since owning a home I have come across a few products that never leave my tool box. Thought it would be a good blog post. Since our grandpa's days WD40 and Duct Tape are the staples right? well I do like WD40 but I have hated duct tape forever, having had the background in sound and light I learned of gaffers tape early on, I have no idea why you use that nasty duct tape ever. I feel its a new era for tool box products to become staples so I give you my must own list of new products I have found.

Silicon Tape - amazing stuff really its tape that only bonds to its self, creates a super crazy tight bond and shrinks as it cures. This stuff is basically required when you want to repair anything in a quick fix. it will repair a burst pipe, hose clamp, tool you name it if you can wrap a bandage like seal around it this will hold it till you can repair it, must have for an old truck tool box. wont dry out or get nasty in heat like PVC tape. Its nothing new just new to me since owning a house. its never cheap buy it on ebay or the likes.

Aluminum Flashing Butyl Tape) - This actually single handed replaced duct tape for me.. this actually is. duct tape. I found it when repairing duct leaks in my house its amazing sticky as heck, strong (not for load bearing) I use this in automotive, electrical, appliances, touch up work, you name it . this stuff rocks and its cheap! recommend any home store for it.

Peel & Seal - actually what got me to blog this, just found this stuff today. Amazing stuff aluminum backed rubberized asphalt. This stuff is amazing stick it on and water tight seal is formed! I actually purchased this as a cheap alternative for DynaMat the sound deadener product that sells for 4 bucks a sq foot to a dealer. this was much cheaper and its the same thing! I will also be using this on the roof of my camper to make a poor man repair to a leak but I feel it will be a great tool for the job. It wont go on when its cold out so not the best for winter repairs but if your cheap and want to fix a leaky area in the roof that is small this stuff is awesome for that. it is also handy to use as glue or just real good tape that wont ever come off

Heat Gun - this item isn't new to home ownership but let me tell you I use a heat gun on just about every project any more. Trying to loosen a bolt, apply any of the tape I have listed here. Dry Paint. dry out a wall, cook pop corn (yes I tried and it works) for 30 bucks its worth the investment.

I was looking to fix toe-in on a new drag link I just put in the truck, while typing this list came on google suggest.

Obviously my first click was the pregnant one, no didnt find any good videos but did find some funny quotes

"Are you or your partner regularly exposed to hazardous substances in the workplace? You may need to consider a job change or job modification before you start your family. Certain substances can affect both the quality of sperm and the development of the embryo. "

"Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons (which can cause a pH imbalance in your vagina); artificial lubricants, vegetable oils, and glycerin (because they can kill off sperm);"

uhmm did they just say vegetable oil? I would be one surprised vegetable after that experience!

so after that I clicked the next logical link after trying to find out how to make babies was find someone to make a baby with - "how to get a girl to like you".. .I'm still working on this one with katie

the best quote I had here was this.

"Here's some help coming from a girl's POV. If you've noticed that she has gradually began to get closer to you, ex: sitting with you at lunch, talking with you more, asking if you want to go do something, or hanging from a tree by herself out side your window. she may squawk like a monkey at first. but dont worry, its just a phase."

I can tell you readers . its not a phase my monkey.. .I mean wife, just went on about something something, money something, where are you! something, look at me when I squawk at you!

here is what I did with this nice weather. 12 hours days of solid work..

• put the side walls back on my truck (the blue 2x4's)
• took 4 loads to the dump consisting of yard debris total 2,120lbs cost $74
• moved the camper to a flat out of the way spot in the yard
• broke a camper jack
• fixed a camper jack
• ran out of hydraulic fluid on another jack
• Katie got more
• finally moved camper
• mowed and weed-wacked
• cleaned up neighbor hood trash
• finished painting and hole filling in truck interior
• fixed a oil issue in truck
• washed car
• fixed my old dipole rebuilt it with 2.0 plans
• put new "antenna hole" in wall of basement as I now have more antennas
• cleaned deck
• put seed in lawn
• put out bug killer dust
• cleaned shed out
• chatted with multiple neighbors, I will give one a gas tank and one might get me a 50ft tower!
• consulted Tracy about tree removal
• removed ~1 cord of wood with Tracy from back yard
• waxed car
• cut down a dead bush for neighbor
• watched Tracy sharpen my chain saws
• Cleaned BBQ
• made sausages with cream cheese
• complained to Katie
• looked around shopping area for people with signatures for legalize marijuana (didnt find any)

all in all a productive weekend. I am pooped! I cant wait for the next sunny weekend. Chores are all over, still have to clean gutters fix faucets build Katie a garden remove a stump down some trees build a few retaining walls fix tie rods, replace some Ujoints and ball joints get a 80m dipole working kill blackberries. burn something.

