau misera sur l’égalité des sexes; New Liberal plan to grow the Forces gets parliamentary reality check
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Tired, but alive nonetheless. Went out for beers and sushi with Peter and Jenn, he had just finished his article on the new Canadian and Indigenous Galleries, the press preview was earlier in the day. So I was a bit too late getting home and getting to bed, and now I’m tired of the 7am starts and 5pm finishes, so I’m calling it quits now, and though I may come in tomorrow for 7, I will suggest to Claude that I pay off my remaining time owed, which I calculate at about 10 more hours, with my bank of hours, which has more than that if I combine personal, family and vacation time. After all, my contract ends on the 23rd and I am done – done like dinner! – in 1 week!
I wish I had more energy to tell you about the Joe Fafard painted horses debacle, and how gorgeous it is to hear Janet Cardiff’s 40 part motet spilling from the Rideau Chapel, but I’m going to Gilles and Rose-Marie’s for supper tonight and I need to find keychains for the kids for their surprises this week, and grab a bottle of wine on the way.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 12, 2017, 5:09 PM
subject Cour suprême: la juge en chef quittera en décembre; Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin announces her retirement after 28 years on Canada’s top bench
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another (short) weekend, and another Monday back in Ottawa. It was the last day we had to really work on the CIG, I started by helping place Tom Thomson sketches, then moved on to hiking up a half dozen paintings, then finished the day with more paint touchups. Now I’m off to the YMCA to cancel my membership, and get some groceries.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 13, 2017, 4:10 PM
subject Justin Trudeau serait plutôt bien vu par les Américains, selon un sondage; Ontario doctor exposes life in the ER, from a ‘crackling and popping’ penis to a stroke victim who was just drunk
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived another day at work, and as I predicted, the days of my last week are growing longer and moving slower. Today was some sort of conference for wealthy donors so the whole museum was closed, and while we were allowed to work in CIG there wasn’t actually anything for me to do until about 3pm, and then it was simply placing a drum and turtle petroglyh. I’ve cleared with Claude that my final 7.5 hours due will be paid through my family leave entitlements, so no more overtime, no more 7am starts and 5pm finishes. Instead, I have decided to collect some art supplies to make some Ottawa drain cover roulages, and offer one to Gloria and Greg as a thank-you gift for putting me up these past ten months. Don’t know if they will appreciate it or not, but I think they will, especially if it is one of the fish patterns. I’ll keep the Danger: toilet images for my own collection. OK, off to get paint and fabric.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 14, 2017, 4:57 PM
subject Le remplacement des CF-18 au menu des discussions à Paris; Even with a photo on the five-dollar bill, you probably don’t know one of Canada’s most active photographers
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I survived the all-staff breakfast in the Great Hall this morning, where the director offered everyone a day off, which I will take on Friday, so it means my last day is tomorrow! I haven’t told clo or the kids yet, I think I will make it a surprise. Hunted for little jobs to do throughout the day, ended by making a stretcher frame for the roulage I made for Greg and Julia last night. Now I am skipping the VIP opening (even though we were invited) to get my hair cut and attend the discussion at Axeneo 7.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 21, 2017, 2:14 PM
subject Hymne: des sénateurs veulent bloquer la modification des paroles pour le 150e; Woe is the world where women can’t be geniuses and need ‘period days’ to get by
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. A bit depressed, but still alive. -chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 22, 2017, 3:27 PM
subject Harcèlement et abus de pouvoir: Meredith n’en a peut-être pas fini avec le Sénat; What you may have missed from the madness of the last few days of the parliamentary session
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Still depressed, still feeling both anxious and lethargic, immobile, yet still alive. Our friend SarahW has been in hospital since Sunday with another bout of pancreatitis. Off to get Rose now, it is her last day of school!
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 26, 2017, 11:37 PM
subject Theresa Tam nommée «médecin en chef du Canada»; Preparing for ‘pink Viagra’: Two years after female libido pill approved by FDA, drug finally ready to launch
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Still depressed, but alive. Not feeling too wordy, just getting by, day by day. Still haven’t tackled our taxes, Sarah still in hospital, still haven’t organized the house or packed for the trip. Clo is in Venice. The kids are OK except that Rose fears that Clo and are our splitting up. I applied for EI today, I am trying not to be stressed about money but I think I am. Finished listening to Infinite Jest and watched End of the Tour last night. Started and finished The Circle this past week, the book was a Fathers’ Day present from Clo. It perhaps added to the elements that are troubling me on a daily basis. I haven’t checked my Facebook in weeks but I still use Instagram, and of course I’ll send the subject of this letter out via Twitter, but really, what’s the point?
