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
Pat,

Thanks for the great play-by-play on what was clearly a visit that everyone enjoyed. One statement you made about yourself got me up in arms though,

Everyone has taken an interest in me as a person and made me feel as if I belong. A shared love for music does that.

A shared love for music may have brought us all together, but it's you as a person that lets you belong. Nothing more is needed. Straightforward honesty and a simple joy for living life are welcome in any crowd.

Doug
Zaikesman's comment re: SF weather reminded me of quote from one of Hartford's more famous residents, Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain), paraphrased, it goes like this
"Coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" I've only been there a couple of times. I agree.
On Saturday morning I opened the San Fransico Chronicle to the weather section. Highs for the day, 71° to 92°. LOL. Not mentioned is the bone chilling breeze whenever you are near the bay like we were. Get five miles away and the weather is totally different. Ten miles away and its much more like where we live here in Idaho.

Aw, shucks Doug. Do you mean you like me? No acounting for taste in this life, is there? Ha. I was probably doing a lame job describing my feelings about acceptance. Yeah, I'm kind of plagued by a cultural inferiority complex. It doesn't happen with my audio friends though. I'm a pretty complex guy but taken at face value within the confines of other groups I've often been made to feel even more culturally deprived. Comments such as, YOU WELD??? YOU DRAG RACE??? YOU FISH??? YOU RIDE A HARLEY???, have been made to me insultingly in other circles. Not with audio guys though. Audio guys even find value in a persons decision to drive a 150,000 mile car, assuming that you spend the savings on a cartridge and tonearm that could buy a new car. I could go on and on about my disdain for uppity folks. At times most of us find ourselves in an environment where we feel uncomfortable being ourselves. I was just trying to convey the comfort level I've found amongst music lovers. Thanks for defending me to myself though.

Howard, the story about you and Gina was cool. While you had the wisdom to see beyond the common barriers we impose on mate selection and found lasting happiness I was just the beneficiary of dumb luck when I found Barb. I've always said I'd rather be lucky than good any old time. Sure, I recognized the qualities she possessed that I wanted in a mate but I was in lust as well as in love. Clearly, my thought processes were overly influenced by my smaller head.

Rob, contact me if you ever wish to have a fly fishing mentor. The street in front of your home is perfect for learning how to cast a fly.

Since Albert is quoting Neil Young I'll let you guys in on a favor my sis is doing for me. She's embroidering a banner with "It's better to burn out than to fade away" for me to hang in the music room.

Larry and Albert, I wish you guys could have been with us too. Maybe Rocky Mountain Audio Fest.

The French doors were installed in the music room while we were gone. The trim and finish will be done on Wednesday. Stage depth was increased and there doesn't seem to be any negative sonic effects otherwise. Aesthetically it's a great addition to our home. Why didn't we do this years ago?
The French doors were installed in the music room while we were gone
Pat,
I do believe that the administration has officially re-named those Freedom Doors. So as long as you leave "Rockin' in the Free World" on the turntable, you will have perfect audio synergy. Alternatively, "Nebraska" will work as well. :-))