Author Archives: John Swinburn

About John Swinburn

"Love not what you are but what you may become."― Miguel de Cervantes

What the World Should Look Like

Posted on November 17, 2013 by John Swinburn

This is the view from our friends’ back deck.  This is what the world should look like.  Not a crush of cars, neon lights, and shiny steel.

Posted in Nature | 4 Comments

Poems I Want to Read

Posted on November 17, 2013 by John Swinburn

During a recent visit with a couple who hosted us on a trip to explore where we might want to live, I learned of a book of poetry I want to read.  I want to know; have you read it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Friendship, Poetry | 3 Comments

Will it Take a Village?

Posted on November 17, 2013 by John Swinburn

          The photos show what we saw on our most recent trip. We left Dallas early Wednesday morning, bound for Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Some generous friends had offered to host us as we explored the … Continue reading →

Posted in Housiing, Moving | 1 Comment

Mythic Meals

Posted on November 12, 2013 by John Swinburn

I don’t believe in Unicorns but I like the way they taste. The flesh is rainbow flavored, with proper salt and baste. Now Centaur is my favorite food, much muscle in their middles, more flavor than the Cheshire cat, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 4 Comments

Ownership Apostasy

Posted on November 12, 2013 by John Swinburn

A friend’s comment in an email message to me this morning started the wheels turning. He suggested the possibility that posts on one’s blogs or on Facebook might be like property. I tried to wrap my mind around it. That’s where … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | 3 Comments

Secrets

Posted on November 11, 2013 by John Swinburn

Secrets are secret; some things, you don’t even tell yourself. Pretend the life you live is satisfying and soulful and your wishes are dreams. Don’t ask yourself questions if you can’t bear the answers. Don’t break your own heart by … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 6 Comments

Coffee and Control

Posted on November 10, 2013 by John Swinburn

I was on my third cup of coffee this morning, two more than is typical for me these days, when it struck me. I have no issue with coffee.  But it was when I was drinking that third cup that … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy | 5 Comments

Foxy

Posted on November 9, 2013 by John Swinburn

When we were in Big Bend National Park a few weeks ago, this guy decided to rest next to the irrigation pipe (behind him), which was just below our balcony.  We took several photos with my wife’s phone; it’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 5 Comments

Molten Lava

Posted on November 8, 2013 by John Swinburn

A friend, who shares my passion for spicy food and good beer, sent me a message while he and his wife were away on a trip.  His message said something to the effect that “I found the hottest fuckin’ sauce; … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | 3 Comments

Private Message to Tom

Posted on November 7, 2013 by John Swinburn

OK, so I drove down and looked at the trailer.  I wish I had better news, but here’s my take on it. I think the following would be necessary to make this trailer habitable (it definitely is not habitable now): … Continue reading →

Posted in Housiing | 1 Comment

Population

Posted on November 6, 2013 by John Swinburn

According to some sources I found online (I don’t know if they’re reliable and don’t remember what they were), about 370.000 babies are born every day, worldwide.  And 155,000 people die every day, worldwide.  If those numbers are correct, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Population | 10 Comments

State of Being in Strange Streams of Consciousness

Posted on November 5, 2013 by John Swinburn

The good news: I sold the hammered dulcimer yesterday.  I got less than I paid for it in 1994, but we have more space in the house than before. I got a call yesterday morning from a woman who wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in Dreams, Food, Language | 3 Comments

Edible Apple

Posted on November 4, 2013 by John Swinburn

This morning I read a friend’s blog post in which she discusses some of the issues and questions under consideration as they think about where they want to live.  Coincidentally, we’ve been asking ourselves some of the same questions. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Happiness, Housiing, Where to Live | 1 Comment

Real Time, No Saving

Posted on November 3, 2013 by John Swinburn

We’ve stopped, at least for a while, tinkering with the natural order, relinquishing control of the passage of time back where it belongs, to the sun and the planets and the universe at large.  For a brief period, beginning today, … Continue reading →

Posted in Time | 4 Comments

Gouda Hash

Posted on November 2, 2013 by John Swinburn

Mike majored in belligerence and minored in hate, and took a course in loathing from a girl he used to date. He then went on to grad school to study poverty and sin but he didn’t want to finish, ’cause … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Poetry | 2 Comments

My Late Sister’s Birthday

Posted on November 2, 2013 by John Swinburn

Today, November 2, is my late sister’s birthday.  I pause to remember her, especially today, though I think of her often still.  It still catches me by surprise when I find myself thinking “I need to tell her about this,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Family | 2 Comments

Buttered Popcorn

Posted on November 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

In just 29 minutes, a transformation will take place.  November 1, at least in my neighborhood, will sink into the abyss of history.  The calendar will shift.  A new day will be born.  Life as we know it will change; … Continue reading →

Posted in Unwanted Furniture | 2 Comments

John Gorka and so forth…

Posted on November 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

John Gorka writes and sings the way I feel.  I only wish I had poetry coursing through my veins the way he does.  I admire creative people, people who can express emotions in ways us “common folk” can appreciate.  When … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Absolute Beauty

Posted on November 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

Sometimes, plans go haywire and the results are better than the plan. So it is today. We were going to head out-of-town on a “mission” to increase our knowledge about an area. Various circumstances stepped in to, first, delay the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 2 Comments

Musing About Photography

Posted on November 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

It occurs to me that, when I take photographs, particularly photographs in remarkably beautiful settings, my purpose is to seize the moment, to make it endure.  It is not just the image I want to capture, but the way it … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Painting, Photography | Leave a comment

Halloween Story

Posted on October 31, 2013 by John Swinburn

Halloween this year was a little different.  The doorbell rang only once, followed immediately by knocking and insistent shouts of  “trick or treat!” It was past 9:30 and decidedly dark; only a few lights were on in the house and … Continue reading →

Posted in Halloween | 5 Comments

Tacos and Dragons

Posted on October 31, 2013 by John Swinburn

Yesterday, we drove a couple of miles to one of the Hispanic markets (Supermercado El Rancho) where we sometimes buy fruits and vegetables and where I buy gallon cans of pickled jalapeños (jalapeños en escabeche). The prices there are generally … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | 9 Comments

Rage is the only reasonable response

Posted on October 30, 2013 by John Swinburn

This piece makes me so angry I could scream. I don’t begrudge the wealthy for their wealth, up to a point. But when it becomes clear that it’s ALL about their own wealth and the system within which they operate … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Poverty | Leave a comment

Urban Justice

Posted on October 30, 2013 by John Swinburn

I awoke at 4:30 a.m. this morning from a frightening dream,  my heart pounding. In the dream, I was trying to catch up to my wife, who was running, far ahead of me, with a crowd of other people toward doors … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Government, Housiing, Philosophy, Politics, Urban planning | 2 Comments

The Ripening

Posted on October 29, 2013 by John Swinburn

I have always thought of age-worry as vanity gone awry, narcissism twisted by irrational emotion.  It seemed to me that no one should agonize about reaching 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70.  When people fretted about reaching one … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging | 4 Comments