tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227810302024-03-13T16:45:32.719-04:00Living the dream!I want to live a life that impacts the world but also becomes a story my grandkids tell. I want to fail at more things just to find out what I am capable of doing in this world. I will invite feedback evolve and repeat until the impossible becomes my story. The views expressed in this blog are my own unless stolen from someone else. Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.comBlogger226125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-79209126226216166682014-08-11T20:44:00.000-04:002014-08-11T20:44:11.217-04:00I wished I cared more (NOT REALLY)<div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">I say things all the time that get me in trouble. It is a symptom of me just not worrying about what most people think and sometimes that means feelings get hurt. There just seems to be an abundance of stupid in the world and I like to point it out and sometimes make fun of it. </span></blockquote>
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I'm not talking about hate speech or being mean in the sense that you bully people, even though I get accused of that sometimes. To me if you wear cut off denim shorts and a tank top to the store and not one person in your life loves you enough to tell you not to do that, then I get to make fun of you. This morning I was at Wal Mart (I know like shooting fish in a barrel) and a lady clearly in her late 50's and I am being generous was wearing just that outfit. Now assuming you worked out, didn't provide thousands of cigarette tax dollars to the state and were not trying to get McDonald's profits to a new record level, it may have been cute. That was not the case at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One time we were at a party shortly after the presidential election and this lady who clearly did not know me decided to bring up politics. Now I vote Conservative, have dogs named Reagan & Bush and love to talk politics. I do not bring it up because some people get all mad and start calling names and begging me to punch them in the face. <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you bring it up I will be happy to discuss it as long as you know what you are talking about and don't start saying stupid stuff. This rarely happens but it was worth a shot. She was in her 60's and should have been smarter but after 20 minutes of reciting what she believed by reading headlines and watching ABC news, I had enough. She asked if I agreed and all I could say is that is what is wrong with America. I said "low information voters" are what is killing this country. I was not specifically calling her stupid but I think she got the point. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Not sure if she was hoping we would be friends but her and her husband left shortly after and never called so I assume we may be done. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-61984353619652462322014-08-06T08:16:00.000-04:002014-08-06T08:20:18.040-04:00Stop trying to spell stuff<div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwr8FtpT3F0/U-IdeB_ik9I/AAAAAAAASRE/bLvDpPfXNXs/s1600/misspelled_signs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bwr8FtpT3F0/U-IdeB_ik9I/AAAAAAAASRE/bLvDpPfXNXs/s1600/misspelled_signs.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;">Have you ever changed your plans because something was too hard to spell? In Texas we have a great water park called <a href="http://www.schlitterbahn.com/">Schlitterbahn</a> located in <a href="http://www.nbtexas.org/">New Braunfels</a>. It is easier to spell <a href="http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/">San Marcos</a> or <a href="http://austintexas.gov/">Austin</a> when talking about where you are going since they are within a few miles of the park. I was texting a friend telling him about the trip we had planned and he said by the way that is not the right city, to which I responded it was just easier to spell. </span></blockquote>
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I can't tell you haw many times I have typed something and the little red line pops up only to find out I didn't even get close enough for Microsoft to know what I was trying to spell. My history of bad spelling is long so I have never pretended to know how to spell some really simple words. In fact "pilot" is for some reason one of the most difficult for me to remember. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Handwriting a letter is one of the worst times to realize the word you want to use is out simply because you can't spell it. Sometimes I will even go to the phone or computer to see if I can find it but usually I just choose another word. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This can also lead to problems when you are trying to map a route and can't spell the city you want to type in the app. I guess for people like me you always need a copilot to stop you from driving past New Braunfels just to get to Schlitterbahn. For some reason I have always been able to spell Schlitterbahn. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-22898046572691672802014-08-05T08:14:00.000-04:002014-08-05T08:14:38.767-04:00You are Pregnant?<div>
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Seriously at your age and you are having a baby? Well I guess you can forget ever having any fun now that you are going to start over raising a kid at this season in your life. I mean who in there right mind would want to have a kid in their mid forties? <br />
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Last night we had dinner with some great friends that are expecting their first child together in the next few months. They are a blended family with kids from previous marriages but none together. It is a beautiful thing when you realize they will get to share a very special moment together that previously seemed impossible. It was not that they were trying or even expecting there to be a risk because they felt the time had passed. My bride and I were so excited because we think this couple is one of the all time great couples in the world.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is the classic story of both married before and had kids and they blended great and have awesome kids so what could make this story any better? Well a new life given to a family of 5 that has more than enough love to give a new baby. We have known them for years so we have laughed, cried and even screamed together so it was with nothing but pure joy that we hugged and were happy for them when we got the news. <o:p></o:p></div>
