...
and the weather is clear
...
you can see
...
Denali.
|
|
|---|
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Alaska Bits --11-- Flying to Fairbanks
When you fly from Anchorage to Fairbanks
...
and the weather is clear
...
you can see
...
Denali.
...
and the weather is clear
...
you can see
...
Denali.
15 years ago and still alive
In the period 1994 to 1996 my family and I stayed in Asia Pacific living in Singapore. On October first 1994 I was sustained an acute myocardial infarction. The infarction was complicated by hypotension, ventricular ectopy and left ventricular failure. I was given 1.5 mill units of streptokinase and survived. 
The coronary angiogram showed severe disease of left anterior descending artery as well as lesions in right coronary artery and right posterior descending artery The left ventriculogram showed an anterior akinetic segment with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) of about 40%.
A Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was done two weeks later (see map above), and after successful ballooning, I was advised to have adequate convalescence for a bout one - 1 - month post infarction.
The working conditions in Singapore was a little different than in Norway, and my doctor did not want his recommendation to my employer should make problems for my career.
18 months later I suffered another acute infero-posterior and right ventricular myocardial infarction. Although I had received streptokinase under the first infarct, the doctor decided to give me another infusion. I then experienced complete atrioventricular block with transient hypotension, but responded promptly to intravenous atropine and isoprenaline, and I subsequently made an uneventful recovery. Although the doctor said to my wife "We almost lost him", I survived for the second time.
Once again I went through successful PTCA to RCA proximal from 100% to 25% residual stenosis, and a successful (although balloon ruptured) PTCA to RPL from 90% to 25% stenosis.
My doctor in Singapore: Dato Dr Arthur T H Tan , (with an extremely high competence and position list on his CV), recommended me to contact Norwegian Cardiologists during my summer holiday back home.
I talked to Dr Arne Westheim at Ullevål Hospital who did not recommend bypass operation at that time, and I then met with my later good friend Dr Lars Aaberge at "Senteret for Hjertemedisin" who gave the following conclusion: Arne has a severely impaired systolic function with an ejection fraction of about 25%. There was no evidence of stress-induced ischemia, but clinically I had a heart failure. No bypass recommended but study for heart transplantation should be applied for.
In 1998 I went through a Simultaneous TX Cor and TX Renis due to End-stage Heart and Renal Failure. But that is another story.
You can never fully prepare yourself for the "pong" as Singapore´s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew called it when he suffered a heart attack in January 1996.
"..........., absolutely nothing, then - PONG - Monday 15th I felt it. Tuesday it became worse, Wednesday it became worse." he told the Straits Times after leaving SGH and had been taken under treatment of my own doctor - Arthur Tan -.
I understand how to translate his word "worse". He meant pain, very, very strong pain in chest and back.
We are both still alive, thanks to among others our Dr Arthur Tan, who I had the pleasure to visit in his office during our return-visit to Singapore in May 2007.
"Your Gods must love you" was his greetings to me. Life is great.
If you are afraid of meeting some of the challenges I and many others have been through due to heart problems, take a look at the Stress test above and see if you are in the dangerous category. (from dr Chandra Patel´s book Fighting Heart Disease)
The coronary angiogram showed severe disease of left anterior descending artery as well as lesions in right coronary artery and right posterior descending artery The left ventriculogram showed an anterior akinetic segment with a reduced ejection fraction (EF) of about 40%.A Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was done two weeks later (see map above), and after successful ballooning, I was advised to have adequate convalescence for a bout one - 1 - month post infarction.
The working conditions in Singapore was a little different than in Norway, and my doctor did not want his recommendation to my employer should make problems for my career.
18 months later I suffered another acute infero-posterior and right ventricular myocardial infarction. Although I had received streptokinase under the first infarct, the doctor decided to give me another infusion. I then experienced complete atrioventricular block with transient hypotension, but responded promptly to intravenous atropine and isoprenaline, and I subsequently made an uneventful recovery. Although the doctor said to my wife "We almost lost him", I survived for the second time.
Once again I went through successful PTCA to RCA proximal from 100% to 25% residual stenosis, and a successful (although balloon ruptured) PTCA to RPL from 90% to 25% stenosis.
My doctor in Singapore: Dato Dr Arthur T H Tan , (with an extremely high competence and position list on his CV), recommended me to contact Norwegian Cardiologists during my summer holiday back home.
I talked to Dr Arne Westheim at Ullevål Hospital who did not recommend bypass operation at that time, and I then met with my later good friend Dr Lars Aaberge at "Senteret for Hjertemedisin" who gave the following conclusion: Arne has a severely impaired systolic function with an ejection fraction of about 25%. There was no evidence of stress-induced ischemia, but clinically I had a heart failure. No bypass recommended but study for heart transplantation should be applied for.
