From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : One in five Canadians work more than 40 hours a week says Legerpoll» Baseball settlement aside, unions, managers say labour relations stormy» Same-sex blessing “outside scripture,” says African cleric visiting B.C.
Date : Mon, 02 Sep 2002 00:37:11 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
We just got back from our trip, and boy do I ever need a bath. Talk about hat-head (I bought a ‘Tommy Stinkfinger’ ballcap at a yard sale yesterday and haven’t taken it off since). It was a fun and mildly eventless, slightly stressful vacation. The weather proved to be cooler than we had all expected it to be, but the campground was beautiful and quiet and secluded. There is nothing quite like going to sleep with the sound of ocean waves crashing the beach just a few hundred yards away. Sleeping proved to be elusive, so the trip wasn’t all that restful. Robyn was also a challenge, he seems to be going through a tough phase where he expects a lot and challenges Judy every step of the way. We went to Sandspit today and spent too much money on a quasi-theme park of water and gasoline.
I won’t bore you with the details, like I said, I need to hit the tub. Tomorrow is a major catch-up day, and final day to get a Canada Council grant application in the mail.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Arab and Muslim Canadians endure year of collective blame after attacks» At least six people injured in shooting at rave club in Laval, Quebec» Health ministers to grapple with systemic problems at annual meeting inBanff
Date : Mon, 02 Sep 2002 23:41:09 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Felt good to sleep in the old bed last night. Was up fairly early and spent some time working on my CC Grant application. Karina slept in until almost noon then we made some breakfast from the scant remains of our pantry.
Mohanad has offered us a new place to stay starting in December. It is a full house in the South end owned by Linden. The rent would be higher but we would have a lot more space. Mohanad and I biked there to see the outside but we can’t see the inside until Saturday. We would have to give our notice this week if we decide to take it. I don’t know if I want to continue living with a huge group of people but a lot more space would be ideal.
Stopped at work for awhile and finished the CC grant, had to co-ordinate my photocopying in between Fringe shows because the media centre is so close to the gallery where the shows are taking place.
Biked to Video Difference and picked up the second season of the Sopranos. Mohanad had ordered pizza from Salvatore’s and Rebecca and I made a salad. Sarah came over and we watched four episodes in a row. We were hoping that the third season would start tonight but it didn’t.
Grabbed a Coast today, the drawing of mine they reproduced looked good, I think it was because it was shrunk down.
Have a ton of work to catch up on and do tomorrow. Rebecca said something tonight that makes me think the version of the newsletter Lucas took to the printer on Friday was not the final version. The stress begins anew.
On another note, good stand on the Kyoto accord. I can’t believe the naysayers are going around saying the technology isn’t advanced enough. Now there may be a little more incentive to put more research into pollution control. Kyoto needs to move beyond greenhouse gases anyway. It’s a fine line; no one wants to be told to not drive their SUV. It is quite telling that George Dubya wasn’t even there.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Alta threatens legal, constitutional challenge of federal Kyotoratification» ‘Post-modern’ Canada taking world to new level of governance, Martin says» Gospel hymns and cries of anguish mark funeral for slain Winnipeg boy
Date : Wed, 04 Sep 2002 00:33:56 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Long day today. Was up early to stop at Staples to pick up envelopes on my way to work. Called Allegra about the newsletter first thing, as it became apparent to me that Lucas had brought the wrong version to them on Friday afternoon. Lisa told me that they were in the process of folding and stapling, so I was trying to figure out a plan ‘B’, a way to incorporate the proper revised text into the newsletter. The photocopier maintenance guy came by to fix the dots that had been showing up on our copier. Then it turned out that Lisa had been thinking of the general Khyber publicity brochure and not the newsletter so I was able to re-work it and take her the proper version later in the day. It still meant that the mailout is at least a day delayed. Picked up the Andrea Cooper invitations from the post office and at least they turned out OK. Not bad for an internet printing company.
Had a board meeting tonight, we barely made quorum. Good discussion. Had a few beer afterwards in the Club. Talked to Briony and then Adam. Biked to Sobeys, bought some groceries. Walked home with Karina. We had a nice intimate night last night, the first in a long while.
