Patrick and I have become good (internet) friends in the past several months. He once sent me a whole carton of LP's without expecting a penny, just because he thought I'd enjoy them. (I have, and of course I sent him a few pennies!)
He and I have been trading emails about his condition for some time. There's nothing more I can add to Paul Frumkin's initial post, except to say that due to other commitments I deeply regret I won't be able to meet them in Nebraska next week.
Merry Christmas to Patrick and family. Like everyone else that knows you, my prayers and Paul's are with you. |
Patrick,
It's good to have you back with us after your visit home. What a wonderful gift from Steve. It was a gift that reflects the true spirit of its recipient as much as its giver.
"The love you take is equal to the love you make."
Because you make, you also take more love than most.
How about you and Paul posting some pictures for us? We'd love to see that new room, especially with you and Barbara in it. (I'd wager she was in the know, you know.) Of course Paul should polish your system with AIVS first, just to give every component that virgin vinyl shine! You, we'll gladly take as scruff as you care to be.
In friendship and with prayers,
Doug |
Paul,
Thank you for the update. The news, daunting as it is, seems somewhat better than the worst Pat told me he was expecting. It sounds cliche, but if they removed 1/3 of his stomach then he has 2/3 of one left. If the stomach and some length of intestine were the only organs affected then perhaps all our prayers have been answered and a recovery will be possible.
Recovery will depend on Pat as much as anyone or anything of course. Fortunately, in addition to being as kind and generous a man as I have known, Pat is also a stubborn, ornery cuss who takes nothing lying down, so to speak. If anyone can fight his way through surgery, chemo and all the other pains and challenges it's him.
Thank you for taking the time to visit Pat and Barb. I have health challenges to deal with in my home and just couldn't get away. Your generosity of spirit must be a great comfort to them, and is a reflection of the best of our community.
Doug |
Hey, Pat's really into cars, though probably not the dealer-sold kind. He actually built his own street drag racer basically from the ground up.
I can't believe a hospital allows that, in a surgical recovery ward?! I'd be beyond livid. Go get 'em Pat! |
Pat,
Thank you for the update, and please never hesitate to share your whole story with your friends. That's what we're here for, even if we're sometimes too frightened to know what to say. Though it seems backwards and some might think it unfair, you actually have to be brave for us. Most of us have not yet walked the path you're on, so you have to show us the best way.
Get on the chemo and fight. Get on with enjoying the music too. And don't forget there are certain substances that reportedly can help you with both, even better than cheeseburgers and fries!
I know what you mean about live piano vs. recorded piano. That must have been quite a treat. We also have a friend with grand pianos in his home. I keep dreaming my system will someday fool me into believing I'm hearing one. Like Don Quixote, I'm tilting at windmills!
Doug |
There's much wisdom on this thread, but none any wiser than this: ... the only person injured by the anger is the one carrying it. Thanks, John. Welcome to Pat's sister Mary! Now that you know what sort of crowd your brother hangs out with, we won't blame you if you never come back. But we're glad you're here just the same. Pat, Just to insert a bit of audio, so the moderators let this continue, I shipped you the cartridge on Thursday. Let me know what you think of it when you get time to play around with it. Please don't be shy about using it. |
As many of you may have noticed I'm back to posting in my traditional fashion. My "wordly" emotions are coming through loud and clear which is an indication that I'm feeling much better. I did notice that Pat, and was very happy to see it. Thanks for the update. Your kindly doctor is wrong about the depression I think. Nobody as loud and opinionated as you or me could be depressed. Say, why not invite that insurance company exec out for an evening of pool? You could probably sandbag him for enough to cover the pills! He'd never admit he was taken to the cleaners by Frankenstomach! <:^) Oh, leave the blindfold home when you come to Miami. I'll feel safer. See ya' soon! |
Rockinroni,
Why would you put a big block (or any block) in an RX-7? Are you mad? MAD?! What could be more fun to drive than a rotary?
