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Nashville Demos better than average visit

Let me thank all the contacts who responded to my request for ideas on where to eat on my Sunshine and my visit to Nashville this past weekend.  We had an array of choices.  But, we decided on Demos' Steak and Spaghetti on Commerce Street.  Let's sum up the visit as better than average, but not ... "Wow! ... Let's go back there again!"

I really didn't like the parking at the location.  There were two garages for the location.  One above the restaurant, which the elevator didn't work, and the way to get to the street level just didn't work out.  We had to get back into the car go back down a few levels to go across a pathway into the garage across the street.

The Homemade Baked Bread was the best thing on the menu to start off the meal.  
We ordered some Cheese Toast.  We thought that it was it.  But it wasn't.

The Baked Chicken Soup was a taste profile that I haven't tasted before, and was very good!  
The only thing that was usual was the Pot Roast that I ordered.  There was nothing really spectacular about it.  It was ok.

Would I go back to Demos again?  Perhaps.  Definitely, for the baked bread and the chicken noodle soup.  I may consider another entree, though, I haven't decided which one. 

First time watching NASCAR as it happens this 2014 year ... Live there, but not my best NASCAR track!

This Sunday I am at home, off this weekend, watched the NASCAR Sprint Cup in Southern California.

Picture taken in 2008.

Strange, as it was, I used to live a several miles away from the site, yet, I did not go to one of the races at all in Fontana!  I do know that if I were still living in SoCAL, I know I wouldn't be able to travel as much as I have because the cost of living there is much more expensive than living in Tennessee.  I, also, don't like the fact that this is Jimmie Johnson's best race track, and Kyle Busch has made it two of his best with a victory at the Auto Club Speedway last, and this year.  So let's just let me say that it's not my best NASCAR track!

I thought I would make a few suggestions on how the sport can improve to gain more interest:

• The television networks does a poor job right now of promoting the sport.  Last week, without a plan in place where there is an extended delay, it was not communicated to the fans about the race will be moved from the Fox Television Network to cable network, Fox Sports 1.  Unfortunately, because I was working and usually every week recording the races on the cable system's DVR system, I couldn't change the recording of the channel.
• NASCAR should offer a replay option for the RaceView feature.  Since customers are paying for the service, there should be an option to access it when the race is not going on.  Some of us, like me, have to definitely work.

I have written many times over about my desire to see NASCAR survive, more like thrive, in our country.  It is the only sport that I spend time following.  Let's just hope with the changes in group qualifying, and the playoff type competition for the Chase of the Sprint Cup Championship will pique interest with others who have lost interest in the past.

Fox Television Network is not the best for NASCAR

I am really upset at the Fox Television Network this past week.  
I usually use the DVR to tape-delay watching the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.  Because of the second red flag rain delay on Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Bristol, instead of keeping the race on the main network, the executives decided to resume coverage on Fox Sports 1.  
Unfortunately, anticipating the rain delay, and since I was at work, I set the DVR on the Fox Television Network.  Because of the change without being known, I didn't get to watch my driver, Carl Edwards, win the race.  I would like to have NASCAR race day off so that I can watch the race, or at least, listen to it on the radio, but I realize I have to earn a living.

I know that the competition has been more interesting with the group qualifying format, and the emphasis on getting wins to qualify for The Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship.  I know that this year's races on the circuit will be more competitive.  I have no doubt.  It's too bad that the television networks can't cover the sport to maximize interest from the American people.

A Hungry Lunch/Dinner at Cheddar's: Was it that "great" as expected?

It has been the talk-about place to visit to eat since it opened in mid-December 2013.  I heard a lot of great things about this chain.  I was really looking forward to what Cheddar’s had to offer, since I didn’t eat all day, and we were arriving at the restaurant about 4 in the afternoon. 

Let me say that it was good, but not great.  The prices on the menu was really easy on the eyes and the service was above average (we weren't ignored for drink refills).  I ordered the steak and baby back ribs as my entrée with rice and broccoli as my sides.  I started off the meal with a chicken tortilla soup.  I asked with an upcharge to substitute the ribeye steak, instead of the sirloin, which the server told me that the restaurant could honor my request.

The baby back ribs fell off the bone and was tender, so I would have to give it a good thumbs up.  The steak, I have to admit was not as good as a good ribeye, but for the price, I am ok with it.  The seasoned rice wasn't as good as some of the other local restaurants where I have ordered the dish.  The chicken tortilla soup, it seemed, like it was homemade, and was better than good, but not great, because of the large pieces of tomatoes.

I know many guests love Cheddar's.  They have talked about it, and have gone back many times even while most wait at least twenty minutes or more.  I know one day I will go back, but not as much as others.  The dining experience was better than most, but the dishes that it offered may not be to my liking.

Winning iPad from the best company I work for ...

It's all about my personal branding.  Who am I?  There are a lot that I know I am.  But there are certain parts of my life that I am not good making it happen as I thought would like.

Many of you have already known that I have possessed the most recent technology.  From the times of interested in the Franklin Covey planner, I had that Palm Pilot with the keyboard.  I have not been a Macintosh fan, or interested in Apple products.  But, I couldn't believe it when I received a call from my Director of Operations five weeks ago in short telling me that I won the drawing among all the restaurant managers for the company I work for ten iPad minis.  (Added at 6:50pm) I won one of the ten that the company gave away to the managers.

On my own devices, I would not purchase an Apple product whether it's an iPhone, iPad, or Macintosh computer.

For the three weeks after receiving the prize I have been testing the tablet.  It's interesting trying to learn a new operating system after working with Android for so many years.

Does anyone has any tips about working an iPad?