The cats are fighting again. Kuan has become more of a bully now that she is more streetwise. She takes her aggression out on poor Yaga.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Legalize marijuana, Senate committee says; police just say no» B.C. pot activists ecstatic Senate report recommends marijuana legalization» Harper, caucus will work to restore former glory of newly debt-freeAlliance
Date : Wed, 04 Sep 2002 23:10:04 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Another early day, even Karina was up early today for her first day of school for the Fall semester. Carol Taylor called first thing and spoke to me about a proposal for a show and a grant she is helping write to keep an arts centre in the ABEC building in Saint John. Later in the day I spoke to someone else about a proposal, the deadline is really tight but I might be able to come up[ with something. Spent a lot of time today running back and forth to the printer to try to get the newsletter finished, it is still not done. It looks as though we may fold and staple them ourselves tomorrow after they are printed as it may be faster that way. Have assembled a crew of helpers. Made a lot of phone calls today to try to solidify the Tuesday night artist talks and the upcoming Outspoken Lecture. Gary Martin came by and we talked about the panel discussion and he said he would do it. Also confirmed participation from Eliza Griffiths who is coming down from Ottawa in October to exhibit some of her work at the Anna. We want to have a discussion focussing on female representation in contemporary art while our Andrea Cooper show is still up.
Ran into Jamie from Saint John by chance on Barrington, he had quit his job at Cambridge Suites Hotel and taken August off. He starts work at the Casino Hotel this week. He had grown a beard but will have to shave it off.
Courtney had a neat gift for me today; all the letters I had written for the month of July and cc’d to him all folded up in the wallet shape. Very sculptural. Thought briefly about donating it to the eyelevel gallery fundraising auction this Friday. Only briefly though. I would give them the original drawing of you I did last week for the Coast but I can’t find it.
Have a few meetings tomorrow and then a flurry of madness as we try to finish the mailout, which is now 2 days behind schedule.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : PQ may ditch go-slow approach to sovereignty in hope of saving party» No evidence of terror links to prompt attack on Iraq, says Chretien» Kyoto supporters puzzled by Canada’s position on emissions treaty
Date : Fri, 06 Sep 2002 00:36:21 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
The roads were still wet this morning so I walked to work instead of riding my bike. I still haven’t picked up any tire splash guards and I didn’t want a strip of muck up my back. Had a meeting at CBC with the Artspots producers to discuss selection, content and what a show on visual artists might consist of. David Clark and Mitchell and Justin were there as well. Asked David about selecting some work for the KDMC screenings. Had to leave just as things were getting interesting to go to a meeting with HRM regarding the lease. Dan met me there. The meeting went well, PJ with the grants program had some very direct plans and possibilities. She sounds very confident talking the language of numbers; I’m struggling to express intangibles.
Dan walked with me up the Cogswell Interchange to go to Staples to get a long stapler. Noticed that Graffiti Gone were hired to remove the ‘sorrys’ that had been spray-painted to the underpass.
It was a frantic envelope-stuffing party for the rest of the afternoon. Half the invites weren’t finished, the photocopier had broken and when it was fixed it wouldn’t feed through our printed letterhead. Emily, Karina and Courtney and myself managed to arrange, fold and staple all five hundred newsletters. Mind you, it took until almost seven to do it. The bindery at the printers was backed up. Got most of the mail out, just missing the KDMC mailout and the media/galleries mailout. Have that finished tomorrow morning. Then I have to get that proposal off to Saint John before days end. Andréa starts her first day as office administrative assistant.
Walked home with Courtney and Karina, complained about my lack of training skills and frustration with other employees. I have to become a better communicator. Made a salad; Courtney mixed the dressing. Sarah came over to watch the Sopranos. In mock celebration of the recent Senate committee report on relaxing the laws against marijuana we smoked a joint. The three Sopranos episodes we watched seemed to go on forever. Quite a show.
Karina is on the phone to her mom complaining about camping.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Landry sets target for sovereignty at 1,000 days, election for2003» Internet experts warn that cyberterrorism is still a threat a year after Sept. 11 attacks» Vanished: For families of the missing, sometimes the search never ends
Date : Sun, 08 Sep 2002 16:20:49 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Friday continued the hectic pace of the week. More photocopier problems but Bob the tech came by twice and was in and out like a flash. Finished the press releases and the rest of the mailout by noon. Andréa came in the early afternoon and we started re-arranging and sorting the filing ‘system’ in the office. Mary-Elizabeth came by with the CBC Artspots people and I gave a tour and twenty-minute rundown of the Khyber up in the Turret, my contribution to the Fringe, “arts-administrator does stand-up”. Mary-Elizabeth asked me about the Chrétien letter-writing project and that spawned a whole other discussion.
Got my rejection letter from the NSA&CC today. Looks like the proof is in the pudding. The new arts council is supposed to be re-directing more dollars, saved in administration, back to the artists. Well, the success rate remains about the same‹5%. Of 88 applications to the Creation program only 17 artists received funding. If the Canada Council funding doesn’t come through I don’t know how I’ll ever finish those paintings.
