Another Christmas Story Part Three

Pig Writes

“You know that if I screw this up – you will be the one who will have Hell to pay”, the craftsman informed his wife.

It was decided to forgo the stars and stain on the toy box. It would look much better painted.

Over the next few days the craftsman toiled with wood putty and sandpaper.

The final product was smooth and soft to the touch.

Touching the wood with my fingers I could feel the love and devotion hard work makes.

Finally painted and finished the toy box looked good. It looked professional.

Only the person who crafted this work of art knew where his flaws were.

Yet one lingering question remained.

Would the toy box be good enough for the sister in law.

Christmas Eve had come. It was time to load the toy box in the sled and deliver it to the nephew.

Before the man and has wife could pull away I sneaked into the back of the truck. I wanted to see what the reactions would be. I wanted to see for myself what I had hoped would be a miracle.

The craftsman was on his way to meet his nephew. He would hold him in his arms for the first time. He would be able to show his nephew what he built for him.

In the driveway of the sister in law house, the craftsman unloaded the toy box from the truck. It was placed gently in the garage.

I watched from the rear window of the truck as the sister in law walked around inspecting the toy box.

It was the moment of truth.

She did not smile, she didn't so much as nod her head.

She gave her brother in law a halfhearted hug for all his effort. You could tell it was a fake.

The craftsman and his wife returned to the truck and we all drove home.

Along the way I had to ask a question I already knew the answer to. “Well, did she like it?”

The craftsman never said a word, his wife only said “Nope”.

Not another word was spoken the rest of the way home.

Part four: the conclusion of our story will posted on Christmas Eve.

Ride HARD or Stay Home.

Another Christmas Story

Another Christmas Story

Part One

Pig Writes.

Long, long ago there was a young man who had desires to be a woodworker.

He was creative. He learned many things from his father.

He learned how to use tools safely and how to care for them.

He learned his craft true and straight like the cuts he made into the wood he used. Better yet, like a true craftsman, he learned how to hide his mistakes.

The young man made all sorts of things, from wooden toys to shelves and even furniture. For he was good at his craft.

People from all around wanted him to build things for them.

But then one day, he put his tools down and stored them away. People had changed. They didn't want to pay him what he was owed for his services. They all seemed to take advantage of him for his craft.

The love of his craft was gone. The young man no longer enjoyed what he did.

That was many years ago.

Recently there was a birth of a nephew in the family and Christmas would soon arrive.

The man was asked by his wife to build a toy box for the new nephew as a Christmas present.

At first the man said “No!”. But his wife knew how to push his buttons to convince him to say “Yes”. The poor guy never stood a chance. Broken down and ashamed I heard him mutter “OK, I'll do it”.

He would agree to build a toy box for the new nephew, but not for the sister-in-law who could not bear to stand in the same room as him.

What was going through his mind at that moment, I would not know.

I wasn't sure as to why he would agree to build something his heart was not into.

I would learn why soon enough.

Ride HARD or Stay Home

Pig

Rainman Gets Arrested

Pig Writes:

Hey there Piglets, yes, yes, yes, it’s me again. I have a new update for you. Are you ready for this? Here we go. In my last post I told ya’ll how Rainman (in his age of wisdom) forgot to renew his Texas drivers’ license. And now it is time to tell you what happened at the DMV As ya’ll know, at the DMV they have state troopers hanging out in the back room. They wait for dumb butts who walk in with warrants on their records and try to renew their license. They also wait there for the ones who drive up with a expired license too. And since Rainman has been driving for the past few weeks on an expired license…

I wanted to go with him over to the DMV just to watch the show. You know the one; it is where the cop gives you the demonstration of how to properly apply his baton to the back of Rainman’s head. That happens just before he properly applies the handcuffs. Having personally been in that situation, I knew I would enjoy seeing it happen to Rainman for the first time.

Now I know what you all are thinking. “Shame on you Pig for wanting to see your best friend be treated like that.” Yeah, yeah, I know. But it’s like this, Rainman is always telling me to behave. He never wants to let me get into trouble. There is no fun in good behavior. And once, just once, I would like for him to see and feel what I go through. OK, now with that said, here we go.

