From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Lundi 07 janvier 2002 01:36
Subject: Ont. to be first province to introduce satellite monitoring of sex offenders» Day attracts Quebec Tories on eve of Alliance leadership candidacy speech» Saskatchewan nurses seek big pay hike as contract talks begin this week
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Sorry about the delay in writing over the New Year. My flight out of the Queen Charlotte’s went well, and I was even bumped up to Executive Class on my connecting flight from Vancouver to Calgary. That was swanky; the snack was salmon steak and pasta, served on a real plate, with a real fork – but the knife was plastic. Couldn’t somebody take an eye out with a metal fork? Better crack down on the forks.
I had never been to Vancouver before, so took advantage of my three-hour stopover and took a bus downtown. Didn’t really have a destination. Wandered into the VAG and bought a Lola from the bookstore. Between that and No Logo I was kept occupied for the remainder of the trip. I had thought I might sleep a bit on the flight into Halifax but the time difference and the fact that I was smooshed in between a fairly round woman and really bulky man meant that couldn’t happen. It’s practically impossible to get real sleep in those seats anyhow. My flight arrived at 5:30am Thursday morning. They lost my luggage, which was sort of nice because it meant I could get off the airport shuttle close to home and walk without carrying any bags. They delivered them the next day.
Had a brief nap and then went into work. Realized as I re-packed my bookbag, which I had used as my carry-on, that I had flown home with not one but 2 box cutters in my bag. Karina had her nail file confiscated when she left Halifax; it sort of points out how no matter how much security may be stepped up, there are always going to be snags.
Seeing the apartment for the first time in a couple weeks made me appreciate why Karina is always freaking out about people leaving their dirty dishes lying around. I had been spoiled by Karina’s mom’s kitchen, which is always cleaned after every meal. When I came home our kitchen was gross, gross, gross. Rebecca is horrible at cleaning; it must have something to do with her eyesight. She must not be able to see the grime and scum, even as they work together to build a seamless layer over everything in the kitchen. I spent hours scrubbing. Then I re-arranged our bedroom and gave that a good cleaning. The bathroom is still waiting, and is in desperate condition; Courtney did a good number on backing up and overflowing the toilet last night. I have to clean it before Karina arrives on Tuesday.
Took a few days to get back into the groove of work. Everyone seems busy just greeting one another after the holidays. I didn’t realize until late Thursday night that my computer at home was on the blink. I am convinced this is what happens when different roommates use it. It took me days to try ineffectually to get back on-line before finally just flatlining and re-installing everything. Seems to work fine now.
Since I didn’t really get Karina a stellar gift this year I decided to surprise her by buying the “Rabbit Pearl” sex toy she had her eye on. It is the same one Winnie has and had immortalized with her large embroidery she hung in the windows of eyelevelgallery a few months ago. It is some piece of work; I have to fight my curiosity to not play around with it before she comes back.
Tomorrow Ana’s invitations are going to be finished and a bunch of us are stuffing envelopes and sending the mail out. It will be a busy day, as there are openings at the Anna Leonowens to go to and it will probably be a big night at the Club.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Mardi 08 janvier 2002 01:52
Subject: Day says he’ll try to regain Alliance leadership; blames ‘elites’ for trouble» Canadian battle group to join U.S.-led anti-terror war in Afghanistan» Canadian soldiers going to Afghanistan relieved at decision, ready to fight• more…
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a smooth day today; time actually seemed to drag languidly, which hardly ever happens at work. The mailout was completed in record time; only one hour and forty-five minutes. Of course, it helps when there are more than four people helping out. Aaron, Heather, Jacob and Laura all helped fold, label and stamp the envelopes. Even Nathaniel helped out and updated the bulletin board. Volunteers are great.
Went down to the openings at the Anna tonight. Talked to Rita and Ron and Brandon. Megan’s prints looked really good, lots of army fatigue patterns overlaid with images of cute doggies and kitties and texts from the army cadets. Timely stuff, what with the news reporting all these happy Canadian soldiers ready to get it on in Afghanistan. Went back to the Club for a little bit but didn’t stay long as there was lots of housecleaning to do. Lucas was in the media centre when I was getting my jacket and bag to leave. He showed me the new iMacs which were unveiled online today. It took effort to not drool. They look so hot; a tiny round orb with a flat screen attached – it is Sci Fi come to life; like how we dreamed computers would look when we were kids.
Courtney, Rebecca and I were all home tonight when the doorbell rang and when I opened the door there were half a dozen cops and cars parking at odd angles directly in front of our house, lights flashing. I think if I was any more paranoid I might have lost it. They were looking for a car that had apparently been parked outside. A couple hours earlier all three of us had lugged out about two months worth of garbage, and there wasn’t a car parked there then. The garbage adds up because every week the pickup alternates between compost and garbage and we get confused as to what week is what. Plus I am usually the only one to take the garbage out, and sometimes I forget and sleep in. Anyway, there was a shooting a few houses in back of us, and the cops think that the perps may have left in a car that was parked in front of our apartment. I had to fill out a statement. 2 people are in hospital but the officer said their injuries weren’t life threatening. There are still cops out front; they are using a bag of our recyclables to press weight down on a cast of a suspects footprint.
Anyway, I still want to clean up our bedroom a bit and wrap Karina’s present before she comes home. Tamara is going to pick her up from the airport, but I’m not going to see her until after the board meeting. Trevor and Tamara want to have us over soon to play the new board game of Risk that Talub gave them for Xmas. Trev described it in such a way as to make it more bloodthirsty and war-like than the original, which as kids we would play for days. This new version limits players to five moves, which represent 5 year blocks. At the end of 25 years, the player with the most wins.
Maybe the US has been playing that edition of Risk into overtime?
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Jeudi 10 janvier 2002 01:02
Subject: Opposition demands Gagliano be tossed from cabinet; PM stands by his man» Albertans should pay more for health in blended private-public system: report» Toronto businesses shouldn’t have to police Hells Angels’ fashions, Harris
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just came back from a double-date with Sarah and Jacob. We went to see Lord of the Rings. It was loooong, yet didn’t quite feel so while watching it. Even on my bum. It has been over fifteen years since I have read the trilogy, and Karina and I have decided that we should re-read it before the next film is released. It was quite something to see, though it didn’t exceed my expectations; probably a result of the over-hype. The previews for the Time Machine have me curious; it is one of my favourite books by HG Wells.
