Franklin's TONIGHT!!!

Folks,
The days are closing in on me. I'm running around getting deet, fast drying pants, and last minute odds and ends. I'm not sure if I need a mosquito net or if I really need a travel backpack with a day pack with camel pouch. All these decisions. At this point, I just want to get there and ride.

I picked up the RickshawGrrlz T-shirts last night from Vertigo books. The shirts look outstanding. I'm so pleased with the design. Tonight is the Franklin's Fundraiser. The goal tonight is to reach $2,000. I think we are close. Through your generous support, Jen and I have collected little over $1,600. If we don't break $2,000. Its fine. But it would be really, really nice if we could.

Hope you all can make it out tonight. If not, pick up a t-shirt at either Vertigo Books in College Park or send me an email.

Much love,
Rickshaw Raj

Update on Donors List and Web Links

Sorry for the delay in updating the donor list.

A special shout-out to the peeps who have saved their pennies for me, those that have stopped by the cube to ask "Who should I make this check out to?", and to the people who always ask "Are we going to have another ice cream social?" Thank you so much.

Keep the love coming in. I've received so many cards with words of encouragement and love. I even received a picture of a baby to take with me to India. No worries, Molly. I will put the picture in a very safe spot on the Rickshaw.

Also, I've updated the links. Be sure to check out the www.brooklynbretta.com. It is way cool.

Much love,
Rickshaw Raj

Team RICKSHAW GRRLZ Sightings

Dear Friends,
I want to let you know of two exciting upcoming events to help raise money for Team Rickshaw Grrlz.

July 4th---Come see Rickshaw Raj at the Takoma Park 4th of July Parade. Parade starts at 10AM goes through the main drag of Takoma Park. Be sure to lookout for me as well as people passing out flyers and holding the money bucket. Bring a chair. Bring Sunscreen. And most importantly bring some change!!!

July 17th--- Franklin's in Hyattsville, MD has kindly agreed to host a Happy Hour fundraiser.
Check out their website at http://www.franklinsbrewery.com/. Be sure to mention Indian Relief Fund and 20% of your bill (pre tax) will go to Team Rickshaw Grrlz.

I'll be there starting at 6pm. There will be a raffle and t-shirts with the new logo specially designed by Jen's wonderful brother!!! He is a genius!

Be sure to bring a friend!

Also, I would like to give a special shout out to Mr. Joe Eaton of the Washington City Paper. He was so kind to do a little write up about the Rickshaw Grrlz on the paper's blog.

If you haven't seen it, check it out: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/index.php/2007/06/28/behold-the-autorickshaw/

Thank you to the latest donors. I'm sorry I haven't updated the list.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Much love,
Raj

Further adventures of the RickshawGrrlz

CRAP! I finally figure out how to freakin' post and I lose paragraphs worth of genius writing to a little think called "not pressing the save button." What ever!

Hey all, RickshawGrrl Jen here. It has been a while since anyone posted. Lots of stuff has happened. I haven't figured out posting pictures or links, so bear with me. My spelling is also on the creative side rather than the accurate side of things. Just sos y'all know ahead of time.

So. The good folks at Vespa Hartford (also known as my employers) recently had an open house. At said open house I drove folks around in the autorickshaw (also known as a tuk tuk), Avery gave out massages, and the store sold raffle tickets for prizes. All of the money all $254 it went toward this adventure. Wow. I was and continue to be flabbergasted (in a good way) at the generosity of folks when they hear of this adventure.

Check out the Vespa Hartford website www.vespahartford.com . We might just get around to posting pictures of the event.

Furthermore the tuk tuk that I've been driving around the parking lot in Plainville, CT is now a movie star. Yup, a movie star. Owen Wilson may very well have sat his ass in our tuk tuk. Contain yourself folks.

Here's the story. Wes Craven has made a movie called Darljeeng (again with the spelling), about three friends travelling across India by train. There was one scene in a tuk tuk that they did not get enough shots of. So instead of sending everyone back to India, they called us to see if they could rent ours for a few days. (The filming happened in Brooklyn)

"Sure," said we at the shop. "Hey, I've driven a moving truck through New York before." I innocently said. And the job was mine. Not sure I'd do it again, but heck, it was an adventure.

I braved thunderstorms, hail, fast moving trucks, interstate 95, New York drivers, all manner of construction, and the Triboro Bridge in a 16 foot moving truck.

