Wendy racked up phone bills calling vets and pet stores across Canada giving them info about their birds, hoping beyond reason that they’d show up somewhere. She also scoured newspaper and internet ads for parrots for sale.

Through one such ad she eventually found Rio – their green winged Macaw – though he was in very poor health. Sadly, despite the fact that his mate was left safely behind the night of the robbery, she ended up dying of shock and depression within a year at the loss of her companion.

During their agonizing search Wendy and Horst started receiving calls from people who had parrots and couldn’t or wouldn’t keep them any longer. Within weeks they had 15 birds of the parrot family in their care and serendipitously the World Parrot Refuge (WPR) was born.

My surprise visit with World Parrot Refuge residents Idaho and Stewie

Flash forward 18 years and the WPR is a burgeoning home to over 800 birds of at least 70 species, most of which are wild caught or 1st generation captive birds. “Right now I’m looking at an 11 month old African Grey who came in 3 weeks ago, a divorce situation, … for every bird I have here there’s a legitimate reason in the eyes of the people that bring them.” , remarks Huntbatch. Quite often refuge staff doesn’t even get forewarning, people just show up with birds in various states of health from as far as Nova Scotia in Canada, and Southern Florida in the US.

Located in Coombs BC, the refuge is a home for life for parrots. The staff and volunteers make every effort for it to be the best home the birds have known. With a floor area nearly half the size of a (European) soccer field, the facility’s 23000 square feet is adorned with tree branches, colourful toys and bells.

Lengthy life expectancies of parrots means that for at least the next 75 years Wendy and her team will be very busy providing for their flock.  Though they’re happy to do so, finances are an ongoing challenge. “The cost of supporting what ever it is you do is overwhelming… And without money we can’t do what we do… Everything has just become so difficult to do.”

But serendipity has struck again and help is in flight for Wendy’s birds. It started with a surprise recording session orchestrated by my friend Sora. On Oct 15th she and I recorded Wings In Flight a song that we’d co-written years ago. On Oct 18th my fiancé and I happened to be driving down the Alberni highway right past the WPR and decided to stop in. How amazingly auspicious that Wings In Flight is all about birds, and I’m a BIG bird lover. While at the WPR I was struck by the sense that our song is meant to help here. Upon my return from the trip I spoke with Sora about the concept. She agreed and plans for a WPR donation event began.

From January 16th to 30th Sora and I will donate 10% of net proceeds from each download purchase of our new single Wings In Flight to The World Parrot Refuge.

When I phoned Wendy to tell her the news she exclaimed, “I’m really excited about this, I think it’s amazing, and we can put that money towards outside flight for the birds.” Little did I know that she and her staff had been trying to raise funds to build 9 exterior flights for the refuge. “We wanted people to donate towards outside flight for the birds, so they could be outside in the summer and ‘Give them wings’ was the slogan…They need all the daylight they can get to so that their bodies can metabolize vitamins A and D from their food.”

You can help give wings to over 800 birds by purchasing a download of Wings In Flight between January 16th and 30th. Just before hanging up Wendy said, “The title of the song is so perfect too…It’s really meant to be isn’t it.” I feel she’s right. Event details are at worldparrotrefuge.org. Wings In Flight is available for 99 cents at iTunes and CD Baby.

© Cindy O’Neil
Published in January 2012
edition of Walden Today

Want to publish this article?  Please email for permission of use.

Dec 7-8, 2011 © Cindy O’Neil

This piece came to me as I created my team page in preparation for the June 10, 2012 Walk to Fight Arthritis.

Dec 29, 2011 Edition of Northern Life

When you’re lyin’ awake at night,
The fridge is hummin’ like it’s on overtime.
Moments are hours dragging painfully along,
And your eyes won’t close

Can’t seem to shut it down.
Mind machine keeps goin round.
Sandman have you left the neighbourhood?
Hot milk, hot bath, cup o’ chamomile,
Any one would be so good.

When you’re lyin’ awake at night,
There’s not a single person you can call.
The crossword puzzle’s long since done.
And your eyes won’t close

When you’re lyin’ awake at night,
The book you’re reading ain’t boring enough.
It’s 4:23 in the morning,
And your eyes won’t close.

Can’t seem to shut it down.
Mind machine keeps goin round.
Sandman have you left the neighbourhood?
Hot milk, hot bath, cup o’ chamomile,
Any one would be so good.