I owned two first gen RX-7's and now own an RX-8. 6 speed gearbox + 9,500rpm redline = zoom! Redlined it in 3rd and 4th just yesterday. That was some movin'.
And yes folks, this is relevant. Pat loves cars and he thinks my RX-8 looks sexy. He's right of course, but mostly because I was standing next to it! ;-) |
Ron,
Sorry for the confusion. Overhead cams? What are cams? What do you use them for?
RX8man,
Great website! I love winding the rotary out and I'm not into drag, on street, track or nightclub, but that's some cool stuff. Have you posted on rx8club.com? Lots of modders there.
John,
Austin who? Them's fightin' words baby!
Pat,
We could always try to wangle a test drive out of a dealer. No good roads near Miami though. Everything's pretty flat and straight AFAIK. Give me New England hills or your mountains for RX8 driving. |
I'd like to thank Patrick for sharing himself with us last weekend, and for especially for sharing his new love with me.
The Cuban coffee, you perverts, not the Cubans!
Patrick took me around to this restaurant he'd found and bought me a cup. Imagine something almost espresso, but sweetened nearly to a syrup. Yum. We were the only two English speakers in the place. Long tables were filled with two or three generations, families sharing Sunday lunch after church, judging by their attire. Wonderful atmosphere, wonderful coffee. |
I'm really in touch with my body and its telling me that this stuff is working. I could bitch about a number of things that are no longer normal but I'm in generally good health and can enjoy every day. I can actually make plans and follow through with them. That may not seem like a big deal to you healthy guys but it is what gives me my life back. Previously if I were invited to do something I'd have to qualify my response with "sure, if I'm feeling good enough". Now I can say, "what time?". Patrick, you've made my day, week and month! I'm so glad to hear this good news. Personally I hate cigars, so I'm staying away from Boise until you use them up. ;-) Glad you enjoyed that unscheduled demo of the value of John Chapman's simple and clever design. Why doesn't every stepup have these? I guess people just haven't experienced how critical impedance loading is for an MC running through a stepup. As you heard, the tiniest change can turn a pedestrian sounding setup into real magic. We learned this partly by dumb luck and partly because Paul is a scientist. I supplied the dumb luck by choosing the BentAudio Mu's. It was simply an, "I don't know what I'm doing so I'll go for flexibility," decision. Paul predicted the sensitivity to impedance adjustment and explained that we could create intermediate values by combining two or more resistors. He was like, "Well duh, doesn't everyone do that?" (You try living with a genius - it ain't all peaches and cream!) Funny how things large or small can surprise us and work out well sometimes, but I guess you know that. Here's a suggestion: pick up a set of the K&K stepups (they have a sponsor link on VA). You can buy them in kit form for $250. Solder a pair of speaker binding posts across the secondaries while making the kits. Voila! Same functionality as the Bent's for 1/3 the cost. Better yet, borrow Twl's Cotter and mod it for him. He'll thank you when he gets it back! Cheers, buddy. Glad to hear you're feeling better. |
Hi guys. Been busy with other things and not posting much.
Thanks to Swampwalker for the visit and his kind words about our system. We just upgraded from Teres 265 to 320 and that's what he heard. The improvement was far larger than we expected, about the equivalent of going from Airy 3 to UNIverse. IOW, huge! I'll post something on my system thread when I get time. We upgraded our power amp a couple of months ago also. I haven't updated that yet either. A preamp upgrade is probably next. Our little c-j PV11 is in way over its head now, :-), but it holds its own remarkably well. We've had a friend's reference quality preamp in our system and decided to upgrade the power amp first. It made a bigger difference. The PV-11 is a remarkable performer, especially since used ones go for $700 or less.
We visited Swampwalker and heard the Airy 2 with our BentAudio stepups in his system. I've never heard a happier cartridge. It just sang and sang. Some kinda magic going on there with his SOTA, OL Silver, Merlins and Joule I guess. It doesn't match a UNIverse, but there was zero sense of that while listening. The music just flowed naturally into the room with a transparent grace and delicacy that was pure pleasure to hear.