It was one of those days at work again, where the phone rings a lot and people are constantly stopping by to chat. I hardly accomplished a thing. Took me all day just to send a cheque to the collection agency that is threatening to take us to court over the outstanding Russell Food Equipment invoices. I think it is at the point where it will be easier on us to pay it off gradually than to try to wrangle out of it legally. There is a lot piling up on my plate, and not only with work; I haven’t yet filled out my Interest Relief forms for my student loan and am already a month late on payments I can’t afford; I have yet to venture to Dartmouth to activate my new bank account; and still haven’t called about updating my Health card. We have outstanding bills to pay at home, need to do laundry and buy groceries, and still have to pay for the painting we bought at the eyelevelgallery 50/50 show in December.
Ana called today and wants to be picked up at the airport, so I am going to try to borrow Sarah’s mom’s car to go and get her. Sometimes not having a car sucks. Maybe I will look into the car share program that has been started here in Halifax. It would come in quite useful in situations such as these. Then I could pick up a visiting artist from the airport, collect her artwork from the train station, and buy groceries and do laundry all at once. If I could afford to do all that at once, of course. It will be close to 2 weeks before Karina’s loan is cashed, and I have already spent my first paycheck of the New Year. But at least Lord of the Rings isn’t going to lose any money.
I want to go and shave and have another amazing romp with my sweetie. Nothing like a smooth face, free of itchy scratchy stubble. We still haven’t bought batteries – Karina looked today but a pack of 2 costs $8, and the bunny needs three to power up. We don’t seem to need it at the moment, and the anticipation is sort of nice too.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Vendredi 11 janvier 2002 00:13
Subject: James Bartleman named Ontario’s first aboriginal lieutenant-governor» Gagliano admits ‘referring’ friend for job at Crown corp, denies wrongdoing» Canadian reconnaissance party could leave for Afghanistan on the weekend
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Slept in a little bit this morning, but not nearly as much as Karina. Granted, we were both up really late – the insomnia thing has struck us both, it appears – in fact, Karina was up until at least five-thirty, at which point she got up and had a snack in the kitchen. She ended up sleeping in until 3 in the afternoon!
I called Sarah’s mom when I got up this morning and asked to borrow her car, which wasn’t a problem. When I arrived at the airport to pick Ana up I realized that I didn’t have a sign with her name on it, and that neither one of us had any idea of what the other looked like. Eventually we sort of figured it out; she called the Khyber and Lucas told her more or less what I looked like – though he got the colour of my jacket wrong, which threw her off, and I just guessed and approached her, because she sort of looks like artists do. Scruffy hair, a bit tired-looking, but keen, bright eyes. She is very pleasant and easy to get along with. I was a bit worried she was going to be more demanding.
We drove back to the Khyber, unloaded some of her suitcases, then drove Vicki’s car back and walked next door to Sarah’s to drop off the rest of her luggage. We walked to the North End Diner for lunch and I called Karina to come and join us. The meal was so-so and the service a lovely bit of overt Maritime hospitality wrapped in a blanket of daftness. My fish ‘n chips were battered and fried beyond belief – more like edible fibreglass than batter.
Went back to work to meet Briony and Craig to discuss the Club’s contract with the Khyber. We are more or less in the process of a final draft; we may have it almost finalized by next week.
Puttered around the office for a bit in the evening; Ana came to start some repairwork on the shoe-pumps for the Uniblow Outfits. Paul stopped by and dropped off the Mamiya camera he has offered to sell to Karina for $600. It seems a good deal, though it is one of the stranger-looking cameras I have seen. Oh, and the Coast published the letter I had written back in December regarding Jane’s horrible review of the NSCAD Women’s Collective show. The editors chose the title; I would never have picked something like “Critical Situation” – sheesh.
Karina and I walked to Sobeys tonight to buy some groceries. She cleaned the fridge out today – I mean really cleaned it out; it is practically empty. No more mystery packages and Tupperware containers, no more moldy bits of cheese or lemons, just clean, empty space. She was developing a stomachache tonight, so I think she is going to have a bath before heading to bed. I’m going to try to catch up on my reading, then maybe we’ll see about the bunny. I finally bought some batteries at Shoppers Drug Mart on my way home.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Samedi 12 janvier 2002 00:21
Subject: Supreme Court rules dangerous refugees can be deported to face torture risk» Beating of Montreal panhandler highlights predicament of Canada’s homeless» December jobless rate climbs to 8 per cent but 2001 overall showed job gains
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Walked downtown with Ana this morning to meet David so we could pick up the rest of her stuff from the train station. We met David at the eyelevelgallery, and he actually lent me his truck, which was unexpected and nice of him. It came in handy because after we had picked up Ana’s stuff we realized that not only had I forgotten my keys to the office, but Ana had forgotten the gallery key I had given her. I had left my keys at work last night and called to tell Lucas to put them in the gallery so I could get them using Ana’s key today. So today we had to drive back to Sarah’s to get Ana’s key, so I could get my keys, unlock the office and use the spare keys to let Ben into the Club, as he doesn’t have his own set. Craig was supposed to meet him at eleven but stood him up twice this week. Craig isn’t really a morning person, even though 11am is almost afternoon.
Ana worked steadily on the preparations for her exhibitions for the afternoon, and I worked on grants, contracts and some letters. In the evening we were joined by Sarah and Karina and Jason and we went to I Love Sushi for supper. Jason had a really spooky airplane story; he had just come back from the ‘States and one of his flights skidded and almost crashed on takeoff: one of the engines failed. As if that isn’t bad enough, everyone had to stay on the plane for 2 hours while mechanics looked at the engine. Having something like that happen must really cause a person to really think about the possible finality of air travel – of how crucial those take-off and landing moments really are.
Supper was quite nice; not amazing but yummy and reasonably priced. Afterwards we all walked to St. Mary’s in the falling snow to attend the openings. Lauren Schaffer was showing a digital piece called “Electric Sunset”, about the colour shifts of a reconstructed sunset as seen from a rising plane. Pat Rapati was showing many drawings that comprised his version of a ‘perpetual calendar’. You can use a chart he has made to determine what day of the week for any date that falls between 1800 and 11000. There are fourteen permutations each comprising twelve months; each month is a heavily invested drawing culled from various elements, mostly ‘fifties-looking imagery from science books, manuals, guidebooks, appliance diagrams, a lot of layering and image transfer, a bit of painting. A lot to take in at an opening, but I had seen most of the drawings at Pat’s studio this past summer.