Called my mom tonight. It was her birthday Friday. Talked for a bit about this and that. Went to the eyelevel eyeopener fundraiser later in the evening.. Karina wanted to bid on a Bob Bean print but Sarah was guarding it. Physically, with her body and those little pencils like daggers. We came away with a vase and a sculpture of a hammer whose handle had been cut into pieces but kept together on a string. Very clever. Met Sarah’s new roommate, Caroline from Montréal. We all went back to the club after the auction ended and talked about the upcoming Outspoken lectures. Went home just after midnight and watched the Matrix on the computer, Karina’s idea. She has joined a Columbia House DVD club.
The whole household biked up the proposed new apartment today for a viewing.. It is quite nice, not perfect, the house is old and has its flaws, but it is spacious, the rooms are large and it is well-kept. Went for brunch afterwards at C’est Ci Bon with Andrew’s possé. Karina got into an argument with Rebecca later on over who would get the bedroom with the large walk-in closet.. Rebecca and Mohanad went back for a second look and decided they would be happy with the larger room on the first floor. Karina was having anxiety attacks from arguing with Rebecca. She is very sensitive.
Continued working on the files with Andréa and went over the Khyber Kids resumes. Made some phone calls to set up interviews. Went to the Med for a late lunch with Andréa and Karina. The Greek pasta salad continues its fall from grace.
Had a KDMC programming committee meeting this evening. Only Jacob and Lucas showed up. We talked about and made plans for a Virtual Museum grant. It will be a lot of work and it is due in less than a week.
Biked home and made supper. Karina is on a cleaning and re-organizing binge.. She wants to go the Oxford tonight for a midnight screening of Amelie. It’s a fund-raiser, but I can’t remember who its for. Karina just wants to see it on the big screen. Right now she’s vacuuming fruit flies in the kitchen. She says it is the best way to get rid of them.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Landry tells sovereigntists to get over last referendum, work on next one» U.S. woman in diabetic coma found in Banff backcountry after 11 days alone» MostCanadians skeptical about Bush’s Iraq arguments, poll suggests
Date : Sun, 08 Sep 2002 23:56:48 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a good morning. Slept in. Lazed about bed for awhile. Spent some time with Karina. Leafed through some interior design magazines. There is some bad design out there, but good stuff too if you look hard enough.
Made brunch and spent some time on the computer working on exhibition proposals. The ideas are becoming more formulated but the articulation is slow. Later in the afternoon we visited the laundromat. It was busier than usual. Read some recent art magazines; articles on art history and painting. It is reminding me how out of touch I am getting with recent histories, with theory..
Karina and I went to Juliens for coffee and tea and a loaf of bread. Karina wanted a custard pastry, a mai fait‹I’m not sure of the spelling. It’s French. Unfortunately there weren’t any left. Better that they are all gone than if there remained a stale one.
Made some supper, a yam and buttercup squash. It was tasty but not too filling.
Worked on the proposals some more and read a bit from The Rise of the Creative Class. The extensive work on the economics, the graphs, the studies are a little more tedious getting through than I had thought they would be. I’m much more interested in the anecdotal, the story-telling aspect. The stuff that grounds the figures into a more believable reality. Mind you, even the stories aren’t as interesting as I had hoped they would be. Why do I care if some upwardly-mobile consultant working for big firms in New York changes jobs a few times, has the luxury to re-examine his life and turns around making fancy gift-baskets? Not exactly the creativity aspect I was hoping for. Maybe it gets better.
Peter and Sarah came over for another installment of the Sopranos epic. Three more episodes down, three more to go. They feel much more intense to watch after smoking a joint.
Talked to my mom again tonight. It was dad’s birthday today but he was out at ball and then a poker game with the guys. They seem content. Mom seems a little more forgetful at times, though her quilting is coming right along. She made a pair of quilted underwear recently. Aaron is back in Fredericton for school but apparently hasn’t found a place to live yet. He must be couch-jumping.
Tomorrow is another busy day, right back in the thick of things.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Lobby group says Ottawa derelict in its duty to defend the country» Bush makes case to Chretien on Iraq attack; PM asks president to respect UN» Benjamin Netanyahu speech at Montreal university cancelled after wild protest
Date : Tue, 10 Sep 2002 00:42:38 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
A long day. Up early, breakfast, at work by 8:30. First thing I did was cleared up the vestibule of all the fringe posters, glasses, newspapers and cigarette butts. Reorganized the poster board. Changed the overflowing garbage. You wouldn’t believe how many coffee cups and plastic water bottles I have seen stuffed into the hall garbage can over the past week. It is like everyone who came to see a Fringe show felt compelled to leave behind some trace of their existence.
