About Lugnut -- Patrick Malone

Lugnut;

I'm thinking of you and taking your advice to heart. Thanks for sharing in this most difficult time.

Maybe God gives extra time to those he is calling when they are needed to bring about a change in those who are watching and listening?

I wish I'd thought of that myself. Thank you, Albert.

Pat,

I've been following along without posting much. I suppose I couldn't think of much worth saying. I still can't, except to thank you again for continuing to share your journey with all of us, your friends.

Hello and best wishes from both Paul and me. Should we have another chance to meet, we both promise not to treat you like the luscious hunk of meat you are! ;-) We're not concerned about sparing you any embarassment of course. You could handle it. We forbear only out of a proper respect for Barbara's prerogative!

Jadem6's advice and your confirming response remind me of Gandalf's admonishment to Frodo: All who live through difficult times wish that it were otherwise, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to do is choose what to do with the time that is given to us.

It seems to me you are choosing very well indeed.

A Lugnut hand-me-down in my system is a tradition. Pat has been a friend for 45 years. One of the things we have always shared is a love of music. Lugnut’s advice and listening to his system had always been a huge influence upon my system. In the 70’s, he had a pair of Klipsch Cornwalls. As soon as I could scrape the money together, I bought a set of Heresy’s. In the 80’s, he and my wife decided my system need to be upgraded so she bought his Audionics amp, Audio Research pre-amp and Denon tuner. The tuner is still in my system and the pre-amp was just replaced with a hand-me-down Linn Waconda, bought from guess who. The Waconda is part of a general, once every 20 years, upgrade of my system. Audio is a lot more complicated that I thought it was in the 80’s. Pat has patiently explained phono stages, bi-amping, VTA, Anti-cables, Nitty Gritty machines and tube equipment to me. He has tried to explain Paul Frumkin but that hasn’t worked. After several months of three steps forward and two steps backwards, I have ended up with a system modeled after Pat’s. He was over to listen July 2 and it won his seal of approval.

If you stacked up the vinyl that Pat and I have listened to together, it would make a really big stack. We basically enjoy the same type of music and are dedicated Neil Young fans. I have a couple of 200 gram vinyl copies of “Greatest Hits” on backorder for us. I wish Neil would get the %#&*/!*^# things pressed. I visit Pat almost every Wednesday and we listen to music in the Purple Haze room. Pat’s listening rooms have always been tastefully done with antiques, comfortable furniture and rock memorabilia. My listening rooms have been “interesting”. One of the first was in the finished attic of an old house in Lincoln. The walls tilted at the same angle as the roof. You could only stand up straight in the middle of the room. It made for interesting acoustics. Ask Pat about my Getting Out of the Army Party we had there. The next listening room was in the spare bedroom of an even older house. The floor was so punky that my turntable was on a platform hung from the ceiling. Otherwise, it would skip whenever anyone walked into the room. Pat happily tolerated the bohemian atmosphere of these rooms and we enjoyed hours of music together.

We enjoy concerts together. (Live Music is Better Bumper Stickers will be Issued) I would love to list all of the concerts we have been to together, but my memory of the ones from the 70’s is a little hazy. I know there were a lot but the details of who, what, when and where are kind of up to debate. (You Know How Time Fades Away) Luckily, Boise is a fairly decent concert venue so we have had the opportunity to see Neil Young and Bob Dylan in the last few years.

Some of the posts in January were comments on the picture of Pat and Barb. Shventus called Barb a lovely lady. That is an understatement of biblical proportion. She is one of the sweetest people I know. She has fed me, talked to me, listened to me, been a gracious hostess and tolerated me for at least 30 years. I remember a 20-something Barb in a white bikini. I know Pat didn’t marry her just for her looks. But if he had, it would have been a great decision.

Audio is just one of Lugnut’s many talents. He has done some beautiful woodwork. He designed small record racks that hold about 20 albums. Just perfect for the “Now Playing List.” I have one and it is one of my most prized possessions. Simple, effective and attractive. He also has completely repaired and re-upholstered furniture.

Pat is a fine mechanic and has been a hot-rodder most of his life. He morphed a Chevy Nova from a quiet sedan into a fire-breathing dragster. It was street legal, could pop a wheelie at the drag strip but looked stock from 50 feet away. Until he started it. The first time I heard it idle, I looked at the front wheels because I was convinced one of them had to come off the ground every time a cylinder fired. Pat also had a Harley. He didn’t have to do much to it because it was right the first time.

Photography is another of Lugnut’s skills. He seems to have the knack for framing just the right shot. He was a pro real estate photographer for a time. Even before that, his talent with a camera was obvious.

Pat moved to Idaho in October, 1987, after visiting me several times. One of the attractions here is fly fishing. Lugnut has excellent hand-eye coordination so he became a good caster and fly fisher very quickly. Plus, he is just plain lucky. We have had some interesting adventures on the Boise River. Sometimes it was so late when we quit fishing that one of us had to hang over the bow of my drift boat and feel the way to camp. Pat bought his own drift boat and tricked it out. It was effective, attractive and a lot of bang for the buck.

