From: chris lloyd
Date: Tue May 31, 2005 12:02:29 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: info@manifdart.org, shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, ecart@cablevision.qc.ca
Subject: Chretien's former aide says he advised then PM to be careful around Corriveau, Québec veut imposer des restrictions sévères à Karla Homolka 

Cher Paul,

Aujourd 'hui, mon premier jour suis rentré: Petit dejeuner, pas sur l'herbe mais chez La Coyote, avec Melissa, après j'ai fait un entrevue avec Marjorie et son frère Dominique—tout en française—sur mon projet avec toi, surtout l'installation à Québec pour le Manif d'Art; c'était fun. Après ça, quand j'étais en train de marchant au banque pour encaisser mon cheque pour le Commons Service Group, j'ai vu les arbes a côté chaque chemin, parce que avant Rouyn, les arbes etaient vide; maintenent, ils sont plein des feuilles. Tout c'est vert. A cause de beaucoup de pluie.

J'ai lu dans La Presse aujourd 'hui qui tu a vient a la Musée Nationale des Beaux Arts, avec Jean, pour le fête 125 ans de la musée, puis j'ai vu un tache sur ton front, comme le tatouages que j'ai port la même soir que mon vernissage à Rouyn! Bizarre hasard, non?

J'ai emprunté la câble éléctricite de Sarah durant la journée pour travailer sur mon ordinateur; la mienne n'a arrive pas encore par autobus. Je travaillais sur mon site web, ajoutais les images, le petit montages vidéo…ou presque, je faisais préparer beaucoup des choses, le montage quand je enterrais les lettres puis plantant le rosier et le Boite de Pandora, c'était un peu sombre mais drole a la même temp. On peut ecouter les oiseaux, encore comme Hitchcock!

Rob, mon voisin, été arrivé chez moi pour reparer le robinot dans mon salle de bain. It was leaking for a good six months. C'est presque fixé maintenant. Je ne suis pas un plumbier. Nor a tiler; we'll see if he can get on that job in the next little while.

Kuan était dans la bonne forme. Je laissais la porte au derrier ouvert pour elle, mais elle est content de rester à l'intérieur. She escaped on Babak on Friday and hid under a car; he had to find a can of tuna to try to entice her out—a neighbour told him to do this—but when he returned with tuna she had already come back to the apartment. She seems not as interested in outdoors as she was last summer.

J'ai manqué mon cours de fraçaise encore se soir. J'ai eu besoin le temps pour moi-même.

I work tomorrow with Gregg and Eric. I have to retrieve my bicycle from in front of the MAC first thing. I left it there a few weeks ago. J'espere qu'il reste la encore!

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Mon May 30, 2005 1:42:52 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: info@manifdart.org, shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, ecart@cablevision.qc.ca
Subject: Tories won't rule out another effort to bring down Martin government, De nouvelles batailles s'annoncent à Ottawa sur le budget et les commandites 

Cher Paul,

J'ai retourné a Montréal, c'est etrange, après une semaine et demi à Rouyn et environs, avec plusiers d'artistes, les temps libre pour réflicher, pour travailler, pour boire. Demain je vais fait un entrevue avec Marjorie, alors le travail avec Eric et Gregg vas commencer encore. Peut-être…peut-être pas. Peut-être je vais faire un autre chose…je trouve que je doit éxaminer un peu le direction global de ma vie. Je sais que je préfere a travail comme un artiste au temps plein…mais je détéste a vivre en pauvreté. J'ai parlé un peu avec Clo ce soir, a propos de toutes les choses avant nous: Toronto, St. John, organiser un nouveaux espace pour faire des residencies…ou courir au Méxique…

Les vernissages hier soir était super! Une grande culmination des événements. Les videos de Caroline Gagné et Jasper van den Brink a le centre d'exposition au Rouyn c'était excellent, puis le parole politique de Véronique Doucet sur le situation de pollution à Rouyn, aprés on a débarqué pour le poteau de Germaine Koh, qui est située du mileu d'un piste pietons, puis… beaucoup d'autre petit vernissages, Igor, Christian, Marna—qui, avec sa partenaire, resteaient dans un sous sol porteant ses cosumes, comme un vrai, tres vieux couple, un peu peur (ils ne parleant pas jamais), mais…il y a trop à rencontre ici. Parce que j'ai oublié mon fils élécrique, le câble pour mon ordinateur, a Rouyn. Mais oui! Tu me connais, c'est comme ça toujours. Je essaye a tu-rencontre un peu, plus rapide, avant le pile mourira. (C'est un bon chose que la ville de magie de Rouyn-Noranda a sauvé le pile, autrement je ne peux pas t'ecris jamais.

Finalement: Tous les gens ont resemblé chez L'écart, Sylvie a lu les noms de le gens qu'elle a rencontré durant leur performance avec les locals, moi j'ai lu un lettre (le 24-heure folie, journée et nuit feu), et Martin a commencé le plus grand événement du spontanéite et fièvre: il a montré toutes des T-shirts qu'il a embelli avec les marques de toutes les biennales du monde pour vente à la criée. Grand excitation! Comme les oiseaux d'Alfred Hitchcock. Je suis vraiment chanceux; j'ai gagné le vraiment beux T-shirt Manif d'art 3, malgre que les comissaires était la, aussi autre gens qui l'aimaient beaucoup, mais personne n'offre plus que moi.

Après le grand vente j'ai cassé, pas accident, un chaisse de l'artiste Veit Stratman, pendant un bizarre train des chaisses partout le galerie, en à travers direct mes avions de papier, repandant sur le plancher. Un nouveau desine pour l'installation. Tout la monde a continué le party chez Cabaret pour dansé. Çe matin Nathalie a me fait organiser les avions un peu. Elle est le boss, mais après un pensé je suis en accord.

Désolé, mais mon pile est presque fini, ensuite, moi aussi, il faut que je dors plutot, et changeant mon schedule aussi. …

-chris

Date: Sat, 28 May 2005 14:10:13 -0400 (EDT)
From: "chris lloyd" Add to Address Book
Subject: Palestinian leader gets "down payment" from Canada after meeting with Martin, Le Bloc québécois se prépare pour la reprise des travaux parlementaires?
To: "paul martin" , "paul martin"
CC: "MANIF d Art" , "art gallery calgary" , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, "galerie l'ecart" , "paul martin" , "paul martin"

Dear Paul,

Please excuse this hasty, english letter; I'm in a
rush, down to the wire, the last one (sauf Sylvie)
still working on their installation. The openings at
le centre d'exposition de Rouyn-Noranda start in... an
hour. And there are some minor problems with the DVD
player...impossible to find a way to program it to
'repeat play'.

But I did finish burying the letters last night, after
a healthy dose of poutine Chez Morasse with the gang.
Luis et Marie-Eve helped. It went fast. I didn't dig
too deep. Since the Val d'Or-Malarctic night I've
become almost completely nocturnal; after the bar
Cabaret closed last night I was still wide awake,
wondering what to do next. Wandering the streets.
Reflecting on border crossings and immigration and
movement and traffic, especially after the
performance-conference given by Tanja Ostovic earlier
in the evening at le Petit Théatre du Vieux-Noranda.
She came onstage wrapped in a camouflage patterned
burka, and proceeded to desribe the process-art
performance she undertook to find a husband with a EU
passport so she could travel more freely through
Europe. We take movement for granted in the West. Why
do we have such strict immigration rules and
regulations? We have so much space. We should let
anyone who wants to move here, do so. Canada could
save so many people in the world in that fashion.
Instead of turning people away, making them wait for
years and years, embrace them. What are we afraid of?
Big Bad Bush is striving to make the world a scary
place. A scarier place. Somone should kick him really,
really hard. In the nuts. Dumb arsehole.