In 1998 I went through a Simultaneous TX Cor and TX Renis due to End-stage Heart and Renal Failure. But that is another story.
You can never fully prepare yourself for the "pong" as Singapore´s Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew called it when he suffered a heart attack in January 1996.
"..........., absolutely nothing, then - PONG - Monday 15th I felt it. Tuesday it became worse, Wednesday it became worse." he told the Straits Times after leaving SGH and had been taken under treatment of my own doctor - Arthur Tan -.
I understand how to translate his word "worse". He meant pain, very, very strong pain in chest and back.
We are both still alive, thanks to among others our Dr Arthur Tan, who I had the pleasure to visit in his office during our return-visit to Singapore in May 2007."Your Gods must love you" was his greetings to me. Life is great.
If you are afraid of meeting some of the challenges I and many others have been through due to heart problems, take a look at the Stress test above and see if you are in the dangerous category. (from dr Chandra Patel´s book Fighting Heart Disease)
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Alaska bits--10--What is Talkeetna?
The day after our Turnagain Arm excursion (along the Seward Highway--Alaska 2)we traveled up the Glenn Highway (Alaska 1) which parallels Knik Arm, crossing the Knik River, and traveling through Wasilla (Sarah wasn't home) on The Parks Highway (Alaska 3) to Talkeetna. In those two days of driving we had traveled three of Alaska's four main Highways. (Highway 4 crosses from Fairbanks into the Yukon Territory of Canada, the only road connection to the "Outside" or Lower 48.)
So what is Talkeetna?
Well, perhaps Talkeetna is the old sourdough artist creating and selling on the street.
Or it is a well visited small town completely devoid of the tourist trap jewelry stores that are seen on the streets of cruise port cities.
It is the gateway to Denali, where bush pilots ferry climbers to base camps on the glaciered peak.
Where you can walk down to the river and look out at the mountain itself. or not.
It's a town with pride in its history and ready to share it in its historic walk and museums and its position as the gateway of its mountain neighbor.
Where locals have other uses for the river than watching the mountain.
So what is Talkeetna?
Well, perhaps Talkeetna is the old sourdough artist creating and selling on the street. Or it is a well visited small town completely devoid of the tourist trap jewelry stores that are seen on the streets of cruise port cities.
It is the gateway to Denali, where bush pilots ferry climbers to base camps on the glaciered peak.
Where you can walk down to the river and look out at the mountain itself. or not.
Where locals have other uses for the river than watching the mountain.
And homemade ice cream
is done with a John Deere.
And if you hear a band playing
"When the Saints Go Marching In",
and see a parade on Labor day
that looks more like
Mardi Gras,
and you are in Talkeetna...
...then know that it is not a Labor Day parade at all, but the funeral procession celebrating the life of a beloved local killed in a tragic accident a few days before.
That is what Talkeetna is.
It's what Alaska is.
ABC Wednesday--back from Alaska--K is for...
K is for Knik Arm 
In the midst of my Alaska posts (this is bit 9) here is Knik Arm, another branch of the Cook Inlet, which stretches north and east of Anchorage. I remember reading somewhere that Knik also has a bore tide, but it must not be as significant as that in the Turnagain or I would be able to find it again somewhere. This view looks east along the Knik Arm at the downtowm area of Alaska's largest city, Anchorage.
Looking across Knik Arm you can see forever. Well, not forever, but on a clear day you can see Denali, North America's highest peak at 20,320 feet. Denali is the native name for the mountain, which you may know as Mt. McKinley.
When we stayed two and a half days at Denali--we never saw the mountain.
What did you find for the letter K? If I had continued with my Mt. Rainier wildflowers I would have posted "kinnikinnik". I think I would have cheked the spelling. I might also have included "Krummholz". No, I am not nuts, and in today's ABCs I have seen a post that used both of those. My guess, however, is that this will be the only Knik Ar, in the ABC--Ks. Visit other ABC seekers by clicking the links at the ABC blogsite.Congratulation Asbjørn, 65 years young
I had to start today´s blog by showing an almost 45 years old photo of me and my friend Asbjørn.Time has run and today he (still some years young) can celebrate his 65 years birthday. CONGRATULATION!!
I will pay tribute to his day by presenting some nice photos of the man in some of his favorite environments.
First a photo taken on his 30th birthday in front of his homemade beer barrel and good old but still friends (Helge, Per Helge and Harald)
The passion for fishing and satisfaction when getting one of many great Norwegian Cods, is one of Asbjørn´s favorite activities. 