Had a meeting with Mike to discuss capital projects on the building and the direction the lease negotiations are taking. Looks like the city property division is serious about raising the rents, and are offering to double ours in five years time. This is not good news.
Conducted interviews with Andréa for the after school instructor position. The first one was the best so far, a girl named Kerry. She worked at an arts organization up North that sounds a lot like the Khyber. Ran some kids classes as well. Some of the other girls who applied were keen and interested but seemed to lack experience. We’re hoping they will volunteer with the Saturday program, gain some experience that way.
Continued work on the Saint John proposal. I need to gather and dupe some slides now. I have four of the five resumes I need. The proposal is almost done, just needs some finessing.
Walked home with Jacob and Andréa and Eleanor. Talked about the lease negotiations. Jacob is in agreement that we need to start in on the ‘Save the Khyber’ publicity campaign. We need to be clear of what we want, what the goals are. We need to have an emergency board meeting soon, this week or next.
Made some soup when I got home. Karina arrived home from school shortly after. Sarah came by with grape leaves and stuffed eggplant and Pita. We made tea and watched the final three episodes of season two of the Sopranos.. Now we just need to find out when and where season three is airing.
Tomorrow is another busy day.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Canadians across the country pay tribute to victims of Sept. 11» Canadians mark Sept. 11 with peace vigils, a moment of silence, tears» Muslims remember victims of terrorist attacks every day, not just anniversary
Date : Wed, 11 Sep 2002 23:28:23 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Sorry I didn’t write last night. Got home a bit late, stayed in the Club for the artist talk and ended up talking to the new president of SUNSCAD and Thierry Delva about the Khyber rent. The artist talk was by the new sculpture professor, Mike Hein. He does some very laborious and intense work using commonplace materials, elastic bands, wood, etc. He makes a lot of work. Rebecca was on the computer when I came home and after waiting for a bit I just went to bed.
Walked to work today as the weather forecast called for rain. Stopped at Staples to pick up some office supplies and brackets for the filing cabinet. Wouldn’t you know it but the brackets were about half a centimeter too short for the drawers. I had thought that those sorts of things would be standardized. Anyway, I made them fit, just squeezed the drawer a bit.
Went for lunch at the Med with Karina. Met David there by chance and we joined him and talked about his upcoming move to Lethbridge. He leaves in just over a week. What a whirlwind of a month for him and Melinda and Jack.
Had a bunch more interviews for the Khyber Kids position this afternoon and early evening. I am more comfortable conducting interviews now and find I am learning a lot from them.
Had a KDMC board meeting tonight. Karina, Craig Power and Sophie sat in as potential board member candidates. The meeting went fairly quickly; I doodled for most of it.
The rain had really picked up by late afternoon and into the evening. Apparently some hurricane is just off the coast. Karina and I caught a bus home. We didn’t stay for the JFCFF (Jane Friggin’ Kansas Film Festival) which was happening in the Club. It was half over by the time the board meeting ended. Jane was presenting selected clips of her acting appearances in local film and television productions. It looked like a good turnout.
Have meetings tomorrow, and have to help Lucas with the budget for the virtual Museums grant the KDMC is applying for. Also have to find someone with a car to help us drop off the Khyber Kids brochures to local schools.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Charest says Liberal government in Quebec would slash bureaucracy, taxes» Chretien’s comments on terrorist attacks spark debate, support from some foes» Oppositionsays Ottawa insensitive in sending Sept. 11 flights east
Date : Thu, 12 Sep 2002 23:38:52 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I can’t believe how long this week has seemed. The long hours this week have almost exhausted me. I’m daydreaming about sleep.
It feels like autumn today. I actually wore a jacket. Dropped the Sopranos box set off to Video Difference on my way to work. It was three days late.
Met with Iain from Zed-TV today to talk about upcoming Khyber events as well as the Chrétien project. It seems they want to do a piece on it. Exciting, but more work‹and it sounds like he wants to start working on it in a few days.
Spent the day always a step or two behind where I wanted to be. Had a good-news meeting at the cultural annex today. An HRM tourism group is offering some free promotional services to visual arts organizations. Good stuff. My stomach kept rumbling during the meeting. Ordered take-out from the Med on my return downtown.
Worked a lot with Lucas later this afternoon and into the evening on the Virtual Museums grant. We kept tweaking and modifying the proposal to the point where it made no sense to try to meet the deadline of midnight tonight, but to further develop it for the next deadline in the winter.
