In the name of creating regular posts where I don’t have to do much writing (and schedule several in advance) I will be regularly posting music videos that I find interesting and refreshing and that provide a break from the music I generally listen to at work.
Editors Note: My wife originally wrote this article in October 2013 and it was not edited / published at the time.
So let’s get real. If you have kids, a Prius is not at the top of the list for kid-friendly vehicles. Space is the biggest issue here. Kids need space to put their toys, books and sippy cups.
When my husband and I went looking for a new set of wheels, a Prius wasn’t even on our radar- too expensive for starters. But then I saw a shiny, black 2010 Prius on the lot and I liked the look instantly. The salesman was so smart, spouting off all of these things we wanted to hear- “best-selling car in Northern California” and “black is elegant.”
When I calculated all the miles we drive up and down Skyway- the main road that connects Paradise to Chico- I was sold. 50 miles per gallon? Like, really? Really? Between visiting family all over California and trekking to and from my husband’s half-marathons, this was a smart choice.
Honestly, we bought the car knowing it would be a tight fit. In retrospect, I did not calculate our baby-at-the-time would grow. She would soon become a toddler, then a young adult and so on and so forth. My emotions drove the purchase and a portion of my practicality went out the window. Now I get why most Mom’s drive minivans.
There were several conversations had with regards to how to drive far in a small car with a small child. The goal was to not be exhausted on arrival to our destination. We contemplated getting an iPad. We budgeted for one, but then decided to upgrade our phones instead as we were late to get on the “Smart Phone Train.”
Our baby is now 2 ½ years old and she loves technology, specifically Daddy’s phone. More specifically, YouTube and Netflix. I cannot imagine a road trip without these tools to help keep our toddler entertained.
My husband has a HTC Evo V and I have a Samsung Galaxy Victory. Neither comes equipped with the cables that you need to keep a young person happy on a long road trip. The issue is that the child wants to hold the phone but it needs to be plugged in to get juice or to play from the speakers.
Here are two cables from YourCableStore.com that never leave our car:
1) 6’ or 12’ Headphone Extension Cable- H3MM6-B or H3MM12-B. If you plug your phone into the 3.5mm auxiliary jack, your child can hold the phone and it can be heard through the car’s speaker system.
2) 6′ or 10’ USB Extension Cable- USB 2 AM- AF 6 or USB 2 AM-AF 10, plug into the charging cord and have it charge while the child holds/ uses the phone or tablet. (Editors note in 2013 we sold single units of these items but due to the rising costs of selling on Amazon we now only sell 5 packs).
Now our daughter can watch Daft Punk’s new video on YouTube on repeat to her heart’s content. She likes to get funky.
Since I need to create a post just to have some regular content here is a short video featuring the world’s smallest cat.
Editors note: This is the last of the Weekly Worthy articles our operations manager Michael wrote sometime around September 2014 and was never edited / published at the time. I may have to ask him to write #23 or at least tell me the rest of the story.
Part 1
Nevada County, California, 1993
Cold snowy night in the restaurant, I was just finishing setting the final tables in the dining room and adjusting random aesthetics for the next day’s dinner service. Craig and Verona were already on their 6th or 7th glass of wine and I could smell the chefs cooking my dinner in the kitchen, a New York strip with some sauteed prawns…and a salad with Russian dressing…the owners loved wine so it was in everything…the salad dressing would have made Napa Valley proud! I took off my waiter’s bib and put my salad together and sat down and began eating. I had a glass of wine, Merlot, and started to relax as I ate my salad. Juan Gouza was still playing solo acoustic jazz, there were a few remaining bar patrons that were tipping and enjoying the music. Janet, the bartender, was now also having a glass of wine, ha…this is my work…in retrospect, I didn’t know that this was to be the easiest time of my life! The dim lights and shadows being cast from the uneven 19th century brick-masonry made life seem especially romantic at this particular moment. This is my book…my movie…my life!
As Juan finished the last chorus of Ditty Wah Ditty my steak was delivered to me by Sandy the chef; she had given me extra prawns and I could tell the steak was cooked perfectly. Mmmm…mmmm…mmmmm. I knew that I would get home and Penelope would already be asleep, might as well comatose myself with a steak and a couple glasses of wine so I could trudge through the snow and hopefully fall right asleep when I got home.