Today we witnessed the final Superman performance
during which the mayor of Rouyn-Noranda gave a speech.
I didn't catch it all but I got the sense it was very
playful and tongue-in-cheek, playing betweent he
notions of fact, fiction, politics, heroism.

I still have to deside what to do with the letters
I've been writing since I've been in Rouyn. Initially
I was thinking to just ball them up day by day and add
them to the pile, but now I'm thinking perhaps it
could be a little more participatory; perhaps I should
leave the letters out, on the floor or a chair, for
the audinience to do with what they please, make their
own paper airplanes or balls or origami or whatever.
Maybe I should make a sign. Maybe I should go check on
the video. Maybe I should go check the lighting. Maybe
I should update my website. Maybe I should have a
cigarette. Maybe I should stop smoking so much. Maybe
I should buy my own pack instead of constantly
mooching off others. Maybe I will read one of the
letters at the vernissage ce soir. Mathieu Beauséjour
commands it. He's the boss. Maybe I should start
drinking.

-chris

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From: chris lloyd
Date: Fri May 27, 2005 10:33:32 AM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, galerie l'ecart
Subject: N.S. emergency officials worry rain could cause further flooding, evacuations, Nathalie Simard, sa victime, ne croit pas aux remords de Guy Cloutier

Cher Paul,

C'était une journée fou. Soir et matin aussi. Il y a
un vernissage chez le Centre d'exposition de Val-d'Or
a 17h. En route on passait sur un gros nuage qui
bloquait le soleil, un peu comme l'Apocolypse, à cause
d'un feu de forêt. Le vernissage c'était comme toutes
les vernissages, sauf que Sylvie lisait par un livre
tout le noms de personnes dans sa vie, un acte de
mémoire. Souper après. On a rencontré plus des
artistes, ecrivains, comissaires, comme Patrice et
André-Louis. On commençait de boire. À vingt heurres
un intervention de Gaétane Godbout dans un maison
abandonné sur la route 117, entre Rouyn-Noranda et
Val-d'Or. C'était un evenement plus étrange. Ma mot
favori a la moment: étrange. Un gar a recit un
histoire orale des chemins de fer. La maison est
située a côté d'un mine abandonné. Tout le petit ville
est abandonée, les rêves du gens, leur vies, perdu.
Beaucoup des installations et performances partout le
petit maison concernant cette issue; les tables du
jeu, le petit diapositifs de les années cinquante sur
la question: C"est quoi tes rêves? (les reponses:
vacance au Hawaii, avec "the golden people", l'avions,
les maisons, les familles, les appareils, les enfants,
les voitures, l?herbe, plein des choses. J'ai fumé le
pot et immédiatement j'avais pensée sur tout les
sujets: la vie, la politique, le vrai, le faux, les
arts, mon projet, le lignes entre tout, l?importance
d'événments quand les artistes rassembler, le
"critical mass". On regardaient les etoiles, pensant
sur la situation avec les mines, l'industrie, le
dépéndence, la pollution, la béauté. On a part pour un
petit bar dans le plus petit ville de Malartic, chez
De-De, et fermaient ça environs trois heurre. Je doit
parlais avec les policiers dans le rouelle devant le bar
après on a fumé un petit pipe avec les gars de Malartic.
Il marcheaient bien; aucun problem. Nous
avons dansé dans l'autoroute quelque fois dans le
rétourne au Rouyn-Noranda. Fait les photos, buvais
encore, rirant tout les temps, avec Olivier, Hérve,
Luis, Marie-Eve et Alexa, la femme qui faisait le
reponses live pour le démarche d'Olivier, "Appelez
pour l'aide", puis, dans mon sojourne au centre-ville
aujourd'hui, quand je suis en train de ajouter mes
affliches sur le poteaux j?ecoutais le band sonnaire
de Super-Man, puis les oiseaux, en grand nombre, comme
un croix entre Alfred Hitchcock et David Lynch, avec
le beaux temps, il faisait tres chaud, un ciel plein
bleu, tous les gens vivant sous le son des oiseaux
amplifié. On arrétait sur un lac et l?a traversé dans
un petit bateau, à un isle de chevres, où il y a un
petit abri comme chex le bébé Jesus, complét avec
foin, mais ni animeaux'peut être toutes dormait
encore—saufe que les deux canards qu'il a fait un
danse d'amour sur la lac comme glace, avec grâce, leur
becs touchait un peu, comme un baiser, ils parlent
doucement, nuagant ensemble, puis les humains
continuait de boire, brandy après du vin, finalement
un petit déjeuner "classic"—deux oeufs bacon—chez un
resto vrai chauffer, où Olivier mangait dans le
camionette parce qu'il arracheait en détacher
complétement vide ses pantalons sur les roches, on
rirant trop fort quand il a couru devant le camionette
passer à travers une banlieue. Je ne dorm pas encore,
malgre la journée a commence deja. C?était un 24
heures complètement fou. Mais, malgre les choses que
mes amis peuvent penser, a propos que mon supposons
"premier façon pour faire déplacer dans ma vie",
j'étais un bonne homme, je cache ma tête puis ma
coeur, je restais fidele.

Il faut que se soir j'enterrerai mes lettres et
plantant les fleurres. C'est mon dernier chance; mon
vernissage sera demain.

-chris
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From: chris lloyd
Date: Thu May 26, 2005 12:25:26 AM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, galerie l'ecart
Subject: Accused killer Robert Pickton facing 12 new first-degree murder charges, Nathalie Simard dépose une poursuite au civil contre Guy Cloutier

Cher Paul,

Je m?excuse pour mon letter d?hier. J?étais un peu
ivre. Dans cette état, il est impossible d?ecrire
bien. Mais j?ai plus que raconte; mon visite à la
banque nationale pour faire un encaissement de mon
cheque per dium, se passer bien, la guichetière a
téléphoné l?autre banque pour verifier si le funds est
laa; un chose normal, simple, facile, mais pour un
petit ville. À Montréal, ma proper banque voudrait
attender cinq jours avant encaisser.

La voyage à La Motte puis Amos étais super-bon.
Dansons dans la rue—parking lot—devant un eglise, avec
les enfants, les costumes bizarre, le performance de
Geneviève Crépeau, Il y a plein du soleil, les hot
dogs, et en roulant vers Amos, un petit ville avec un
seul grand rue centre-ville, voyant les petit trains
de Szkieve sur un pool table avec un performance
sonore, chez Billard L'Ad Hoc, puis un programme vidéo
quand j'ai vu encore le bon piece "bit plane", puis un
par d'Adad Hannah, puis Heavy Industries. En
rétournant à Rouyn j'ai bu un petit verre d'un
micro-organisme lactique, un part de la travail de
Danyèle Alain; il faut que je fasse un petit tourne
chez elle dans la petite roulotte pour faire un
échange.

