My Adventure Pony - Jeep

Plasti-dipped the wheels too.

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Adventures in Plasti-dip

I love playing with Plasti-dip.  There are many different brands on the market and each is slightly different in texture and spray consistency, but they all peel off relatively easily when you are ready for a change.  You can get it as cheap as $5 a can at Home Depot.  There are many other colors available online, but I like the flat black and white colors. In total I have spent about $20 on paint and have enjoyed endless hours of cheap customization.

About 50% coverage the first coat.	Once the first layer dries you can spray thicker coats.	Dipping the grill will keep the paint from getting nicked as much.
Vents accented in white.	The window bracket, and hinges.

The Grill

Since the grill is so easily removable, I decided to tackle this one Saturday morning. The whole project took about an hour from start to finish.  Plasti-dip dries to the touch in about 5 min, making 5 or 6 coats relatively go quick. It takes about 48 hours to fully cure so make sure you are careful not to nick it.  One guy reported bugs got stuck in his paint when he drove too soon after putting it on.  I drove the next day and had no issues.

Everyone has a different number of coats they say to put on.  Generally I have heard the more layers the easier it is to pull off.  I like to put on 6 coats.

I put extra coats on the wheels.  I knocked out two birds with one stone and decided to rotate my tires at the same time.  Otherwise there would be no reason to not paint them right on the vehicle.  As long as you are careful to not spray the break components.  Perhaps put a plastic bag through the wheel.  Since I was rotating my tires I had removed the wheels.  I placed some tape over the valve stems.  I also placed tape between the rim and tire on two.  This was not really such a good idea because it does not seem to matter.  The plastidip blends in with the tire and does not seem to harm it at all. When I pulled the tape on the two I did tape it caused some blemishes.

I just taped off the hinges and bracket.  Overspray is easily wiped off with a micro-fiber towel.  Cotton works too, you just have to use more elbow grease. Wipe off the overspray within an hour, or it will be harder to rub off.  Too early and it will smear.  Give it at least five minutes.

The vents are easy to remove.  You can find a video on youtube showing you, but you basically place a screwdriver in the little rectangle hole inside the vent to lock the vent.  Then rotate the entire unit a slight turn and it pulls right out. To replace it, slide it in and slightly turn it back the other way.

Side Step

Without a side-step the side looks unfinished.

Installation is a breeze. The Jeep is already threaded for a side-step.

Now it looks more complete.

This is where I felt like my Jeep was the beginning of a kit. There were already conveniently located threaded holes ready to mount the kit. The installation went pretty smooth and I think it is a necessary addition to cover the unsightly seam plates under the doors. I would say that it only took about an hour from start to finish.  They sell for anywhere between $99 and $500.  I

Rocker Switch

Every vehicle I have needs more switches.

Very nice!

I love to install various colored LED lights. I also love switches that light up. I found this rocker switch panel on Amazon.  In my van I had more options of places to place switches, but the Jeep is more compact so I thought this option would be better. Currently the Orange switch switches on and off my amplifier. So that I don't make enemies of my neighbors or advertise my audio system in the wrong neighborhood I have the ability to shut off the bass without losing my audio. It also helps to be able to shut off the amplifier if you receive a phone call over the built in blue-tooth system.  Unless of course you enjoy peoples voices booming at you.

The red switch currently controls some red LED accent lights on the floor board. The blue switch controls blue LED accent lights on the center console and floor boards. I am not currently using the green switch for anything, but it lights up anyway if you switch it on.

Camper Insert

Sometimes when I go camping I like to sleep in my vehicle.  When I was younger I would have said that is not camping, but there is something I have come to appreciate about sleeping well at night. Although sleeping on the ground is adventurous and gets you 15 ft closer to nature, you also have additional considerations to take into account.  You will have to put your food away, or be terrorized by hungry critters in the middle of the night.  Ironically this happens more at populated camps where the critters have become brave around humans and dependent on their food.

About 12" of storage space underneath.	Attached carpet and painted particle board.	Finished camper insert ready for deployment.
Piano hinges were used to connect the particle board.	The front portion extends when the seats are moved forward.	6 12" 2x2s for support.

I tested this setup at Sunset Beach. There are a few drawbacks that have made this project a prime candidate for a redesign. 

