Pickup trucks are great to have. Besides making you sexier, they're great for hauling stuff. One problem though is when your items slide toward the cab in the truck bed and you have to climb in the truck to retrieve them. The solution: make a "truck stick." As the name implies it's a long stick with a hook on the end. Just leave it in the bed of your truck and use it whenever your items slide away from you.

If you're ever working in the kitchen and need extra counter space, here's a neat idea. Just open some drawers and put serving trays on them. Instant counter space.

A friend recently shared a tip with me that they had gotten from a national magazine. It is the lamest tip I've ever heard. "When bicycling, be sure to carry a shower cap with you so that if it starts to rain you can cover your bike helmet with it and keep your helmet and head dry." Yeah, right. Can you imagine Lance Armstrong with a shower cap on his head riding in the Tour de France? Me neither.

Tim Thompson lives in Gainesville. E-mail Tim your ideas for tips, tools or tricks.