Gandolf's Home Perch

"Hello!" Welcome to my Home Perch!

Hello! My name is Gandolf, and I am a yellow collared dwarf Macaw from the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador, South America. I was hatched on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1994, so as of today, I am old, but I hope to live another 50 to 80 years!

If you're wondering, my name came from an Old Viking book of proverbs called the "Havamál" which was written about 900 AD - Long before Tolkien was born!

To answer your next question: Yes, I can talk! (Can you fly?) I can say "Up", "Hi", "Hello", "Peekaboo", and "What are ya doin'?", and I like to give kisses, wave my foot, whistle, and sing in the shower! I also love to roll over and have my tummy and head scratched, but if you don't do it right, I might nip at your fingers!

Even though I am only about 15 inches long, I like to play and act like my bigger macaw cousins, although I am not quite as loud as my big blue and gold sister Eiki. I like to eat seeds, (sunflower seeds are my favorites!), nuts (especially pistacchio nuts!), peanuts, fruits, vegetables, breads, crackers (just DON'T call me "Polly"!!), eggs, cheese, meat, chicken, hamburgers, pizza, sweets, and just about anything else you humans eat (except chocolate, coffee and avocados, which are very dangerous for me!)

On the weekends I like to go out to parks or sailing at the lake with Dan. (We're in the same flock, but he just doesn't have as many pretty feathers as I do...) I also like to go shopping at Krogers or at the Mall, but I get so talkative and friendly with everyone, that I usually get us kicked out of places! During the week, I usually stay home and watch Sesame Street or the Discovery Channel on TV or sing along with the radio or tapes.

No matter where I go, I like to attract attention and be a celebrity. A few years ago, I was in the Rodney Crowell music video "Big Heart" which you might have seen on CMT or TNN. And I also got to co-star with the late Jim Varney ("Ernest" who says "Know what I mean, Vern?") in a film called "Blood, Friends, and Money". The film premiered here in Nashville on November 9, 1997 and again on November 13th at the Sinking Creek Film Festival. Please stop back here again later to see a video clip or picture of me from the movie with Jim Varney!

Section of a scene from the original filmscript "Blood, Friends and Money":

EXT. MARINER HOUSE - DAY For a seaman, it is any port in a storm. For THE OLD MARINER it is a quiet cabin nestled among the trees where he can remember the past without interruption. CUT TO: INT. MARINER'S HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON Subdued voices can be heard, but as yet not distinct enough to make out individual words. CAMERA MOVES slowly but deliberately past a small aquarium holding a single gold fish guarding, as it seems, a "deep diver and treasure chest". As WE CONTINUE into this "berth" in the woods, CAMERA PASSES a nautical map complete with course laid out. Nearby a simple wooden table contains compass, sextant and nautical knick knacks. They are owned by a lover of the sea, that is apparent, but whether they represent a vicarious or actual experience, we do not know. CAMERA COMES TO REST looking through the living room and into the kitchen. We are framing an older man who looks every bit the sea captain. He wears a captain's hat, clenches an old weather worn pipe in his teeth and is conversing with his friend of many years, a colorful Macaw known as GANDOLF. When people talk of him, and the stories are many, they call him THE OLD MARINER, to his face most call him "Captain" and few know his real name. We find him playing, talking and reminiscing with GANDOLF. THE OLD MARINER (to GANDOLF) Gandy, ...do you remember the sea now, bird? How it ruffled the feathers on the back of your neck... (Stroking feathers) GANDOLF Caaawkkk! THE OLD MARINER (continuing to GANDOLF) So you do now... Aye, it was long ago but I'll not be forgettin'. Salt and the spray, you callin' to the gulls circlin' overhead... GANDOLF Caaawkkk! THE OLD MARINER (continuing, laughing to himself) Do you remember that lassie with the golden hair? She had eyes dark as the night sky. Believe she took a fancy to you, me as well. The reverie is broken by the sound of a door opening and closing. CAMERA does not see who enters but THE OLD MARINER acknowledges the presence. THE OLD MARINER (continuing) Evenin' to ya, friend. A moment of strained silence passes. THE OLD MARINER (continuing) It's a fine night... the sort of night that makes a man's soul crave for adventure. It was a time ago, but it was on a night like this we set sail for the Aleutians. It was fair skies till the mornin' turned red on us... A sharp movement breaks the MARINER'S dialogue. THE OLD MARINER (continuing) But you'd be wantin' to know about the cabin. It's ready, as I said it'd be. Checking his OLD POCKETWATCH. THE OLD MARINER (continuing) It's about time for 'em... Copyright © 1996 by Tim Ormond (Used by permission of the author)