That day I went to work with Rainman and at lunch time he would head over to the DMV. Along the way there, I convinced him to stop and get me some lunch since once he was arrested; I knew it would be a while til I get to eat again. When we got to the DMV I stayed out in the truck while he went inside. I could see through the window he would be waiting in line a while so I finished my burger.

When it was his turn, I went up to the glass to watch. I would have gone inside but the sign on the door said “No Pets”, I didn’t want to push my luck. Chewing on some now cold fries, I watched and waited for the state trooper to come out as Rainman went to the front counter. He handed the girl his expired license. Yeap, any minute now that cop will come out.

Instead the girl handed him the card back with another piece of paper to fill out. They must wait with the cop to give Rainman a chance to fill out the “What to do with the dead body” form.

Rainman walked over to another table and began to fill the form out. This was much better, that must be where they will arrest him, it is right in front of everyone there. It was perfect to make an example of him.

I waited, still no cop yet.

Then Rainman went over to another counter. Ahhh, so that’s where they will do it. He was greeted by a smiling lady. That’s a trick they use. They smile at you to make you feel at ease for the coming doom.

Wait for it…

Any minute now that cop will come busting out the door and smack him on the head. I was on pins and needles waiting.

Wait for it…

Now he is looking in something that looks like a microscope, he is still talking to her.

Now he is pulling out his wallet. Maybe he has to empty his pockets.

No, now he is handing her money, OMG he’s paying her off to stay out of jail. Wait a minute, that sure is a cheap payoff.

W.T.H. She just handed him back his license along with another piece of paper. He’s still smiling. Here he comes. But…, but…, where the cops?

“Come on Pig, we’re done here.” He said walking to the truck.

“Hey, what’s the deal here?” “Why weren’t you arrested in there?”

Pig, I tried to tell you before, I only needed to renew my license, Come on Dude, let’s go.”

Awe Man, where the fun in that?

May I Quote You On That.

Greetings to all my Piglets out there,

For today’s post I wanted to share with you a few twisted rambling thoughts. You already know how I love to write and to tell stories of my and Rainman’s adventures out there on the road. I also love to collect quotations and use them in some of my stories. Writers, enthusiasts and people of character will use quotations by famous people in their writing all the time. I, for one, have even used a few of my own quotes as well. No, it does not mean I have become famous yet, but one day I just might. Want to hear one of my soon to be famous quotes? Here goes: “I shall fear no beer.” - Pig Pretty cool, huh?

Do you have a favorite quote you like to use?

Quotes help enable the writer to get their point across by using people of authority to validate the written word. I find that it also makes the writing a little more interesting.

In the biker world, quotations can be used to describe many situations or circumstances we bikers may face at any particular time. Example: “If you could kick the person responsible for most of your troubles, you would not be able to sit down for six months.” – Unknown

We are the one responsible for our own situation. In order for me to fulfill that quote, well, to be honest, I would first have to pick my ass up off the floor from being kicked.

Quotes are great for describing things in regards to a particular journey in your story. Let’s try: “We cannot discover new oceans until we have the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Muriel Chen

That could replace my quote of “No bar is too far for this Pig.” – Pig

Sometime I get a little writers block and using a quote from someone famous can help lengthen short writings. Here is the long version. “Security is mostly superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

And now the shorter version “Famous last words of a biker – watch this.” – Unknown

Quotations can even be used to describe a person’s thoughts as they are doing something. Example: “The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man’s foot enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher.” – Thomas H. Huxley said the Pig as he climbed upon the top of the large vat of beer.

When you must take a stance with your feet planted firmly on the ground as serious action is about to take place you can use something like this: Peter Drucker once said “There is the risk you cannot afford to take, and there is the risk you cannot afford not to take.” Hey! We’re out of beer and Flaming Hot Cheetos – someone drive me down to the icehouse.