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We have seen them go through some storms and been strengthened in their faith so the smiles on their faces were a clear result of the humor they got from knowing God believed they could do this too. We can't wait to hold this beautiful baby (assuming it looks like her) and love him or her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-24888477921914307022014-08-04T08:15:00.000-04:002014-08-04T08:15:49.587-04:00Learn how to cheat<div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">Have you ever made a suggestion and had it completely rejected? I never understand the person that doesn't take advice or counsel. There are always areas in you life that could improve so look for people that challenge you in life. One of my favorite sayings is, "Don't spend time with people that don't see potential in you". I have two men that mentor me on a couple of different levels consistently. To be honest I have a few mentors but some are my friends and people I work closely with on different projects. </span></blockquote>
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The two men I am referring to are not related to me or close to me socially. They are both older and have gone further in their lives than I have spiritually and professionally. See I want men that can teach me their mistakes before I make them on my own. I need men in my life that are better fathers because they can give me the short cuts to great parenting. Maybe they were not the best fathers but as long as they learned from their mistakes then I can learn also. Maybe they are not multi-millionaires but they learned what not to do in business and finances so I can skip a mistake or two. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I did not seek perfect men or even huge successful men. I sought humble men with a heart for serving the next generation. These men were not easy to get time with in the beginning. In fact I had to ask one of them for almost a year before he would finally make time for me. I think he wanted to make sure it was worth his time. The other man was always busy so I had to adjust my schedule and meet him early one morning for breakfast. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My point to all this is there are a lot of people willing to help you in life but you have to ask first. They are busy and not looking for projects so they require some pursuit. You must be committed to asking until they agree or point you to someone who will meet with you. The other major point you need to remember is to show up with questions and something to write the answers down to create the plan of action. No one wants to give advice and have it ignored. Now go call, email or kick the door in on that one person you have always wanted to sit down with and ask some questions. You would be surprised how much they want to help you cheat and skip some mistakes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-26551760768783315392014-08-03T15:57:00.002-04:002014-08-03T15:57:47.292-04:00That Moment <br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There are moment s in a parent's life where you feel your kid has reached a base level on the mountain. For babies it is sleeping all night, a toddler walking or a young teen staying alone without fear in the house at night. Maybe for you it was the older teen driving or planning for college on their own. I think the times a child reaches the different levels in life are important and should be celebrated. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There are times in a young adult's life when those base camps are set up that you really can't celebrate with them but you know inside you are throwing a huge party. Those moments are really vital to a young adult's growth but there is a great danger in your acknowledgement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It is hard on a parent when you have a young adult son or daughter and they lose a job or maybe two or three jobs in a row. I understand it is hard on the son or daughter but as a parent you want to help and that can have devastating effects on their confidence. There is great value in letting your kids grow up and suffer some failure. There is also great value in letting them know you will always love them and support them emotionally but not financially for life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think when you have a child stumble a few times and they finally get that camp set up indicating they have stopped starting over, it is a big deal. The problem is you can't make a big deal about it because the camp is set up on very fragile ground. For example if they finally mention they need to get better about getting to work on time you can't say, "I have been saying that for years." It is in those moments you have to just be happy and keep moving forward. The last thing anyone needs to hear is "I told you so."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We all know you have said it a million times so reminding people is like saying the sun will come up in the East. It is hard as a parent to accept the destiny that God has for our children especially when that destiny looks nothing like the one we had for them. It takes courage and a lot of love to believe God loves your kids more than you. We all take different paths but we all take the path we are supposed to take to get where we were supposed to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-49965221943024623262014-07-24T07:57:00.000-04:002014-07-24T07:57:13.180-04:00Riding your bike to McDonald's<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