The rest of the gang went back to the Club for a drink and Karina and I took a bus home. It was still snowing. Had some tea and chocolate. We are planning to get up early to go to the market with Ana and Sarah. Have to work on a grant with Lucas tomorrow afternoon, as well as organize some final installation plans for Sunday. The work is piling up, but at this point I refuse to become consumed by it; this year I want to have a bit more of a life.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Dimanche 13 janvier 2002 00:19
Subject: Surge of medicare reports reflects financial and ideological battles.» Wounded soldier recalls some of Canada’s most intense combat since Korea» Canada under fire for failing to ratify Antarctic deal after 10 years
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Am slowly feeling like I am falling behind on everything again. Couldn’t wake up in time to meet Sarah and Ana to go to the market. The alarm went off, but I kept hitting the snooze until Sarah called. Then I went back to bed.
When I got to work Ana was there and had just set off the alarm. It is a form of Khyber indoctrination; there is nothing quite like setting off the alarm. I suspected and then found out later that Jacob had been in the office after I had left last night and he had not reset the bypass, so the Ballroom was armed when Ana opened it this morning.
Worked a bit on the YIP grant with Lucas; it is due on Monday. Ana found the ‘mold builder’ rubber latex she was looking for to hang up her photographs. It is a nice way to do it; the photos will be flush with the wall, and when the show is done we just peel the photos off the wall and then peel the latex off the photos.
Had to call Trevor this afternoon and have him drive our air pump to the Khyber. We had left it in the trunk of his car after the weekend visit to Vicki’s cabin a few months ago. Ana needed it to inflate a prop in her show: a big couch.
Karina, Ana and I went for supper to the Granite Brewery. We went to the new location, the one which surprisingly opened just before Christmas. It had been threatening to open at that location since 1995. There was nothing spectacular about the decor, and the menu was really limiting, so we actually left after ordering drinks and walked to the original location down the street.
There was an opening tonight at Argyle Fine Art of some of Gordon Laurin’s chalk drawings. He had apparently written the very self-effacing description of the show in the Coast, which had a lot of people upset because it appears to have been written by a staff writer. Here, I’ll reproduce it for you:
Laurin braves the waves with his first solo show since 1992. Whispers and lies in the art community suggest Recent Works is going to be no more than a failed artist making a desperate comeback bid; others recall some success Laurin has enjoyed in his career as an artist. You be the judge. Laurin is presenting drawings based on the lands and skies pictured in print and television automotive advertising, and will attend the opening to face his critics. Being as Laurin’s the director of Saint Mary’s Art Gallery, at least he has a day job to fall back on. The mini-machinations (not to mention the traditional cheese log and soft crackers) will make for excellent nibbling.
I thought it was sort of funny, and had sensed that it was an ‘inside joke’, but I can see how many people may be fooled and just think that the Coast writers are just getting cruel; it could be taken for a nasty piece of writing.
A bunch of us went back to the Club to talk overtop the experimental musicians. Robin Metcalfe is in town briefly; he is curating the show that opens tomorrow at the Mount. Karina and I left as it was getting busy. We had asked some advice at Venus Envy earlier today about the Rabbit Pearl; I guess the batteries we bought are just new and strong, and we need to let it run for a bit before it settles down. Right now it is numbingly fast, and I was worried we had the wrong batteries in it. It may be time to try it out.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Sunday, January 13, 2002 11:42 pm
Subject: Murder trials begin for Hells Angels leader and bikers caught in raid» Canadian comedian Frank Shuster dies in Toronto hospital at the age of 85» No way to tell favourite as Alliance leadership race heats up
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Broke the trend and awoke fairly early this morning, though not without some generous allowances from the snooze button. Went to the Khyber and sanded and painted the patches in the gallery walls, then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon working on the YIP grant. I am starting to get the hang of the spreadsheet program. I can see why Winnie liked them so much; making formulas is sort of fun.
Ana and I caught a lift with Amanda and Brandon to the Mount for the afternoon openings. Karen and her son Nathan came as well. Nathan, who must be about 8, bought an Inuit sculpture last night at Argyle Fine Art. He was carrying it around in his backpack, wrapped in bubblewrap. He bought it using his savings. The gallery owner was so impressed with Nathan that he gave him a generous deal – it must be a gallery owners wet dream to see kids taking an interest in buying art at such a young age.
The opening was packed; lovely wall-mounted toothpick and whittled-twig assemblages, some in the shape of underpants but all pointy, colourful yet dangerous, by Kai Chan; and delicate embroideries of bugs as specimens by Janice Wright Cheney. Didn’t stay too long; we caught the free bus back to NSCAD.
It was practically a hurricane when we got back. Ana and I went back to the Khyber, Karina went home. We worked on the lighting for her show; the installation is complete, not just need to clean up a bit and add some signage. Helped Sarah K. install one of her drawings in the Frame Gallery, then Ana and I took a cab to Ray and Sarah’s.
It was the first time I have been to their place since they moved here from Fredericton in the summer. Karina decided the weather was too rotten to go back out. Besides, she had had enough socializing at the opening; she had arrived early. Ana and I arrived just in time to have a bit of the food, and as the evening progressed had to make a conscious effort to avoid Andrew M., who becomes more and more unbearable to be around the more he drinks. It was a nice, relaxing and pleasant evening. Ray and Sarah have alphabetized their bookshelf; just thought you should know.
Brought Karina back a ‘plate full of love’ – some chocolate mousse, gingerbread, whipped cram, lemon loaf and strawberries. She didn’t want to play with the bunny last night as it is still too loud, and is feeling a little insecure about herself right now. The pressure of deciding which classes to take and which to drop, which degree to follow and with what major, is stressing her out.
I have a little more work to do on the YIP grant, and should try to put together a bit of a plan for tomorrow, then I want to get to bed and read for a bit. Am half-way through No Logo; it is getting a bit depressive. I knew things were bad, but the details are much worse.
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 12:10 am
Subject: Newfoundland’s Tobin resigns from politics, citing personal reasons» Brian Tobin leaves politics the way he entered and practised: with a splash» Chretien plans major cabinet shuffle, replacing Tobin and promoting Manley
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
After I wrote you last night and was preparing for bed I received a phone call from the Alarm Monitoring station for the Khyber; the building alarm was going off. So I suited up in my rain suit and borrowed Courtney’s low-rider, monkey-bar, banana-seat sport bike and scooted off to the K. The rain had stopped, but it was windy as hell, which made for a wobbly ride. Fun though. Saw Jacob on Gottingen Street, and after talking to him for a minute realized that he had tripped the alarm on his way out after working at the KDMC late. I walked back North with him, then went to bed. Karina and I both too pooped to play.
