What's the latest in people's lives?

[IanKennedy]

I'm so sorry to hear that. You have my condolences. It was a shock when mum went only 3 months after diagnosis. At least we had that time to get used to the idea.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Thanks, Ian. I appreciate that, and my own condolences concerning your mother.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

The funeral is tomorrow. It doesn't even feel real.

[McAvoy]

The funeral is tomorrow. It doesn't even feel real.

Hate to say it, but you will have to prepare yourself for tomorrow. Right now it doesn't feel real but the funeral will hit you hard. Even afterwards, it will still not feel real at times.

Its been seven months since my mother died. Sometimes it feels like another day will where my Mom will come down the stairs in the morning like any other. Or she is out doing something like shopping and she will be right back.

I am saying right now on my phone while my Mother's urn is right across from me.

[IanKennedy]

Good luck, it is going to he hard but at the same time it is a way of communally saying goodbye and to remember the good things, of which there will be many.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Thanks, all. It was... pretty damned hard. Still doesn't feel real.

[McAvoy]

So last night someone (probably more than one) came into my Dad's driveway and cut the catalytic converter out of his van. He drove it today thinking maybe the exhaust just broke until his friend looked underneath.

Anyway, I do live with my Dad. My theory why my car and his second car wasn't hit was because both of our cars sit very low to the ground whereas the van doesn't.

We live in a nice neighborhood. Big lawns, wide streets, it is quiet. So our guess is that they scoped out my Dad's house and saw it was vulnerable.

Tomorrow, my Dad's handyman is installing cameras and motion sensor lights. He is even talking about buying a gun. Not that I can see a use for if they do these things in the middle of the night.

[IanKennedy]

Bloody annoying. I don't think a gun will do the same job as a catalytic converter, probably best to replace it with another cat. It's also likely to make your van backfire

Good idea with he cameras. There are plenty of them that will feedback into your mobile and alert you at the time. Plus backup to the cloud so they can't just steal the cameras and footage.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Stealing a catalytic convertor... that's fucking ridiculous.

[McAvoy]

Stealing a catalytic convertor... that's fucking ridiculous.

It is. Apparently another car in my neighborhood had it stolen.

Anyway, the motion sensor spot lights are in. Replaced the old lamp that hasn't worked for over 20 years and was just there for decoration anyway. The second spot light will be done later but that requires figuring how and where to route it.

[IanKennedy]

It's not uncommon. Catalytic converters are full of precious metals, such as platinum. They're actually worth quite a bit on the black market. They extract the metals and sell them to the likes of "cash for gold".

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

It's not uncommon. Catalytic converters are full of precious metals, such as platinum. They're actually worth quite a bit on the black market. They extract the metals and sell them to the likes of "cash for gold".

I was actually not aware of that. Legit thanks for the info, Ian.

[McAvoy]

When I scrapped my last car the first thing they asked is if I still had the catalytic converter. Raised the price of the scrap value for the car. 2007 Nissan Altima and I got $650 for it.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Well, been on vacation nine days for my birthday and working myself out after my father's death. I'm almost glad to be going back to work tomorrow.

[RK_Striker_JK_5]

Well, here in the US it's Thanksgiving. I'm thankful I found this place so many years ago. I may not post much, but I do still hang out here.