Lyrics: Cindy O’Neil, Music: Cindy O’Neil/Derek Stoll
©1997 All rights reserved

Dec 27, 2011
I felt like sharing this piece today because these past few weeks insomnia has crept in most every night and I’ve found myself humming the tune.
Though it’s not a commercial radio track at all, I included this song on my Flight album. The chorus has a great little groove to it that I love singing.
Anyone who’s ever had to battle insomnia knows the angst within this tune.

sleep well,
Cindy

When I contacted the photographer Gig Laurin to ask permission to post the picture on my website, she commented,

“Because I am also an artist I found this photo mysteriously haunting and beautiful. I may someday make it come to life in an acrylic painting. …It saddens me to think that some of our society has a total disrespect for the environment.”

That was exactly how I felt about her photo. She captured that mysteriously haunting essence perfectly don’t you think?

 2 Points of View

I don’t know what happened
I don’t think I did anything wrong
I was left in the rain and started to stain
Now I’m somewhere I don’t belong

When I was fresh and shiny
We’d go for rides all over town
But as my tires wore I became a bore
Then they threw me here to drown

The little ones who see me
Feel as distraught as I do
They point and ask why as they walk by
To the big ones I’m just a thing someone outgrew

We see you through our reflection
We’re aching to pull you out
But despite deep roots and strength
Our limber branches can’t reach that length

We can only sway in quiet vigilance
Over your tiny frame
Graciously bearing inevitable harm
Seems that only we hear the silent alarm

Your paint taints our water with poisons
Rubber and vinyl degrade our soil
Unseen venoms, into the blood they seep
In days to come more than we will weep

I don’t know if the little bike still lies at the bottom of that creek. I’ll have to find out somehow. Hopefully someone has exhumed it from the waters.

best to you,

Cindy
Dec 7, 2011

Dec 11/11
Closing comments, tired of spam. Many thanks to those who have connected in genuine interest about the topic of this post.

Thank you so much to all of you who joined Sora and I on our chat this afternoon. Hi to Joy in Iowa, Nigel in NZ, Blair in Calgary and Sean, Daniel…

We had some tech difficulties off the top, but worked them all out to have a fantastic cyber visit with new friends and fans.

So at last, this is the cover art for Wings In Flight. Unveiled for all to view. Adrea Whirl is the girl with the vision behind this lovely image. We just got the jpg yesterday.

Last night I sent Wings In Flight off to CD Baby, where it will be available within the next week or so. Look for it on iTunes too!

I’ll have an update for you as soon as we know it’s live for purchase from iTunes or CD Baby.

lots of light,

Cindy

Dec 13/11
Closing comments, tired of spam. Many thanks to those who have connected in genuine interest about the topic of this post.

Trying to figure out where she could get such a large quantity of outer milk bags, Parry went to her daughter for ideas. The result was a mass collection by Miss McLaughlin’s grade 4 class which provided Parry with a whopping 5000 bags. Since October 2010 Mrs Parry has made more than 26 sleeping mats measuring 30” by 48” in size. No small feat considering she has osteoarthritis and it takes 30 hours to crochet one and nearly as many to prep the materials.

Lizzy the cat lounges on one of the sleeping mats Mirja Parry made for children in Haiti

She’s been a busy lady, washing the outer bags, cutting them into strips then looping them together into a colourful plastic chain which is rolled into a large yarn like ball. Once crocheted together the mats get sent to Barrie ON, then trucked to Nova Scotia where they are shipped to Haiti to be sent anywhere child sized sleeping mats are needed. Being plastic, the multi-coloured dream weavers are bug, water, UVA and UVB resistant. The well travelled mats keep kids from bedding directly on the ground.

Parry was saddened when she learned that a cholera outbreak in Haiti resulted in the first batch of mats having to be burned to prevent the spread of the disease. The outbreak began late Oct 2010 spreading to all 10 Haiti departments/provinces. By Mar 2011 well over 250 thousand cases were reported and more than 4000 people had died. The news only strengthened her choice to hand craft more sweet dreams for children abroad.

Should you decide to pay it forward and make a sleeping mat there are 2 sizes to choose from – adult and child. You’ll need 250 bags to make an adult mat. For a list of materials and more details visit this Kijiji ad posted from Barrie ON Ad ID 166621742. From there you can email Rachel Sauvé to get a pattern. One tip to get you started, Parry recommends using a #9 crochet hook.

© Cindy O’Neil
Published in November 2011
edition of Walden Today

Want to quote this article?  Please email for permission of use.

Dec 13/11
Closing comments, tired of spam. Many thanks to those who have connected in genuine interest about the topic of this post.

It was all very exciting and mysterious, and I loved it because I was travelling with my fiancé who had been planning this adventure for many weeks. We landed in Calgary AB so my initial thought was that we were going to Banff – I was way wrong.