Je suis mal au téte aujourd'hui, j'ai un gueule de
bois, j'ai dormi tard, je dormais pendant le voyage au
Ville-Marie, où nous avons rassemblé chez le salle
Augustin Chénier pour voir en ecoutant un performance
sonore de Jean-Pierre Aubé, qui d'amplifier la
pollution électromagnétique générée sur les lignes de
transmission électrique. Aujourd 'hui nous avons vu un
performance dans la rue par Olivier Choinière où
Superman, dans leur sous-vetements, a tombé de la ciel
sur la trottoir, s'il etait gravément blessé. Il y a
un affliche juste a côté avec un numero d'apppeller
pour aider. Mais un policier et une ambulance a arrivé
sur la scene après plusiers personnes ont passé sans
intéresse.

Je pensais encore de le tractation entre ma vie
d'amour, ma vie quotidienne, l'espace entre tous,
puis le clandestinité, les choses que je vais faire ce
soir, dans un heure ou deux, après un "midnight
snack", quand je vais enterrer toutes mes lettres à
toi et ton prédécesseur, dans le sol. J'espere que les
policiers ne sera pas passer quand je creuserai, comme
un "gravedigger".

-chris
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From: chris lloyd
Date: Wed May 25, 2005 1:23:25 AM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, galerie l'ecart
Subject: Liberal win in Labrador byelection gives ruling party some breathing room, Une des victimes de Guy Cloutier fait lever l'interdit de publication

Cher Paul,

Excuse moli maisz j'ai un peu ivre à ça moment. Je
vais tu rencontre tout mon travails dmain. Il faut que
je dorm ou buvant encore. Suffice t'à dire que le
prémier vernisaages a fait bon; le danseurs dans la
rue au motte, le petit trains à Amos, etc. Je ne pas
le pouvoir que rencontre plus maintenanrt. Sauf que
j'ai un nouvelle idée pour mon travail concernant un
pel et un rosarie que j'ai acheté chez Canadian Tire.
Je vais decrivé tous demain. Je besoin de dormir.

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Tue May 24, 2005 12:47:10 AM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, galerie l'ecart
Subject: Thousands brave wind and rain to be with Queen at party in Edmonton stadium, La visite royale s'est déroulée sous la pluie lundi à Edmonton

Cher Paul,

Comment ça va? J'ai passé une autre journée chez
l'écart. C?est comme mon deuzieme maison. Ou peut être
un maison de retraite pour artistes comme moi.
Pensera-tu d'une maison de retraite après ton séjour
chez vingt-quatre rue Sussex? L'automne et l'hiver
prochain ne serent pas loin maintenant.

Il fait un peu foid aujourd-hui. Je porte mes jeans.
Je reste à l'intérieur pendant la jour. J'ai un peu
faim. Je vais manger chez Ariane. Je achetais les
aliments à le supermarché samedi matin. Il faut que je
cuire un peu. Hier soir j'ai cuit une omelette pour
moi et Ani, une de les coloques d'Ariane. Ce matin
Ariane a fait les crépes pou tous.

Je n'encaisse pas deja mon cheque per dium. J'oubliais
que tout dans la ville est ferme aujourd'hui, à cause
de la fête d'Ollard. Je vais cherche pour une banque
nationale demain pour que fasse encaisser ça. Si il ne
marchera pas il faut que je fasse envoyer vers ma
banque à Dartmouth, Nouvelle-Écosse. (…)
Eh bien, trouve les façons ou ils sont.

J'ai ajouté deux nouvelles choses pour mon projet
d'ici. J?ai fait deux petites affiches puis je vais
montrer mon costume d'affaires sur un mur, un peu
comme Joseph Beuys. Je penserai encore de magie, les
choses un peu etrange, Twin Peaks, le nord, la lune
(il sera plein demain soir, je pense), les sorcières
que Sylvie cherche, les ourses, les originals, les
lignes entre le monde animaux et le monde humain, les
enterprises, les usines, l'argent, le pouvoir.

J'ai passé tout le soir sur mon ordinateur.
Prémierement j'ai fait le "chat" online avec Claudine.
Nous parlotions au sujet de sexe (mais oui!), le porn,
l'internet, déménegements, journées, Méxique, Las
Vegas, Marriage (tous droit, pas gaie), etc. Puis,
j'ai fait un grand mélange et nettoyage sur mon site
web. Tout c'est fraiche!

Je fatigué mais je pense que je vais travailler plus
sur mon site web. Regarde pour mon costume d'affairs
puis les affliches à toi et ton ennemi JC!

Encore, je suis un maniaque de travail!

-chris

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ouf!

ouf!
Originally uploaded by Chris Lloyd.

From: chris lloyd
Date: Sun May 22, 2005 11:43:13 PM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, galerie l'ecart
Subject: Queen to cut birthday cake, view giant spiders during visit to Alberta, La reine Elisabeth II ne craint pas les araignées géantes lors de sa visite 

Cher Paul,

C'est quoi ça? Après le vote plus serré dans le
chambre de communes, après le cirque de médias, après
le grand histoires entre le politique et l'amour,
après tout comme ça le nouvelles en deux langues
aujourd'hui consistent d'un reine et les araignées
géantes? Qu'est-ce que ça fait? C'est fou! Tabernac!

Moi, mes nouvelles d'aujourd'hui consistent de un
vidéo, un performance puis un rhume. Puis le plus
longue que je reste chez le galerie l'écart j'ai le
sens plus en plus d'un deja vu, que cette espace c'est
exactement comme le Khyber. Toutes les gens travail
fort, tout les temps, bénevole, pour seul et pour
nous, l'arts, c'est gentille.

J'ai completé mon vidéo ce soir, puis le performance
avec ton visage et les petit boules de papier. Cette
marche était plus rapidé que les avions.

Mais, maintenent je sens un peu mal, un peu congésté,
un peu mal à tête, mal à gorge. Je doit dormir plus
tot.

-chris

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A hard days work

paper airplane still
Originally uploaded by Chris Lloyd.

This is pretty much what I was doing today…

From: chris lloyd
Date: Sat May 21, 2005 11:14:28 PM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca, "galerie l'ecart"
Subject: Alberta mountain town abuzz with talk of the Queen's retreat, Bernard Lord est très déçu de la décision de Belinda Stronach

Cher Paul,

Il faut que Rouyn doit être un place de magie, parce
que, pour aucun raison, le pile de mon ordinateur
portable a commencé a marcher. Bizarre, non? Après un
mois puis je pense que le pile est mort, mais
maintenant il reprend ça vie.

J'ai dormi plus tard ce matin, jusque'à midi. J'ai
fait beaucoup des avions de papier après midi. Je
completerai maintenant le tache sur le visage de Jean
Chrétien. Demain je vais commmencer avec un visage de
toi, un bon photo que j'ai vu dans le premier page de
la Journal de Montréal hier. il dit : "ouf", dans les
même lettres qu'il a ecrit pour le côté "oui" vingt
ans plus tot.

Je mangerais avec Nathalie, Mathieu, Jean-Pierre et
Martin chez Abstracto, dans le centre-ville de Rouyn.
À cause de samedi soir il etait beaucoup des ados dans
les rues. Bizarre. Ils ont plus d'un vie de nuit que
moi, où presque tout mes amis.

Çette lettre sera court. Il faut que je travail encore
sur mon vidéo.