Climbing the mountains at Sunnmøre or further up north in Norway, gives him the freedom and exercice needed for a healthy life. The second photo is taken when he and "Gutta på tur" reached the summit of Slogen (1564m)
When Asbjørn wanted a full time job in addition to all other business activity, he bought an old farm at the seashore of the North Atlantic Ocean and rebuilt the area to it´s present beautiful image.
Being there and having fun together, experience friendship and sunny summer nights gives me a lot.
With lovely ladies in the Jacuzzi around midnight he seems to have a great time himself.Last time we were together was only a few weeks ago in his son´s apartment at Quality Spa and Resort, Bøseter Norefjell.
Take good care of your husbond Anne Katharina, and celebrate his birthday on behalf of us all. Hope to see you again very soon.
K is for Kayak
My contribution for K has of course a definition - from Wikipedia as usual:A kayak is a small human-powered boat. It typically has a covered deck, and a cockpit covered by a spraydeck also known as a skirt. The kayak was used by the native Ainu, Aleut and Eskimo hunters in sub-Arctic regions of northeastern Asia, North America and Greenland. It historically was, and often still is, propelled by a double-bladed paddle in the hands of a sitting paddler. Modern kayaks come in a wide variety of designs and materials for specialized purposes.And as you can also see: You can have one - or many...
Today's post is an entry in the FIFTH round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.For more, you can log on via the MckLinky enabled site
Åland Islands (144) and San Marino (145)
My latest two new visitors come from two small countries, Åland Island in the Baltic Sea and San Marino at the Apennine Peninsula.
The Åland Islands occupy a position of great strategic importance, as they command one of the entrances to the port of Stockholm Sweden, as well as the approaches to the Gulf of Bothnia, in addition to being situated near the Gulf of Finland.
The Åland archipelago consists of nearly three hundred habitable islands (total area 13,517 km2 ), of which about eighty are inhabited; the remainder are merely some 6,000 skerries and desolate rocks. The archipelago is connected to Åboland archipelago in the east (Finnish: Turunmaan saaristo, Swedish: Åbolands skärgård) — the archipelago adjacent to the southwest coast of Finland. Together they form the Archipelago Sea. To West from Åland is Sea of Åland and to North the Bothnian Sea.
The flag of Åland refers to the geographical and political position of the Finnish islands of Åland just off the coast of Sweden: it is the Swedish flag defaced by a red cross symbolising Finland. The flag has been the official flag of the autonomous Finnish province of Åland since 1954. It was first hoisted in the capital Mariehamn on 3 April 1954.
I have been at Mariehamn for about 20 years ago on my way to Helsinki by boat from Stockholm, and train from Åbo (Turku).
San Marino is an enclave in Italy, on the border between the regioni of Emilia Romagna and Marche. Its topography is dominated by the Apennines mountain range, and it has a rugged terrain. The highest point in the country, Monte Titano, is situated at 749 metres (2,457 ft) above sea level. There are no bodies of water of any significant size. San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe (total area 61.2 km2 ), with only Vatican City and Monaco being smaller. San Marino has no level natural land; 100% of the nation-state is built on top of the range.
The state and war Flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty).
The civil flag omits the coat of arms.
I have never been in San Marino, but maybe next time we go for a holiday in Italy a stay in this country can be prioritized.
The Åland Islands occupy a position of great strategic importance, as they command one of the entrances to the port of Stockholm Sweden, as well as the approaches to the Gulf of Bothnia, in addition to being situated near the Gulf of Finland.
The Åland archipelago consists of nearly three hundred habitable islands (total area 13,517 km2 ), of which about eighty are inhabited; the remainder are merely some 6,000 skerries and desolate rocks. The archipelago is connected to Åboland archipelago in the east (Finnish: Turunmaan saaristo, Swedish: Åbolands skärgård) — the archipelago adjacent to the southwest coast of Finland. Together they form the Archipelago Sea. To West from Åland is Sea of Åland and to North the Bothnian Sea.
The flag of Åland refers to the geographical and political position of the Finnish islands of Åland just off the coast of Sweden: it is the Swedish flag defaced by a red cross symbolising Finland. The flag has been the official flag of the autonomous Finnish province of Åland since 1954. It was first hoisted in the capital Mariehamn on 3 April 1954.I have been at Mariehamn for about 20 years ago on my way to Helsinki by boat from Stockholm, and train from Åbo (Turku).
