About Lugnut -- Patrick Malone

If you really enjoy the game of rugby, I highly recommend that you see the documentary currently in the theaters, "Murderball". It follows the most recent years of the United States Olympic Quadraplegic Rugby Team. Very funny, inspiring film, one that speaks to the analogy made by Bluebull.

Enjoy your Sunday, Patrick.
Howard

Apologies for being AWOL so long. Life has been exceedingly busy. Since my first trip to see Pat in Idaho, I returned to see him again and made two round trip flights to Detroit (and back to Delaware), and drove to Detroit from Delaware. And that's just the beginning of it. The first Detroit trip was to meet two guys who were interested in meeting me to see if they'd like to hire me. They were, but I suggested that we live together for a while before getting married. Nothing like uprooting your family and moving half-way across the country only to learn you're not compatible with the two other guys in the office.

So I returned to Detroit and worked with them for two weeks, and we decided we would work well together. It's a botique litigation firm -- mostly commercial and personal injury litigation. I then returned to Delaware.

Lis and I then drove to Michigan in my '93 Stealth (152,000 miles and still drives like new). We set up a day with a Realtor and looked at 24 houses in one day. Whew, what a day! We liked one a lot, and tomorrow I close on the purchase. Then on Tuesday the carpets get cleaned and a carpenter is cutting an arch between two adjoining rooms for our 8 year old, Amanda (one room will be the sleeping room; the other for toys, desk, computer, etc.) I fly back to Delaware on Wednesday.

Then the real work begins -- packing everything for the move. I'm sure my bulging disc and rotated hip will love that *groan* Hopefully, we and the moving van pull out on the 22d and we all arrive in Michigan (Bloomfield Hills) on the 24th or 25th.

Work has been INTENSE, but I am enjoying it. Filed a med mal last week against a physician -- the $%*! freak -- who manipulated young boys to engage in bare butt spanking with him. Got a preliminary injunction against a city a couple days before that. Trial on that case on Tuesday -- stay tuned!

So that's why I've been AWOL from the group.

Pat, happy 55! Hope you enjoy your evening with Barb in the Boise hotel. I hope your soon up to fishing again. A CDP? Patrick? No way ... I'm flabbergasted. Sorry to hear about your Syrah; man, those units have been giving you trouble. Please say hello to Bill, Steve and Ron for me.

BTW, it was me in the car with you when you yelled at that kid, "Turn that fu**er down!" Being from Detroit, I was hoping he realized it was you who yelled it ... and that he had good aim. His calmness didn't make me feel any better -- could have been reloading.

Nrchy, thanks for your comment "Didn't that other guy make horror movies." I was "that other guy." But I confess I'm not terribly photogenic; in fact, I'm sure my face has broken several cameras and mirrors.

Springbok, congrats on your string of victories. That's very cool.

And to everyone else ... hello again! I'll be AWOL again for a couple weeks during this move. See you all again soon, and God bless.

Best regards,
Paul

Paul,

Welcome back. I've been concerned about you. Congrats on the new house and joining the firm. Keep chasing those bad guys!

After careful consideration, and partly motivated by Paul's return, I offer the following dubious news with the usual caveat about everything health-wise being out of my control, etc. On my last visit with the doctor and approaching the statistical ending of the usefulness of my current chemo, he said we should be considering no further treatments when this medication fails. What chemical options are left are so toxic that using them is as bad as letting the cancer run its course. Using them would not provide me with anything that resembles a good day. I've kind of alluded to how yucky I feel most of the time now. As it is I have a couple of days per week where, still feeling crappy, I can rise to the occassion and have a day. If I don't have any days where I can muster the energy to be alive there is no sense in going on. I still have hope that I'll defy the odds and this current drug will see me through a trip to the Rocky Mountain Audio Fest. According to the doc when I stop chemo entirely I will have about two months. It'll only take a couple of weeks for me to likely quit posting to this thread. I'll keep you guys advised about what is happening. Next Friday is my next treatment and then the scheduled week off during which I get my next CT scan. That's on the 29th. The following week we will look at the scan results and decide if further treatment is beneficial or not.

If I fall off the radar on this thread I trust that those faithful Audiogon friends that phone me will keep everyone updated. I'll try to write something and have my daughter post it for me after I'm outta here as final words to you guys. No matter what, I want you all to know that still, I'm okay. Going to a friends house today to listen to some tunes and visit thanks to Barb being able to drive me over.

Pat

You will NEVER be off our radar or far from our thoughts, Pat. I hope this day is one of your good ones (and tomorrow and etc.). If not, then take it easy, slip in one of those silver disks and try and rest.

Lugnut, it sounds like you are forecasting what might become some to the darkest days of your life’s journey here with us and I just want you to know you will be in my thoughts and prayers.

The following is a re-post by Captain Danjel Bout (aka thunder6) from his blog. When I read it I realized it applied to how I feel about you and decided to share it with everyone now.

“I was sustained by one piece of inestimable good fortune. I had for a friend a man of immense and patient wisdom and a gentle but unyielding fortitude. I think that if I was not destroyed at this time by the sense of hopelessness, which these gigantic labors has awakened in me, it was largely because of the courage and patience of this man. I did not give in because he would not let me give in."
-Thomas Wolfe

“Some people come into your life like a leaf settling onto a pond, their arrival causing nary a ripple. Others hurtle in like a stone falling from a high cliff, their entrance marked by a riot of spray and a corona of liquid motion. But after their explosive entrance these too quickly fade, the circlet of energy disappearing as its kinetic seed settles to the bottom. And then there are people who pass through your life like a smooth river rock skipping across the surface. Their swift trajectory doesn’t allow them to settle into the chill depths of being, but their dance between the elements of air and water momentarily suspends the boundaries between all things. And shows you, if only for a brilliant moment, that all things are possible.

There are no words that accurately describe those rare individuals, nor are there words to express the yearning you feel when you don’t hear from them or they have to move on. If there is a consolation it comes from the knowledge that their lessons are inscribed on the most durable of mediums…your soul.“

Patrick, you occupy a big spot in my heart and soul, man; don’t give in, and I hope you hear good news after the 29th CT scan and have many many more good days.

Warmest regards,
L