Had a full and hectic day today. Got to work and realized I had left my keys in my rainjacket. Luck Jacob had his, and we had caught the same bus. When I opened my office I realized that there was no heat, and that I had let the oil tanks run dry. Managed to take care of that, and the rest of the day was spent finishing up the YIP grant with Lucas and the installation with Ana.
Lucas, Ana and I had supper at the Med and then walked down to the openings at the Anna Leonowens. Karina picked up a camera to use at the openings tonight then scurried off to a Student Union meeting; the rest of us walked back to eyelevelgallery for Karen Spencer’s opening, then back to the K for Ana’s.
The suits are awesome. I tried on the small one; the more it inflates, the more pressure it exerts on the wearer. It is very sensuous, artificial, kinky and playful. There was more laughter in the gallery tonight than I had heard in a long time.
Stayed in the Club for a while afterwards. Talked to Michael Fernandes for a while, then David and Claire. They seem more sociable as a couple now than they did last year, when they first started dating. Young love has a habit of turning people inwards and isolates them from everything else. Claire and I made a rough, preliminary plan to paint a crosswalk across the street between the Khyber and eyelevelgallery.
Caught a cab with Spencer, and walked home from his place. Karina has been trying to follow the salesgirls advice from Venus Envy, and has been trying to wear the batteries down in the Bunny, but it still seems more hyper than it should be. We may take it in to see if it is malfunctioning. The sample model didn’t seem to be as loud or aggressive. maybe they are just more intimidating when they are out of the store and in one’s home.
Have a busy day tomorrow; The King’s college TV crew is coming by the gallery in the afternoon to interview Ana and view her suits. Should be fun.
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 12:56 am
Subject: Chretien shows he’s boss with shuffle that adds 10 new faces, drops seven» Canadian sailors aboard Navy supply ship proud, homesick and bored» B.C. Liberals confirm they will outline job and service cuts Thursday
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Karina took our dirty laundry to the laundromat yesterday, but there was a gas leak and the dryers weren’t working properly, so the laundry is still there. I had to wash and hang to dry the underwear and socks that I was wearing yesterday to wear again today. It wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have to do it the day before as well.
We slept in a bit late this morning; I woke up just before ten, having hit the snooze button at least a dozen times or more. Karina had a class that started at ten; it was amazing how quick she managed to jump up and get to school. I had quick bite to eat, then just missed my bus, but the number 3 came out of nowhere right behind the 7 – I can’t remember ever seeing it on Gottingen – and I managed a quick transfer a few stops down the road. An adventurous morning.
Today a small film crew (reporter and cameraperson) from Kings’ College came to interview Ana and Eleanor and I dressed up in the Uniblow Outfits again. This time I wore the yellow one. Wore me out again.
Spent the afternoon finishing up some paperwork, remittance forms, getting stuff ready for the artist talks this evening. Talked to Annie about the Charitable Status forms. Met Karina, went to the bank, had a quick coffee and muffin at Steve-er-enos. Picked up a slide projector from NSCAD, but when we got to the Club Craig already had one. His had a funny mark on the lens, though, so it was good that we had an extra. The TV monitor didn’t fare as well, however. The Khyber has 2 monitors; one is an ancient Sony Trinitron monitor that no longer shows any black, the screen is too light and the colours are off. When Ana saw her video playing in the Closet Gallery on that pitiful monitor she couldn’t believe how bad it looked. The other monitor has a decent picture which periodically and unexpectedly shrinks and goes horribly fuzzy. The only way to fix it is to turn it off and on again. Which made for some awkward interruptions during the artist presentations, and stressed me out. I don’t like it when things don’t run smoothly. Overall the presentations went well, I think. A decent crowd, given the snowstorm.
After the talks Karina and I went to Mokka to wish Dan a happy birthday and hang out with him for a bit. Lisa had made brownies. We stayed ’till close, then his brother Mark drove us home in the snowstorm in his souped-up cavalier with heavy-metal decor. Karina is still buzzing a bit from the jaggermeister, and I have to be at work early tomorrow morning to sign out the DV camera to Sally, so I’m heading to bed ASAP.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2002 1:07 am
Subject: Incompetence, ignorance, Tory ideology key to E. coli disaster, judge finds» Alliance MP offers apology for remarks Pagtakhan unsuited to post» Poor leadership prospects played role in Tobin departure, say his partisans
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I actually managed to get up early this morning. I needed to pick up our clean clothes from the laundromat and light bulbs from Pierceys before meeting Sally at the Khyber for 9am. She was renting the DV camera for the day. Managed to catch up on a bit of paperwork for the rest of the morning before Wilma came by with her foundation studio class to look at Ana’s exhibition. I was a bit late as I had run down to Mokka for a muffin and got to talking with Finoulla and Bob. When I got back I gave an introduction to the Khyber and artist-run culture before Ana spoke about her practice. During her talk a photographer from the Daily News came by; he photographed a couple of the students wearing the suits. Just after the class left Dan came by and we went on a tour of the building, labeling all the junk and debris that needs to be thrown out. He is coming early next week to sort and then we will have the first load go out.
Back to the routine of having meals on the fly; a veggie slice from Venus pizza tonight. Ate in the Club and talked with Tashia and Craig. Talked about how it seems I may be writing these letters to you a lot longer than I had initially planned, since you have now “walked in the snow”. Karina came early for the Gala meeting tonight and ordered herself some sushi. She is on a big sushi kick at the moment. Her student loan has come in, in rapid time.
The gala meeting went well, despite the low attendance. Hopefully we will soon remdy that with the group of new volunteers I signed up today from Wilma’s class. The meeting went later than I had thought it would. Called for Ana and Sarah at Glynis’ house, and we arranged to meet at Gus’ Pub. Karina and I took a bus home, dropped off our bags and walked to the pub, and met Sarah and Ana there shortly after arriving. Talked about Feminism in Art Schools, and the differences in perception of how it is handled between generations of Feminists.
Am getting up in a few hours to meet Eleanor to take Ana to the airport, so I should head to bed and get a few hours sleep.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Thursday, January 17, 2002 10:39 pm
Subject: Walkerton report to be released early, after details leaked by sources» B.C. government cuts 11,700 jobs, services by 25 per cent» Canadians will turn Afghan prisoners over to the U.S., says defence minister
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just as I was falling asleep last night Karina turned to me and asked “do you want to have a conversation?” Why is it girls do that? In her case she was wide awake, but it seems to me that girls often want to have conversations at two o’clock in the morning.