If you have been awake over the last few weeks and months you probably know a lot of people have died in plane crashes. First thing you need to remember is there are about 28,500 commercial flights a day or 10 million a year in the US. Worldwide you are talking about 20 million flights a year. Less than 0.00001% of commercial flights crashed a year. Yes it is tragic when someone loses their life but you have to pay attention to media reporting and not forget their goal in life. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Media outlets make money on advertising and nothing sells better than fear when it comes to news. Yes I know you hate when someone puts this stuff in perspective but seriously more people died in cow related incidents than died in commercial plane crashes in the US over the last 5 years. More people die from regularly eating at <a href="http://www.mcdonalds.com/">McDonald’s</a>, smoking, alcohol and yes even riding bicycle’s than commercial plane crashes every year. So clearly smoking a cigarette while riding your bike to McDonald’s drunk is about the worst thing you can do in life. <u></u><u></u></div>
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The point is I constantly get asked if I worry about my bride flying so much. My bride flies on average about 3-4 times a month. She has a very important job and it requires her to travel around the country. I am immensely proud of the work she does and the value it brings to our country. I tell her no when she has too much to drink and wants to ride her bike but that is another story. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Yes I worry about her traveling but not crashing in a plane. I worry the plane will be hot and she will punch someone and get thrown in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp">GTMO</a>. I worry they lose her luggage and she buys a whole new wardrobe. I worry the hotel doesn't treat her like the platinum super VIP she is supposed to be and she burns the hotel down. I worry she will be over exposed to stupid and fire people which will result in more travel because the job will have to be done by her now. <u></u><u></u></div>
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The fact is she is safe flying, staying in hotels and working in government buildings. The point is live your life and stop worrying about safety so much. If you do ride your bike to McDonald’s after a few too many and just insist on smoking, please wear a helmet. </div>
Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-63614624192014988952014-07-23T08:16:00.001-04:002014-07-23T08:16:09.969-04:00Could this be killing your kids?<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.866666793823242px; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
I love a good headline but to purposely mislead people to get them to read your article is annoying. I record the news every morning in order to watch the weather and major headlines. It takes me about 20 minutes to watch 90 minute news broadcast. I admit I do it mostly to avoid the commercials but also because they tease every story with a horrific headline to get you to come back. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Will most things kill your kids? NO! More people were killed by cows than sharks last year so really the chances of you dying in the middle of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma">Oklahoma</a> are better than the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida">Florida</a> coast. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Is there a chance you will die from the plague or lead poisoning? Probably not. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Will missing the latest government warning cause your kids to miss out on college money? Doubt it!<u></u><u></u></div>
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Did your parents let you drink from the water hose? Did you know the water hose has a warning label on it that says, “Not for human consumption?” <u></u><u></u></div>
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Did you ride a bike without a helmet? Well then based recent voting results most of you should sue your parents. <u></u><u></u></div>
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I know I am dragging this out but I am about to get to the point. The thing that really could be hurting your kids is a disease called LAZY. We read just the headlines and think we got the whole story and move on so we never get the full story. We are raising a generation of people that only read the newsfeed on Facebook. We read the scroll at the bottom of the television. If you are like me you spend 45 seconds on a website skimming for anything you think matters and forming an opinion. <u></u><u></u></div>
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An actual headline recently read, “Obama cancels fundraisers due to tragedy”. The problem is that is not what happened at all. He moved them to later in the day to be able to have a press conference and then went to the events. Most people never read that far into the article. I don’t care what you think of the press or even the current administration but you have to admit that is dishonest. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Another recent headline read, “Are vegetables actually deadly?” The story was really about a store clerk that stacked the pallets too high and it fell on him. He didn’t die or even eat the vegetables but unless you read the whole story you would never have known. <u></u><u></u></div>
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My point is read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geophagy">things</a> you may not automatically find appealing just in case they have a good point or a valid argument for another point of view. </div>
Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-82584010811179062122014-07-22T08:03:00.001-04:002014-07-22T08:03:17.123-04:00Don't bother reading this<div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;">My goal is to write everyday. I don't publish everything I write but I do try to write everyday. A friend asked what the point of that goal was and I just said so I will get better. Everyone knows the only way to get better at something is to practice, so for me this is practice. </span></blockquote>