1. You cannot close the rear gate while in the back.  The window on a Jeep must come down before closing the gate.  There is no way to grab the tailgate and close it.  If you do manage to close it, you will have to climb through one of the front doors to get out. 
2. The flap on the passenger side was not suitably supported resulting in excessive strain on the piano hinges that caused buckling and needs repair. 
3. The platform sits very high. This makes it awkward to take a nap during the day when every passer-by can see you. 
4. Cannot kneel in sleeping area.  Makes dressing difficult and awkward. 

Sound System

Speakers, Amp, and lights.

Installed in camper configuration right behind the drivers seat.

This is almost a necessity for me. I enjoy the full deep sound of my music.  While I do not think it is necessarily all about the bass, without an amplifier and heavy speakers you will miss this part of the music entirely.
I made a custom speaker box taking into consideration the specifications of the speaker requirements as well as the limited space configuration. This is a downward facing box with two 10" Explode speakers. rated at 600 W RMS each, and fits nicely behind the back seat.   I purchased a cheap amplifier off Amazon for $69 with 600W RMS bridged.  At first I installed the speakers on their own channel, but bridged mode gives me the smoothest bass.  This setup will not shake your mirrors off though.  It is just enough to accent the beat of the music.

I still have the stock radio.  It seems to do the job just fine and has CD, Sirius (I don't subscribe, but have before.), AM/FM, blutooth, and USB aux.  I cannot think of any reason to upgrade this.  Especially in a Jeep I will have the top off of sometimes.

I constructed the speaker box to be able to fit behind the front seats in camper configuration, or in the very rear when the backseats are installed. 

2014 Jeep Wrangler JK Sport on the Lot.  

This seemed to be a more economical and reliable option than my previous mode of transportation. Plus I always wanted a Jeep. Years ago I thought I would purchase one after college, but they made them more narrow. There were no arm rest and I felt like a sardine. 

I was impressed with the modernization of the Jeep, but also enamored with it's classic design.The original Jeep had only 60 horse power. Today's Jeep has 260 on the six cylinder. Of course there are many other improvements such as the Freedom Top. I also really liked this new grey color.

Bismuth Crystals Cause Levitation

Picture from another side with instructions on creating them.

In a discussion about crystals with my brother he showed me a very interesting crystal made out of bismuth.  The formation of the crystal resembles sacred geometry that has been written about for thousands of years.  To look at the formation of the crystal you will see a symbol that you will see everywhere. It is a symbol that even if we do not understand sticks with us.

Notice this Tibetan ceiling pattern.
Two bismuth crystal forms interlocking.
Is it a coincidence or intuitive knowledge that
 his pattern appears on a ceiling.

I have seen this same pattern in wall decorations, wood siding, and decorations from all cultures of the world. It resembles the letter G and has very fascinating metaphysical properties. The properties help with transformation, progression, and order.

Here are some properties of the element. This crystal is formed from the pure element bismuth.

Bismuth levitation experiment. 

In science, experiments are being conducted to explore bismuth in regards to levitation because of its unique magnetic properties.

Throughout history we have seen this same pattern, but usually with the patterns interlocked.

It is a hypothesis of mine that interlocking crystals of a pure element with rare magnetic properties could produce a levitating effect. Perhaps if would react to other magnetic forces by harmonizing within itself somehow.  This is only a intuitive hypothesis of course, but I think this sort of research is fascinating.



Here is a neat YouTube video on how you can make bismuth crystals in your kitchen.

Blog Tricks and Helpful Links

Things that are awesome to know when blogging.

Blogger Specific

• Targeting specific pages/URLs with conditional tags in Blogger 
• Eliminate the extra view options in Dynamics Views

Javascript UI and Animation

• Seamlessly Navigate Pages with Javascript (no jquery needed)

DIVs and Tables

• JSFiddle demonstrating wrapping divs in CSS. Great for responsive design.

UI Design and Fonts

• Need vector quality symbols and characters? FontAwesome Examples
• Cheatsheet
• Using Javascript for Windows 8 style user interface design.

Video and Audio

• Need Free Music for your YouTube video? 
• Making your YouTube Video Iframes Responsive - (detailed article with various methods)

Writing

• Writing a poem? Need a better word? Online Ryhme Dictionary

Lincoln Commercial Spoofs - Live in your moment

These are great! lol

Inspired by the following awesome commercials.

The originals.

This one is the funniest of all. Jim Carey is hilarious.

A Texas police officer made a hilarious one too.

Camping Sunset State Beach

The beach is right over this hill.

Click to reserve your stay.

