About Lugnut -- Patrick Malone


Many of us have come to know Patrick Malone (Lugnut) as a friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and kind individual. He is a frequent and enthusiastic contributor to our analog discussion forum. He has initiated only 17 threads, but responded to 559 threads. I would guess that many, if not most, of us can recall a time when Pat replied with helpful advice to a question we posted or helped us track down a rare recording. I have come to love Pat as a friend, and to respect him as a man, and I suspect many of you share those feelings.

Today I write to share difficult news with you. Pat has been diagnosed with an aggressive stomach cancer. It has yet to be determined whether surgery will even be worth it. If surgery is performed, most or all of the stomach will be removed, and Pat would face a difficult and long post-op period in the hospital. The medical course is still uncertain, but will be determined soon. Whatever is decided, it will not be easy or pleasant.

Something may be planned in the future to assist the family. For now, Pat could use some of the friendship he so often and willingly showed us. You can email Pat at: lugnut50@msn.com. You can also mail cards, letters ... or whatever. You may email me for Pat's mailing address. My email is: pfrumkin1@comcast.net.

I hope to spend a few days with Pat in Idaho or Nebraska (from which he hails) soon. Between this news, my legal work, getting ready for family arriving for the holidays, Audio Intelligent, and trying to make plans to visit Pat, my head is spinning. If you email me and I don't respond, please understand that I am not ignoring you, but rather simply do not have time to reply.

Pat may or may not have time to respond to posts here, to emails, or to cards mailed to him. But he has asked me to convey to each and every one of you that he has cherished your friendship, your comradery, and sharing our common hobby on this great website.

As we prepare for our holiday season celebrations, and look forward to -- as we should -- enjoying this time of year, I ask that you keep Pat and his family in mind ... and softly offer up, in quiet moments in the still of night and early morning, prayers for Pat and his family. God bless.

Warmest regards to all,
Paul Frumkin
paul_frumkin
Way to go, Patrick. BTW, do try one day to listen to Mahler's 2nd symphony ("resurrection"). I think you'll like it! Cheers
Lugnut,
For the chemo sessions you might try a nice pair of headphones and a load of your favorite tunes on a portable 20MB hard drive MP3 player. Might preoccupy the mind.
Smokester,

Love your moniker. I've thought of that MP3 player thing too. I've ripped all of my CD's into my computer but no longer use digital in my main system. I don't have a player and can't justify the expense. NOTE: DON'T ANYONE DARE SEND ME A PLAYER AS A GIFT OR ON LOAN!!! I take books to read but they give me drugs that put me to sleep. And they feed us lunch. Sleep is good but lunch is better. But the steroids....

That's now part of my daily meds. Also, each treatment consists of a mega dose of some other kind of steroid. Having been a cancer patient and used them previously I'm aware of what they do to me. My mind goes a little too fast and is not as easy to control. So, maybe I now put my foot in my mouth more often. Also, they tend to make me more aggressive which I try very hard not to do. I usually feel bad after being that way even if it was deserved so I just don't like it. I think, at least online, people can put up with the chatty part but I fear I might alienate some good people when it's the drugs and not me talking. It's so nice that I can come to this thread and not even be tempted to degrade the conversation. Other threads, uhoh, watch out. I gotta get disciplined. It don't make no sense in fussin' with a jackass.

Stayed up til 3 am listening to the new cartridge. It's smoothed out some even with that short of a time. I got a lot of enjoyment out of it. Now I don't want to do anything else. It sucks to deny the urge to sit and listen in exchange for the drudgery of acquiring dishpan hands.
Pat, just want to say how much I admire your honesty and attitude displayed in your narrative here, and encourage you not to worry about letting it all hang out on this thread if doing so is of any psychically therapeutic use to you, no matter how wrenching you fear it may seem. We can take it if you can (even the part about selling the Nova :-) I also second your commendation of and request to Audiogon about this thread.

I see I shouldn't haul off and send you my vinyl copy of A Love Supreme (whew!). I'm wondering if you have either of two of my other fav 'Trane albums, Ole (Atlantic) or Coltrane (Impulse)?...