-chris

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From chris lloyd
Sent Friday, May 20, 2005 6:20 pm
To paul martin , paul martin
Cc MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca , cart" ')"> "galerie l'Zcart"
Subject » Tractor-trailer slams into bus on Alberta highway, killing four, Le gouvernement Martin aura probablementjusqu'à l'automne pour respirer

Cher Paul,

J'ai fait beaucoup pliantes de mes lettres, un an
complet deja (2001). J'ai plié beaucoup d'avions en
papier. En lançant les vers un photo de Jean Chrétien.
Je vais faire comme ça jusque'à le lettre de 12
decembre 2003; a cette moment, je vais changer mon
stratégie, et formera les petit bouts de les lettres
que restent et les lancerai vers un photo à toi. Comme
tu et les députées libéral puis néo démocrates a fait
hier soir, après les votes. Jolie hasard, non?
Il faut que je commence travail sur le vidéo. Je veux
faire les photos dans le rues de Rouyn avant le nuit.
Je besoin un douche aussi, je pense.

-chris
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sexy, nonsexy?

sexy-nonsexy
Originally uploaded by Chris Lloyd.

On a passé un petit resto bar en route à  Rouyn-Noranda. Est-ce que c'est sexy ou non-sexy? Je vais decider si je mangerai petit dejuener là .

From chris lloyd
Sent Friday, May 20, 2005 10:47 am
To paul martin , paul martin
Cc MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca , ecart@cablevision.qc.ca
Subject Fuel oil, gasoline, lettuce, help push inflation up to 2.4 per cent in April, L'audience sur la destitution de la juge Ruffo débute aujourd'hui

Cher Paul,

C'est le viex nouvelles maintenant, mais les journals d'aujourd 'hui ne sont pas pret encore, donc, félicitations ? tu et ton gouvernement. Tu as survivré. Tu triomphe. Tu est roi. Moi, je suis a Rouyn maintenant. bonne ville, mais je n'explore beaucoup deja. Il était un bon voyage hier, avec un petit gang d'artists dans un camionette pour sept personnes. On a écouté d'Anthony et les Johnsons (vraiment bon voix!), on a vu la paysage devniner un peu arride, plus plat, on a parlé en rirant en lirant en mangeant pendant la journée. Finalement, vers la fin de journée chez un resto au centre-ville de Rouyn, je sentai un peu null, un peu perdu dans traduction, comme tu veux. J'ai retire un peu tot, pas comme habituellement pour moi. Maintenenant il faut que je trouve mes choses et commencer l'installation. Je vais ecrire encore aujourd'hui plus tard. Claudine est un peu faché avec moi (pas grâvement) à cause de j'ai porté ta bouteille de Canadian Club; c'est la tienne, pas la mienne. Néanmoins, je vais boire ça. Il est neccessaire pour mon vidéo, pour me trouve le courage a faire l'art!

-chris
_______________________________________
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

From: chris lloyd
Date: Thu May 19, 2005 1:16:18 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: PMO negotiates with two more Tory MPs to miss vote, Un conservateur s'est fait offrir un siège au Sénat ou un poste diplomatique 

Dear Paul,

Tomorrow I leave for Rouyn in a seven-passenger van with Nathalie, one of the comissaires, and a few other artists in the show. I'll be there about a week and a half. I might have some other writers for you during that time, and I'll try to write when I can. I'll be busy making paper airplanes and spitballs out of the entirety of the project. I printed all 1474 pages today and they fit snugly in the Brown Suitcase of Art along with a suit, a shirt, a tie, some shoes, a bottle of glue and a bottle of Canadian Club. The only other art tools I am bringing is a video camera, a tripod, a digital still camera, some straws, a knife, a fork, a spoon, a bone folder and my computer. Sweet.

So how long do you expect the honeymoon with Belinda to last? I guess if the momentum helps you get through the confidence votes then who cares, right? I mean, where exactly is the loyalty in politics? Not that I'm a huge believer in partisan politics, but it sure seems that money is calling all the shots. Fucking money.

Anyway, I'd best finish packing and get my blog up to date. Know anyone who wants to look after a cat for a week or so? Free room and board, nice 3 1/2 apartment centrally-located in Montréal, high ceilings, two balconies, wood floors, loud fridge, perpetually running bathroom faucet, ceramic tiles lifting up in bathroom, ugly suspended ceiling in bathroom, no window in bathroom, weak water pressure in shower, oven not working… but overall a fun place. Give me a call if you or anyone you know (i.e. Peter Mackay?) needs a place to get away from it all. I'll be back the 30th.

I'm in a weird mood; I'm stressed and nervous about the coming week, I'm worried about my "performance", I'm anxious about my relationship …and I think that bothers us each a little, but we're going to stay the course … for her…I just want …but feel the need to be more financially stable before even getting close to that. And how the hell is that ever going to happen? This student loan is hanging over my head like a dead weight, and since I don't have a credit card I don't count as a "person" anymore. Hell, the MACM wouldn't let me experience the Janet Cardiff piece on Tuesday because I don't have a card. How humiliating! Fuckers.

-chris

PS now my videotron account is acting up those fuckers can take a long walk off a short pier, lame-ass greedy lazy fuckers.

From: chris lloyd
Date: Wed May 18, 2005 12:41:41 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Stronach shocks Ottawa by joining Grits, Stronach quitte le navire conservateur et devient ministre libérale 

Cher Paul,

Je ne suis pas dans mon assiette aujord 'hui. À cause de Claudine, qui a reveni chez elle à Tornto deja. C'etait un vraiment beaux séjour, mais trop court. Je extrêmement faché maintenant. Avec toi, parce que tu n'a jamais repondré à moi, puis avec ton gouvernement, parceque les jeus politique pour maintainer pouvoir me dérange. Avec Belinda Stronach. Avec CertaPay, qui a tenu deja mon argent pour Commons Service Group. Avec Banque National du Canada, qui a pris cent dollars de mon compte pour payer une très petit morceau de mon pret etudiante. Oui, bien sur j'ai le dit que j'aurais payer cette sum, mais donc pourquoi prendre de moi eux mêmes? Tabernac! Qui leur donne le pouvoir? Puis, je fache avec Videotron parceque mon connexion de l'internet ne marche pas bien. Puis surtout, je me fache moi-même, parceque je n'ai eu pas un carte de credit, que j'ai pas beaucoup d'argent, j'ai trop des choses que je doit faire et pas le temps; je sens que je suis un échec complet.

I'm pissed off at my own apathy, my lack of focus and direction in life, my indecisions…

Anyway, on a different note I received yet another rejection letter from you regarding my offer to become your official portrait painter. It seems that your left hand doesn't know what the right is doing; I had sent two packages to you, one to your Lasalle office, the other to Parliament Hill. I received one rejection in January. Now I have the following:

May 10, 2005

Dear Mr. Lloyd:

One behalf of the Right Honourable Paul Martin, we wish to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence of December 30 regarding your proposal to paint a portrait of the Prime Minister. I regret the delay in replying.

You may be assured that your proposal has been carefully reviewed. We have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your correspondence to the Honourable Scott Brison, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, within whose responsibilities this matter falls. We are certain the Minister will also appreciate the opportunity to consider your proposal.

Thank you for writing to the Prime Minister.

Yours Sincerely,

P. Monteith
Executive Correspondence Officer

So maybe my proposal has another chance? On vas voir. I'm going to bed,

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Mon May 16, 2005 5:57:22 PM America/Montreal
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca
Subject: Prime minister calls for civility; Conservatives call for election campaign, Martin lance un appel au calme tandis qu'Harper lance des publicités 

Cher Paul,

Hier soir j'ai allé chez Blue Dog bar sur
Saint-Laurent avec Claudine, Melissa, Eric et un de
tes amis Justin, pour un nuit "sans pantallons".
C'etait vraiment super fun, tous les gens avons dancé
dans leurs sous vetements.