Since I was getting up just after four to go with Ana to the airport I politely declined the offer of conversation.
Woke up, called Eleanor (who was driving), and walked to meet her; she fell back asleep in the time it took me to walk to her house. But she got ready in a flash. Ana was up and packed when we arrived their, and we drove to the airport without incident. The check-in lineups were short and so we sat and had tea and coffee and talked for about half an hour before Ana went through the gate. It was a good visit; I’m glad I had the opportunity to meet her.
Went back to bed for an hour or so when I got home, then got up to go to work. Another long day. The photo that was taken yesterday was featured on the front page of the Daily News today. People were calling all day to ask about the exhibit. Then Barbara came by with her studio class and gave me like thirty seconds to prepare an introduction for them; luckily they are becoming second nature. Her class really liked the Uniblow Outfits, but the technical problems are mounting. I found the leak in the couch and patched it with duct tape. The foot pumps are starting to develop holes, and that is a bad thing. After Barbara’s class a few people from the New Media Institute came by to do an interview; I helped pump up the suits using the hand pump. Later in the afternoon I asked various people their opinions on how best to patch the vinyl pumps; Robert seemed to have the best grasp, as he works with inflated vinyl, and he suggested Maritime Canvas Converters. I will go there in the morning.
Had supper with Karina and Andréa at the Med. Karina was mad at me for not returning the slide projector yesterday. I was also late with the camera. in fact, she ended up returning them both. Sometimes I am so irresponsible.
The Khyber Kids after school studio classes are a bit of a dud; no enrollment for the classes scheduled to start next week. Plan ‘B’ is to continue working on the Saturday morning classes and develop a March Break Program.
Robbie met us at the Med and drove Karina and I home as he was planning to attend Rebecca’s first ‘Drawing Club’ meeting. He brought a great book with him all about the war and how ‘great’ George Bush is. It is a special one-shot magazine about the making of a ‘wartime’ president. It has the stupidest photographs and dullest comments throughout; like a picturebook for dim-witted adults, their heads already full of all the CNN ‘facts’. He is making great drawings of military hardware and world leaders using liquid paper and pens overtop McDonalds food packaging.
I have a few more advance notices to send out and some other email to respond to; I’m going to try to get to bed early tonight to catch up on some sleep. Hopefully I can fix some of the ‘leaky pumps’ tomorrow so that the suits will still work as Ana intends them. Am going to try to patch one tonight using canvas and gel medium.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: mix winner <swizzle@sympatico.ca>
Date: Saturday, January 19, 2002 2:22 am
Subject: Ont. premier sorry after report blames gov’t in preventable E. coli disaster» Tears, stoicism as judge releases findings into Walkerton’s E. coli disaster» B.C. courthouses slated for spring closures, jails shut by Halloween
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just came back from a going away party at Sheilah’s apartment. She is going to New Mexico for a semester. It was a good party. Talked about student politics with Ryan and Paul and Tracy, and so of course talked about Ray and how harmful she has been and continues to be in the role of SUNSCAD president. Karina was actually quite talkative and had a really good time, which is always nice.
Karina and I went to the party following the Coco Fusco presentation at NSCAD, which was amazing. She read an entire play that she has written; reading all three characters in a manner which was very easy to follow and visualize. It was a powerful piece of work, dealing with the abuses women working in Economic Free Zones in Mexico face, but also the general abuses so many women in South America face. Her starting point through which the characters in the play recite their stories is a little-known performance art action from the late seventies in which an artist claimed to have had sex with a dead woman and recorded the audio. Very disturbing. She worked around this story to reveal what possibilities existed in the real-life woman who had no say in the ‘performance’ once she was dead. I’m not really scratching the surface here; I’ll just say that the presentation was one of the best lectures I have seen at the college in a long while, if ever.
I think I witnessed one of the most visible and public gaffs the new NSCAD president has made in his first year on the job. The auditorium was so packed for Coco’s presentation that he actually asked the NSCAD staff and faculty who were sitting in chairs to relinquish their seats for members of the general audience; never mind the fact that many who had seats to begin with were smart enough to show up over a half hour early; the fact is, these lectures are first and foremost for the advancement of the students and faculty of the college. It is great that they are open to the public, but I don’t think that the general public should be treated with such deference. There were a lot of groans; one could almost visualize Paul asking faculty and staff to move out of their seats to allow the dollar bill signs in the audience to move in.
Anyway, my day at work was Ok, I think I accomplished a fair bit, though I still have 2 more grants to complete before the end of the month and have yet to really do any concrete work on them. Tomorrow we are going to sleep in bit, then maybe go out for breakfast, then I would like to go to the follow-up discussion with Coco Fusco at noon. I told Lucas at the party that if he decides to go as well then to put a sign up on the door at work. I can justify having the gallery closed a few hours in order to hear Coco speak again.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Bcc: Judith Mackin <judithm@nbnet.nb.ca>
Date: Sunday, January 20, 2002 12:46 am
Subject: Alliance candidate Stephen Harper says French not threatened in Quebec» Even personal apology from Ont. premier not welcome for some E. coli families» Alliance Party struggles for clean leadership race after ban on negativism
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Karina and I slept in today and after getting up, showering and getting dressed had just enough time to catch a bus downtown for Coco Fusco’s follow-up talk. She is a vibrant, energetic speaker, chock full of information. She expresses her ideas and articulates her thoughts very clearly. She showed a portion of a very difficult video piece she had made last year, Dolores from 10 to 10, based on the experience of a Factory Worker who had been forced to resign from her job, and was locked in an office for twelve hours until she could hold out no longer and signed the resignation papers. The video was initially made as a live webcast, with Coco locked in a room for twelve hours. The ‘almost rape’ scene was very powerful and disturbing. Coco’s acting is amazing, given that there was no script and the event was live. Hard to watch though, even with that awareness.
