I not quite that big of a wine buff, but I will agree that '99 was a good year. There is a Merlot that I like, Hawk Crest, from 99 that is great!
----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:57 PM Subject: Re: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale > Kevin- > > I've got almost a case of BV's '99 Napa Valley Merlot. > In my barely educated (wine) opinion, '99 was a terrific year for CA reds. > > Half is put away in the wine cooler - am going to attempt to leave it alone > for a few more years' bottle aging <g>. > The rest we're enjoying. > > Also have a half dozen each of '99 Rutherford CabSav, and '99 Syrah. > > Now, when can I eat red meat again? > <sigh> > > Recently tried this $2/bottle stuff at Trader Joe's a bunch of people at > work were talking about, called Charles Shaw. > Otherwise known as "two buck Chuck". > Wife declared "life is too short to drink cheap wine". > <grin> > > (We recently got a 60-bottle temperature-controller wine storage unit. Have > been discovering how much better we like drinking red wine when it's at > about 60 degrees F instead of 70. Think about it - what was "room > temperature" in French chateaux or English castles?) > > Also > -Ben > > > At 09:47 PM 3/11/03 -0600, you wrote: > >Merlot is good stuff.....my fav! > > > >Of course you can't beat Boones Farms! hehe > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 9:41 PM > >Subject: Re: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale > > > > > >> Kevin- > >> > >> no need, 'nuff said dewd! > >> and I'm glad too!! > >> > >> BTW emailed the Doctor, asked if I could have a glass of wine with dinner > >> (conflict with meds?). > >> He said ok. > >> > >> Gee, that 99 Merlot sure tasted better than I remember!! > >> <grin> > >> > >> -Ben > >> > >> > >> At 09:26 PM 3/11/03 -0600, you wrote: > >> >I have yet to send an email.....but I am glad you are still with us! > >> > > >> > > >> >----- Original Message ----- > >> >From: "Ben Braver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> >To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> >Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 4:46 PM > >> >Subject: Almost Gone and Back Again, A Hospital Tale > >> > > >> > > >> >> by Benbo Braver > >> >> <with sincere apologies to J.R.R. Tolkien> > >> >> > >> >> (LONG post, sorry.) > >> >> > >> >> Promised to recount what happened, how it felt, etc. > >> >> > >> >> Hope these "few" words from the brink may inspire some others on the > >list > >> >> to make changes before looking into the Grand Canyon with a hand on > >your > >> >back. > >> >> > >> >> Before: > >> >> 5'11", as high as 283 pounds barenaked. Mostly around middle (bad) - > >> >> couldn't easily see feet :-( > >> >> BP not too high, typ. 130s over 80s. > >> >> Cholesterol and ratio not good - as of last August, > >> >> Total Chol. 274, Triglycerides 366, HDL 40 (should be over 45), LDL 161 > >> >> (s/b under 100) > >> >> > >> >> Realistically, needed to lose about 90 pounds, really change the lipid > >> >> panel numbers. > >> >> > >> >> Was doing "strength/endurance" exercise trying to rehab the hip and > >back > >> >> muscles, and get in generally better condition, but was not doing > >hardly > >> >> any aerobic stuff (walking was tough with the injured hip muscle). Also > >> >had > >> >> motivation limits on how much time I was willing to spend at the gym. > >> >> > >> >> Father had angina pectoris - means "choking sensation of the chest". > >> >> Like a heart attack, but no permanent damage because heart isn't > >deprived > >> >> of oxygen for very long. > >> >> His was induced by exercise and stress. > >> >> He stuck nitroglycerin tablets under the tongue to relieve symptoms. > >> >> Then he had a couple of small heart attacks, followed by a fatal one at > >> >age > >> >> 54. > >> >> > >> >> A couple of days before my attack, I was talking about stress with my > >> >boss. > >> >> He's a really super mellow person, on the outside at least. > >> >> Hardly ever seems "ruffled". > >> >> I asked if he ever had "anxiety attacks", feeling tight in the chest, > >> >> anxious, wondering how to "get it all done". > >> >> He said (surprisingly) "more often then I want to admit, lately". > >> >> I was also thinking about