Monthly Archives: May 2013

Smoke

Posted on May 26, 2013 by John Swinburn

Today, finally, after months of delay and procrastinating about getting firewood, I will use my smoker.  I will smoke baby back ribs.  And they will be good. If I were honest about my doubts about my ability to build a … Continue reading →

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Breakout

Posted on May 22, 2013 by John Swinburn

This short story is fiction, but it’s based (very, very loosely) on real people who might…or might not…have bizarre fantasy lives. For many, many reasons, the names have been changed to protect those people. And myself. Mardina has spent much … Continue reading →

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House Repairs and Indian Slums

Posted on May 22, 2013 by John Swinburn

Week before last, I had the broken ceiling joist above the garage repaired. In the process, pieces of sheet rock broke off, leaving gaping holes and cracks in the garage ceiling. So, today, I have guys in to replace the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Change, Moving | 3 Comments

In Praise of Scallops

Posted on May 19, 2013 by John Swinburn

Last night, I cooked a dinner of seared sea scallops over wilted spinach and parmesan risotto.  It was the second or third time I’ve made the dish and my love for it has only grown with each time.  It is … Continue reading →

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West Texas Road Trip

Posted on May 18, 2013 by John Swinburn

It was a whirlwind trip, mostly driving with very little in the way of stopping to take pictures.  But taking pictures wasn’t really what it was about, anyway.  It was about giving my older brother an opportunity to get out … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Travel | Leave a comment

Couchsurfing Guests

Posted on May 11, 2013 by John Swinburn

Our visitors, couchsurfers, from New Zealand arrived on Thursday afternoon, having traveled on a big BMW motorcycle from Odessa, Texas where they stayed the night before.  The guy, Neil, had bought the motorcycle online some time ago, in preparation for … Continue reading →

Posted in Couch Surfing, Friendship | 3 Comments

Envy

Posted on May 8, 2013 by John Swinburn

I envy writers and sculptors.  Poets, especially.  Well, good ones. I don’t envy those whose ill-conceived and half-hearted attempts to communicate concepts and emotions simply spill spoiled ink on the page or shards of broken rock onto the ground. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Painting | Leave a comment

Twenty-One Hours

Posted on May 5, 2013 by John Swinburn

Twenty-one hours after I woke up, I’m still awake.  But not for long.  I’m ready to try to sleep…I hope I can.  Normally, after being up 21 hours, it would be no problem.  But early today I did something, I … Continue reading →

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Early Bird

Posted on May 5, 2013 by John Swinburn

For reasons unknown, I’d awakened at around 2:20 a.m.; wide awake with no chance of going back to sleep.  I futzed about for a while, then decided to go out for a middle-of-the-night breakfast. My wife is away for a … Continue reading →

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Shadows of Liberty

Posted on May 3, 2013 by John Swinburn

I try to avoid being manipulated.  I try to avoid being led by people whose leadership is geared toward advancing their own agendas, meant only to serve their own self interests. I try.  But I cannot always tell whether I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Television, Television series | 2 Comments

Don’t Wait for God

Posted on May 3, 2013 by John Swinburn

We all learn and appreciate and applaud important messages we read and hear.  But do they change our lives?  Do we change our behaviors because a message really hits home with us?  For some, yes.  For others, no.  Something I … Continue reading →

Posted in Love, Philosophy, Religion | 2 Comments

Memoir

Posted on May 2, 2013 by John Swinburn

It went something like this…but this is almost certainly not precisely what I read…”You are never too young, nor too old, to begin to write your memoir. But you will never be old enough to finish the last one.” I … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Philosophy | Leave a comment

Old Bones and Buddha and Searching for Home

Posted on May 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

One of my brothers lives in the country.  Not “in the country” on a manicured estate, not on a horse farm with beautifully painted barns and well-maintained pipe fences outlining lush fields of grass.  No, he lives in the country … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Philosophy, Serenity, Wisdom | 2 Comments