The upcoming panel discussion was listed as a Sure Thing in the Coast today, but Jane added a 200-word rant about graffiti art and tagging which makes the whole thing sounds much more zany than intended. The turnout will be quite interesting, I’m sure.
A full day planned for tomorrow. Andrea is coming in from Newfoundland to install the show this weekend.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : U.S. pilots in friendly fire incident charged; final reports cite recklessness» Governor general to award medals to troops in war on terrorism» Alberta approves what critics say is country’s first private hospital
Date : Sat, 14 Sep 2002 09:09:20 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Couldn’t write last night; went to bed while Rebecca was still on the computer. Was tired and burned out from a looong week. Spent the evening making supper, watching bad TV, reading the newspaper and The Rise of the Creative Class. It is taking me forever to get through that book.
Had a really trying experience first thing yesterday morning. I went to work with the realization that no-one had brought the video projector up from the Club after the JFCFF event Wednesday night. It had slipped my mind Thursday. I figured it had been put in the back room of the Club, which isn’t the greatest place for an expensive piece of electrical equipment. The room is a perpetual pigsty, full of empty beer bottles, cables, lost sweaters, paperwork and a gazillion other odds and ends. So I checked this morning but it wasn’t there, and I had a minor panic attack. I thought it had been stolen. I couldn’t believe I had been so stupid. It was a few hours before I could get in touch with Craig and he put my fears to rest when he told me the projector had been put in the other storage room.
That set the tone for the rest of the day, I was surly and felt worn out and wasn’t very productive. Andréa and Kerry, one of the new after-school instructors, came in to organize the studio, and Robbie and Jeremy drove around to a bunch of the elementary schools and dropped off brochures. Robbie also drove to pick Andrea Cooper up from the airport early in the evening.
We have tentative plans to go to the animated shorts screening at the Film Festival tonight. Will be spending the day at the Khyber as part of the Open House, and prepping the gallery for installation. Decided against going to the NSCN AGM and policy meeting today. I’m just not in the mood. Have an emergency lease meeting this afternoon to discuss a PR strategy. That will be enough cultural politics for me for one day.
Karina was expecting a cheque from school to come yesterday to tide her over until her student loan comes in, but it didn’t appear. We really need to get some groceries. We have been delegated to make a salad for a dinner party at Sarah’s tomorrow night.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Hundreds gather for unveiling in Ottawa first memorial to Sept. 11 victims» More than one-half of Canadians satisfied with their education system says poll» Suspectarrested after B.C. RCMP officer dies in hit-run crash with cruiser
Date : Mon, 16 Sep 2002 00:02:18 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Felt good to sleep in this morning. Karina and I hung out in bed for awhile, then made breakfast. We blew a fuse while cooking potatoes is the microwave and boiling water and making toast and listening to to the radio all at once. Finished breakfast and walked to Mom’s to wash laundry. Only a couple loads to do. Was going to cycle to MSVU Art Gallery for the opening of Lucie Chan’s show but it had started to rain so Rebecca and Courtney and I took a bus instead. Karina stayed home to catch up on her reading.
The opening was nice. Lucie’s installation was alright, she had made tons of excellent drawings and then quilted bunches of them together to form closet-like enclosures. The layered, cut-out screened areas worked better than the plainer walls. Lots of theatre lighting. She was also giving away a bunch of her original drawings, which was a very nice touch. I picked one of two figures sharing a pair of pants. Caught a bus home. Have been feeling more deja vüs lately than usual. Today it was inspired by a guy from NB at the opening and who spoke to us at the bus stop. Weird. It has been popping up in lots of conversations lately. A lot of my conversations with people feel like they have happened already. I wonder if that means it is time to move.
Thought about getting into the studio this afternoon but it didn’t happen. Watched the first half hour of the Wedding Singer and then doodled in the kitchen instead.
Had a shower and a nap this evening before we headed over to Sarah’s for a dinner party. It was held in occasion of her cousin Andrea being here for her exhibition. Emily, Spencer, Craig Power and Sarah’s new roommate Caroline were there, as was Rebecca and Karina and I. Karina had bad vibes about Caroline the first time we had met her but that was mostly jealousy. She was over it tonight. Good discussions about sex and religion on the back deck. good pasta and salad and lots of wince for supper. Ended the evening with discussions of internet porn.
Checking my email tonight while listening to the Hip. Signed an on-line petition to have the Joseph Beuys blackboard exhibited at the AGO.
