VPN on vista - tray icon issue

[ryanj247]

when i connect to my vpn, i can hover over the "network" icon in the tray and see "currently connected to" showing 2 networks (my local network, and the VPN).

but within a few minutes, that changes. when i hover over that tray icon, only the local network is listed under "currently connected to".

when i go to "connect to a network", the vpn connected is listed there and says "connected".

if it's connected, why is it disappearing from the tray icon popup?