Sunset State Beach is one I frequent as it is open year round, there are facilities, and beautiful serene beaches.  You can pay at the kiosk at the camp entrance and it is $35.  If you reserve online you will save the hassle of hunting for an open spot and the chance you will not find a spot for the price of $8.50.
You can reserve online at Reserve America and it will cost you $43.50. There is a tent only section, so if you plan on sleeping in your vehicle make sure you have a back-in spot reserved. I thought the tent only site would be cheaper, but it appears to be the same price on the website.

Wooden plank trail to the top of the ridge.

 I arrived at my camp site at about 4 pm.  I set up camp and went for a little hike along the beach.  I knew I wanted to spend more time at the beach than the peak so I went to the peak first. It was very windy so I didn't spend much time there. 

It was all downhill to the beach from there.  With the exception of the small dune hill by the picnic area. Once you come over the hill you see the ocean.  It was mostly cloudy and slightly windy.  The light made patterns over the water and made the horizon look an ominously grey. The sun felt good and there were very few people on the beach.  I laid in the sand for about an hour listening to the surf. 

The ocean over the crest.

Ah.. da sea!

Removed part of my hardtop  to enjoy the clouds.

Cold dark night. Perfect for a campfire.

I was in the mood for an afternoon nap so I went back to camp, popped open the roof, and took a nap for an hour and a half.  I woke up just in time for sunset, but it had become so cloudy that there was no obvious sunset.  Just grey to pitch black. There were no stars or moon so I decided it would be fun to try and take some low light exposures. 

I tried to go back to the beach after dark and get some night shots of the waves but it was so dark I couldn't get a quality photo of anything along the way so I turned back to the warmth of camp.  

I sat in the dark cold night comforted by the fire, and ate my packed dinner.  A chicken thigh and a turkey and swiss sandwich. 

Enjoying my campfire.

About 11 pm I was getting pretty tired and the fire was dying down so I decided to call it a night.  This is the part that separates camping from a day trip.  These are some of the longest coldest miserable nights you will experience.

Camping is not all about pleasure and comfort. It is about changing your experiences up a little.  It is a new perspective on what is.  When I was younger I would go camping once a month, it was a spiritual sort of thing for me. The nice thing about the miserable camping trips is that it makes you appreciate your home more. 

My "tent"

This night was not that bad.  I fell asleep in the Jeep with the windows cracked and fell asleep listening to the sound of crashing waves being carried in a pleasant cool salty breeze.  Unless I am physically exhausted from the days activities it is always kinda hard to fall asleep the first night out. I laid in bed until a little past midnight before turning in.  I woke up once to some fighting squirrels, and tossed a few times through the night.   I woke up at the break of dawn to a slight drizzle.  After going to visit the bathroom I pulled my hat down over my eyes and snoozed until about 8:30 feeling refreshed. 

Lifeguard tower.

I decided that I would take a morning walk along the beach before heading back home. It was a cloudy morning and the beach was fairly quiet.  There were plenty of birds enjoying their breakfast of sand critters, and a few anglers trying to catch some surf perch. 

Below are a few more pictures from my adventure...

Enjoying the waves.	View from the beach.	Nap time.
My Jeep tent.	Homemade cargo net keeps items  like phone and flashlight accessible.	Bathrooms and showers provided.
A little information on the preserve.	Pillars from what used to be a pier?	Camp right before I leave.

Ranger patrols the beach.  (wish they were my tracks.)

Relationships Boundaries and Doubts

North shore Kauai November 2014.

My relationships have always lasted a long time, and some ended for one reason or another.  Once again I am single and I am trying to put together what I have learned so far in my life about relationships.  Specifically, how you go about them and how you do not.

There are just some ways you do not do things my grandfather would have scolded.  We are in an age of trail blazing though.  Everyone wants to break the mold of how things have been done for centuries and find new ways.  We are an experimental culture that is constantly seeking a better way than our parents.

When I was young I dug myself
into a lot more holes.

There was a method to the ways of old.  Especially when it comes to dating. There are benchmarks that have to be met in order to qualify the relationship.  If you move too quickly you will put your heart in jeopardy and that feeling of falling in love will turn upside down in pain in an instant.

Only one solution exist to protect our heart, that one solution used throughout all stages of a relationship is boundaries. When we need space that is a boundary. When we feel upset and hurt we have allowed someone to cross a boundary with our hearts. Boundaries should not be used as fences to keep others out, but rather triggers that you can move past once your heart is ready.