The prawns were cooked perfectly, the were springy but not rubbery, and the steak was 1/4 cooked on top, 1/4 cooked on the bottom, and 1/2 pink in the middle…oh Lord!!!! Delicious!!! I cut a piece of the steak and took a sip of wine, then took the bite, oh man…I am living the good life! My waiter friend Tom’s girlfriend, Francesca, came over to sit with me, she was an interesting sort…she did a lot of flirting and eye-batting, flattering sometimes, but when you are just DYING to devour a dinner, company didn’t seem necessary, I maintained a polite front…or at least I think I did.
“So, how are you and Penelope doing? I never see you guys together anymore.”
“Oh we’re doing pretty good, I’ve been working so much that we don’t hang out in town as often as we used to, we had lunch at the coffee roasters yesterday…but mostly, because of the heat, we’ve been spending my off days down at Matthews Crossing swimming and trying to stay cool…it was snowing outside, and I was dying to know if she even listened to what I said or whether drooling and scheming took all of her available brain waves.”
“Oh that’s so nice…I am happy for her.”
No available brainwaves…I wasn’t even slightly shocked.
Ok, worth noting, this girl was obviously carnivorous and, truthfully, needed to be avoided at all costs. I chatted it up as Tom finished closing out and counting his tips. He finally came over to retrieve his girlfriend and we toasted our last sips of wine. I shook Tom’s hand and of course Francesca insisted on hugging me, then of course a sneaky kiss on the cheek, I just know there is bright red lipstick all over my cheek now, goodness gracious that girl is mischievous. Tom just laughs at her, he obviously sees some humor in her scheming. They walked out dancing to what was probably Juan’s last song of the night, closing time indeed.
I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and put my jacket and scarf on, and sure enough, HUGE red lips on my cheek. I wiped it off and headed out through the dining room and out the side door by the kitchen and salad station. The moon was now casting a blue light on the snow…I headed up the street toward Indian Flat, I almost slipped a few times, but I managed to maintain footing. The moon was casting it gray blue haunt on all of the brightly colored Victorian homes on Broad street and when I finally made it up and over the hill I saw the old graveyard, iron gates covered in snow and obelisk headstones now whitened and glowing, I was overcome with a sense of awe and a type of spooked fascination. Who sees this on their way home? Who?
But what made this night strange was still awaiting me….
When he’s not enjoying fishing, road testing cables, or fielding musical or instrument cable questions over the phone/e-mail, Michael handles operations and purchasing and is simply loving life.
Editors Note: My wife originally wrote this press release / article in October 2013 however it was never published. I am publishing it as she originally wrote it. Over 4 years later we are now in our 6th year as a member of 1% For The Planet and have donated over $15,500 to approved charities and will donate approximately $3,000 more for 2017.
Today YourCableStore.com marks its 1-Year Anniversary with 1% For the Planet.
In 2012, YourCableStore.com became a member of the 1% For the Planet family because we wanted to join an alliance of businesses financially committed to creating a healthy planet. We believe that we have a responsibility as a business to make positive changes in the environment and to leave this planet in better shape than we found it.
Founded in 2002, 1% for the Planet has grown into a global movement of more than 1200 member companies in 48 countries, all donating at least 1% of annual sales to sustainability initiatives.
An avid hiker, founder Nathan Arendt wanted to join 1% FTP to form partnerships designed to keep the environment healthy. He wanted help preserve the natural beauty of Northern California. 1% of all sales generated from our Sendt® products are donated to local organizations every year.
Because he had hiked the Sutter Buttes, Nathan was familiar with the Middle Mountain Foundation. He asked they join the 1% for the Planet family and in 2012, the Middle Mountain Foundation was the recipient of our funds.
The Middle Mountain Foundation (MMF), a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, was formed in 1989 as an outgrowth of Sutter Buttes Naturalists, originally founded by Walt and Rebecca Anderson. The articles of incorporation stated that the specific purposes of the foundation were to “educate the general public in the relevance and importance to society of natural and cultural resources and to encourage preservation, understanding, and good stewardship of such resources.” The Sutter Buttes formed the actual foundation of such education and preservation efforts.
1% for the Planet members support thousands of nonprofit organizations helping to save land, protect forests, rivers and oceans, make agricultural and energy production more sustainable, getting toxics out of the environment, plastics out of the oceans and more.
In just over 10 years 1% for the Planet companies have given more than $100 million back. As part of the 1% commitment, YourCableStore.com gives 1% of our sales from Sendt products directly to sustainability-oriented nonprofits of our choosing.