We hopped in a rental car and he drove around for a bit – partly to kill time and partly to confuse me. Then he took me to my friend Sora’s house and said “Surprise!” It had been almost 4 years since I’d last seen her, I was pretty thrilled. We went in and visited, I kept saying “I can’t believe I’m here.” After a bit they say that we have to go somewhere so off I went on another mysterious car ride.

Turn here, take this exit, go left at the 3rd street, my fiancé followed Sora’s directions while I yapped away about whatever. “Ok this is good, park right here.” she says. He turns the engine off and they both look at each other saying, “Should we tell her now?”

Unbeknownst to me they had been planning a recording session for Wings In Flight – Sora and I had co-written the music for it years ago. They secretly arranged the whole thing. Sora took care of all the music, studio and session details.

photo credit: Keven Fedirko 2011

When we walked into The Station Recording Company producers Craig and Spencer had everything fired up and ready to go. I’m rarely at a loss for words, but between half laughing and half crying, I could hardly speak from the excitement.

Adding to the amazement was the fact that I hadn’t sung since 2008 and certainly didn’t expect to be doing a recording session that day. Thanks to the love of my life and my dear friend a long awaited dream was in process. It was an absolutely super surprise!.

photo credit: Keven Fedirko 2011

Here’s a clip of  Wings In Flight

We don’t have a release date yet, that’s all in the works. Please stay tuned…..

Dec 13/11
Closing comments, tired of spam. Many thanks to those who have connected in genuine interest about the topic of this post.

As I opened the passenger side door my love said, “Hey do you see what’s in this truck?” I had glanced at the white pick-up as we parked beside it, but hadn’t fully registered what the objects in the back of it were. The aroma of cedar enveloped me as I stepped out of the car. “Wow”, I blurted taking in what looked like a wild life safari. An eagle peered over its shoulder at me as if to say “Move and you’re lunch.” There was a heron, fish, a bear and an owl – all carved from cedar.

I grab my camera and start snapping like a tourist while people inside gaze out the window at this strange couple dodging traffic in the parking lot. Soon enough, a woman  (wearing a fantastic green and white patterned sweater) is walking towards us saying something about the carvings. We all start chatting and she – Wenona – tells us that none of the pieces have been seasoned with oil yet and that they’re carved with a chainsaw. Even rough cut, the detail in every piece made my love and I say “Holy cow!” in unison. “How can we fit that eagle in our luggage?” he said with a look in his eye that showed he was mentally calculating the size and weight of the stately bird. “That little owl is calling me and would be much easier to pack”, I said.

Next thing we knew two delivery guys walk up and start checking out all the carvings. One of them likes the bear and the other wants the owl. “The owl is sold”, I blurted just as Wenona began to answer his question of how much. “I’ll even wrestle ya for it if I have to”. Luckily the guy liked the bear carving enough that we didn’t have to dicker or wrestle.

Wenona and her husband Earl like to play with power tools. A chainsaw isn’t your classic carving tool, but the British Columbia couple definitely know how to use chainsaw power in a playful artistic way.Their craft certainly isn’t something to recommend for the average person. Together they are the creators of Real Custom Wood Carvings. Their daughter-in-law Stephanie has just set up a Facebook page to share the chainsaw carvings with the world. Other than by happen chance in the back of their pick-up truck, the Facebook page is the only place you can find their splendid carvings.

My love and I have since returned from our trip. Our little owl has been given a roost in our home where she can be seen from anywhere we sit. Each time I look at her I’m tickled by the marvel of how she landed in our lives.  Who would ever think you could find quality Canadian chainsaw crafted art in a Tim Hortons parking lot.

Funded by the Federal Government to the tune of $1 billion a year (1), CBC takes a lot of heat from taxpayers. At least the money going into the CBC is serving the country in many and useful ways (jobs in our music/film/TV production industry, broadcasting Canadian music/arts, culture, etc), unlike the money that went into the smart meters that have been installed in Ontario homes. That money has been touted as an investment in Canada, to help us save money, resources and, as Premier McGuinty says, “…enjoy good quality lives…”

Ok I’ll stop nattering and get to the point at hand. As a grid-tied lay-person consumer – which most of us are – I’m curious about energy supply. It seems to me that there may be some short circuiting in this smart meter plan.

Crossed Currents:

As of June 2009 one million smart meters had been installed in the homes and businesses of Hydro One Networks and Hydro One Brampton (installations started in 2006). That number has now increased to over 2 million.