Pendant la journée Claudine et moi … fait un video … puis cuisinant
avec mon petit barbeque. Les salmons que j'ai acheté
chez le Marché Jean Talon c'etait deliceuse.

Aujourd 'hui je travaillai lentement et avec peu de
difficulté. J'ai fait les reparations des desins de
fluers sur le dos de deux chaisses.

Maintenant je suis chez Centre St. Louis pour mon
cours. J'ai un peu fatigué. J'ai rencontré Claudine
sur St. Denis pour un petit mangé; elle vas rencontrer
Caroline pour souper ce soir. Après ça, on vas voir un
film chez moi …

Gotta go; class is about to start.

-chris

Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca

From: chris lloyd
Date: Sun May 15, 2005 3:36:25 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: First civil suit against Ottawa for native school abuse goes to Supreme Court, Propos du juge Robert: Le bâtonnier croit en l'impartialité des juges 

Cher Paul,

"Information within this email contains "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, goals, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward looking statements." Forward looking statements are based on expectations, estimates and projections at the time the statements are made that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those presently anticipated. Forward looking statements in this action may be identified through the use of words such as: "projects", "foresee", "expects", "estimates," "believes," "understands" "will," "part of: "anticipates," or that by statements indicating certain actions "may," "could," or "might" occur.

In compliance with Section 17(b), we disclose the holding of GBIC sHaiirs prior to the publication of this report. Be aware of an inherent conflict of interest resulting from such holdings due to our intent to profit from the liquidation of these sHaiirs. SHaiirs may be sold at any time, even after positive statements have been made regarding the above company. Since we own sHaiirs, there is an inherent conflict of interest in our statements and opinions. Readers of this publication are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and expectations involving various risks and uncertainties, that could cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward- looking statements.

Please be advised that nothing within this email shall constitute a solicitation or an invitation to get position in or sell any security mentioned herein. This newsletter is neither a registered investment advisor nor affiliated with any broker or dealer. This newsletter was paid $11400 from third party (TrIPromoConsult Report) to send this report. All statements made are our express opinion only and should be treated as such. We may own, take position and sell any securities mentioned at any time. This report includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may include terms as "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "move","undervalued" , "speculative target price" and "intend" or similar terms."

This was in the body of a junk email sent to me today that wants me to invest in a hair revival company. Like I have extra money to invest in anything! Student loans called me yesterday morning at 9AM. Just for that rude awakening I'm considering not paying them this week. Bastards. I've been thinking about how inherently wrong it is to charge interest on the costs of one's education. But I don't suppose you'd try anything as radical as issuing interest-free loans to students now, would you? Might put you in the same boat as Lincoln and Kennedy when they tried issuing debt-free currency, and look what happened to them.

The cleaning continues today. I had breakfast with Jen at 940 Mont Royal, after picking up Melissa's tripod. … I need the tripod for a series of 8-minute videos I am making. Made two today already, and when Claudine arrives we'll make another (heh-heh). Almost nothing thrills me more than finding an excuse to make porn and call it art. The anticipation is driving me nuts. She's on the 401 heading east at the moment. I've bought … finally try out the …over a year ago.

I'm back on the grid; my phone arrived from Calgary on Friday. That Anthea is on the ball.… last week.

OK, off to finish mopping, then dropping clothes off at the Used Goods drop off, then to get a few more groceries for tonight.

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Sat May 14, 2005 7:45:25 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Bombardier chooses Montreal area to build new aircraft; Ottawa pays $350M, Harper et Duceppe se montrent confiants de renverser le gouvernement Martin 

Cher Paul,

Aujourd 'hui c'est un journée de nettoyage. L'appartement, mes vetements, les vaisselles, la chat. Tout. Puis maintenant je rencontrais mon ami Karen pour un boire. Je vais ecrire plus après. Demain Claudine arrivera chez moi; j'excité!

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Thu May 12, 2005 11:59:47 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Prime minister calls Governor General amid demands for her to step in, Le Bloc et les conservateurs ferment les Communes en signe de contestation 

Cher Paul,

Voici mes devoirs en classe ce soir:

LE PRINTEMPS À MONTRÉAL

J’adore vraiment le printemps à montréal! Quand tous les neige a fondu le monde s’est transformé. Les couleurs tournent du bruns plats aux verts, les rouges, les jaunes et les bleus resplendissants. Quand le temps c’est beau tout le monde portent leurs beaux vêtements--en particulaire les femmes, avec leurs jupes courtes. Tout le monde portent des lumettes, on se promenant avec un haut style puis en buvant sur les nouvelles terrasses à coté des trottoirs. Tout le monde en regarde.

Moi, j’aime aussi le printemps parceque en ce temps je peux laisser mon chat dehors. Pendant l’été il y aura moins de poils dans mon appartement. Finalement, avec le commencement du printemps je peux faire un projet d’art quand je mets les grands morceaux de toilesdans les rues et trottoirs et crée avec une rouleau de peinture un dessin de la rue sur la toile. Cétait difficile à faire ça, avec cette méthode, durant l’hiver, surtout au Canada.

Voici un autre lettre par mon ami Ed:

From: edward deary
Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 19:49:50 –0700
To: chrislloyd@videotron.ca
Subject: Re: I must be suffering from shock.

dear pm,

what's going on?  Today I saw a political cartoon with your nose as long as a telephone wire…  DID YOU LIE ?   I can't believe that this is true, I'm thinking that you told someone else to do something impossible and that's what happened, you know what I'm saying.  You were like “we need more money” and your buddy was, like…  ok...  so he goes back to the office and digs around and *poof* there's some money and nobody asks questions and everything’s suppose to be hunky-dory. And then, years later, you know stuff comes out and people are like *whoa*; but I don't think it's such a big deal…  don't stress out about it.  You'll probably be fine, right?

Anyways, I didn't want to write to you today about the sponsorship thing, I wanted to talk about going to the gallery today.  It's ‘pay what you want’ on Thursdays. Maybe they have that were you live, and if you get blamed for all the money that SOMEHOW ended up in the Liberal pockets you might be looking for things to do for free. This might be hard for you so that's why I'm giving you the heads up on the free gallery night.  Because I bet you like the finer things in life and paintings are still pretty cool in my books.  Anyways so, like I was saying, I went to the gallery and looked at the paintings.  There was some girl drawing, you can do that.  Oh, I'm out of time on the computers at the library—something else that you might need to start doing.

-Ed.

From: chris lloyd
Date: Thu May 12, 2005 7:38:47 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Martin sets May 19 for confidence vote; opposition pushes for immediate vote, Martin offre un vote de confiance la semaine prochaine, l'opposition refuse 

dear pm,

I haven't been writing you like my good buddy CL has but not a day goes by when I don't think about all the things that I would write.  Some people pray to god, others go to psychics and others have imaginary friends - I like about what I would tell you, and I think it's pretty much the same.  psychics are probably the best bet out of these few examples of relationships that are anything but peer to peer—at least they talk to you (I know what you’re thinking: imaginary friends talk too, but hey, they don't to me, so there...)–but just the same I think about what I would say if we, let’s say, met for coffee in the morning… so here goes.

