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But instead of just a small medicated throat lozenge, you get this ...



Is it just me, or is this "Pep Talk in Every Drop" annoying? I'm feeling a little sluggish, just need a cough drop. Not life lessons, not trite encouragement. And certainly not a line that tries to make me feel guilty ... "Don't try harder. Do harder!"

Maybe some people like it. Me, I'm thinking of switching brands.]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry120118-090836 Glenn McLaren Wed, 18 Jan 2012 14:08:36 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120118-090836 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry120115-161236
Regretful killer tried to kill self

My favorite line in the story ... "The killing occurred after the couple had spent the day drinking gin."

Yeah, nothing good ever happens after that.]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry120115-161236 Glenn McLaren Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:12:36 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120115-161236 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry120101-103303
Presidential election this year, that will consume much of the oxygen and public attention. But this time next year, will the election of one man make that much difference?

No, it won't.

Summer Olympics in London. That will offer some athletic excitement ... and a seemingly infinite stream of marketing opportunities. Let's just hope the athletes play clean. I don't think I can stand a lengthy performance enhancing drug controversy.

Not sure why, but I have a sort of negative feeling about 2012. About the only bright spot so far was actually a nice little closeout to 2011.

My car battery has been acting up, I took it back to Wal-Mart to have them look at it. Sure enough, a bad cell. Lucky me, the current battery was purchased in December 2008. And it had a three-year warranty.

So, if I had waited a few days, I would have paid for a new battery. Instead, I got a free replacement. The Wal-Mart folks didn't seem to thrilled about having to give me the free battery, but I was really glad that I stopped in on Dec. 31 to get it checked.

Maybe that's a good sign. ]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry120101-103303 Glenn McLaren Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:33:03 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=12&m=01&entry=entry120101-103303 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111207-072220
The ceremony was very somber, and the Vero Beach chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association had a pretty decent membership at the time. To end the ceremony, they placed a wreath in the water and watched as it floated our to sea.

Well, that was the plan, anyway. On this morning, I'm not sure if it was the tide or the wake of a boat, but the wreath did not drift away from the shore. It came back to the shore from the end of the short pier where it was launched.

When it got close to the shore, one of the survivors went back to the end of the pier. This time, instead of simply lowering the wreath into the water, he sort of Frisbeed it out about 20 feet away from the pier.

The wreath hit the water and just sat there, bobbing in place, not drifting away or back to the shore. Everyone stood and watched, not sure what to do.

After about 5 minutes, a long-haired guy on a Jetski came out of nowhere, grabbed the wreath, gave a sort of nod and salute, and headed out to open water.

All of the survivors, old men limping or partially bent over or in wheel chairs, returned the salute, waited a few minutes as the Jetski motored away, and then departed the shore for a tent with drinks and snacks.

I'm sure there are fewer survivors at ceremonies today. But I'm also sure they still take their tributes just as seriously.]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111207-072220 Glenn McLaren Wed, 07 Dec 2011 12:22:20 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=12&entry=entry111207-072220 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111102-075353
He mentioned in an interview that penalties "have been one of our Achilles' heels lately."

OK, here's the deal. You can only have ONE Achilles' heel.

Back in mythology, Achilles was a great and seemingly invulnerable warrior because he had been dipped in the River Styx. But, he was held by his heel when he was dipped, so that spot would be his only weak point. The rest of him, immortal. The ONE heel, his ultimate downfall.

So, if you've got three or four areas on your team that are causing you to struggle or lose, you don't have three or four Achilles' heels.

If you're playing perfectly in all other phases, but you're being brought down by ONE aspect (i.e. penalties, turnovers, special teams, weak quarterback play from numerous 5-star recruits), THAT'S your ONE Achilles' heel.
]]> Sports http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111102-075353 Glenn McLaren Wed, 02 Nov 2011 11:53:53 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=11&entry=entry111102-075353 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111028-173915
A state legislator in Connecticut is suggesting that we should shift the date of Halloween each year so that it always falls on the last Saturday in October. So, instead of Oct. 31 every year, it would move to different dates, but would always take place on Saturday.

I see some sense in this. Never on a school night, so kids could stay out a little later, eat a little more sugar and not have to worry about getting to school in the morning.

Adults have Halloween parties on that night and not have to worry about getting to work the next morning. And they wouldn't have to schedule their party on another night around Halloween.

But All Hallows Eve on Oct. 31, with Nov. 1 All Saints Day and Nov. 2 All Souls Day, has a place in the religious world. Shifting Halloween to the 26th would disrupt the progression and detract from the traditional meaning of the days.

