Category Archives: Cars

Cars Bite

Posted on October 2, 2019 by John Swinburn

The Subaru had its 60K maintenance yesterday, along with new brake pads. I feel confident I could have purchased a serviceable used car for what we paid to keep the four-year-old vehicle operating as intended. Except there’s this one thing… … Continue reading →

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The Wind in My Hair

Posted on July 31, 2019 by John Swinburn

Despite what I said yesterday while waiting for the Toyota dealership to reattach the front undercarrriage shield on the Camry, I may decide to get rid of the beast. The reason is this: according to the service advisor and the … Continue reading →

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Of Words and Weather and Automotive Maturation

Posted on August 1, 2018 by John Swinburn

Uncharacteristically cool temperatures for late July and early August give me hope. Soul-crushing hot weather tends to sear despair into my brain, but the scar heals quickly when evening and early morning temperatures dip into the sixties. Were it not … Continue reading →

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Autos and the Population Density of Vultures

Posted on April 8, 2017 by John Swinburn

I have, for years, wondered whether the advent of automobiles and the roads to carry them contribute to the population of vultures and other carrion-eaters. This question emerges from observations of vast numbers of corpses of dead animals killed by … Continue reading →

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Cars, Lies, and Things that Honk in the Night

Posted on June 10, 2015 by John Swinburn

This morning, I’ll arrive at the Toyota dealer in Hot Springs just about the time they open the bays to allow broken cars seeking salvation to enter.  Mine will be one of them. As far as I know, it doesn’t … Continue reading →

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Car Talk

Posted on June 4, 2015 by John Swinburn

We looked at cars. We drove some. One new one (a 2015 Ford Escape). Mostly a year or two or three old. We did not fall in love. The salesperson was beside herself, but she was able to contain it, … Continue reading →

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Regaining the Sparkle

Posted on May 31, 2015 by John Swinburn

I watched as the headlights on the old Camry dulled over the years.  Sand and grit and bugs and road debris stole the shine and ruined the sparkle. I polished the outer plastic shells with modest success a few years ago, … Continue reading →

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About those cars…

Posted on August 31, 2014 by John Swinburn

Change of heart, change of mind, change of scenery.  We will not, at least in the near-term, get an Element, an Odyssey, a CR-V, or a RAV4.  Instead, we plan to get a Honda Civic.  We will buy said vehicle … Continue reading →

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Automobilia

Posted on August 31, 2014 by John Swinburn

Decisions, even decisions reached after painstaking research and consideration, can be unmade.  I had decided I wanted to buy a used Honda Element (there is no other kind, since they are no longer produced).  Yesterday, I drove one…a 2006 in … Continue reading →

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Musings on Cars

Posted on January 31, 2014 by John Swinburn

The Camry’s suspension issue finally has been resolved.  We’ve spent far too much time and far too much money on it, but it appears the problem is now part of history.  The source of the annoying “clunk” I heard and … Continue reading →

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The Bastard

Posted on January 22, 2014 by John Swinburn

I once had a car I called The Bastard.  Though I denounced The Bastard because the cost of maintaining him as he aged grew larger than I’d have liked, I liked The Bastard.  He was a dark blue, naturally-ugly beast … Continue reading →

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The Times, They Are A’Changin’…

Posted on January 14, 2014 by John Swinburn

Yesterday, I sold the old green truck, the 1997 Ford Ranger that belonged to my late sister.  As my favorite wife and I continue the process of preparing for a move out of Dallas, it was obvious the truck would … Continue reading →

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Road Trip in a Mercedes Benz Convertible

Posted on April 27, 2013 by John Swinburn

My wife keeps frighteningly meticulous records.  I, on the other hand, assume I will remember things.  I don’t.  Not unless reminded. Today, she reminded me of the trip I made to Florida back in 2007.  She pulled out credit card … Continue reading →

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The Best Laid Plans

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John Swinburn

A huge number of bricks was the first acquisition of my evolving plan to do some work to my backyard, with the intent of turning it into a wonderful oasis of stress relief and happiness. I paid $12 for what … Continue reading →

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Improper perspective, rectified

Posted on October 16, 2012 by John Swinburn

I dropped the aging Camry with the mechanic at about 8:45 this morning.  I had decided to walk back home, rather than take the bus, because I hadn’t taken my normal walk this morning.  And I needed to do some … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, Philosophy, Walking | 1 Comment

A Brief History of the Past Few Hours

Posted on October 15, 2012 by John Swinburn

We met our friend, Jim, for lunch today at Flavors, an Indian restaurant in Addison.  While I enjoyed the food, it wasn’t exceptional like it was the last visit.  But I am not one to complain about an Indian buffet … Continue reading →

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