It's funny how some people quote themselves so much that they have become predictable. I know mom’s favorite quote has always been “If you don’t get in there and clean that room, I’ll beat you with a switch.” – Mom

Some quotes have the ability to remind you of what is important. I really like this next one. “The great tragedy of life is not death, but what dies inside of us while we live.” – Norman Cousins yeah, I can dig that.

I asked earlier if you have a favorite quote. What is it? I would love to know. Drop me a comment for all of us to enjoy. If I get some really good ones, I'll see if I can use them in my next story. Giving you full credit of course.

In closing I would like to leave you with a quote that I use on a regular basis. It is a great quote from a man who faced opposition everyday. But he had the courage to look past that opposition to see what wondrous prize was awaiting him on the other side. I keep this quote on a sticky note next to my keyboard to remind me to never give up, to never quit. That quote is:

“Great spirits will always encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds.” – Albert Einstein

Ride HARD or Stay Home

Pig

Pig Passion

Pig Passion

Pig Writes:

All this talk going around about passion has gotten me thinking. (Well actually it was after Rainman asked me to write a post on it) I never realized before how my passion runs deep for many things in my life. Call me a passionate pig if you will. It's like Rainman described in his previous post – having passion does give us the drive to strive in our lives. PASSION = MOTIVATION, it is what makes us who we are.

You all know that I have a real passion for BEER. Store bought, home brewed,even other peoples beer, it's all good! Oh my, my, that all grain elixir, carefully crafted and artistic finished is just heaven in a glass. And beer does so many wonderful things for me too. Beer teaches me how to dance with the ladies, it's been doing that for years. I've been known to cut a really cool rug or two when I've had a few beers.

Beer feeds me – there is nothing like an liquid all-grain diet. Don't believe me? Well then just take one look at my belly. Beer makes me grow tall, I've been known to grow as much as 6 feet tall and become bullet proof. Lets not forget that beer is always good with chili-dogs too. Last but not least, when you have a proper passion for beer, you always have good friends around.

Another passion I have is for single women. I've always enjoyed a soft woman who gives me lots of hugs and kisses. Nothing finer than a hot dame with lots of curves to make life interesting. 

 There is one problem with having all that passion for women. With all that loving, all they want (or expect) to do is get married. WRONG, STOP, NO WAY this Pig doesn't go there. Just get that idea out of your head.

Another passion I have is riding motorcycles (duh, biker pig). Hitting the open road with not a care in the world. There is always new adventure awaiting me over the next hilltop as I am always meeting new people – seeing places I have never seen before and I love returning to old favorites.

Do you know what else I have a passion for? Yeap, that's right, Cheetos. Man I love those things. I can eat them all day and all night if I had the chance too. Those crunchy little puffs of processed, bad for your health, addicting remnants of food particles all covered in powered cheese. Why the mere thought of spending time in jail and not being able to eat Cheetos all day is enough to make me behave myself.

Can one passion can fuel another passion completely unrelated? Oh you bet it can. With each adventure we discover we learn to grow

But what if someone has no passion? What is their particular drive? Well, to be honest, I don't see them having any drive. Without drive, you really have no purpose if life. Stuck living the boring life of a couch potato, watching that idiot box they call television, all the while wishing you had someone else lifestyle.

Lack of passion equals a lack of motivation to improve your quality of life. Having passion is important, it is good for the soul. You feed from it, grow from it. Passion can bring you joy in your life. But you have to be careful with passion. Too much passion for beer and those ladies I dance with become MARRIED ladies with pissed off husbands – with guns even. Too much passion can rob you of wealth or health as it can also be damaging to relationships in your life. So always remember you have to keep your passion balanced.

Yes, I am a beer drinking, hot women chasing, motorcycle riding, Cheetos eating oinker of a pig. Yeah, OK, so what if I go a little overboard sometimes. It only means that I have passion for those things and I try to live each day to its fullest. But, you know what? If I can make just one person laugh, or at least put a smile on their face during the day, then life is all worthwhile to me

Go do something passionate today.

Ride HARD or Stay Home

Pig