Friday's Feast

Appetizer: What is your favorite type of art? Realism...from the Renaissance...especially Albrecht Durer

Soup: When was the last time you got a free lunch (or breakfast or dinner)? Who paid for it? Olive Garden...Carries' Dad got us a gift card, and me and Carrie had a beautiful "Dinner-For-Two"

Salad: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how emotional are you? For a guy? Pretty emotional...in a weird way...so I'd say about an 8 or 9...for a guy!!!

Main Course: Approximately how long do you spend each day responding to emails? Work E-Mails...about an hour...personal...about 5 minutes!!!

Dessert: To what temperature do you usually set your home’s thermostat? I Don't...but if I did, I'd make it a little warmer...Carrie always has this place freezing...I know...I'm in trouble now...LOL :o)

Gear Up-Gear Quick Fix Kit

Here's a great combination of items that will ALWAYS come in handy when you need them the most, and you you can fit just the right amount of stuff you need with out packing too much or too little...and it all fits in a compact LC-1 Compass/First Aid pouch... keeping in mind, this a REPAIR KIT for "In The Field", and should be supplemented with a decent first-aid and survival kit...

Here's what I can fit comfortably into this, and I have used every one of these items recently, and more than once...

- A "Roll" of Combat Duct Tape (about 15 ft.): Marking your gear/, fixing a radiator hose, quickly attaching "stuff" to your weapon, or expedient repairs to rips/tears in your tent or bag

-20 "Gear Ties" (miniature zip/electrical ties): Attaching your Camel-Bak/Knife to your LBV/Tac-Vest.

-5 or 6 Larger "Gear Ties" for heavier attachments

-Light; a few different one's will work, but I prefer the Gerber Recon...just enough light to make those essential repairs in the dark, and it easily attaches to a ball cap/BDU Hat, for hands free lighting!!!

-Cutting Tool; Either a Gerber Eclipse or a Leatherman Micra...both compact and excellent tools!!!

-220 Cord; Similar to 550 cord, but alot thinner, and only rated to...you guessed, 220 lbs. Although this may not hold up to as much constant pressure, this is perfect for a repair kit, as you can pack 10 times the length, and it will still do what you need it to in place of some 550.

-I also included a small cyalume light stick, for giggles...I had the room, and you can always use one of these!!!

I have three of these assembled, although some of the items (Light/Knife/Tool) are interchanged between the one I think I'll have on hand first. I keep one on my CFP-90, one on my LBV, and a third I switch between my ALICE Pack and Spelunking Bag. You can easily change this into a "survival pouch" by switching out the repair items with some life-boat matches, and fishing tools, signal mirror, etc. Also, if you have any recommendations or comments, please let me know!!!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer:
Describe Your Laundry Routine: What Laundry Routine? LOL!

Soup:
In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old? Does NOW Count? Naw, I'm just a little banged up from my job, but I think I will always be young at heart!!!

Salad:
What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both? Both; Be a Loving Husband to my Wife and provide for my family, as well as making sure our "Baby Bear" grows up to be a positive example in the world.

Main Course:
Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately. I saw a picture of Muqtada al-Sadr's army marching through a town in Iraq...a little show of force, or just trying to intimidate the local populace? And after seeing the way these guys were dressed, I couldn't believe these guys were serious!!! They looked like a bad mix of saturday cartoon badguys, and slap-stick robbers!!!!!! Gimme a break!!! GO USA!!!

Dessert:
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today? It's late, and I have to work tomorrow...but my wife and son always bring a smile to my face, and give me purpose...so I'd say a 10!!!

Good Gear

This week's "Good Gear" review will be for the USAF Survival Knife...first let me run through the spec's:

1. Cost: $35-$45


2. Manufacturer: Ontario Knives (U.S. Based...These guys have been making alot of knives for the miltary for a long time!!!)


3. Dimensions: 5" Blade (9-1/2" Overall)


4. Knife Material: 1095 Carbon Steel full tang blade, with leather handle, and steel buttcap


5. Sheath Material: Leather with metal rivets, and metal plate attached to back to prevent knife from cutting/piercing the user.

This is a nice Knife for the price...nothing fancy, but built to perform...has grooves in the handle and two holes in the top hilt to make a spear (with the included string...or your bootlace, 550/220 cord). The leather handle is anice switch from the polymer handles that are so common these days, and also provides for a good grip in demanding situations. Also has a stone knife sharpener in a pouch attached to the sheath. Black polymer coating keeps the blade "toned down" and a little more resistant to wear. The sheath has a belt attachment at the top...I however, prefer to use some webbing and use it as an ankle knife (Just above the boot).. The steel buttcap can be used as a lite hammer...hard to do with most knives!!!

This knife is cheap (price wise) and tough, and has great balance/natural feel, so I use this as my primary knife when camping...or anything out-doors...it can get most jobs done, and when it does give-out, I'm not out $80-$100. A great tactical alternative for this knife is the SPN-24/SPN-25, still available at http://www.uscav.com/. Great Knife for the price...only wish it had grommets to give you more attachment options...for this, it gets a 9 out of 10. But, when...or if...this knife ever does give out on me, I'll just have to get another one!!!

Friday's Feast

Hosted By Friday's Feast

Appetizer
Describe a toy you remember from your childhood. The “He-Man” “Castle Grey Skull”, that folded open, with the wolf head microphone, that turned your voice into Skeletor's

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you? 9…or just a little more observant than Carrie…although she may not agree…LOL

Salad
Where would you rather be at this very moment? Snuggling with Carrie

Main Course
When was the last time you learned something new? Today; that Sun Tzu’s theories are mostly true!!!

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have lived in Italy for 2-1/2 years but I haven’t been to Rome!!!.

Gear Up - Combat Duct-tape

"How to fit a roll of Duct Tape ANYWHERE???"

Combat Duct Tape...A.K.A. 90mph tape. I saw a retail version of this at base supply one time, and thought "I can make one of those!" Ever been out in the trenches, at the camp ground, or on a trip, and needed some duct-tape? To bad you can't carry a roll of that in your field-gear...not comfortably, anyways! So the "Duct-Tape" guys got smart and made a "compact roll" you can carry with you, in your field gear...comfortably!!! IF you know the "guys". But if you don't, here's how to make your own roll of "Combat Duct-Tape"

"Combat Duct Tape...small enough to take anywhere!!!"

Get a sturdy piece of cardboard (fiber board actually...the thin, sturdy stuff...not "corrugated"), and cut it to about 4" long. For the width, cut it just a little thinner than the tape itself. Then, start wrapping the tape around the board, length wise, making sure to keep it taught as you wrap. Do this about twenty/thirty times ,or until the tape is about 1" thick. Now you have a "roll" of "Combat Duct-Tape that will fit in your LC-1 Compass/First-Aid pouch, back pack, Individual First Aid Kit...or just about anywhere!!! I keep one of these in one of my Compass pouches on my LBV, CFP-90, and ALICE Pack, along with some zip-ties and 550/220 cord, as my "Quick Fix/Repair Kit" while in the field.

"Combat duct Tape in an LC-1 Compass/First-Aid Pouch"

Please comment on my blog, and let me know if this was helpful....or maybe you just thought it was neat! Thanks!!!

Firday's Feast - July 20th, 2007

Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?

Football: 10; Everything else: 0

Soup
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?

The Hobbit

Salad
What is your favorite breakfast food?

Biscuit's and Gravy!!!

Main Course
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00.

Snuggle with Carrie!!!

Dessert
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?

Sleep? What's that? LOL! Actually, about 2 minutes

Hosted by: Friday's Feast