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You wouldn't buy a ticket to watch the athlete practice or the drummer practice so why read this at all. A lot of people want to be great at something. My goal used to be to make the <a href="http://pga.com/">PGA</a> but turns out golf and beer are a really good combination. I just couldn't find a way to practice my game and not drink the whole time so I eventually gave up the game completely. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I try to crank out 400 words everyday and that seems to be a good place to stop but feel like a practiced. Sometimes I just ramble and talk about what ever comes to mind. That may be the secret to great writing. I really wouldn't know since I am just practicing at this point in my career. I do get paid to write but just enough to buy tacos for breakfast not exactly support a family. <o:p></o:p></div>
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A good <a href="http://www.therealjerrydugan.com/">friend</a> just sold over 1000 copies of his first <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HOL4JQY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HOL4JQY&linkCode=as2&tag=threjedu-20&linkId=OSJ43GWYYDW5WTMY">book</a> on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HOL4JQY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HOL4JQY&linkCode=as2&tag=threjedu-20&linkId=OSJ43GWYYDW5WTMY">Amazon</a>. No one really thought he could do that including himself but he never gave up. He wrote all the time until he felt he got good enough to ship something and took that leap. What he didn't wait for was permission. He picked himself and just ran with it. It really is a good book so go check it out.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another friend of mine is writing a <a href="http://www.shawnalbright.com/">blog</a> to just get the words out of his head. He is a successful member of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wObW7telyZo">elite panda dancing instructors union</a> but he still writes just for fun. I am kidding, he sells medical equipment but dancing instructor to panda's sounds way cooler. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I guess if you are still reading this far you have very little reading material or you are my mom. Hi MOM!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The overall point to this post is you have to write to get better. So grab a seat and get to writing. If your thing is singing then get to belting out those tunes. If you want to be good at teaching pandas to dance then give my buddy a call. </div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-37482872639354682782014-07-21T12:43:00.000-04:002014-07-21T12:51:54.264-04:00Best Dance Floor in Texas<div class="mobile-photo">
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You should float the River Frio in Texas and then wrap up that great day at <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/garner">Garner State Park</a>. They have a <a href="http://garnerstatepark.com/The_Dance.html">dance</a> that happens every night at 730 and you have never seen anything like it. It is the classic family dance floor under the big oak tree. This dance dates back to the 40's. You will find a 5 year old dancing alongside a 80 year. It is a place you can disappear in the heart of Texas and pretend the rest of the world does not exist. Families and singles alike are all around a non stop party. There is no alcohol so this dance doesn't get out of hand. Teenagers and young people alike show up hear every night to just dance and enjoy the beautiful stars. </div>
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There are some rules to follow:</div>
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No alcohol</div>
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Get there early to get a seat if you just want to watch. (parents that don't dance)</div>
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You need to leave by 1030 because the gate closes at 11 and you will be locked in the park.</div>
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You need to buy an annual pass to all state parks to save money coming and going. The dance is free but it costs per person to enter the park. It also take a long time to pay and enter the park so get your pass on line or from any other state park. </div>
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If you are standing in the certain area where all the girls stand you have to dance if asked. You are not allowed to say no. This makes it fair for the shy guys to get the girls to dance. </div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-83681900660740807892014-07-20T16:31:00.000-04:002014-08-22T16:25:25.263-04:00Floating the River Frio<br />
My family has a new tradition. We now have an annual trip to the <a href="http://riverbluffcabins.com/">Frio River Cabins at River Bluff</a> and floating down the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frio_River">River Frio</a>. If you have never floated the river it is a must for any decent Texan. Before I talk about the river there are a few things to know before you get in the tube. <br />
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You need a place to stay and there is none better than <a href="http://riverbluffcabins.com/">Frio River Cabins at River Bluff</a>. Go check out their website and grab a few days for your family. They have these incredible cabins with kitchens and bathrooms and all the things you expect to see in a cabin near the river. What they have that you won't find in other places is an incredible access to a private part of the river and beds that are equal to the best hotels in the world. I have stayed in 4-5 star hotels in Seattle, Chicago, Vegas and many others that didn't have beds like these. <br />
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Here is a view from the front porch of Cabin 5.</div>
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I sat out there every morning and watched the deer come and eat. </div>
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So how far is the river from the back porch?</div>