You know this sponsorship thing is sooo stupid—I mean shit how much money are we talking, a thousand here a few hundred thousand there— what's the big freaking deal? Who doesn't think that the government doesn't grease wheels (nobody)? I think Stephen Harper looks like a big jerk.  I would never vote for him after the stuff that he's pulled.  Maybe I don't get it - but I don't think that I'm in the minority - just ask some people the next time you go for your double americano from starbucks if they give a rats ass that you are sorta responsible for the misappropriation of funds run through an ad company—no, I don't think anybody really cares.  ‘Cause, like I said, don't people think that your doing that anyway?  And that big jerk Harper, running with it like that.  What a total jerk.  Canada is important to me, in the morning I wake up and think that god I'm in canada and not new york city with that old girlfriend of mine that kicked me out.  I'm still mad at her cause she dumped me 4 times.  I know that I should stick to what I'm talking about but—you know other things are more important than this sponsorship thing…  It's not so bad, you know.  She sent me a box of stuff that I had left at her house - in manhattan - stuff that I just thought that was in my apartment that burned up really good.  And I was like wow! the girls’ really come though for me ( this time ).  There was my favorite picture of my child dante— I was like wow!  and some drawing that he did that I don't think that I could have lived without—and some hand written receipt books that I had done when I was having a hard time letting go of this other women sara wiseman.  It's funny cause sara's phone number was in the stuff too—and ya, I think about talking to her now, calling her up and saying hi, it's me —and she'd be like HI,  OHMYGOD, Ed!  And I'd have some stories to tell—but I don't know—it was so hard to get over her—and I sorta tried to get rid of her phone number that's why it was in nyc, and not with me.  So it's not all good.  Now I'm think that I won’t call her, ‘cause you know, if it doesn't work out, it's better to let go…

So, it's going to be a summer election,  so what - it's not like all the shmucks that actually vote for you don't stop working in the summer and head up to the cottage on the lake and kick back, NO, they'll all be around to cast votes - so don't worry ( be happy ).

Well look, I should go, I've got to go get another coffee and, well, I'm still smoking cigarettes— and it's about that time already.  I don't smoke pot anymore ‘cause I can't seem to buy it.  I'm not going to admit to you how many times I've tried and got jammed out of my mom's money.  Ya, I don't suppose that happens to you—‘cause you’re like 'connected' I bet, but last Sunday I was like walking the allies and this guy comes up to me and he's like “what you looking for buddy” and I'm like “pot” “well how much do you want” and I'm like “a gram” —you know—and he's like “I don't really do that, it's more like quarters and eighths” so I run off to the bank and catch forty and he takes me to this building, which he's got keys to and says “hey you gotta wait down here - I can't take you up ‘cause he doesn't know you” and I'm like “sure, but you’re not going to rip me off are you?” and that was the last time I saw him, and those two crisp twenties.  I'm waiting outside, and after I smoke a cigarette I'm thinking he should be down by now - I should have waited around back - and then this cracked-out manager comes along and accuses me of waiting for drugs and I'm like “no - man I'm not waiting for some guy - I'm waiting on my girl” - and he's like “no - I saw you talking to a known drug dealer”.  Anyways, I’m now around the corner—thinking about how this sorta sucks and maybe now this'll learn me—when this native girl comes up and says “hey - are you waiting for drugs?” and then it sorta hits me: ooohh, I've been burned, and she says “does he have a baseball hat and walk sorta like this”, she swings her arms a bit like a guy and pushes her weight back and forth over her feet when she walks and I'm like “yeah, that's him” and she says,  “how much did you give him?” and then she laughs at me and says “you've been burned” and then she walks away and over her shoulder—walking all cocky—“don't you know the golden rule? don't let the money out of your hand until you see the product”.  Anyways it's all good because I don't need to be smoking pot, and you know I can just ask my brother for some money. billie owes me some money - maybe I should ask her.

Anyways paul,  you probably got lots to do today, so I should stop this (but fuck, really It's not like YOU'RE actually going to read this so, what the fuck I can go on for a little bit more—and indulge myself with talking like this half-educated moron that can't tell the difference between public and private.  You know, my dear friend CL got it—he understands the difference between public and private—you can see it in the letters he’s been writing—oh, I know, he writes a lot of stuff that doesn't have anything to do with the governing of Canada, but he's playing with that, you know what I mean. Me, I just go on tangents —willy nilly—and so I might start talking about the ridiculousness of the crisis of confidence over the gomery inquiry, and then I'm going on about my women problems and honestly I don't think that either you nor me can draw a clear and present relationship between the two. But like I said, your probably not going to read this anyways…

   I had this job with URban OUTfitters, and they unceremoniously let me go.  I just wasn't on next weeks schedule. Nobody wanted to talk about it, so I left half hour into my shift.  I was like - if you guys don't want me, I'm so out of here.  My buddy ben got me the job—you might know him through CL 's letters.   Well anyways, suppose it doesn't matter who he is, really, this is about me anyways, so like, he says “oh, you'll find something else that you like more.”  And I was like, “no, I loved the job; who  wouldn't want to sell clothes to girls?  YA!”  But it was like gathering around the fences and reading the list to see if you were in the little league team or not.  Shit.  So I left, I said unlock the door, I'm going home, that's all I said—and they didn't say a word.  Yeah, sooo, if you've got some civil service job that your having problems filling - I won't steal from you.

-Ed

>From: chris lloyd
>To: edward deary
>Subject: Re: I must be suffering from shock.
>Date: Wed, 11 May 2005 00:28:33 -0400
>
>Hi ed,
>
>say hi to ben and gen for me next time you see them. I'm not
>responding to your online friend request (just yet) because I'm
>already on Friendster and I think these things spawn junk mail. As
>for things, I'm as busy as always, planning to spend some time in TO
>and then a move to NB to kickstart that gallery.
>
>Hey would you like to write a few letters for me this week to the
>PM? If yes I'll send you the proper specs and addresses.
>
>Take care,
>
>-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Wed May 11, 2005 12:25:04 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Liberals defeated on ‘confidence’ vote - but they ignore the result; Liberal minority still standing but Tories declare Parliament "finished"; L'opposition retire sa confiance du gouvernement minoritaire de Paul Martin 

Cher Paul,

Qu'est qu'il passe maintenant? Après le vote de confiance se soir—ou peut étré non, sinon tu et tes Liberals ne le croient pas—est ce que possible pour faire le travail necessairement à gouvern? C'est difficile, non? Je pense que il y a trop jeus politique à chaque coté, avec tout les jouers.

Voici un lettre par Anthea:

Dear Paul,

Montreal was incredible of course.

Chris was a good host and indulged my obssession for fresh pasta from the market and a hunt for "chocolats de chloe" which turned out to be closed on lundi and mardi. too bad, they are truly exceptional. lunch at soupe soup was charming and I finished the rest of my portabello sandwich on the plane, surrounded by jealous onlookers. Chris forgot his telephone in the cab (disaster), and I was getting heatstroke because it was over 25 degrees in Montreal today, but I happily conducted a whole conversation with the driver in French.

Needless to say, you will not be able to reach Chris by phone for the next few days, but should you wish to reach me I might pickup. Maybe we could talk about your election platform on the visual arts and their value to our society? I think you could really run on it. The conservatives are such boors when it comes to their position, and in Alberta we have of course been denied any hope of increased funding under King Ralph.