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 27, 2017, 11:35 PM
subject Réforme électorale: un choix «difficile mais nécessaire»; Canada and U.S. drawing closer to ending latest softwood lumber dispute, sources say
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. I am still depressed, but functioning mostly ok. Getting the kids up and fed and dressed and out the door, visiting Sarah, who had a bit of a setback, another pancreatitis attack actually, and is going for more detailed and specific tests tomorrow, but meantime is back on Dilaudid after a stint of Fentanyl (which gave her horrible dreams), but she is back to being in pain every two hours. After the visit today I drove to Griffentown to pick up a mirror for SRoberts, dropped it off, unpacked it, hung it above her mantel and had lunch with her and baby Gloria, then drove home to get Rose, barely making it on time, and the rain let up but not after soaking all the clothes I had hanging on the clothesline. Oh, and I got a ticket while parked at SRoberts, just making me hate Montreal a little bit more. Drove with the kids to Canadian Tire and bought a rooftop bag for the camping gear, and then a few groceries, came home and ate, the kids watched a bit of videos while I cleaned up and then after bedtime I started unpacking and organizing and cleaning some of the camping gear. Still no progress on taxes.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 28, 2017, 10:40 PM
subject Justin Trudeau va remercier la reine Elizabeth II; Man accused of wanting to ‘destroy’ ex-wife found guilty in online harassment
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Still depressed, but keeping myself busy to keep the darkest thoughts away. Kinda hard when I realize my last paycheck with the NGC was half of what I expected; I forgot that the pay periods were a week behind, so now I am really broke. Thinking of cashing in my RSP to cover most of my most pressing credit card debt and give me some loose for vacation before the EI kicks in. All of this to be done in the well tomorrow, if at all, as I think banks are closed Friday? Some things are closed, some are open. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning to fit my teeth whitening mold but I might have to miss it as Sarah is being admitted to the Super hospital, and I am driving her, but early, have to drop the kids off earlier than normal (and Rose to Oona’s house as she isn’t signed up for service de garde). And I have to go back to Canadian Tire because the porte baggage I bought is too big for the roof of the car tabarnac. I met Victoria for lunch, then Karen Tam for a visit at DHC (the current show, videos by yet another British artist, Ed Atkins, was well-presented but the content felt a bit meh), then direct to Skol for a CA before the AG, and got home at 9:30 so that was the last of my cash to Suzie and I left my bike downtown and the charging cable for Clo’s laptop at Skol because I lent the laptop to Patric to take minutes but my mind is a seive and I am forgetting things all over the place.
-chris
from chris lloyd
to pm@pm.gc.ca
date Jun 30, 2017, 11:36 PM
subject Trudeau rencontre des militants autochtones campés face au parlement; On Canada Day let us remind ourselves we have done well, even as we strive to do better
Dear Justin,
I am still alive. Still a bit depressed, but no time to be. Where has the time gone? The week is over, Rose’s soccer camp is finished (she was a bit sad that she didn’t win a medallion) and she didn’t swim all week as it rained and was cold and dreary (doesn’t help depression much, that). Oh, I did help spring Sarah out of the cruddy Jean-Talon hospital (how is it that you are unaware that you have a such a disaster of a hospital in your own riding? And does it take a last-minute protest tipi to enlighten you that Canada 150 is not a celebration for First Nations AT ALL?), but I digress, she was discharged and I drove her to the Glen, the McGill super-hospital complex where the difference in level of care is literally night and day. What else? Managed to get to my dentists for 10am on Thursday after the hospital break, to get my teeth whitening kit. Oh, and then in a moment of culminating panic and anxiety over money I cashed my RSP (paying 27% tax tabarnac) so I could pay off my Visa and make a small dent in my line of credit and give me some cash flow until my EI cheques start rolling in, in about 3 weeks or so. I dislike being broke but the thought of hitting the road with the kids and no cash was making me feel crazy and worthless. Drove to Deux Montagnes this morning to buy a cargo box for the top of the car, then Sol and I went to the MacM, he enjoyed the Olafur Eliason shadow and lights pieces and of course Leisure Time’s interactive kids display, of course. Met SRoberts and Gloria there but everyone was crusty, we had lemonades at Parvi but it was quick, Sol was crashing and Gloria was fine but we just had to go, you know, traffic. It takes a minimum 40 minutes to get anywhere in this city, just up St. Laurent. Anyway enough complaining am going to bed. Life is good.
-chris
DEAR PM 