Have to get into work early tomorrow to finish the installation.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Ontario government probes reports that terror suspects flewthrough Toronto» Ont., man dies after contracting West Nile, autopsy needed for cause of death» Provinces, businesses, complain of lack of Kyoto info after Winnipegmeeting
Date : Mon, 16 Sep 2002 22:55:08 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Long drawn out day. Wet. Got decked out in all my fancy rain gear and walked to work. My rubber boots make my feet burn if I walk in them too long. Worked on the gallery installation, cleaned up, etc. Found out the hard way that the replacement paint Sarah picked up the other day is a slightly different sheen than the walls. Luckily the gallery is dark enough that people are not likely to notice. We’ll still have to re-paint before the net show. Andrea’s movie poster still hasn’t shown up; Canjet has misplaced it.
There were no openings at Anna tonight, the three week Japanese Ceramics show is still up. That really made an impact on the traffic for the opening. There was an opening at the eyelevel, really fascinating paintings by Chris Dorosz. Stunning work, really. Specks of paint attached to thin Plexiglas tubes arranged in a grid to form figures. It is sort of like seeing people in a de-materialized state. Like Star Trek, in a way.
Lots of people in the Club, some Film Fest party. Lots of anticipation about the upcoming panel discussion on Wednesday. Had a couple beer and then caught a bus home with Karina.
Am in a pissy mood. Tired. Hungry. Ate a take-out salad from Superstore this evening, and bad leftovers for lunch. Popcorn for the openings. Cookies. Feel sweaty and greasy now. It’s muggy out.
I can’t believe the fuss people are making about your poverty and 9/11 comments. Are most people really that blind to the rampant over-consumption habits of the West? Are people really that daft? No matter how you look at it, things will end badly. It’s just the logical conclusion. How depressing..
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Chretien tries to cool controversy over rumours of possible GST increase» Irritable oilpatch look to Chretien for answers on Kyoto at Alta. fundraiser» CAW and GMCanada reach tentative contract agreement for 19,000 workers
Date : Tue, 17 Sep 2002 23:30:30 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I am really growing to hate my job. It is truly making me miserable. I don’t know why I bother. Most days I end up seething inside, harboring bitter resentments against almost everyone I know. Today it was go, go, go all day long. First thing in the morning I was copying more after school arts classes brochures. Heather and Jacob came in to help with the HRM councilor exclusive open house invitations. Then I was off with Robbie for awhile distributing brochures to the schools. I’m amazed at how much the architecture of elementary schools resembles prisons. I wonder if they smell similar as well?
Put some snazzy packages together for the city councilors. Had to go to Mahons to get the folios, Staples had only awful designs in stock. No plain colours. Luckily Mahons was still open; they actually close their doors for good on Friday. Another independent, downtown store bites the dust. How convenient.
The first round of the after-school classes happened today. There was only one kid in the KDMC class. His mom had taken an oil painting class that I had taught over a year ago. She was quite talented. She says she doesn’t paint anymore but is ‘spinning’ records. That reminds me, the No Record Store is almost ready to open, Waye says it will be, finally, absolutely open tomorrow. There were six kids in Kerry’s class. Valerie was doing some work in the KDMC today and says she drummed up a few sponsorships in the North End today to help bolster attendance in her class. There’s some go-getting.
Threw together a plan for the KDMC AGM at the last minute. Luckily no one other than board members or board member-elects showed up. Great community involvement happening there. The meeting lasted until nine and then I spent another hour or so photocopying and cutting more brochures for distribution
tomorrow.
Am going to take some Tylenol and drink some water and try to compose myself. I’m in a foul mood. Studio withdrawal or some thing like it. My muscles are so tense they hurt.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Grief, pride fill widow at medal ceremony for soldiers killed in Afghanistan» Harper confronts comments about Atlantic Canada’s ‘culture of defeat’» Montreal manwho was suspected of having the West Nile virus dies
Date : Sat, 21 Sep 2002 00:09:24 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I was pleased to find the building in relatively good shape this morning. In about an hour I had re-installed Andrea’s exhibition and swept and mopped the area on the top floor where all the food had been. It didn’t look like things had gone out of hand.
My legs were sore today. I think it is from the new road bike. The saddle is really hard, so my butt is sore too. The roads here are really harsh on a bike with such thin tires. Every bump causes major jabs in the butt.
The new Fuse magazine came out recently. I picked up a copy from the Blowers Street Paper Chase this afternoon while getting a coffee. The NSAC closure figures prominently in the editorial direction of the issue. The email discussion I took part in is there and I am quoted in a separate article as well. My artist page of email responses from Premier Hamm looks really dry and dull, but has a cute little payoff for those who stick with it. Nice layout and font choices throughout.