Swampwalker was kind enough to lend us his Denon DVD-3910 with full Underwood mods so we could A/B/C against our stock 3910 and our Arcam FMJ CD23. Differences between them? Sure. Worth $2K+ to mod our Denon? Doubtful. The turntable upgrade was 50 times more significant for about the same money.
Cheers to all! |
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. |
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 hasnÂ’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. |
Looks alot like Snoopy to me. |
Hi Pat,
So glad to hear you're getting a week's "vacation" from the chemo. Hope that gives you enough energy to have a really great visit with your sister.
I'm really glad to hear you say Neil Young is sounding the way you like him. It wasn't quite working for you when we spun him in Miami, but obviously something in your system or room makes a difference that counts. Enjoy! |
Pat,
I was confused and bitter. Larry promised me I'd be sleeping with angels. Instead I found myself drinking with orcs. |
Pat, I play rock (and even some roll) alot when I'm driving. It keeps the energy and attention levels up. Classical is impossible to listen to in a car, or at least in my car. The dynamic range is too wide. We recently acquired a (sealed!) copy of 'Trio', with Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmy Lou Harris (Warner Bros. W1-25491). Thanks to Swampwalker BTW for introducing us to it. Not rock and roll certainly, but also not classical. This is one amazing LP with three amazing singers. When Dolly sings "Wildflowers" the lyrics somehow bring Lugnut to mind: The hills were alive with wildflowers
And I was as wild, even wilder than they.
For at least I could run, they just died in the sun
And I refused to just wither in place.
Just a wild mountain rose, needing freedom to grow
So I ran fearing not where I'd go
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow
And the flowers I knew in the fields where I grew
Were content to be lost in the crowd
They were common and close, I had no room for growth
I wanted so much to branch out
I uprooted myself from home ground and left
Took my dreams and I took to the road
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow
I grew up fast and wild and I never felt right
In a garden so different from me
I just never belonged, I just longed to be gone
So the garden, one day, set me free
Hitched a ride with the wind and since he was my friend
I just let him decide where we'd go
When a flower grows wild, it can always survive
Wildflowers don't care where they grow Dammit. Now I'm gonna cry every time she sings that. I will laugh though, whenever I put that record away. I own no other LPs with paperdoll cutouts of three skimpily clad ladies printed on the inner sleeve. There are even little garment cutouts to fit them. This is not a thing I ever expected to find in my music collection. |
Hi Pat, Thanks for the latest. Of course we all cheered this one: Some poor young dude, with a horrible taste in music and the technology to make him go deaf at an early age, pulled up along side me with his windows down. I took the audio assault for about a half nano-second and screamed over to him to turn the f*&#@r down. I can just imagine how you'd look to a stranger if you let a little Irish show for a second. You probably scared the p1$$ right out of him. Were you wearing the Snoopy hat and goggles too? That would have been worth filming! Doug, if those lyrics remind you of me I don't want the tears to last long. Hopefully they will bring a smile to your face. And Nate, trust me, Doug won't be wearing a tutu any time soon. Not to worry, on either account. :-) |
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 |
"Forgive me for having an opinion here but I think Brahams would have better served the listener with a shorter composition. "
Pat,
Your opinion is my opinion!
Tchaikovsky once said of one of Brahm's works, "He spent an hour building the perfect pedestal. Too bad he forgot to put a statue on top." ;-)
Glad to hear you're feeling a bit better as RMAF approaches. I'm sorry we won't be coming out. It looks like lots of friends from this thread will be there.
Don't feel like you need to thank everyone. Staying with this thread and sharing your time so generously and honestly is all the thanks any of us could ask for.
Doug |
Pat,
You are a wonder and an inspiration to us all. You're also a nut who's short a lug or two, but we forgive you.
Best wishes from Paul and me as you continue to hold off the barbarian hordes. For whatever it's worth, your ordeal has at least inspired the best thread Audiogon has ever hosted. For that we thank you.
Doug |
I've just read a somewhat unpleasant post on another thread. After wasting time, energy and karma typing and deleting a dozen hard-edged responses, something brought me here instead.