Somebody will not hurt you if they are sleeping with someone else unless you have developed a relationship with them that would have sex as a possible interest.  If you are sleeping with that person then it is cheating.  It is because you allowed them into your heart and now you are hurt. You failed to set a boundary when you saw signs.

Cheating is not the cause of any breakup but a symptom of a bad relationship.  When someone invest their heart into you they cannot share this intimacy with another. If that person does not have that interest in you in the first place you must wonder why they are with you.  You may not be in the role in this persons relationship that you want to be.

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
~ Rumi

Boundaries

Hawk soars over boundaries. Diamond Mine Hike 2015

Kissing

Once you have engaged in kissing you are already sexually interested in the person.  Some people can have sex without kissing, but never do people kiss without considering sex.

This is a boundary.  Once you have kissed someone you have established a connection of chemistry. Whether you want to go farther is already determined at this point.  This is a trigger, or boundary.

Sex

The trigger tells you to consider the next step.  If you get to this point and have sex then emotionally you have reached another very important boundary.  Sex often happens before trust, but without trust sex cannot last very long.

This trigger makes you consider this very thing.  Unless you have already determined that you have no interest in the relationship other than sex you will most likely start evaluating a future with this person.  Time is the only way to build trust.  Sex is a trust boundary.

Slow shutter speed driving through Los Angeles at night. 

Relationship

Your relationship is building every moment you are in each others lives.  As long as you know each other you will hear about what is going on in their lives. Building this relationship requires communication.  If the communication comes easy as it does in a good relationship you will carry on with each other for hours. You will be interested in their lives and want to be there for them.

Falling in Love

This is a whole different animal.  Not everyone is easy to love.  Building history with someone can build into a long relationship realizing they are in love without falling into it. Falling in love refers to the magnitude of the initial attraction. The clank of two magnets connecting. 

“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell.”
~ Joan Crawford

Very strong chemistry can take control of your life.  In the ecstasy of falling in love you will most likely not have a chance but to move forward fast.

When love is not madness, it is not love.
~ Spanish Proverb

Like any building that is constructed in haste you will not have a foundation. Arranged marriages work through this same turmoil over time.  Suddenly you are with someone you must trust whether you believe they are worthy of it. Control becomes an issue and some of these relationships will last a lifetime, love is built but they may or may not fall in love.

Relationship path brainstorm.

If you ever want to sleep well at night, don't marry a young beautiful woman.
~ American Indian Saying

Commitment

Sun over the Arizona Desert 2010. 

If you move in with a girlfriend without a commitment you will be poisoning your relationship.
Especially if you move in quickly. You will suddenly wonder if you can trust this person.  You will probably not know how they act around their friends.  At this point you are too late to resolve any jealous feelings without causing a fight.

Say you move in with your boyfriend or girlfriend and throw a party.  Sometime during the night you see them kiss an ex.  Everybody goes home and when you discuss the situation you have no room to run.  Your boundaries are all crossed. Having jealous feelings at this point is going to hurt the other person as well as you. Since hurt people hurt people you will most likely be sleeping in bed mad with the other for not being sympathetic for your feelings, or you them.

Doubts

It is not what you do in life, but how you do it and why.  When you first enter into a relationship you must be able to make a commitment.  If you or the other person is married either on paper or physically living with someone the relationship can never get a full commitment.

If you suspect a man do not employ him, if you employ him do not suspect him.
~ Chinese Proverb

Same goes for relationships of any sort.  Never doubt going into a relationship.

We only regard those unions as real examples of love and real marriages in which a fixed and unalterable decision has been taken. If men and women contemplate an escape, they do not collect all their powers for the task. In none of the serious and important task of life do we arrange such a "getaway". We cannot love and be limited.
~ Alfred Adler

LED Water Light Show II

New and improved 2015

I revisited the light show that hides my TV cables after getting tired of looking at pipe insulation all the time in the center.  I made many updates.

Improvements that needed to be made.

• Prevent black stuff from growing in tubes.
• Make center look better than pipe insulation. 
• Change the light show program

So here are some of the changes I made.  

• Added a little clorine to the water to prevent mold or algae from growing. (6 months successful.)
• Reassembled project using a wooden dowel for the center
• Glued lights to wooden dowel with hot-glue gun
• Re-sealed lights to tubes with water in them ( I haven't determined the best way yet, I used silicone the first time and mostly hot-glue the second.  They both held water tight, but this is the most challenging part.)
• Wrapped entire project in twine
• Flipped project so that lights are running away from the TV rather than into it.