Lots of turret action today. Booked another weekly dance class and a dancer photo shoot for the weekend. Responded to other inquiries about the space. Drew up contracts. Pushed some paper around. Worked on budgets and payroll. Went to the bank. Talked to Craig about the Club renovations. Talked to a reporter from Saturday Night magazine who wants to cover the annual Khyber/eyelevel Holiday Toast fundraiser. Now I just have to come up with the performers.
Biked home and woke Karina up from a nap. She’s not used to getting up so early in the morning. We walked to Sobeys and bought groceries for the first time in a dog’s age. Had tossed around the idea of getting a movie but it didn’t happen. Spent the evening reading and doodling and talking with Rebecca about alienation.
Tomorrow I am committed to stay away from work. I want to go to value Village to get a new fall jacket and maybe a new pair of pants, and some paper to complete the pastel drawings for my mom. I feel really bad that I am late with them. Am really going to try to get them done this weekend.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Chretien’s record belies new-found commitment to foreign aid, say critics» Martin backs more funding for AIDS research, appeal of gay marriage ruling» Probecontinues into bomb-making items at CFB Cold Lake; terrorism doubted
Date : Sun, 22 Sep 2002 23:23:18 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had the unfortunate timing to cycle past a cat recently hit by a car last night. I was on my way downtown to pick up some of my pastel supplies, some paper and the photo reproductions of my mom’s friend’s houses. The cat was hit at the crosswalk to the Bloomfield Centre. It is always unsettling to see someone’s pet run down.
Karina and I slept in both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday we walked downtown and bought a bicycle helmet from MEC and picked up the extra bike from work.. We took the ferry to Darmouth to go to Valu Village. I only found a short sleeved shirt; no pants, jeans or jacket. We biked home over the bridge.
Had two options for social activities last night: Emily’s birthday party of David’s going away party. Ended up doing neither. Picked up my supplies from work and then Karina and I rented the Lahruzan’s Defence from Video Difference. It dragged on for a bit, and certainly played the tortured genius, understanding lover, battle of wits story for all it was worth. It had some very nice subtle moments. Maybe I’ll read the book someday.
Today was a lazy day. Am trying to stave off the cold that Rebecca and Mohanad are suffering from. Rested a lot. Dozed. Gathered energy and planned for the upcoming week. Helped Karina with laundry and then actually spent some time in the studio. Craig has already set up and started working in there. I worked on the two drawings for my mom for awhile buy my heart isn’t into it.. I need better paper for one, something with a better tooth. I need to motivate myself, but it is hard, I don’t make this kind of drawing anymore.
Made supper and lazed around this evening, watched the tube, Simpsons, King of the Hill and Malcolm. Am going to have a shower and shave before heading to bed.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : ADQ Leader Dumont promises co-operation between Quebec and other provinces» Tobin blasts Canada for allowing foreigners to overfish on Grand Banks» Man charged with murder in fire where Edmonton Eskimos save woman
Date : Tue, 24 Sep 2002 00:18:34 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
It was a sluggish morning but Karina and I both managed to get up and out the door before nine. Karina took the bus, even though she now has access to a bike. She was worried about the weather forecast that called for heavy rain later in the day.
It was hard to get started on any projects today. The phone rang an awful lot. Talked to my friend and former boss Jamie for quite a while when he stopped in for a visit. He isn’t doing a lot of faux finishing. He says the market has dried up. I think part of it is because he enjoys spending more time with his girlfriend Allison. She is a potter. I took advantage of Jamie by bitching and complaining to him all the problems I have with the media centre, the Khyber, municipal and provincial politics. The usual. I miss our politically-charged painting talks.
Bought some supplies to finish those drawings of the houses for my mom. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to get into the studio today. Talked with Waye and then Craig about fundraising events and club renovations. Talked to Janna about volunteering, and Kevin too. Took the duped slides to be mailed to Ottawa for that Saint John proposal.
Went to the openings at Anna and talked to Andrew about the evening oil painting and drawing classes. I had asked him on Friday if he would take over the classes at St. Andrews centre and he agreed. Unfortunately Judy had already found someone but she didn’t et me know. It was lucky that I ran into him and was able to tell him not to catch a bus and head down there tonight. The openings were Ok. Tiny metal cameras in Gallery 1, a Carpet Competition show in Gallery 2, and Thesis’ graffiti show in Gallery 3. Good work, but he wasn’t there; he had been spooked away because of the slightly incriminating Coast article about his graffiti this week. Like the cops read the Coast for tips on crime! Like they would bust a graffiti artist after the fact! Paranoia is becoming an ingrained habit around here.