Karina and I then had breakfast at the Med, and over the course of our meal began a discussion which snowballed and became all contorted and twisted out of shape. I was trying to compare the relative luxury we live in compared to the vast majority of people, especially those that live in the EFZ’s, the factories, 3rd World and so-on, and I made the mistake of insinuating that neither mine nor Karina’s past experiences could really be described as ‘horrible’. I still believe that, but Karina also took that to mean that the pain and suffering she felt as a result of some of my insensitive behavior in the past was therefore excusable, or didn’t count. Not the same thing at all, but the discussion really snowballed after that. It continued in a few different forms throughout the rest of the afternoon at the Khyber, until we decided at the last minute to see a movie, and so walked up to Park Lane without having had any supper and watched “The Royal Tennenbaums”. I guess two of Sheila’s cousins are in it; one was a co-writer and producer. The movie was certainly interesting, and a bit bizarre and funny at times, actually almost all of it was funny, but the characters were so specifically strange they were almost too life-like, or wacky, or just hard to digest. Anyway, both Karina and I left the movie feeling somewhat low; possibly a result of our earlier conversations, possibly because the movie itself is essentially a bit sad.
We went to Gatsby’s afterwards to grab a bite to eat and continue the conversation regarding personality. I had made the mistake earlier of mentioning that I thought we should throw a party; I think that thought weighs heavily on her mind. She doesn’t want to be in a party situation which would not leave her a choice to go home whenever she would like to. My mind kept sliding between bafflement, anger, tenderness and love rapidly and repeatedly throughout our stay at Gatsby’s. At certain points I wanted nothing more than to order a bottle of wine and sit and drink with her and get to laughing or crying or both, to just get the intense feelings out, but it didn’t really happen. She doesn’t like wine. What contradiction! I try to get her to drink because I no longer do, but she doesn’t like to, so doesn’t.
We caught a bus back towards home, stopping at Sobeys for some last-minute grocery shopping before they closed for the weekend. Took a cab home from there; was not going to risk stretching my arms any further. Plus it is really cold outside.
Eleanor and Spencer are supposedly having a ‘Super Model’ party tonight but I think both Karina and I are a little partied out for now, though earlier in the week I had thought of going – maybe as an underwear model? When I got home and checked my email there was a note from the guy who had bought a couple weeks of my letters to you in the MIX Magazine fund-raiser; he was very curt, and wants me to stop sending him the letters as he said he had only purchased a weeks worth. It didn’t really sound like he had enjoyed them much; too bad.
Karina is about to take a bath. I think I am going to go and read for a while; I am just over half-way through No Logo now. Would like to actually get into the studio for a bit tomorrow, so will try not to stay up to late tonight. Still have a couple grants to do before months end.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 12:38 am
Subject: In cautious TV speech on health care, Ralph Klein calls Albertans pioneers» Army recon team returns from Afghanistan, full mission may be delayed» Military to ask soldiers about mental illness in groundbreaking survey
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Woke up this morning to a phone call from Judy, which was nice. She is still expecting to sabotage her current relationship somehow. Why is it that some people don’t accept happiness? Even if it may only be short-term, one can never really know. Some people find true love immediately, or work at it to make it happen, and some never find it, so I think people should just appreciate the time they have together and not force things too much. Aaah, who am I to give advice on the matter to anyone?
Bumped into Jacob on my way to the bus stop this morning. He is broke so I walked downtown with him, rather than wait for the bus. Had hoped to get a lot of paperwork done today, as the building is usually quiet on Mondays, but it didn’t happen. Dan was already there when I arrived, and he spent most of the day organizing the junk in the basement. Eva had a volunteer for me as well, Ahmad, who doesn’t speak English very well but is keen and tries to help. While Ahmad and Dan worked on the basement junk I was helping Kim with advice on grant and exhibition applications. On Wednesday the junk Remover is coming; it will be such a relief when all that crap is finally thrown out.
Lucas had his first Cyber Kids class of the New Year this afternoon; the boys seem really keen to finish the videos they had begun in the Fall. On Wednesday two new boys join the class, but for Wednesdays only. That may complicate things a bit, but Lucas thinks he can handle it.
I walked up to the Atlantic Credit Union this afternoon to activate my Client Card; it has taken me this long to realize that I don’t need to go to Dartmouth to do it, as there are credit union branches in Halifax; one on Spring Garden Road, as a matter of fact. Of course, it had closed by the time I got there. Did manage to drop off my Student Loan Interest Relief forms at the Royal Bank on my way back, which was a bit of a load off.
Craig found my Neusiland CD in the Club today; the “Disappearing E.P.” had been missing since before Christmas. I was glad to have it back.
Went to the openings at the Anna Leonowens tonight. I watched the Coco Fusco video and enjoyed it quite a bit. The painting faculty exhibition was stronger than I had expected, which was a pleasant surprise. Went back to the Club for a little bit afterwards. Andréa was going to take over and teach my oil painting class at St. Andrew’s Centre tonight, but she called them at the last minute to double-check the time and found out that the class was cancelled due to low enrollment.
Caught the bus in the rain and made some soup when I got home. Karina wasn’t hungry; she had a bad email experience with someone on SUNSCAD; she is taking student politics too seriously. She may be too sensitive for the job; I think a tough skin is required for politics. Especially when personal likes and dislikes seem to get mixed in with policy decisions.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2002 12:45 am
Subject: Premiers begin arriving in Vancouver for provincial-territorial meeting» Scuffle breaks out as B.C. premier met by protesters opposed to cutbacks» Pettigrew says Canada prepared to go to U.S. courts to resolve lumber spat
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I was up really early this morning to meet Dan and the Junk Removers. I set off the emergency exit alarm but didn’t know it as the alarm itself didn’t make any noise. Norm will send one of his boys over to fix it tomorrow. The Junk Removers were prompt, and with our help we had the whole lot of garbage out of the halls and basement rooms in about twenty minutes. There is still enough for another load, but I am going to try to get the City to pay for it, as a lot of the stuff that is left over is from the building renovations four years ago. In fact, I may try to get the City to pay for this load as well. it is worth a shot.
Sort of a bland day at work, organized, sent more notices, emails, straightened the offie a bit. Eva has a volunteer, Ahmad, who comes in a lot more than she has things for him to do, so I had him organize my tool chest. Ahmad doesn’t speak much English at all; I had to help him with the spelling on all the labels for the drawers containing all the different size screws and nails and tacks. He also helped clear out the wood at the top of the stairs and in the emergency stairwell.
I finally got my bank card activated today. It took all of three minutes. I can’t believe I have waited months to try to get to Dartmouth to do it. Bought much-needed light bulbs on the way back to work.
Craig has been having a nightmare dealing with his collection agency for his student loan; they tried to take his Canada Council grant. All of it. He got it back today, but it was a close call. The key is to change banks immediately after school, to prevent the banks from simply stealing from you. Until they find a way around that obstacle as well.