This thread is evidence that you A-goners have enjoyed what I have enjoyed the most about 45 years with Pat---his advice and counsel. The audio advice you have appreciated is just the tip of the iceberg. Whenever I needed help with vehicles, photography, home repair, audio or topics that I can’t even remember, I went to Pat. His advice was always clear and well thought out. If he didn’t know the answer, he said so. Pat’s attitude is what made him a successful salesman. He didn’t sell something he would not own himself, he was technically knowledgeable about what he sold and he never blew smoke at customers. It took most customers about 30 seconds to figure this out and Pat sold lots of stuff. I have never seen Pat blow smoke. I have seen him blow flame a few times, but never smoke.

Idaho was the home of a semi-famous outdoor writer, Elmer Keith. One of his books is titled “Hell, I was There.” Well, I’ve been there when Pat started receiving the messages in this thread and the other things so many of you have generously provided. I can tell you from first hand experience how thankful and appreciative Pat is and what a profound impact you had on Old Lugnut. Vetterone, Mick Maun, Michael, Shawn, Jim, Ron, Tom, Patti and others have been wonderful. I especially want to recognize Paul Frumkin for starting this thread and for his other efforts.

Thank you all. Spin some vinyl for Lugnut!

Gone Fishin’!

Wbdillon,
Thanks for that wonderful rhapsody of your life and times so far with Pat. What a treasury of great experiences.

He has tried to explain Paul Frumkin but that hasn’t worked.

I'm not sure Pat should be held accountable for this. Many of us have the same problem. (Sorry Paul, that was just too good an opening!)

I have never seen Pat blow smoke. I have seen him blow flame a few times, but never smoke.

That sums up the Patrick I know admirably.

The other night I watched 'Bridge on the River Kwai' for the first time in ages. Quite a disturbing film in a number of ways. I mention it here only because William Holden's character immediately brought Patrick to my mind. The package might be a bit rough but the contents are pure: an unshakeable core of common sense, earthy honesty and vital humanity.

Today has been a tough day for old Lugnut. I've felt I'm breaking down a little bit, crying a lot. WbDillon's (Bill to me) post tore me up and it's hard to explain. Bill and I go back to fourth grade. Bill has been with me in my fight against lymphoma and now stomach cancer. We've done so much together through the years that I can't even recall the highlights anymore. The highlights just don't seem to matter much. What does matter is the time we spent together. What flashes before my minds eye when I think of Bill is him rowing and me fishing. When he said I was lucky, that is an understatement. Fishing could suck for days but when I'd show up they would be turned onto whatever I happened to have tied on. When I would lift my rod too soon and pull the fly out of a trout's mouth Bill would tell me I might have to lose my polaroid glasses. He'd tell me where he saw a huge rise the day before and cheer me on if I dropped a fly in that spot taken by old grandma. The guy would row upstream so I could fetch a fly out of a bush. He is a great mentor and a dear friend.

The situation I'm in now is just so umpredictable. I felt okay for a couple of days after chemo but then I crashed hard. Slept most of the time and have been pretty depressed too. I can't stand to look at myself in the mirror any longer. I don't look sick anymore. I look like someone that's going to die. Something about my eyes, I guess. I've come to realize that this process is bringing a lot of pain to people that really care about me and I hate it. I'm not perfect but I most certainly don't like to hurt anyone. I look at my wife, friends and family and know that their hearts are just being ripped out of their chests from this and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I read about me and feel that I'm now in the past tense. That hurts. So, in a few ways I'm weakening. I know I don't need to ask but cut me some slack. Okay?

A good friend from Lincoln, Nebraska, Mickey, called today and he and Steve Smith are coming out soon. These are the guys that came late winter/early spring and rebuilt my brick planters. Hopefully, we'll be able to spend time together listening to music and talking about days gone by. Mick and Steve want to see me while there is something left to see. Mick says it's okay if I can just give them an hour a day. I didn't realize that love does, in fact, hurt so much. I'm loved and it hurts those that love me for what I'm going through and it hurts me that they are having to edure this.

Doug, you and Paul occupy a special place in my heart. I enjoy you because you are comfortable in your skins just as I am in mine. Albert, you've given me more miles of smiles than I'm entitled to. Larry, your faithful calls, caring way and gentle demeanor are special to me. Nate, there's never been anyone at this site who's moniker is further from the real person. You're a sweetheart. Howard, maybe I can send a photo if I can only get enough energy! J.D., there is a bond that only you and I share.

How does one explain Paul? A man that is unselfish, caring, compassionate and gentle. Why would someone I didn't know start this thread? Maybe it's because he's experienced his own personal pain and just hates it that others hurt as well. I prefer to think of it a little differently. I believe that God uses us to his benefit whenever possible. I believe that has been Paul's role in all of this.

Again, cut me some slack. This post has been an especially hard one for me to make and it probably sounds like I'm saying goodbye. I don't think I am but I just hate to leave things unsaid and undone. You just never know. I do dream of making it to the Rocky Mtn. Audio Fest and spending a little time with Frank.

Lance is doing pretty good considering his team is not helping him that much. Keep it up!!