Of course, it wouldn't be the first time we've altered traditions for convenience or better marketing potential.

So, in the end, I'll say, I'm against the idea. Let's just keep Halloween on the 31st.

Now, I'd be in favor of making the Monday after the Super Bowl a national holiday. Anyone suggesting that?]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111028-173915 Glenn McLaren Fri, 28 Oct 2011 21:39:15 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=10&entry=entry111028-173915 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111016-083153
Three years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Without a doubt, this marked one of the low points in my life. Physically, I was a wreck. My kidneys were failing, my bones were softened to the point of crumbling and my body was producing millions of myeloma cells.

So, being here today, being able to write this, is a victory. Today, I'm in complete remission. Three years at the hands of Dr. Guido Tricot and the folks at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital in Salt Lake City have cleared the myeloma cells from my body and set me on the course of "hopeful waiting."

Physically, I'm feeling good, doing a decent job of keeping up with the demands of four growing kids. I get fatigued a little more quickly than I used to, but part of that is just being older.

While my diagnosis in 2008 marked a low point physically, I am blessed to have seen that is spurred a great outpouring of love and support for me and my family. I am still amazed at the number of people who have stepped up over these last 36 months, and how many of them continue to offer their prayers and well wishes.

And finally, the last three years have offered concrete proof that the love within a family is the foundation upon which we can endure any hardships. My parents, sisters, nieces and nephews have never stopped supporting me, along with my in-laws and all of Irene's siblings.

My children have been constant reminders of how we can overcome hard days by looking ahead at the good times to come.

And my wife, Irene, has been a constant source of strength and support for me, no matter how down or discouraged I might have been.

So, three years in the books. Two stem cell transplants. A bunch of infusions, pills and treatments done.

Now, just trying to eat right and get enough sleep.

Hopefully, many more milestones to come.]]> Myeloma http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry111016-083153 Glenn McLaren Sun, 16 Oct 2011 12:31:53 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=10&entry=entry111016-083153 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110929-211217
Their records by thirds? 20-34, 15-39, 21-33.

So, they played "better" over the final 54 games. Yippee, that's a real run toward excitement.

What do we have to look forward to? Rebuilding under a new owner, probably a new front office, moving to the AL West.

I guess about the most positive outlook might be that it can't get much worse.

Can it?]]> Sports http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110929-211217 Glenn McLaren Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:12:17 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=09&entry=entry110929-211217 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110821-171357
I actually went by the Recruit Depot a few months ago, while I was in San Diego on business. I was heading to the airport because I had a few hours until my flight out, and I figured I'd take advantage of the free WiFi at the airport and catch up on some emails.

But when I saw the sign for the MCRD entrance, I told the taxi driver to stop and let me out.

It was a Thursday, Family Day, and I was at the entrance for the people who were coming to see recruits who would be graduating the next day.

So I went in and found a place to store my luggage and took a walk around. It was weird ... nothing seemed to have changed. There were a few new buildings, and I was walking around in some areas that we never even set foot on when we were recruits there.

But the buildings were the same yellow color. And they were the same style, the same look and feel as before. And as I walked by one of the buildings, I caught the same smell that I had noticed 30 years ago, the smell of uniforms and boots and gear ... and fear.

Ah yes, 30 years and nothing had changed.

And I tip my hat to the Lance Corporal who had to be all of 20 or 21 for his diplomacy. He stopped me because I had strayed from the areas that visitors were allowed in. He asked if I was there to see someone graduate, but I told him no, that I was just stopping by because I hadn't been back since I graduated in 1981.

You could see the wheels turning in his head as he did the math and realized that I was really old.

But all he said was, "Welcome back Marine."

Well done.]]> Misc http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110821-171357 Glenn McLaren Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:13:57 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=08&entry=entry110821-171357 http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110801-105121
Like I posted before, I like to divide the season into thirds, a beginning, a middle and an end.

The end can't come soon enough.

After posting a 20-34 record through the first 54 games, the Astros have gotten worse. Dramatically worse.

15-39 over the middle third of the season. They've traded away any recognizable "star" talent that they could get rid of. They're saddled with overpaid and under-performing contracts.

And they're almost impossible to follow.

I took the time at the 1/3-mark to grade various areas of the team, but I don't have the stomach for it now.

This reminds me of my youth, growing up in Houston with the LAstros ... or the Dis-Astros.

Oh how I long for Roger Metzger at shortstop.]]> Sports http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/index.php?entry=entry110801-105121 Glenn McLaren Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:51:21 GMT http://www.glennmclaren.com/news/comments.php?y=11&m=08&entry=entry110801-105121