HispageTONOway

General Question: What's your favorite road trip memory?

On the TypePad home page that I log in, there is always questions that are asked and once in a while I answer them.  I thought that I would share this one: What’s your favorite road trip memory?

As for the most memorable one, it’ll have to be the time I planned to meet my present wife for the first time.  We lived over 300 miles apart.  I told her that I would be driving toward her city and I wanted to meet her.  She was hesitant.  So I continued onto North Carolina to NASCAR home to Charlotte.  On the drive, when I crossed into South Carolina from Georgia, I was talking with her on the Bluetooth. 

I visited Hendrick Motorsports, now, the premier race team on the NASCAR circuit.  Then, as with now, the team is a study of success! 

On the way back home at that time, I took a beautiful picture of the sun setting.

This will always be one of the most interesting road trips because it started the multiple times that I made the over 300 mile trip to get to know my Sunshine.

Clear, Blue skies for weeks ... other self-portraits!

It’s been a long time since it’s been a sunny day in our hometown.  It was my day off today, so I decided to take some pictures with the blue skies in the background.  I had to take the advantage of it.  These are the two I’ll share.

What to watch as the 2009 Fall Television Season starts …

The 2009 Fall Television season started within the last week before, and the week ahead. I realize that I won’t be able to watch every show in a timely manner.  I have listed the television shows I will be watching this television season in its ranking order by the most important choices to the least I’ll watch.

NASCAR Season, primarily the Sprint Cup series: It’s the only sports that I follow on a weekly basis.  It’s the sport that encompasses business, body conditioning, teamwork fierce personalities, and the spirit of competition.

Numb3rs: This is a show that truly is interesting and thoughtful because there is nothing subjective about numbers.  It’s really definite.

Criminal Minds: This show delves into the psyche of criminals which is always interesting.  I don’t expect to be a criminal so it’s interesting to know what goes through their minds.

The Mentalist: Wouldn’t I love to know how to read certain behaviors of what others think? This is even an interest of mine especially since more so not to take advantage of others, but to help others to a path of meaningfulness of bridging others to understand one another.

Bones: The dialogue between Special Agent Seeley Booth and Dr. Temperance Brennan is witty and entertaining, unlike any other main characters of a show.

CSI: Miami: I realize that it was coming.  The show in a tropical setting.  There is no doubt that the characters of Gil Grissom, Mac Taylor, and Horatio Caine is really different from one to another.  They have strength and weaknesses in many areas.

CSI: This was the series that started it all!  It’s the one that has started the crime series based on science.

CSI: New York:  From Las Vegas Strip to the Big Apple, the show is made all the more interesting with the cast of characters, which is different in every of the CSI series.

24: How can you not like the adventures of save-the-world Jack Bauer?  It’s been interesting when they have a compelling President of the United States, too!

I may change some of the descriptions as the season starts and as I watch some of these shows.  Let me know what interests you.

Work leaders’ styles in different cultures across the USA …

I am reflecting on the different cultures I have been exposed to throughout my trek across the USA.  From Hawaii, to Southern California, to St. Louis, to Memphis to where I am now, it’s been one interesting geographical exposure of places and people.  As different the sites have been, I notice the difference in styles and word phrases people use from one city to the next.  And the leaders in every city think that they have the “best” way, the “right” way.  I am all for competition because that’s what fuels the free enterprise system.  When it crosses over to people’s arrogance, I don’t want to be part of the leader or company’s fan club.  Every place I lived, I have observed people that exhibit that type of behavior.  I have tried to avoid those people as best I could without compromising the work at hand. 

Reflecting back, I’m starting a series putting together the best of where I lived and, this particular post is: what type of leader I enjoyed working with.  I can’t say much about the companies because I think in a lot of ways the communication from the President of the company to the field managers has been substandard and unfocused at best.  It is my hope that one day I can be a catalyst to create opportunities to this challenge that many of these companies face.  Pray for me that I’ll be able to find a role in this vision I have for many businesses.  Communication breakdown from top down that causes low morale, confusion and high turnover.  I know that through my managerial experiences of the last fifteen, I have been labeled as long-winded.  This is really a little puzzling considering that many companies promote “diversity.”  Let me say to those who haven’t communicated your executives’ expectations, you haven’t been talking enough.  I know that I have not been communicated many of those expectations with all the companies I have paid my salary.