Better to breathe again deeply of Lugnut's spirit than to add any unpleasantness to our world. Thank you Patrick and all of you, just for being. Just reading today's newest posts stilled the voice of anger and argument. Please forgive me for even mentioning it here.
P.S. It's great to know that Warrenh and Zaikesman are still around. Both of them helped me out in past years, sharing their experiences and knowledge freely and generously. Hi guys. |
Pat,
I find it odd that your nurse thought you should present the same symptoms as a pregnant woman. That's not quite how I remember you. Has something changed?
I know exactly what you mean about a healthcare professional mis-diagnosing because they don't know you and won't believe you. Nothing could me more frustrating, or more frightening.
Several years ago Paul went into hospital with severe and worsening abdominal pain. He told them it was his appendix. Having suffered a bout of appendicitis while travelling the year before he knew exactly what it felt like.
They refused to believe him. Why? Because his temperature, "wasn't high enough." We could not convince them that his normal temp is not 98.6. It's more like 97.0, so a temp of 99 for him is like 101.6 for most people. IOW he DID have a temperature, they just wouldn't believe us.
These textbook-bound idiots kept him under "observation" (ie, they ignored him) for three days with no pain relief. When they finally went in they found, ta-da!, a hugely swollen appendix.
They also locked him up in a very unpleasant isolation ward. Why? Because a slightly built gay man "must" have AIDS, right? Talk about diagnosing with their prejudices.
This was at Yale-New Haven Hospital, which pretends to be a world leading medical research and teaching facility. Hah! When my appendix flared up I got vastly superior care at our local hospital. They checked me in and took it out in less than 4 hours.
Glad to hear they finally got that fluid drained. I hope you're comfortable enough to enjoy the concert.
Enjoy the show and the weekend visit,
Doug |
Pat,
Sorry to hear you're so tired, perhaps the slushies will help. I miss your words here every day but I don't miss your voice - because that will always be here.
Yesterday we took Paul's mom and cousin (visiting from England) to visit Northhamton MA, a beautiful New England town with a thriving art and music community. (And several vinyl shops, woo-hoo!) There must have been a rally nearby because the streets were growling with Harley Davidsons. We couldn't always hear each other talk, but in those moments I just thought of you. (Roarin' like a Lugnut should!)
Barb,
You're doing a wonderful thing by continuing to post. I know it's good for Pat and good for us. I hope and believe it's good for you too. Your voice is one we've come to enjoy hearing. There are two of you going through this, and you both matter to us.
Thank you both for sharing these precious moments. We are here for you. If there is anything we can do, ...
Doug and Paul |
Patrick,
We will never forget you, nor fail to honor the spirit you awoke among us. For that good-hearted and courageous effort you are blessed. Thank you and rest in peace.
Barbara,
We are sharing your pain at Patrick's death, but also your joy knowing that his suffering is over. Our deepest condolences as you make your way through these difficult hours and days.
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Barb,
Thank you for the card and photo. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!
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Patrick's main hobby/obsession, when he wasn't tuning his Linn, was drag racing. He built his own street-legal racer, helped others with their cars and enjoyed the whole scene. I expect the nickname "Lugnut" came from there somehow.
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Every time some hot rodding kid roars by the house and I can't hear the music, I imagine it's Patrick taking another run in the dragster he built.
We couldn't have been more different in our tastes and views, musical and otherwise, but that never affected our genuine friendship.
To all friends everywhere ...
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Nate,
Thank you for bringing this thread back to the fore. The holidays may have passed, but any time is a good time to remind ourselves of the value of friends. I don't even have to read the thread to feel tears well up, the memories are strong.
Paul and I have traded Xmas cards with Mary every year since Pat died, but this year's came back with a "Forwarding Order Expired" notice. If anyone knows her address, please email me.
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Raytheprinter,
Thanks for the reminder. Pat and I became friends here, if too briefly. We couldn't have differed more in musical and audio tastes and styles, but his good heart made those differences irrelevant.
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