San Marino is an enclave in Italy, on the border between the regioni of Emilia Romagna and Marche. Its topography is dominated by the Apennines mountain range, and it has a rugged terrain. The highest point in the country, Monte Titano, is situated at 749 metres (2,457 ft) above sea level. There are no bodies of water of any significant size. San Marino is the third smallest country in Europe (total area 61.2 km2 ), with only Vatican City and Monaco being smaller. San Marino has no level natural land; 100% of the nation-state is built on top of the range.
The state and war Flag of San Marino is formed by two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty).The civil flag omits the coat of arms.
I have never been in San Marino, but maybe next time we go for a holiday in Italy a stay in this country can be prioritized.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Alaska Bits -- 8 --Not Bored by the Tide.
You saw a bit of Turagain Arm in the Alaska Bits 3 post. In those photos taken early in the day and the sunset one much later, the tide was high. Between those shots we arrived carefully at Bird Point to take another look, a look out into the arm at low tide. You can see how low it looks here.
We had come to wait for the Bore Tide. Well, some of us waited while others of us watched. We watched for this strange phenomenon which occurs only in a few places in the world and two of them right here in the Anchorage area.
Here we were, looking out into the mud flats that was the Turnagain in low tide, watching water birds walk across the sticky mud made up of glacial silt that could hold a person fast in place while the tide might rise as much as seven feet in an hour and overpower him. Going out walking in the mud is not a good idea.
And we waited while the tide turned and when it turns you can see it coming. If you are there on the day of the widest range of tides in the new moon, the bore tide can be a wall of water six to seven or even more feet high moving ahead of the incoming sea. Our bore tide looked only about a foot high, but it was pretty amazing at that.
You might think it looks a bit like the waves of the ocean lapping on the shore, and it does. But it just keeps coming straight up the valley as a wall--and remember we were viewing one of the smallest of the bore tides. Can you even imagine a wall of water six feet high? Makes me think tsunami. And it marches rapidly up the valley -- about a dozen miles an hour.
And the roiling waters follow it.
The never ending story?
In the News we hear about the flooding in Manilla, Philippines, with more than 100 persons dead or missing. More heavy weather is coming in the days ahead. According to Taiwan News :"Tropical Storm Ketsana is expected to intensify into a typhoon as it moves westward through the South China Sea on Tuesday. Ketsana will produce widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms as it treks toward Vietnam. The storm is expected to make landfall near Hue around late Tuesday evening."
At my cottage the temperature still reaches + 14C near end of September, and my garden are continuously showing new beautiful roses.
I must confess that I am very satisfied with the climate conditions just now here in Oslo, but I do see that there is a change going on and it is increasing all over the world.
The need for modern GPS may seam superfluously (?), but I am happy that Compass and TomTom street finder now is a part of my iPhone. Should I be embarrassed? It will help me finding routes to restaurants, but that is of course of no help to those fighting for life in the water volumes in Asia.
At my cottage the temperature still reaches + 14C near end of September, and my garden are continuously showing new beautiful roses.
I must confess that I am very satisfied with the climate conditions just now here in Oslo, but I do see that there is a change going on and it is increasing all over the world.The need for modern GPS may seam superfluously (?), but I am happy that Compass and TomTom street finder now is a part of my iPhone. Should I be embarrassed? It will help me finding routes to restaurants, but that is of course of no help to those fighting for life in the water volumes in Asia.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Monday's Odd Shot--my first odd shot from this Alaska trip
It seems like a good idea, nice and orderly, so why is it an odd shot?
Remember there are various definitions of Odd Shots, and some shots have been odder than others over the last year and a half. An Odd Shot can be odd because of the angle that the photo is taken, or it might recall an odd circumstance or unusual contradiction. It might be a shot of something that is really, well, odd. Click the camera in the sidebar for all the details about the meme.
In this case it is the obvious lack of need for customers to form a single line -- or any sort of line at all at the car rental desks at Anchorage International Airport that gave me a chuckle.
I've been asked about Mr. Linky or Mr. McLinky. Personally, I am not fond of them, but I will bring one back for Odd Shots except if I am away from my computer for an extended periods such as my recent trip to Alaska. They are great gadgets, but sometimes problematical, and I don't want everything to go south when I'm not around to fix it.
Alaska Bits -- 7 (I think) -- a bit for Weekend Reflections
One bit from flying in on our approach to Anchorage along the Alaska coast.
A puddle in Weekend Reflections
James at Newtown Area Photo has just started a new (and linky free!!) meme called Weekend Reflections that sounds very promising. Post a reflection during the week-end and give him a notice - and you're on.I take part with this one from home. Very representative for our climate right now.
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