Author Archives: John Swinburn

The headlines from Aljazeera differ radically from those found on domestic news sites: “In Lebanon, petrol is now priced out of reach.” “A military coup shakes up Sudan.” “Sudanese gear up for nationwide protests against military coup.” “UN renews peacekeeping … Continue reading →

Several years ago—it must have been at least ten or twelve years ago—my late wife and I flew to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where we rented a car and embarked on an exploration of the wonders of the Land of Enchantment. … Continue reading →

I don’t think I ever got to sleep last night. All night, I felt like I could not breathe; could not catch my breath. Obviously, I got enough oxygen to keep me alive, but I felt like every breath was … Continue reading →

We drove to Danville, AR yesterday, where we met friends for lunch at a tiny Lao/Laotian restaurant called Vientiane Cafe. Our friends had suggested we meet “halfway” between their home and ours, in one of three towns: Russellville, Booneville, or … Continue reading →

The clock tells me it’s not yet 4:30 a.m., almost an hour after I finally gave up in my fight to breathe and sleep at the same time. Now, sitting upright, I can breathe through my nose again. An hour … Continue reading →

After yesterday’s almost summer-like temperatures, today’s high is forecast to reach only 73°F. The forecast calls for virtually no chance of rain. A light breeze should make the moderate temperatures feel cooler, by a degree or two, than the “real … Continue reading →

It doesn’t pay to get up at 4 in the morning, though it’s one of my favorite times of day. This morning, I awoke to the sound of whistling wind and loud wind-chimes, noises that triggered all manner of thoughts … Continue reading →

Reinventing oneself is not only possible, it is necessary. Reclaiming the fresh components of one’s ability to contribute to the world around us—those intellectual structures that led to the earliest evidence of our uniqueness—is vital. Reinvention need not involve trips … Continue reading →

Here it is, the day after my birthday. As always, I feel a little let down by it, as is always the case. They do not merit the anticipation they sew in the weeks and days leading up to them. … Continue reading →

Yesterday was too complex, too convoluted, too laced with stress and unexpected sharp left turns into the unknown to be a good day. But it had its moments. I do not condemn yesterday for its flaws. I appreciate the day … Continue reading →

Yesterday, my IC and I went for a walk by one of the area lakes. The clear blue sky and the crisp morning temperatures were the lures that got us lakeside. We weren’t the only ones on the level trail, … Continue reading →

The last several days have been strange, to say the least. After spending most of the day last Thursday waiting for the procedure to remove a kidney stone, I seemed to have plunged into a labyrinthine cage of delirium. Though … Continue reading →

The visit to the urologist to remove a kidney stone was not the quick and easy process I expected. An anticipated quick trip that would last no more than two hours turned into an all-day affair, beginning around 10:15 and … Continue reading →

The lyrics to a Loudon Wainwright song, Missing You, keep playing in my head. The first verse, and all that follow, tug at me, hard: He don’t stay out anymore No more coming in past four Most nights he turns … Continue reading →

On a few occasions in the recent past, I’ve noticed something moderately disturbing when I take aim at the toilet bowl and let loose with a stream of pee. Instead of witnessing the normal light yellow liquid depart my body … Continue reading →

Yesterday afternoon, I started feeling rather rotten; another bout of general discomfort similar to the same sensations from recent days, with the addition of pain in my stomach. But yesterday was measurably worse. By the time we were half-way into … Continue reading →

The room in the Double tree by Hilton is dark. I have been awake for quite some time; long enough to shower, shave, get dressed, and putter around in the dark while my IC sleeps. Hotel rooms, by and large, … Continue reading →

I’ve spent the last two hours attempting to clear my throat for just long enough to fall asleep in a chair. It hasn’t worked. Three hours hence, I have to be at my oncologist’s office for my periodic labs and … Continue reading →

I skimmed the news headlines this morning, hoping for something that would feed a positive mood. The positive motivator was missing from the headlines. In its place, the media reports on admittedly critical matters upon which the future of humanity … Continue reading →

I have never been so damn stopped up. It was as if my sinuses had been plugged with silicone, subsequently thoroughly dried. Ten minutes after getting upright, coughing furiously all the while, I am back to “normal.” The doctors, in … Continue reading →

A couple of days ago, a friend came to visit. During our conversations, it became apparent that many of our desires, with respect to places we might like to live, hinge on climate. Especially the tolerability (or lack thereof) of … Continue reading →

For reasons that do not matter for the purposes of what I’m writing here, I questioned whether I have ever been really depressed. Or even truly anxiety ridden. Or adequately denied forgiveness. And I questioned, and still do, whether I … Continue reading →

Not long ago, I started writing a poem. Well, it wasn’t really a poem; not a legitimate poem. It was moderately rhythmic evidence of psycho-absurdity. I shouldn’t even admit to writing it, much less to sharing the first two lines … Continue reading →

Yesterday’s late-ish breakfast consisted of a monstrous burrito, one for each of us, at Taqueria Queretaro, a larger-than-average taqueria in Bryan, Arkansas (where Benton ends and Bryan begins remains a mystery to me). After picking up my newly-repaired car from … Continue reading →

I got up about 7, extremely late for me. When I awoke around 4, I felt like I was ready to get up for the day, but my back bothered me a bit, so I decided to try to sleep … Continue reading →