Bye for now.

Puis, maintenant je te donne un example de mon cours français (oui, j'ai venu finalement, après un peu longue pause!). En voila, le dictée pour ce soir:

Mark Twain en Train

Mark Twain ecrivit beaucoup de romans et d'histoires humoristiques. D'ailleurs, il était connu de son vivant comme un des grands orateurs et humoristes de son temps. Il aimait reconter des histoires amusant aux sujets de ses aimies. L'histoire suivante était l'une de ses favourites. Il voyageait un jour avec un ami qui perdit son billet de chemin de fer et tout son argent. L'ami demandera donc à Mark Twain de payer son voyage. Mark Twain lui dit: "Je regrette mais j'ai très peu d'argent. Je ne crois pas que ce soit suffisant pour payer le deux voyages." L'ami s'attrista. "Cependant", dit Mark Twain, "tu peux monter dans le train avec moi et quand le controleur viendra vérifier les billets tu n'aura qu'à te cacher sons la banquette."

L'ami, ne pouvant rien faire d'autre, accepta. Plus tard, quand le controleur vint vérifier les billets, Mark Twain lui donna deux billets, ler sien et celui de son ami caché sous la banquette. Alors, Mark Twain dit à haute voix pour que tout le monde l'entendre: "Mon ami est très bizarre. Quand il voyage dans le train, il n'aime pas s'asseoir sur la banquette, il préfère se coucher dessous."

Ha-ha, vraiment drôle, non?

Et toi? Est-que tu vas cacher sous ta banquette chez parliament? Ou peut-étré tu préfere à jouer devant les banquettes. Mais, je pense que ton gouvernement avait presque banqueroute morale. Avec moi, dans quatre ans de plus à jouer chat et souris, si je ne payerai pas encore

j'aurai déclaré banqueroute sur mon prét étudiant.

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Tue May 10, 2005 2:55:38 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Four party leaders cool in close quarters during VE Day celebration, Conservateurs et bloquistes disent pouvoir renverser le gouvernement mardi

Dear Paul,

Do you really think curiosity is what kills cats? Oddly enough Kuan doesn't appear to want to go outside, even when I leave the door open. Do you think it is because she has been outside before, remembers the experience, and doesn't feel the need to repeat it?

I had a great weekend in Toronto, BTW. I trust you were getting my replacement letters from Melissa. She was also feeding Kuan on the weekend; I had forgotten to tell her that Eric's friends Justin and Kiki were also housesitting. Luckily there were no uncomfortable interruptions.

Klo and I had a fabulous time. The surprise worked flawlessly; I'd almost painted her room in its entirety by the time she arrived home from work on friday. I'd almost missed the bus the night before, due to the fact that I was speaking to her on the phone while simultaneously, secretly packing, and after catching the cab and picking up Elizabeth and going to the bus station and realizing that my wallet was still on the toilet in my bathroom. The cabbie amazingly got my home and back for an additional $10; normally that would be the charge 1 way.

The best laid plans of Mice… I couldn't sleep on the bus. A snoring Mexican kept me up. That and the uncomfortable seats. But Elizabeth and I split a companion fare so the cost for us each was $45. As good as a ride share.

I don't want to go on and on about the weekend, suffice to say it was as close to perfection in almost every regard (…) met up with the old Halifax / Khyber crowd (laughed my arse off with Swintak two days in a row), went to see some art, the opening of the Big Show, as well as two excellent video pieces, Christopher Flower at YYZ and Dan Graham at Power Plant*. We had great discussions about our relationship, the future, the past, (…)

Now I'm on my second night within a week with no sleep. Anthea and I stayed up last night, after I arrived back from TO, until 5 AM drinking beers and talking art, ARCs, books, clothes, a whole bunch of things. It was a bit surprising to see the sky get light; it didn't feel that late. Had an hours sleep, an hour snooze, then Eric picked me up. Last day in Rigaud; mostly we put furniture back into place, then prepped the spare bedroom. Hard to focus and concentrate. Still is.

Anthea made supper tonight; a simple yet elegant mix of veggies, fresh herbs and pasta, a very tight and controlled mission. Went on a three hour walk to and around the Mile End. I have the day off work tomorrow (we're in between jobs) so can sleep in a bit, catch up on some rest, maybe get to St. Leonard to make some frottage paintings for the show at Port-Maurice in January. Or maybe do my taxes. Or maybe write a nasty, nasty letter to the morons that work for the (most likely Evil) Acxsys Corporation who managed to screw up and delay and are most likely earning interest on the money transfer from France for the Commons Service Group anti-GATS insert. As Napoleon Dynamite would say: IDIOTS!

(…)

Why I am such a sucker for writing? I have a million books piled up in my bedroom, and when I am not reading I am writing. My whole Montréal trip, and indeed the Ottawa one, has been full of the kinds of elaborate narratives that seem to be as satisfying as what is actually going on. As I said to Mark in a postcard today, my favourite thing to do when I am on vacation is to pretend that I am at home; this city is intensely comfortable.

So, despite Chris' description about my dinner, "a...tight and controlled mission," I am in a really excessive mood today - meaning is abundant (corny!!) and as opposed to feeling guilty about sleeping in, eating too many croissants, drinking too much alcohol and coffee, spending too much on things, lecherously watching all the sexy Montréalers, and being overly reflective, I am in a perfect mood.

Right now too exhausted to type correctly or see screen.

-chris

(*more to come on this later; I'm thinking of writing a 'proper' art review, perhaps tomorrow.)

From: M Wheeler
Date: Sun May 8, 2005 7:13:41 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org, chrislloyd@videotron.ca
Subject: Sunday, oh Sunday

Hey Paul,

It's Sunday and I'm at work. There's nothing happening on the roads which I guess is good since regular broadcasting has been pre-empted by an Impact Soccer game. Instead of giving an update on traffic every 15 minutes, now it's about once every 50 minutes. Sundays are generally pretty quiet anyway.

So this week I have mucho to accomplish. I have to find a second job which is high on the priority list, send off a bunch of pitches to the various arts and culture publications I spill ink for, do some serious spring cleaning and go to yoga and the gym with Derek. Derek is a good friend of mine who has recently moved from Ottawa (where I used to live) to Montreal for love. Ahhh, so sweet. They've been re-doing their bathroom all week and today they went and bought new accessories like a soap dispensor and a shower curtain. Derek is a fiend for the gym and I'm trying to understand the appeal by going with him. I always want to go swimming when I see the pool but I never have my bathing suit with me.

So yeah, not much happening. It's a Sunday, and that's pretty much it.