Let me conclude that the type of upper management (above the position of General Manager of the unit) that has inspired me has been:

            Planners.  They have quarterly plans, so that they respect the free time of front-line managers like myself.  When they change their plans during the month, they waste my time to produce the results that I am asked to fulfill for the three bosses I have: the customers, upper management, and shareholders.

            Leaders who work the hours they are scheduled.  I don’t respect free-loaders who take advantage of their position.  I don’t respect leaders who didn’t lead-by-example, and I don’t like lazy workers (they are too many of them!)

Straight-talkers, genuine in their approach of dealing with me.  These are the ones who I know we have mutual respect for one another.  Those that are disrespectful, sarcastic and intolerant inspire me not to be like them.  They can get their flattery elsewhere.  Because of my work ethic and core values, I will do my job responsibilities the best way that I know how, through my experiences and treating others as I would like to be treated in similar circumstances.

Real people, honest and upfront.  I remember those who would make it a point to go around, introduce themselves, and ask the names of the team members who were earning near minimum wage.

Leaders who clearly set forth a few measurable expectations that is attainable.  It’s been a proven success that if it’s focused to three main measurable goals it can be done and it won’t make the team that I lead frustrated focused on too many goals.

I will be adding to these comments as more thoughts, maybe suggestions come my way through interacting with others.  I will keep an open mind.

Let me hope that I will be the type of leader that I visualized in the five bullet points that I just mentioned.  If I haven’t, let me know.  I am open to feedback.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studio opens in Spring 2010!

Ever since my Sunshine and I visited the Magic Kingdom in the summer of 2007, we have waited for the opening of the Harry Potter theme park based on the book’s series.  Let me say to you that I haven’t read the books, seen any of the movies at all.

After a quick discussion with my Sunshine, we have tentatively agreed on visiting the new theme park between September to November 2010.

Losing Wedding Ring morning … to tentatively planning 2nd driving route trip to Connecticut

I am at home finally at peace, resting, after six consecutive days opening the restaurant.  It was an interesting morning because I thought that I lost my wedding ring this morning.  Tonight, we were tentatively planning our driving route to Connecticut while traveling on the rest of the Blue Ridge Parkway we didn’t travel on in our previous trips.

I opened on Sunday.  It was a busy day.  I ended up finishing my day took an hour and a half nap, woke up to watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Atlanta till midnight.  I got about four hours of sleep, repeated another busy day at work on Monday’s opening shift.  I ended up going home, crashing from exhaustion for almost five hours.  I tried to go back to sleep after waking up for a few minutes and then fighting to go to sleep for about ninety minutes.  I ended up sleeping for another two and a half hour, and nearly getting up in time to get to work on time.

I quickly got ready for work, and raced to open the doors for the crew.  I did a few task for ten minutes, sat down in the office’s chair, reached around my wedding band finger and noticed that I didn’t have my wedding ring on.

I wondered where the wedding ring would have fallen off.  I texted my wife, since she was sleeping and I thought that she would check her messages when she woke up.  I called her about eight in the morning.  I just wanted to make sure that she checked the shower drain.  She said that she would.  About less than an hour later, she called back to tell me that she found it in the bedroom walk-in closet.  Thank goodness!

When I got home my Sunshine and I discussed our driving plans for our 2^nd wedding anniversary trip.  This is what we came up with tentatively.

Download 2009 Blue Ridge Parkway VA Hilton Garden Inn CT

The El Pollo Loco that we consider home … over 100 miles away!

Ever since moving to our hometown, I am happy to be no more than one-hundred-minute-drive away from El Pollo Loco.  It was my favorite place to eat when I lived in Southern California.  I don’t care what the advertisements promote, it’s better than KFC.  If I remember correctly, one of the first places I wanted to eat out was at El Pollo Loco, during the first week we moved here.

The first visit was pretty bad, not what I remembered about the brand name.  It was a visit to Marietta, Georgia.  It was about 8 or 9 in the evening, still its open time, but the unit was out of white meat and the order taker wasn’t as friendly.  The next time we discovered the store in Smyrna, Georgia.  The first visit was good, but nothing really spectacular.

Since visiting the Smyrna, Georgia on SE Cobb Parkway, the service and food has been a 5 across the board on my rating system.  (1 being the worst, 5 being the best.)  The citrus marinated chicken, pico de gallo, flour tortillas.   Ever time that we have visited this location, we have met one of the managers named Marvin.  He now remembers us every visit.  Even on Tuesday when we haven’t visited for over a month, almost two months now, he still remembers us.