The Khyber Kids were in today and four of them tried on Ana’s outfits. They had a blast in them. Everything seems to be holding up well, which is good.
Came home and waited for Karina to return from the grocery store. We had a nice supper, salad and rice and veggies and fresh salmon, yum. She was going to attempt to make cream puffs of fudge for Andréa but it was getting late. Andréa turned 23 today and was having a party. We walked to the liquor store and bought her some Grand Marnier instead. Another Classic Maritime Kitchen party, with all the cool kids who all look like something out of the ‘seventies.
Have to get to bed, am bushed.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2002 11:58 pm
Subject: Premiers focusing on areas of agreement on health care solutions» Doctors stung by Alta Premier Klein’s ‘only for profit’ comments» Nurses, health-care advocates deliver message to premiers in Vancouver
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I slept in little bit today, getting to work at about 10:30. Went into the office, took off my coat, turned on my computer, then went into the Media Centre to check my email. It was then that I heard the sound. The sound of a waterfall. Coming from the gallery. I jumped up, walked briskly down the hall, unlocked the gallery and snapped on the lights and what did I see? A steady downpour of water streaming from the centre of the gallery ceiling. And Ana’s couch in the corner was completely deflated. What a sight! I ran upstairs, and the floor was covered in water. A pipe under the utility sink was leaking, but it was easy enough to stop; I just adjusted the valve. And then spent the next hour mopping. The gallery ceiling leaked for the next three. There was a huge bubble of water under a stretched skin of paint on the ceiling. But luckily, Ana’s outfits were off to the side and nothing was damaged or soiled. Water turns an ugly rust colour when it filters through the floorboards of hundred year-old buildings.
Had a C@P South End Cluster meeting at the CHICAP site in the Dalhousie Dentistry building this afternoon. Scott came with me. It took us longer to find than we had thought it would and arrived late. A good spot of news from the meeting though; the sustainability funding for this year is going to be $10,000. And though nothing is confirmed for next year Bernie expressed that Industry Canada is pushing for sustainability funding on an annual basis. Will know more after a meeting next week.
Had a meeting with Craig and his Jagermeister rep regarding sponsorship of the gala. She is on board for some sort of vodka product. I have to get on the ball and get some other sponsorship requests.
Walked up to Dal again in the evening to attend the Thomas Frank lecture. Lucas walked with me in the rain. Weird weather lately. Snowstorms then thaws, then cold patches, ice, then more mild weather, then rain, and tonight after the lecture it was snowing again. The lecture was good but too basic and too short. I stayed for a bit afterwards and talked to Dan and Lisa, then Mat and then Sue introduced me to Thomas but we didn’t get a chance to talk much as other talky-types zoned in on him. I think he is going to come by the Khyber though; he seems to really like beer.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Saturday, January 26, 2002 2:20 am
Subject: Klein calls April health dispute deadline ‘a bit of an ultimatum’» Airmen and women depart Trenton, Ont., airbase to Afghanistan campaign» Canadians lament the loss of Peter Gzowski’s gentle brand of patriotism
Dear Mr. Chrétien.
Just walked home from the NSCAD dance. The trees look beautiful, all covered in thick snow. Strange weather again today; woke up to everything covered in snow and school cancellations; most of it melted by the end of the day, then it snowed again this evening.
Möst Huntlers were playing at the dance. I only stopped in briefly with Craig. There was slippery soap on the floor. It was ‘sport themed’. Short-shorts and sliding. And wigs. It wasn’t the scene for me tonight. Neither was the Reverb Party at The Attic, but I stayed there longer talking to Christine and Trevor and Bethany, and playing the old-style video game Galaga. King Konqueror were playing when Craig and I left but it was becoming too much of a meat market.
Had a long but productive KDMC Board meeting tonight. We tried to have it in the Club but the young jazz band was doing their sound check and it was drowning us out.
Janet started in the office today and is re-organizing the filing cabinet. She seems very competent. By next week I should be able to schedule myself to 4 or 5 days per week, and give myself some studio time.
It’s late and I’m tired and had not planned to be out late; my throat is hoarse from the second-hand smoke. Have to go into work early tomorrow to do some accounting before the media centre opens.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, January 27, 2002 12:14 am
Subject: Chretien faces unease among Liberals, attacks from opposition as Commons resumes» Canadian troops to leave Friday for Afghanistan, Defence Department says» Key ministers cool to idea of foreign spy service for Canada
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
have I told you before that our downstairs neighbours have a piano? Well, they do, and they are playing it right now. Having a raucous good time, they are… oh, now some musical genius is playing Chopsticks. Revenge on me for doing the same thing at parties when I was a drunken teenager. Karma, that’s all it is.
Have actually taken the night off to organize some of my art stuff. Found the video footage from when Jeremiah and I had sanded the floor for our collaborative exhibition in the summer of ’99. I am thinking now of re-editing it on the computer, to leave the fast-forward effect but do it more cleanly.
Today was the first Khyber Kids drop-in workshop. The kids made comics with Eleanor and Andréa; it seemed a success, there was lots of laughter and some good drawings. I spent the afternoon re-arranging the office; Janet has been going through the files and the urge to purge is starting to nip at my heels. I am a pack-rat at heart, however, so it is always difficult for me to throw things away. I did move an entire shelf from the office. Of course, it had a crazy lean, and was supporting a taller bookshelf, so it was prudent to move it. Now I need to find or build a small table to hold the phone and possibly my computer.
Helped Lucas remove a small floppy drive from the old Quadra to the new one tonight. You should have seen the dust on it; I find it hard to believe how micro circuitry can function when huge dust-bunnies are propagating all over it, but it does. We needed to switch the drives so that the new Quadra will have Internet and email for me in the office. It was working yesterday but it was going through an external adapter, which Lucas will need for the Wirewall in the media centre.
Took a 6:30pm bus home and had supper with Karina; she had made a curried vegetable and rice dish and Caesar salad, complete with freshly-made croutons. Had a game of chess with Mohanad and then we all watched a movie, Onegin, starring Ralph Fiennes. I think his wife directed it, and he produced it. It is a very brooding movie, or at least he broods about in it, all through it and all over it. It was dull; I’m sure the book it is based on is much more exciting.