Cheers,
Melissa

From Melissa Wheeler
Sent Saturday, May 7, 2005 9:09 am
To pm@pm.gc.ca , martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org , info@manifdart.org , chris lloyd
Subject Saturday Morning; wedding

Hey Paul;

I'm sorry I didn't write to you yesterday, but I went to Ottawa to take part in my cousin's wedding (how Canadian is that, starting with an apology!). I caught the bus at noon, met my parents for a quick bite to eat and we headed over to the officer's mess where the wedding was being held. The ceremony was non-traditional with all the guests standing for the short exchange of vows. My cousin and his new wife joked throughout it and at one point the priest actually had to ask them to be serious for the "I do"s. As part of the ceremony the priest turned to the guests and reminded us that we had a part in the sucess of the relationship of these two and I liked that. I'm not close with my cousins but there is much good will there. I sang "The very thought of you" by Billie Holiday as part of the ceremony and although I was nervous I pulled it off. My grandma and the bride's grandfather both read poems. Now I'm drinking coffee and reflecting on a conversation I had with my aunt, who I'm also not close with but there's also a lot of good will there. Chris and I threw an art exhibt at the start of April and my aunt asked about it, and my journalistic tendencies took over and I got her talking about an art workshop that she had been taking. I forget the name of the technique, Shin-something, but you use watercolours on plexi glass and then lay rice paper on that, and then put it on watercolour paper. I have no idea what it looks like, but it sounds like it could be very elegant. Then she got into the more personal stuff, the family encouragement and all that, but it was sincere and a nice boost. I went through a very serious break up about two months ago and occassionally tendrils of it will reach out and get me unexpectedly, and it made me feel safe to know that my family has got an eye on me even if it is from afar. My aunt and uncle brought me a story I had written in grade 3! It was about 80 percent emotional description and 20 percent detail. Ha ha ha! During that break up I got smacked in the face by the fact that boy-think is very different than girl-think, and seeing that story express girl-think at such a young age made me laugh. I haven't been following the Gomery inquiry lately because it's just a bunch of people forgetting details, but I know it must be stressful for you. I hope you can relax this weekend! Cheers,

Melissa

From Melissa Wheeler
Sent Thursday, May 5, 2005 10:36 pm
To pm@pm.gc.ca , martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org , info@manifdart.org , chris lloyd
Subject Dear PM par Melissa (Thursday May 5)

Dear Paul

So Chris and I are doing a little switcheroo today. Instead of trying to make you guess why Chris suddenly has a different tone, I thought I'd be upfront about it. I value honesty, you know? It's hard to find that in people these days. My name is Melissa Wheeler and I am a rookie journalist and an artist. This weekend I'm going to sing at my cousin's wedding. Today I have to go and get gifts and mother's day cards for my mom and Grandma. My Grandma has specifically told my mom that she wants to spend at least a half hour with me at the wedding. I've been going through some heart break? I'm sure you know what that's like, you seem to be in the midst of a potential break up yourself (or maybe it's just a bust up?)and she wants to pass along some wisdom, I'm sure. I'm the only granddaughter so I get spoiled by her. Sweet. I'll take advice any day from someone who has had a long life and learned many lessons. So last night I went over to Chris's place after my dance class got cancelled and we cooked stir fry and chatted about life. It's not often that Chris and I get to hang out and it's going to happen even less once he hauls ass to St. John. We walked from our neighbourhood to Mile End and had a beer and a coke at this packed pub. I love Montreal for the night life. People here are very social, and I dig it. Alright, enough of this. I haven't been feeling well lately and all I want to do is go to bed. I'm going to sleep with my fingers crossed so that I feel well when I get up tomorrow. Later,

Melissa

From: chris lloyd
Date: Thu May 5, 2005 9:34:25 PM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Guite says Martin and Manley knew of plan to guarantee business for ad firm, Le procès de Brault et Guité est reporté et l'ordonnance de non-publication est levée

Cher Paul,

(…)

Je hante le fin de semaine. Ce soir je vais aller à Toronto dans un autocar avec Elizabeth. Demain je vais peinturer la chambre de Claudine. Il sera un surpris. Ne dit pas avec lui.

Mes vaselles c'etait dans le évier pendant un semaine et demi. Hier soir Melissa a lavé. Nous avons mangé ensemble. Puis promenadant au Dieu du Ciel, mais Isabelle n'etait pas là.

Mardi j'ai vu le film Maison du diable (Amitiville Horror) avec Elizabeth. Il y etait un panne pendant le film. Tout le tour a plongé dans le noir. C'etait très cool, l'architecture, les escaliers, les gens avec leurs cellphone flashlights.

I know pretty much how that movie ends anyhow. The original was classier.

I'm in a rush, again. Je suis trop occupé. Encore.

I'll fill you in more sometime this weekend, though I'll probably be just as busy, if not busier. I've asked Melissa to write you a few times this weekend.

I've had great conversations about sex all this week, at work and with my girlfriends (I feel so gay referring to my female friends as 'girlfriends', but whatever), and of course at work with the guys. The conversations aren't all that different, though I'm seeing more clearly the different ways the sexes approach sex. (…)

Man, long distance relationships suck!

I talked to student loans again today. They'll reduce my monthly payments to $244 if I pay them $800 tout de suite. Hmmm. Otherwise the payments are $350, though the first few payments can count towards a reduced plan. I can't imagine doing this for the next decade.

(…)

-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Tue, 03 May 2005 07:18:51 -0400 (EDT)
To: paul martin , paul martin
Cc: MANIF d Art , art gallery calgary , chrislloyd@videotron.ca
Subject: Cabinet ministers ordered to reamin in Ottawa in case of non-confidence vote, Les conservateurs ont convenu de renverser le gouvernement

Dear Paul,
 
I can't write long. I cut my middle finger on a paint shard yesterday. Since I only type with that finger I'm pretty much useless. Had a busy day. Lots of prep. Was a bit late for class due to traffic on the eastbound 40. Class was a bit dull, but my instructor Jacques is funny and animated. Left a tad early to meet up with Elizabeth. We went for drinks at Le Petit Medley and she talked about turning my potential trip back to NB to start a gallery into a TV show. The weird thing is, I'm considering it.
 
Gotta go, late for work. I'm at Eric's right now. We're trying to figure out the whole transportation thing back and forth to Rigaud.
 
-chris

From: chris lloyd
Date: Mon May 2, 2005 6:11:25 AM America/Montreal
To: pm@pm.gc.ca, martin.P@parl.gc.ca
Cc: shepburn@artgallerycalgary.org, info@manifdart.org
Subject: Conservatives push for election, Liberals push back as Commons returns, Le 1er mai est assombri par les tensions entre Québec et les syndicats 

Cher Paul,

Je pense que le vernissage c'etait un grand sucess. La grand salle c'etait plein des gens. Musique live, un symphonie pour le cinq à sept, quand il etait un bar ouvert.

Mais les artistes ont bu gratuit tout le soir.

Patrice, l'artiste en face de moi, me donne un petit cadeux; un photo à toi, par le Journal de Québec, que il a plié. Il plier pour son metier, et moi je frotter pour mes outre peintures.

Kent a arrivé. Je lui parle en français seulement. Parce que j'etait ivre. J'ai joui passer le temps avec lui. J'ai partagé mes verres du bierres avec Jen. J'ai parlé avec quelque artistes. J'ai jué sur le trampoline.

Quand le bar c'etait vide tout le monde sont allé chez Rouge, surnommée Chez Diogène, cabaret cynique pour le Manif. Là j'ai rencontré Lucas, qui a conduiré de Toronto durant le jour. Nous avons dansé. J'ai flirté un peu avec les femmes.

(…)

Gotta go. Plan for tomorrow. Work. French classes start again tomorrow night. Elizabeth is visiting for a few nights. Apartment needs to be cleaned and the cat needs to be brushed.

I shouldn't have watched three hours of cartoons on TV tonight. It just makes me feel lazy.

It's exhausting to experience such a wide range of emotions in such a short period of time.

Am still listening to Cat Stevens: Where do the children play? It started at work, then I Limewired it last week.

-chris