On Tuesday night, the team brought out carry-out containers when we asked, and they were really friendly, too!  Gloria took our order with a smile, and did a great job upselling a drink.    Marvin volunteered to take my tray with dirty plates and to go containers.  We didn’t have to get up from our seats.  You wouldn’t think that it’s a fast-food restaurant.  I admit that they provided service better than some of the casual dining places we have gone through.  I don’t remember getting that type of service during my regular visits for the stores in Southern California!  Hats off to the management team in Smyrna, Georgia.  If you are ever in the area stop by the location for some crazy chicken!  It comes with my highest recommendations!

It should have been a honeymoon or wedding anniversary visit to Puleo’s Grille, then … a “5”

I was about to review the other restaurant we visited in Boone, North Carolina.  However, I thought that since hardly anyone will be making the trip to Boone, North Carolina, I thought that I would review the last place we ate in Knoxville, Tennessee: Puleo’s Grille at Centre at Deane Hill before arriving home after our trip to Bristol.

Let me preface my comments about this review primarily is only for the location that just opened at the Centre at Deane Hill. 

I ordered the Chicken Cordon Bleu.  The sides that I added to the meal were the sesame noodles and the asparagus.  The food was really good.  But I wished I had more.  Let me say that this location could have increased their guest check average if the server was more attentive.  I wanted to order additional sides and my wife would have gotten a dessert. 

As with the other two visits the food was excellent. It’s too bad that with a store’s opening, the service didn’t match what we’ve experienced in the past.  The server who was waiting on us worked at the location only a few weeks.  It showed.  He would not take the dirty dishes away when we were done; he made us wait for a long time for our refills and when I wanted to ask him for another side for my meal he dashed off faster than I could say anything to him.  It was not the typical service we’ve received at this Southern Roots-Italian Heritage chain.

On my rating food/beverage scale (1 being the lowest and 5 giving the full WoW effect), I am giving this location a 1.5 for service and 4 for food.  It would have been higher if the server was responsive.  I am really disappointed that I had to give the rating that I did for this restaurant chain.  Ever since being introduced to the chain after getting married in 2007, we have always had memorable experiences at Puleo’s Grille the last two times.  We have visited two other locations on our path through Knoxville, both of the times on the way from/to the Smoky Mountains, the first time for our honeymoon and the second on the way back to Memphis on our 1^st wedding anniversary.  Both times I can say we received at least 4, or maybe a 5, on both the service and food.

We were so frustrated about the dining experience that we called the manager over and told him about our experience.  He apologized, and handled the situation very professionally.  He offered another dining experience on the chain’s expense.  We did not call the manager over for this purpose.  We may not even use the free dining experience, also.  Before this experience, there was no doubt that we’d stop by Puleo’s Grille if we were traveling through Knoxville.  Now, we will have second thoughts.

Simple meal with different state’s license plates in Boone, North Carolina

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a week since we’ve visited Boone, North Carolina.  On Friday morning, before heading out to the first time to Bristol we really wanted to eat somewhere near where the hotel where we were staying.  We ended up less than a half mile down the street at Bandana’s in Boone, North Carolina.  As I’ve mentioned before we always look for places that are local.

We were both disappointed that we were not greeted at all, even while two or three servers passed by the host stand. We later determined that one of the servers who walked by without greeting us was our server.

We hoped that it was going to be a survival meal because we’d be at Bristol MotorSpeedway the remainder of the day.  I didn’t know what I was thinking just ordering a Smoked Turkey Sandwich and a Mello Yellow, but that is what I did.  My Sunshine ordered the Salmon.

The food was good on my part.  I mean how can you mess up a Turkey sandwich, except the breading?  The breading was really soft to complement the turkey.

The service from the start fitted the atmosphere, I guess.  It wasn’t a fine dining atmosphere.  There were license plates from all the different states.  I even saw one from Hawaii.

The first impressions of this local establish wasn’t good.  Drink refills were delayed and I really think that the server was overwhelmed with too many tables to give personalized service.  Because of not being recognized in the beginning by multiple team members and the delay for our refills of our drinks for service the Boone, North Carolina establishment gets a 3 for service and a 4 for food. (It was a turkey sandwich for me.)  Would I go back?  I really don’t know.