unfinished work and an upcoming vacation. > >> >> Plus the stress of "hormone week" at home, the friction with the son, > >etc. > >> >> Figured a vacation was just what I needed. > >> >> But the vacation was also a source of some stress - would I be able to > >ski > >> >> (how would the hip/back muscles do?), etc. > >> >> > >> >> The morning of the attack, I awoke about 5:30am, before the alarm went > >> >off. > >> >> Felt almost panicky. > >> >> Tight feeling under sternum (breastbone), but no "pain". > >> >> Thought "this feels like my Dad described angina." > >> >> Decided to try the first aid his doctor had recommended - straight shot > >of > >> >> whiskey. > >> >> Believe it or not, padded out to kitchen in my robe, tossed down a > >jigger > >> >> of JD. > >> >> (Very unusual - never drink except maybe one cocktail before dinner or > >> >wine > >> >> with a meal.) > >> >> That felt somewhat better, lessened the tightness. > >> >> Thought "gotta keep a close eye on this, report it to doctor later > >today, > >> >> maybe go get checked." > >> >> Wife woke up, said "feeling stressed, need a hug". That helped too. > >> >> > >> >> Went to the throne room, relaxed quite a bit responding with puns to > >some > >> >> cf-comm posts (WiFi in PocketPC). > >> >> <sorry> > >> >> > >> >> Got dressed, felt good enough to go to work. > >> >> Told wife if I felt bad, could go to Medical at work. > >> >> She says she should have insisted right then that I go to the ER and > >get > >> >> examined. > >> >> She's probably right - but on the other hand, if the symptoms lessened, > >> >> they might have checked and sent me away. > >> >> > >> >> Driving to work, just before my freeway exit, started feeling more > >tight, > >> >> and worried. > >> >> Found myself reciting the "Shema" prayer out loud in Hebrew (uh-oh...). > >> >> (In English, "hear, o Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One".) > >> >> Thought about driving to hospital, decided I was closer to work, and > >could > >> >> get the EMTs giving me first aid while they got an ambulance if needed. > >> >> > >> >> Got into office, sat down, started feeling queasy (not nauseous), cold > >> >> sweat on forehead. > >> >> No pain, but numbness down the left arm to the elbow, and a CRUSHING > >> >> pressure on the chest - > >> >> like an elephant was sitting on it. > >> >> > >> >> Was reaching for the phone to call the Emergency number, when my boss > >> >stuck > >> >> his head in to say good morning. > >> >> > >> >> He said "hey, you don't look well - you look WHITE." > >> >> I said "I don't feel well, I feel green, and..." > >> >> > >> >> Never got to tell him about the pressure - he interrupted to say "can I > >> >> take you to Medical?" > >> >> I said "yes, now!". > >> >> > >> >> A mistake - walked across the street to the parking lot to his car > >> >(slowly). > >> >> Should have said please bring the car over. > >> >> > >> >> At Medical, rang the bell, started signing in. > >> >> Voice said "be right with you". > >> >> I said "please make it sooner, not later - having chest pains". > >> >> By this point, it hurt. > >> >> > >> >> Within a minute, he and the gal on duty had me lying down, chewing on > >an > >> >> aspirin tablet, trying to attach EKG leads (but I was sweating too > >much). > >> >> > >> >> She said to him quietly "should I initiate transport?" and I looked up. > >> >> He said "do you understand that?" > >> >> I said "if she means initiate ambulance transport to the hospital, yes > >> >> please". > >> >> > >> >> The paramedics got there, slid me onto a gurney, wheeled me out, put me > >in > >> >> the ambulance. > >> >> Guy said "I'm a paramedic, gonna be starting an IV in your arm." > >> >> I said "paramedic? as in Airborne??" > >> >> You should have seen the look he gave me. > >> >> But heck, I was still alive, getting care. > >> >> Should I just roll over and die?? No way. > >> >> He gave me a spray of nitro in my mouth - a lot quicker than the old > >> >> tablets dissolving. > >> >> They kept asking "on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being none, and 10 > >being > >> >> the most excruciating pain imaginable, how much pain are you having?" > >> >> It started at 6, went down to about 4 after the aspirin and