2000:  The Creative Touch
2001:  To All My Estonian Readers
2002: An Elegant Sufficiency
2003:  Self-Esteem Saturday
2004:  A-hem!

FUNNY THE VLOG

"Toys for Tots"

Link is to .mov format.  Click here for flash.

Master list of links to (most) videos
by Mefeedia

MOTORCYCLE BARBIE

29 November 2005

There is nothing more satisfying than breaking long-held stereotypes, and one of the best way to break a stereotype is to attend the annual Toys for Tots rally in Sacramento.

I stumbled across this event several years ago when I went to the downtown mall to do some Christmas shopping and decided to get a little exercise by walking under the freeway to Old Sacramento and doing a turn through the tourist area and then back to the car.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Old Sacramento was filled with motorcycles and big burly leather-clad cyclists.  That's when I found out about the Toy Run, where anybody with a motorcycle in northern California is invited to meet up and bring toys to the capitol for underprivileged children.

I love the description from the Motorcycle Events web page:

Logistics of event:
Name: 29th Annual Sacramento Toy Run Date: November 27th, 2005
Cost: New unwrapped Toy & a $2.00 donation to help cover cost of hosting the event
Starting Location: Miller Park 2710 Ramp Way, Sacramento, Ca Pack ride leaves at noon from Miller park to front steps of State Capitol
Pre-Toy run party at Tequila Uglies Bar in Sacramento.
After Toy Run Party at The Roadhouse on Bell Ave in Sacramento
We will have vendors, radio stations, t.v. stations, pancake breakfast, and of course MR & MRS CLAUS IN THEIR SLEIGH
Thanks for your support

It sounds like a notice that would be sent out for the PTA about a pot luck supper, though I did like that part about having a pre-run party at "Tequila Uglies Bar"!

The event itself defies description.  Seeing all these guys that you would feel uncomfortable meeting on a dark night in a back alley somewhere, all tooling down the street with dolls and teddy bears strapped to the back of their bikes.

I spoke with one woman who has been doing this for 10 or more years and she says that even better than the teddy bears are the burly guys with Barbie dolls, because "every little girl should have a Barbie doll."  (I proved I'll never be a real "vlogger" because I was too uncomfortable to interview her on tape!)

Further breaking the stereotype was this guy I found, with his dog.

(I think this was taken outside Tequila Uglie's)

At noon, the group in Old Sacramento meets up with the group that has been waiting at Miller Park, and over the next hour or so, they parade up to the capitol to drop off their toys.

As I went back to the parking lot to get into my car, a group of cyclists passed nearby and gunned their motors.  The vibration was so strong that it set off the car alarms of several cars in the parking structure.  I got in my own car and headed off in the direction of the capitol.

My parking angel was with me because I was able to find one only parking space just a block away from the action, so I parked, grabbed my cameras and took off to take photos.

There were members of all branches of the service standing guard around this huge mountain of toys, and other members in camouflage gear accepting the gifts. 

There was music blaring (not Christmas music, but let's not quibble) and these tough looking guys taking each others' photos in front of the toys and on the Capitol steps.

It was just one gigantic feel-good event and I'm so happy I got a chance to witness it.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

This is only a small sampling--there are trucks nearby
to load the toys when the pile gets too high.

 
powered by Signmyguestbook.com

<--previous | next-->

Journal home | bio | cast | archive | links | awards | Flickr | Bev's Home Page