Note to anyone crossing the Triboro Bridge in a 16 foot moving truck any time soon. It will cost you $9 to cross it, not $4.50. If you do not have the $9 in CASH you get to cross the Triboro, get off at the first exit, come back across the bridge and wait for them to bring you your license and registration (because they took it from you so you'd come back). THEN you get to search greater NYC for a functioning ATM with in spitting distance of a place where you can park a 16 foot truck with out squishing anyone. Once that is found you get to cross the bridge again in rush hour traffic.

Just in case any of you were thinking of crossing the Triboro Bridge in a 16 foot moving truck.

Regardless, the tuk tuk got delivered. Much thanks to Nick at Brooklynbretta for his navigational help, moral support, and assistance in getting the damn thing out of the truck. Check out his scooter shop. www.brooklynbretta.com .

TODAY will be devoted to finding my passport. As some of you know I recently moved. So who knows where it is. Raj will be accepting money on bets as to whether or not I find it, when I find it, and will I find it in time to go to India. This might be the hardest part of the whole trip.

Love and thanks to all who have contributed.

Oh snap!

Oh snap! It's been awhile since I've had a post. I finally got my prescription for malaria pills. Come to find out I'll be taking those for awhile. Two weeks before the trip, during the trip and two weeks after the trip.

I thought there was a shot!

Oh well.

Here are the latest donors:
Caitlin Corrigan
Julie Pelletier
Betsy Gordon
Jill Powell
Mary Jane Lenz

Thank you so much for your contributions. A double thank you to those who have left pennies on my chair at work. Thank you. Thank you. The Penny Pig is full!!! I repeat the Penny Pig is full!

I would also like to thank Maria McWilliams and Hazel Prado for donating gifts for the impending raffle. Ladies, you rock!

I wanted to give a special shout out to my boy, Joshua Martin Fischer, for sending me the best mailer I have ever seen. I'm touched for what you have done for me. I love you. And I hope to photograph the mailer to show everyone on this blog.

I have to run.
Much love,
Raj

A Penny for Your Thoughts or at Least to My Cause...

Josh sent this to me this morning.

"Penny collector Gene Sukie went to the bank and cashed in 10,000 pounds of pennies he had collected over 34 years, which were worth over $14,000. And, of course, I was in line behind him." -Tina Fey

I love Tina Fey.
Unbeknowst to me, Maria, my co-worker started the Penny Pig.

3 New gracious and wonderful donors that will be add to the list:

Tom and Arlene Evans
Kim Cobb
Ellen & Gerry Simmons

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

May Day May Day

Dear Friends:
I appreciate you clicking on this link to this blog. It's taken me some time to officially announce my race... not for presidency or congressional office but a race across India. I know you're saying uh?

A few months ago, my friend Jen was searching on the internet trying to locate sites on Indian scooters. This lead to the discovery of an autorickshaw charity race starting in Chennai and ending Mumbai. This charity raises funds to keep children in school and out of sweatshops and help villages in need. Jen immediately called and woke me from a dead sleep. Her reasoning this would be a great way to see India and, most importantly, to help. You know me. I'm not the type of person that sits on her hands. I told Jen drowsily, "Let's do it." Hence, Team RickshawGrrlz was formed! Of course, much later, Jen mentions the race is in August during monsoon season. HOT!

Each team from the race is assigned a village. It is our responsibility to help with the purchasing, delivering and dispersing of medical supplies, books and other items in the village. Along our journey, we will be stopping at each team's sponsored village to delivery the necessary supplies. This journey will take two weeks in the hot, humid climate. However, it will be an incredible and emotional adventure.

We would appreciate any help from you, our friend.

1. Change for change -- You know you have a jar of Penny's on top of fridge.
2. Dollars per Kilometer -- A total of 1921 km. 1191 Miles.
3. Words of Wisdom -- We'll be setting up a guest book but also feel free to leave comments on this blog.
4. A GPS device -- It's a girl's best friend. If you have one, could we borrow it?
   

Whatever you can contribute, will graciously be accepted and appreciated.

But what do you get out of all of this:

1. The knowledge that you are helping make a change in this world.
   
2. Your name on the Hall of Fame Donors List located on the left side of this blog.
3. Stories, images and, hopefully, video from the road on this blog.
4. Jen's heartfelt thanks.
   
5. My heartfelt thanks.

How do you get in touch with me? Well, some of you I work with. Others, please contact me via my email address.

I hope that I can arrange an online collection. But I'm not sure of the setup.

Please stay tune to this blog for further postings.
You can also read more about the trip or previous autorickshaw races on www.indianarc.com and click on Mumbai X-press!

Thank you very much!

All the best,
Raj & Jen
Team RickshawGrrlz