Had a KDMC programming meeting to discuss upcoming grant deadlines. Productive meeting. Hammered out a basic plan for two grants which I feel fairly optimistic about.
Biked home in the rain and it actually felt good. It was so muggy today the rain was cool and refreshing. That road bike is quite speedy, I am quite impressed. More so now that I have a gel seat added to the original too-firm saddle. My butt isn’t as sore any more.
Made supper and played on a cheap synthesizer with Courtney. Played for almost an hour, making ridiculous noises. Laughed a bit, had fun. Watched the National while eating supper. Karina came home from a really stimulating lecture and we talked about the fetishization of reality. If a computer program was hooked up to all your senses and provided a virtual reality world for you to experience, how would your body know what is real—or for that matter, would it matter? I think about reality a lot when I watch the news. It is so heavily constructed, how is one to construct a viable reality from it? All I know is that George Dubya looked like a zany fool tonight on TV. You didn’t come off much better; what’s the story on the 2 Challenger jets?
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : Queen drops the puck at NHL game; otherwise Canada visit pretty routine stuff» Protesters call for housing strategy from outside gates of former Tent City» ADQ Leader Dumont fires back at Liberal attack of his “right-wing” policies
Date : Sun, 29 Sep 2002 00:45:27 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a bizarre day. Went in to work early to prepare for the open house and reception and tour. Had to call Sarah to come in and clean; she had left my keys n the bathroom yesterday, they were picked up and turned in last night.. Kerry and Hannah came in to make books for the Khyber Kids drop in class but the registered kids didn’t show up. Heather came just before three o’clock and her and Briony helped set up the food. Jessica was tending bar for the afternoon. No one came. Eventually the board members present began drinking the wine. Finally, close to five o’clock the deputy mayor and his wife came. We talked in the gallery an gave them a tour of the building. They seemed to have a good time. They were mad as well that no other councilors came. They said that it is a tough council, that they don’t really care for the arts. Great news. I stayed in the bar afterwards and drank red wine and talked to Dan about a plan to give a presentation at council. If I ever run for office he would be my campaign officer. Talked to Don as well about leveling the Club floor and renovations. Karina came by all dressed up with a new wig she had bought at Value Village today. She looked great. We went to the Keg but it was closed. Karina was desiring prime rib. We tried a few other places but then ended up just going to Sobeys. Bought some groceries then walked home.
I am coming down with a cold, big time. Nose has been running all day. Feel all stuffed up. Lots of pressure on my sinuses.
Have to finish parts of the grant tomorrow and then meet with Iain from Zed at my studio. Good to have my keys back.
-chris
From : chris lloyd <chrislloyd5676@hotmail.com>
To : jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Subject : One line throne speech promise aims to reaffirm anti terror support: sources» Thousands gather at national ceremony for officers killed in the line of duty» Charestaccuses Dumont of sacrificing Quebec’s interests for own popularity
Date : Mon, 30 Sep 2002 00:11:05 -0300
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
The worst thing about being able to sleep in on the weekends is that I tend to wake up three or four times starting around seven before actually getting up. This morning the whole household walked to a new diner, the Hungry Howies, for brunch. Courtney and Mohanad were filming the outing. The diner is an expanded front level of a residential house. Our server was very matronly, almost grand-matronly. I had a hearty breakfast, eggs and homemade beans and pan fries and pancakes, but the eggs and fries tasted as if they were fried in bacon fat. An odd taste sensation for a vegetarian.
The cold I was sensing yesterday broke out with a vengeance today. Have gone through a full roll of toilet paper and my nose is red and raw from blowing.. Spent the afternoon organizing for my interview with Iain from Zed.
He came promptly at four and walked to the studio and started the interview.. I set up a painting and worked away at it while we were talking. Talking and thinking about the project has really opened up new possibilities for me. I am also beginning to feel the full weight of the sheer amount of painting I have to do to have everything ready for the show in the spring.
Made a nice homemade vegetable soup with a nice garlic and ginger broth to try to battle the cold. Sarah and Caroline and Andrew came over for Drawing Club. It was a successful meeting; all manner of butts, animals, strange places, more butts, poop, gaping wounds and other fanciness was created. We also had a great laugh listening to the various voices read text on the
computer.
Took a bath tonight to try to sweat out more of the cold. I hope I am not feeling worse tomorrow; I have those two grants to finish. One still needs a more solid project description and the whole budget worked out. Yikes!
-chris
DEAR PM 