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That's right it is really just a few steps from your cabin to the river. Now to be honest every cabin is not that close but the furthest you would have to walk would be maybe 75 yards so there is no bad cabin in this place. This was the first time we stayed and we left feeling like we had just left family. The owners Doug & Leslie with their girls Britten & Annslie treat you like you have been there for years. They have tubes, ice, firewood and most of the essentials right on site and there is a <a href="http://www.stripesstores.com/">Stripes</a> store a couple miles down the road for anything else. <br />
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Before you leave the city to head to the river I suggest you buy all the groceries and adult beverages you may need. There is a great little general store in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leakey,_Texas">Leakey</a> (pronounced LAKE EE) but it has very limited selection and prices are a little higher than <a href="http://www.heb.com/home/home.jsp">HEB</a> or any other large chain store. Also don't bother bringing tubes from the cabin to the river when you want to go on the actual float. Just down the road about 3 miles is a place called <a href="http://www.onthefrio.com/">Happy Hollow Grocery</a> and they rent tubes and drop you off up river. This is way easier than dealing with your own tubes. Also when you rent their tubes you get dropped off for free and when you bring your own they charge you. So basically it costs the same. They do a great job so don't bother with anyone else. <br />
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Floating the river is a great way to just relax and enjoy all the ways God blessed the great state of Texas. When you are finished you end up back at <a href="http://www.onthefrio.com/">Happy Hollow</a> and drive back to the cabins. Then you can eat some dinner and get dressed up for the <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/garner">Garner State Park</a> dance. By dressed up I mean Texas style in boots and jeans for the guys and the girls wear shorts and boots. I will write about that tomorrow. <br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-86513683755713082342014-07-15T09:02:00.001-04:002014-07-15T09:06:41.603-04:00Your Expert bought his Credentials<blockquote type="cite"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I had a guy that suggested I follow a "Social Media Expert" on Twitter. Some people look at numbers and make a lot of assumptions. </span></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"> <br> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He makes a lot of money so he is happy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">She is beautiful so she must be happy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He is dirty and homeless so he must be on drugs.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He has 8300 followers on Twitter so he is an expert. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">I can name so many wealthy people that are miserable and so can you. We all know someone who is beautiful and ready to end it all, just turn on the TV. One of the best people I have ever met was homeless and smelled terrible but loved me and Jesus more than I could imagine. The difference in judging people based on our perceptions and believing the lie they are putting out is huge. Just because someone claims to be an expert does not mean you should listen to them or buy their product. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">Social Media is a strange world. All you need to figure out if they are really an authority is see how many times they are engaged in conversation. Clearly anyone can get online and say stuff but does anyone you respect engage with this person? Do they retweet what they say or ask questions and request information? Chances are those followers were bought and the ability to peddle snake oil was perfected over years of living a fake life. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">If you want to be on Social Media, be yourself. We don't have one like you and chances are your perspective and experience can really benefit someone. Build your reputation in a way you can be proud and the following will come. </p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> </blockquote><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:windowtext;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-41944613028386987602014-07-11T16:39:00.001-04:002014-07-12T11:58:14.611-04:00Just because it "looks" real doesn't mean it is<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1XuQmVGqAtU/U8FbETnKNgI/AAAAAAAASNo/pYEt0vrYB6c/s640/blogger-image-1987297109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-1XuQmVGqAtU/U8FbETnKNgI/AAAAAAAASNo/pYEt0vrYB6c/s640/blogger-image-1987297109.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></p>I had a guy that suggested I follow a "Social Media Expert" on Twitter. Some people look at numbers and make a lot of assumptions. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"> <br> <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He makes a lot of money so he is happy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">She is beautiful so she must be happy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He is dirty and homeless so he must be on drugs.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">He has 8300 followers on Twitter so he is an expert. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">I can name so many wealthy people that are miserable and so can you. We all know someone who is beautiful and ready to end it all, just turn on the TV. One of the best people I have ever met was homeless and smelled terrible but loved me and Jesus more than I could imagine. The difference in judging people based on our perceptions and believing the lie they are putting out is huge. Just because someone claims to be an expert does not mean you should listen to them or buy their product. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">Social Media is a strange world. All you need to figure out if they are really an authority is see how many times they are engaged in conversation. Clearly anyone can get online and say stuff but does anyone you respect engage with this person? Do they retweet what they say or ask questions and request information? Chances are those followers were bought and the ability to peddle snake oil was perfected over years of living a fake life. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">If you want to be on Social Media, be yourself. We don't have one like you and chances are your perspective and experience can really benefit someone. Build your reputation in a way you can be proud and the following will come. </p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p> </blockquote><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:windowtext;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-20512911974710395522014-07-11T08:10:00.001-04:002014-07-11T08:10:34.596-04:00How not to raise a Grasshopper Killer<div>