Am going to go and read for awhile; hopefully in a room that is not too close to the party down below. I am such a party-pooper.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, January 28, 2002 12:01 am
Subject: MP Joe Peschisolido quits Canadian Alliance, joins Liberals» Alliance says ready to take on Liberals despite leadership distraction» Canadian troops on target to be in Afghanistan by mid-February: Eggleton
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Slept in this morning until almost noon, which was nice. Karina and I were up rather late last night.
Today was a good day to do laundry. It is cold out today, colder than it has been in a while. The snow looks like it is going to stick around for awhile. We did four loads.
Before we left for the laundromat I read a disturbing article in the ‘Post by Elizabeth Nickson – “Freedom springs from capitalism”. It’s disturbing to hear people wax poetic about a system that is clearly ruining the planet. She says that the market is the medium through which millions of people express their desires – as though those desires happen independently of a system which seems determined to reward only the rich, and co-opt the rest of us into thinking that happiness is only achieved through buying stuff. She seems to go so far as to accuse civil rights and environmental movements of being drug addicts. But I guess this is a prime example of the deluded right-wing thinking that is to be found in the ‘Post; and on Global; and a slough of other sources I try to avoid.
We went to Julien’s while the laundry was drying and had coffee and lemon cake. Karina had hot chocolate and cool green tea. Worked on the computer for a bit then we made supper, a nice (well, I thought it nice) Pepper Squash & carrot soup, salad and guacamole. Had a bath after supper. Karina cut my hair; she keeps looking at me funny now. I just wanted a slight trim but forgot to tell her that straight away.
Watched a movie tonight, “Get Real”, a British film about a teenager falling in love and coming out. It was well made, good characters and dialogue, funny bits and it handled a sensitive topic with honesty and tenderness. The ‘coming out’ part, in front of the entire school, was a bit much but its a small complaint.
-chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, 29 January, 2002 12:13 am
Subject: PoW question, rules of engagement unclear as troops prepare for Afghanistan» Bank of Canada governor non-committal on dollar, predicts economic recovery» Federal Liberals do nothing as loonie flounders, say opposition MPs
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just came home from the Club and had to make something to eat, I was shaking I was so hungry. Hadn’t eaten since early this afternoon, when I had my soup leftovers and a slice of bread. And a few cups of coffee. Stayed at the Club later than planned after the openings. The MFA students opened a group show tonight. There were some good works; I was pleasantly surprised. The balloons stuffed with coloured fabric and rolled up on themselves and laid out in a grid on the floor were yummy-looking, like uncooked dumplings, or condoms, or weird sea creatures. My favourite piece in the show.
Hung out in the Club afterward drinking coke and then fruit juices. Spencer was buying them for me and I think he spiked them, but I didn’t really mind. I was circulating calls for designers to submit ideas for the next gala; there seems to be a fair bit of interest out there. Shared a cab back to Sarah’s; she and Spencer split a cigarette on her back deck, then I walked Spencer home. Read an article on-line about swinging parties. I’m into that; I think I’ll broach the subject with Karina. We have spoken of it a few times over the years, but not in some time.
Had a full afternoon of re-organizing and letter-writing. Am getting the initial sponsorship requests for the gala out. Am still behind on a slough of other things, but the way I look at it is, things will either get done or they won’t. I moved my computer to a round table, which freed up a lot of space on my desk and looks cool, too.
I read something briefly today in the newspaper about you lashing out to a female backbencher over her comments regarding your recent cabinet shuffle. lately it seems that you are becoming bossier; is this something to do with a certain level of frustration with yourself as your time as PM draws near? I mean, I know you like to compare yourself to Laurier and Troudeau, but what have you to show for your years in office? All I remember clearly is you strangling protesters, being unapologetic over pepper-sprayed students, being pied, keeping the GST, scrapping the helicopters, opening up NAFTA, hotel scandals, crushing student loan debts and a failing health-care system. Is this to be your legacy? Better smarten up and do right before you go, or you won’t be remembered fondly by anyone other than the fat-cats atop their CEO thrones.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, 29 January, 2002 10:07 pm
Subject: Canadian turnover of prisoners in Afghanistan sparks criticism» Manitoba soldiers, families say goodbye; take first leg of Afghanistan trip» Old error triggers $3.3-billion federal overpayment to four provinces
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Karina had another of her all-night cramming sessions, and came to bed around 5am, waking me up in the process. She couldn’t fall asleep and kept having those feelings that bugs were going to crawl in her ears. And then Yaga was purring loudly from the middle of the bed and I couldn’t sleep either so eventually I just got up. Searched the Internet for awhile looking for some stock photo of a changing room for the Liveart invitation, but couldn’t find one. I did run across Natacha Merritt’s website; she does the Diary Girl site, and takes a ton of photos of herself and her friends – usually in some kind of sexual act. It seems like she can support herself off the fees people pay to have access to her site, which she says gives her a great freedom.
Had a productive day at work. Had an off-site meeting with Catherine and Peter to discuss the 4-C’s grant and the Garden Project at Ecole Beauford. Catherine is concerned that the school will be axed next year. What is with all these schools closing? It’s so dumb.
Ran into Karina after getting some keys cut in the mall. She looked wiped. She said she was going home but she turned up again at the Khyber later on.
I had bad gas all day today. I blame it on the feta cheese I had with my salad last night. I think it has gone bad.
Lucas broke my computer while I was out, so I couldn’t really do anything for the remainder of the afternoon. Actually, I had plenty I could do, but was feeling quite tired myself. He was trying to get the third hard drive we found in the computer working, but then nothing was working. He found the problem: a bad internal cable connection.
Talked to David today about Khyber and eyelevel possibly buying and sharing a projector together. It just might work. I borrowed a small monitor from him to view videos as part of the artist talk tonight. I am sick of our two pathetic monitors. I don’t even want to turn Ana’s video on during the day anymore.
Tom Scott called tonight to talk about Lunchbox Theatre doing shows in the Turret in the fall. He was so clearly and obviously drunk. I didn’t think people actually did that; called on business while pissed. It’s sad.
Sarah Millman gave a talk and showed some of her videos she made while on exchange at Cooper Union this past fall. She made some nice videos. I really liked the one of crunchy, pixilated QuickTime videos of George Bush’s first address to the Nation after the bombings, to thunderous, non-stop applause, with Sarah’s hands in front of the screen clapping alone and methodically. The one of her singing at the Natural History Museum was nice as well; she stood under a skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex while repeating the lines “Oh come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant” over and over again.
Took a bus home shortly after, made a sandwich and am about to do a little more work on the computer. Karina is having a bath. Am going to try to get to bed early.
-chris
DEAR PM 