HispageTONOway

Storylines for the Brickyard 400! ... Jeff Gordon wins Brickyard 400 #5!

Today is another day that I get to watch the NASCAR Sprint Cup series live.

• What storyline from the start of the race come to be written true?
• Will Jeff Gordon win his 5th Brickyard 400?
• Will finally Ford win the first Brickyard 400 after 11 times that Chevelot has won?  Or will Toyota win for the 1st time?

As a side storyline, Roush Fenway Racing announced that my favorite driver, Carl Edwards, will not be racing where he started.  Where will he be driving next year?  Rumors have it that he will go to Joe Gibbs Racing.  If true, it will be with mixed feelings because he will be on the team with the driver who is my least favorite, Kyle Busch.  Just saying.

 

--July 27, 2014 @ 1:20pm

 

So it turns out that it's the 5th win for Jeff Gordon for the Brickyard 400--and twelve in the row for a Chevrolet in Victory Lane!  That is the storyline that wins out!  

 

It could have been a first win for Toyota with the 2nd place Kyle Busch, who is not my favorite driver.  So, I am glad that it didn't happen.

 

Carl Edwards with the Ford Motor came in 15th, and couldn't be the one who would put Ford in Victory Lane!

 

--July 27, 2014 @ 4:02pm

 

With six more races before the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship, the NASCAR drivers who will be in the Chase is beginning to come into reality.  This year's group qualifying for each race has given the fans a heightened interest in the sport.  There is more competition.  The only thing that I would like changed in the drivers who seem to be in the Chase, is I wish that Kyle Busch wasn't in, and Tony Stewart was.  Let's also hope that Kyle Larson stays in the Chase, as a popular rookies.  If only Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Danica Patrick can make it, then, it will create more interesting stories to follow--and, maybe there will be more heighten interest in the sport.  That is definitely what NASCAR needs!

 

Feeling all alone ... A goal of Personal Branding: What I want for YOU!

Why is it that we could be in a room full of people and still feel all alone? Why is it that we can be in church and feel the same way?  We have the ability to reach out with any person where ever we are, but we can still feel alone.  Why is that?  What barriers are there that we cannot feel connected to someone, somewhere?

 

The connection is not there.  In the work I learned that it's a challenge to get lasting results without that connection--trust. 

 

How can we explain that many people on Facebook has hundreds of friends and still feel alone?  Or when we post something for a little comfort or asking for tacit encouragement, and no one responds?  Can anyone really explain that?  This inquiring mind wants to know!

 

I cannot commit others to do what they will do, but I exhibit the passion to what I value and believe.  I cannot force others to reach out; I can respond in the most appropriate way to reflect the legacy and vision I have in mind.

 

 

These are my conclusions.

• I learned that we have to do everything possible to bring to surface the best of what we can be!
• I have to be a viable to provide wisdom, guidance to the best path to inspire others to make their dreams come through!

There are a vision that I have for everyone that I meet.

• I want everyone to reach their full potential.  We always give everyone the creative tools to create the dreams that they desire.
• I read in many publications and blogs that many readers are not happy by reading social media, how others are having a good time, and the readers are depressed because they are not having a good and they are envious on the ones that have the fun times.  I reject this thinking, by challenging myself to discover what these people did to make their dreams come true.  If they were successful to make their dreams come true, why can't I?

From a posting in December 2012, I am added another layer to what skills are need for present-day jobs.  I have noticed so many companies changing many things about their brand just to gain market share in their industry.  This is the norm moving forward.  If companies don't adapt, they will lose market share and stop earning profits.  For those who have worked with me, may not believe that I want what is stated above.  As I noticed I will demand high standards for the places where I work.  I will not accept anything less.  My passion to attain the highest results reigns for whom I work for.

Join me to sustain my Personal Branding ...

There are so many people who are screaming quietly within themselves asking their friends and family: Don't give up in me!  It's a cry for help.  Yet we so often don't hear the cry or worse, ignore what we do hear.

 

We are designed to have fellowship with others, to want be loved and accepted.  This is what all the postings on social media to present a certain personal branding is all about.  It's about the legacy that we leave behind.

 

When people are going through a difficult time, or crisis, the time is to work through those moments to comfort, encourage and inspire to live through the values that is dear to each individual.  We need to sustain them to continue to live up to their individual core values.

 

I don't expect others to agree 100% with me! but I expect others to continue to have a meaningful dialogue with me.  That is why I have chosen to add Twitter as another social media platform.  I hope that you will join me in the process for my personal branding of Nicholas (NichTONO).  Mahalo!

Entertainment Viewing this month in June

This month, the drama is the twelve hours on 24: Live Another Day, watching on DVD the first season of Person of Interest, and the continuing season of the NASCAR Sprint Cup series.

 

There is nothing like the drama of the series 24.  This past week's episode was really exciting and sad. (I won't explain for those who didn't see the episode.)  I have watched again the first season of the Person of Interest because of all the DVD special features on how the show was created and filmed.

 

This year, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series has increased the competition of the qualifying rounds.  And, the question of where Carl Edwards will drive is the question to ask for the future.  Just this week, reports are that he will drive for Joe Gibbs Racing, and that M & M will be his sponsor really interested me.  I thought I could start promoting the candy snack.  I won't support it because of the company's sponsor is just not my type of driver.

Meeting up with my sister in New Orleans in September ... Visiting Gulf Coast & the South

It looks like my Sunshine and I will be meeting up with my sister in September in New Orleans and visit the southern states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee, and maybe a drive-thru in Florida.  We are planning to visit New Orleans, Gulfport/Biloxi, MS; Mobile, AL; Nashville, Chattanooga, TN, and Atlanta, GA.  It would be memorable to visit New Orleans area again since December 2006.

 

As most of you know, I am not into watersports, so visiting the gulf coast for water, just isn't what I would like to see.  I am wondering if anyone has any suggestions on anything interesting to look at during the trip later this year. Please let me know.

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?