I signed up for a Pandora account about 3 years ago, today was the first day I ever logged in and listened to music. I typed in Weezer, and went from there - every song after that for the next 2 hours was music I love. Now if they could only figure out how to put this in my car. Or make XM radio have technology like this. Oh well back to XM, but I will have a guilty pleasure of 40 hours of free Kelly Radio every now and then!

what happens when pirates use this page? Live Ship Map I personally think this is the coolest thing I have seen the use of google maps for. I find my self watching ship movement way too much.

This last weekend went out camping with the in-laws. It was the first trip with the new truck and camper. I am happy to report that the only issue was 1.5 leaks in the camper. Since it was raining 80% of the time we were out in the woods and this was my very first experience with all of it. I say that is very good!

The camping was good and I cant wait for more, I did get some contacts in on 20 and 40 meters on my portable ham radio setup that was fun. I do have some work that is needed there however.. antenna and such need some planning to better make it work with the camper. All in all it appears if it was a good trip I still haven't gone over the truck to look for any wear or leaking etc issues. But haven't noticed it yet.

making some PSK31 QSO's with coco and a camper!

I did pick up 4 hydraulic camper jacks off of Craig's list two of them are bad but I only paid $20 bucks for the set, I replaced my two screw jacks today as well. this will significantly improve the load/unload time of the camper, also helps with on site camping stability. I am excited. - I also updated my flikr with some other pictures.

So I haven't officially posted but I got a new truck.. (guess its official now!)

This is the truck the day I got it, and yes you might ask your self did you also get a camper? yes I did. came with the truck!

The truck is in good shape mechanically and ok shape on the body. I feel ok with it so far but after my trials with the last truck I am still cautious. Some Specs on the new truck if you wonder.

• 1978 F250 Custom Super Cab
• 4speed manual 4x4 and 33" tires with 4" highboy lift on the rear
• 400ci 6.6l FE with edelbrock 4 barrel, and hotcam upgrade
• power assist steering, single tank but has dual tank hardware
• 1970's 10ft camper sleeps 5, has icebox and stove. I think its dry :)
• 8-12mph

There are photos of my work and fix-ups here on my flikr feed.

All good luck to this truck and happy camping trips.

someone at google is funny. I was trying to get directions to Lynwood Washington rather Google thinks WA is western Australia

Seems that the Cisco VPN client is always causing issues. I found a cool page today about cleaning up and upgrading the DNE or Deterministic Network Adaptor. Basically this tool allows (cisco) to find out which adaptor in your computer is currently attached to a network and not use the others.

so with out further.. http://www.citrix.com/lang/English/lp/lp_1680845.asp

make sure to take note of the winfix tool to clean up the existing DNE problems

And no this will not help with the Cisco VPN client and windows x64 bit issues. Cisco no longer supports the good old IPSEC client in 64 bit (actually no major vendor supports that) they have all gone to SSL VPN, in the case of Cisco you need to look at the AnyConnect Client. And no it wont connect to the 3000 or 5000 VPN concentrators. You need to buy a new ASA 5500.

However never loose hope http://www.shrew.net/download/vpn has created a client that will work for you, and if you landed here because you just cant get Cisco Client working.. use that one!

Other things to note that the AnyConnect Client isnt a GRE.IPSEC tunnel that means that if you use UDP your packets are converted to TCP for the SSL protocol. If you care, Juniper SSL VPN technology is the best of it all. The IVE or SSL appliances will connect with what they call AnyConnect  it will try and use GRE first then fail back to SSL if it cant do it.

Happy Networking.

Too much travel lately! From NJ to to NY to Spokane and Beyond! AND NO SNOW!

here are some interesting photos from my recent travels around the USA

me in times square at 1am

saw this at my hotel, never seen Harley parking only

I didn't understand this one that sticker says $10 Charge for unauthorized removal of cable cover, took at apart and there was nothing inside that was interesting. just a wall drop. I have no idea...

After that it was off to Hawaii, it was a good time I might put a photo album back online to deal with all the pictures.