couple of > >> >nitro > >> >> squirts. > >> >> > >> >> I could tell from counting the speed bumps that as soon as they went > >out > >> >> the refinery gate they turned on siren and sped up. One of the best > >> >> emergency facilities in the area is Mt. Diablo Medical Center, only > >about > >> >2 > >> >> miles from the gate (or about 4 miles from Medical, 5 miles from my > >office > >> >> - it's a BIG place.) > >> >> > >> >> Think I had a total of 2 or 3 squirts of nitro. It dilates (opens) the > >> >> arteries to the heart, increases blood flow, relieves chest pain from > >> >> angina, reduces the heart's workload. May or may not reduce risk of > >death > >> >> in a heart attack. But it also drops blood pressure - this may be good > >or > >> >bad. > >> >> > >> >> At least with the IV started, I was all ready for whatever drugs the > >> >> hospital wanted to dump in. > >> >> > >> >> In the ER, cardiologist introduced himself, started telling me the > >things > >> >> they would do, and might have to do (needed to get me to sign "informed > >> >> consent" forms). (Later found out he's one of the best cardio's in the > >> >area.) > >> >> > >> >> Said they were going to administer clot-busting drug, TNK > >(Tenecteplase) - > >> >> breaks up clot, prevents the ongoing damage from a heart attack. > >(Damage > >> >is > >> >> from heart tissue beyond the clot being deprived of blood flow > >therefore > >> >> oxygen.) > >> >> > >> >> Then they would do angiogram - go in with catheter through femoral > >artery > >> >> in groin, put in contract die (iodine-based) to allow taking images of > >the > >> >> arteries and determine how many clogged, how much. He asked if I knew > >> >what > >> >> that was, said "yes, had one in 1982. Was very uncomfortable and > >> >> stressful." He said "now we use Conscious Sedation" - local anesthetic > >> >> plus tranquilizers. Not as dangerous as general anesthetic, but you're > >> >> kinda zonked out... > >> >> > >> >> Dr said they would probably do a balloon angioplasty, might insert a > >stent > >> >> (I said "oh good, my wife owns stock in Medtronic" and OY did I get an > >> >> unbelieving look for that one), and possibly emergency bypass surgery. > >> >> > >> >> I signed the forms, and went off to the cath lab. > >> >> Don't remember much at all. > >> >> > >> >> This all started when I got to work at 8am. By 11am or earlier, I was > >> >> sitting up in bed, wired and hosed, wondering whether I was really > >going > >> >to > >> >> be ok. In walks my wife. I broke out in a huge smile, said "gee, you > >look > >> >> wonderful". :-) > >> >> > >> >> At this point, the pain was virtually gone. > >> >> > >> >> Asked the wife to email MikeyD, so he could tell the list what > >happened. > >> >> > >> >> BTW they _did_ put in a stent - 12mm long mesh cylinder of steel, like > >a > >> >> liner for the damaged portion of artery. (The circumflex artery.) It > >> >> expands to hold the artery open, then integrates with the artery wall > >over > >> >> time. I can't have an MRI for a couple of months, for obvious reasons. > >> >> > >> >> Had some ups and downs - apparently, a combination of 2 drugs they gave > >me > >> >> (a beta blocker and ??) lowered my BP too much, it went down to > >> >> 70-something over 40-something, they got worried. Felt wierd while > >they > >> >> got the BP stabilized. > >> >> > >> >> Had an IV in the back of each hand, a red "ET light" oxygen and pulse > >> >> sensor on a finger, EKG electrodes on the chest. And a wound in the > >inside > >> >> hip joint from the catherter. Very difficult to rest comfortably or > >adjust > >> >> position in bed. Found it difficult to concentrate on reading, tv, > >> >anything > >> >> - partly from the drugs, partly from exhaustion and stress. > >> >> > >> >> Had a BP cuff on one arm, all the time. Prevented me from bending the > >arm > >> >> fully. > >> >> For a while, they were taking the BP every 15 minutes (!!) - it > >> >transmitted > >> >> to the nurses' station. > >> >> I could see the monitor above my bed, with some difficulty, and see an > >> >> occasional wierd-feeling heartbeat show up as a blip on the EKG graph. > >> >(Was > >> >> told that my left ventricle might fire too strongly or out of sequence > >> >> sometimes, as the heart got used to having more oxygen.) > >> >> > >> >> Did _not_ enjoy having to use a urinal - many, many times a day, too, > >> >> because of all the IV fluids. > >> >> Re: the alternative, that part of the body just switched off > >completely, > >> >> thankfully. > >> >> Didn't re-activate until Saturday when I got into a room with a real > >> >> bathroom <yay>. > >> >> > >> >> They had me on solid food as of lunch Thursday - but low cal, low > >> >> cholesterol, low sodium menu. OK. I actually got to pick my meals from > >> >> several choices. Better than a lot of airline food I've had :-) > >> >> > >> >> Hospitals give you medications on a schedule - hence the classic line > >> >"wake > >> >> up to take your sleeping pill" (not relevant in my case, but funny). > >> >> > >> >> After a while, it got "old" and boring - ok, folks, I'm alive and > >starting > >> >> to recover. Now I'm uncomfortable. Tried really hard not to complain, > >> >> considering the alternative. Felt almost euphoric, elated mentally > >while > >> >> hassled physically. Strange. > >> >> > >> >> Friday, they were supposed to move me to a regular room, but didn't > >have a > >> >> bed available. So I got kept in CCU. At least I was able to talk them > >into > >> >> giving me a telephone. > >> >> > >> >> Was I ever surprised when MikeyD talked his way through the nurses and > >got > >> >> me on the phone. He wanted to know my Hebrew name so he could say a > >> >> traditional prayer for healing for me - much appreciated!! And even > >more > >> >> surprised when a little later Friday afternoon, Eri*K*a and Philip from > >> >> England got me on the phone. Wow. > >> >> > >> >> Saturday afternoon, one of my rabbis came over to visit. A while after > >> >> that, they moved me to a regular room, with a roommate. This was > >another > >> >> trip - roommate was 81 years old, had just gotten a pacemaker. He > >worked > >> >at > >> >> the same refinery I do (under prior owners) from 1945 to 1977 when he > >> >> retired. Boy, was he happy to have an audience for all his stories - I > >> >> understood enough to ask questions and draw him out. (And of course I > >got > >> >> to tell him stories <g>.) > >> >> > >> >> Uncanny - we both have 2 kids, a boy and a girl. We both have > >photography > >> >> as a hobby. I'm going to Australia in 6 months, he just got back 6 > >months > >> >ago. > >> >> > >> >> So, now that I'm home, it's hard to just sit or lie down and rest. > >> >> But I don't have a lot of endurance - so eventually I give in and take > >it > >> >> easy. > >> >> > >> >> Am going down to the gym at least every other day to do the exercise > >bike > >> >> or treadmill, while monitoring pulse rate. Need to work up to 30 > >minutes > >> >or > >> >> more every day. > >> >> > >> >> Am also going up and down the stairs at home a lot - partly for > >exercise, > >> >> partly because my computer is up there <g>. Then I have to go > >downstairs > >> >to > >> >> eat or pee. Amazing what those diuretic pills can do <ha>. > >> >> > >> >> Really conscious of every little twinge or funny feeling, but for the > >most > >> >> part feel better than I did before (but tired). > >> >> Think about it - if a blood vessel in the heart were 50% blocked, and > >now > >> >> it's open, what a difference that makes. > >> >> When you add this to the thyroid medication and the air pump for sleep > >> >> apnea, the brain is actually functioning !! > >> >> > >> >> Wife goes between the "stiff upper lip" and breaking down crying saying > >> >> "I'm glad you didn't die". > >> >> > >> >> Sorry for the length of the post, but it feels good to lay it all out. > >> >> > >> >> OK, folks - a couple of items from the "bully pulpit" - > >> >> (1) get your cholesterol and blood pressure tested > >> >> (2) get regular exercise > >> >> (3) learn to reduce stress > >> >> (4) be here longer for those who love you. > >> >> > >> >> -Ben Braver > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> > >> > > >> > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=5 Signup for the Fusion Authority news alert and keep up with the latest news in ColdFusion and related topics. http://www.fusionauthority.com/signup.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