The idea being put forward is that smart meters will be an ally to ratepayers by way of savings in system costs, a.k.a meter reading. For example in 2008 Hydro Ottawa saved $200,000, for Toronto Hydro the estimated meter reading saving was to be $2.5 million by the end of 2010.  Meter usage is now transmitted via wireless or another form of technology which means reducing bodies needed to read meters manually. This equals more job loss in a time when there is much pressure on government to create jobs and offer job training. Even if meter reading jobs were entry-level non-skilled positions, they’re jobs. Hydro One has a huge service territory, how many of their rate paying readers are losing their jobs to smart meters? Job losses create far reaching impact for families, communities, economy and government. We have yet to see or experience how this is of benefit to ratepayers.

On informational materials about the new meters and time-of-use (TOU) prices, Hydro One frequently uses the phrase management tools. We’re told that they’re “Giving our customers the tools to make smart energy use decisions…” TOU rates provide financial incentive for people to shift some electricity usage from on-peak periods to off-peak periods. If enough people make shifts won’t peak periods be extended, indeed, created due to TOU rates? If many thousands of consumers start their dishwashers and clothes dryers at 10pm instead of at 6pm, then wouldn’t peak periods only be shifted to a new time slot?

Modern families are already sufficiently disjointed and challenged when it comes to household routines and family time. Terms such as real time and low demand times don’t mean much to an exhausted parent who gets home from work at 6 pm and immediately starts making dinner in hopes of the family eating together by 7pm so that they can squeeze in some time with their children and spouse before bed time. With kids in a household who’s going to do their laundry between 10pm and 6am on a weekday?

Residential customers and small businesses are considered low volume users yet we’re targeted as the major cause of the energy problem and integral part of the solution. What about major corporations with multiple locations; Wal-Mart, Toyota Canada, et al. According to the FAQ page on the Ministry of Energy website, TOU rates only apply to low volume users.

The fact that electricity costs the most when demand is highest is a beacon that hasn’t been flashed enough for most consumers to register. Yes it is important for everyone to think about how and when they use electricity. With generating plants sitting on standby and operating infrequently the financial and environmental costs must be crushing.

Being harsh on the environment and the less attractive form of generation will hopefully be cause enough for generating plants to make way for more ecological forms of electricity production. According to the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario), Canadians generate more garbage per capita than any one else in the developed world (2).  Our supply of garbage is surely more than our demand for electricity. Perhaps biomass would be a more attractive form of generation? Would the start-up costs be in the same range as the 1.5 billion (3) for the cost of smart meters in Ontario alone? With at least two landfill bioenergy plants already in operation (Ottawa, Guelph) the spark has been lit. Could biomass from landfills become one of the most powerful ways to help Ontario (or Canada) reach its green potential?

The Government of Ontario encourages consumers to think about how and when we use electricity. The smart meter is a tool for us to do so. Why don’t they focus on tools to manage their electric corporation properly and make “smart decisions” about facility and fund management? Doing so would have avoided a bankruptcy that customers have to pay for without choice. Now how the heck does that happen? If a consumer’s corporation goes bust they’re not entitled to restructure, change their name, and charge all of their customers a Debt Retirement Charge because they’re using the facilities that were financed by their debt. Yes we use the “facilities” but we aren’t the ones who borrowed the money or mismanaged the money and facilities.  Hydro One, formerly Ontario Hydro is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario. The Province should take the biomass approach – bury the debt until it converts into biogas, then charge consumers to use it.

Question Period:

Dear Premier McGuinty
Cc: Prime Minister Harper

If you would please take a few moments to answer these timely questions, I and many other Canadians would be most grateful.

In which country are the smart meters made?

How much of the $1.5 billion spent on smart meters, was spent in province and in Canada?

How many jobs have been created, and in what sectors, in Ontario due to smart meter implementation?

Why are Ontario citizens made to pay down $7.8 billion on a $20.6 billion dollar (4) debt that Ontario Hydro incurred prior to the “restructuring” in 1999?

Do major corporations and manufacturers pay the DRC?

Will the money that Hydro One saves on cost of power and system costs as a result of smart meters, be put toward the bankruptcy blunder and eliminate the (DRC) fee that consumers are forced to pay every billing period?

What TOU rates do major corporations and manufacturers (high volume users) pay?

I/we appreciate your attention to these matters.
Thank you kindly,
Cindy O’Neil
Curious Consumer

While I await their response I’ll make myself comfortable, turn off the lights, and tune into CBC Radio. Listen to that, another Canadian musician.

Sources:

1 CBC Radio Canada Annual Report 2009-2010
2 AMO Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Heap Of Trouble
3 quote from Andrea Horwath, Provincial NDP Leader, Dec 9, 2010 issue of Northern Life
4 Ontario Ministry of Energy