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My friend wrote a great post on raising a <a href="http://www.shawnalbright.com/?p=74">Grasshopper Killer</a>. If you want to jump over and read it, I think you will find it very encouraging. After I read the post I thought, why doesn't every parent raise a Grasshopper Killerr? Isn't that our first question when we read something that is common sense but we don't make it part of our way of life and therefore make our lives better?</blockquote>
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I think we need an article titled, How not to Raise a Grasshopper Killer.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->You should never tell your kids everything is going to be okay. In fact it is better if you never tell them anything and just let them figure things out on their own.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Live a fearful life yourself and make sure you never take chances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Fight with your spouse a lot so they never know if you are staying together or not or feel secure.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Don't save money so every small event becomes a major issue to pay for or borrow money to cover. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Miss games and school functions but always promise to be there. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Make a lot of promises and follow thru on a few.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Share your regrets and problems because kids need to know what you are scared of or worried about.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Talk openly about failure and how some people never have a chance in life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Blame your past because kids tend to believe your past doesn't dictate your future.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Point out their shortcomings because kids tend to be unaware of how much better everyone else is than them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">11.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Watch TV more than you interact with them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">12.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Don't give them responsibility and let them know it is because you don't trust them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not saying this will guarantee you a kid that doesn't believe they can slay grasshoppers but it will go a long way to preventing it. In fact if you do this right your kid may even grow up to be a great follower of mediocre thinking and negotiate with terrorist kind of adult we need in America. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I apologize if this seems pretty simple and you are already raising your kids this way. Some people think they need to build their kids up to do great things and not listen to the media tell them how to live. </div>
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I say: SAVE THE GRASSHOPPERS!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-19467258486203733212014-07-08T14:33:00.001-04:002014-07-09T10:09:28.591-04:003 ways to change people<blockquote type="cite"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The first thing you should do is talk to them and show them a better way to do things. They have to trust you and be willing to listen but a good example is always a great teacher. Live your life the way you want others to live and they will follow.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">Since the first way usually doesn't work there is an alternative, force them to change! That is right the next best thing to showing them how to live is forcing them. If you can prevent them from ever doing things that annoy you or you disapprove of then go for it. It will be faster than living by example and hoping for change. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">The best way to change people? You probably already guessed; it is stop worrying about how other people live. I am a firm believer in the do what you can to help but be smart enough to know when some people choose to live the way they want at times. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">I get amused at the person who nags or yells at the smoker. People who smoke are well aware of the risks. I have never met a smoker who didn't know it was bad for them. My personal favorite is the Christian who yells at someone to accept Christ or burn. Yes you should share your faith but at some point you have to accept people for whom they are and not change them. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">As a parent this is very hard because we see our children making mistakes and we want to step in but when they suffer the consequences it teaches them so much more. I am talking about young adults from 16-20 not toddlers so don't bother telling me to change. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">The sister that should leave the dirt bag husband is well aware he is a dirt bag. The best solution is let her live that way and you go off and be happy. The liberal that is so blind to the truth it makes your head explode is very happy in their ignorance so let them be ignorant and you go change the world. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%">My little bit of inspiration for you today. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></blockquote><style><!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Andalus; panose-1:2 2 6 3 5 4 5 2 3 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {mso-style-priority:99; color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {mso-style-priority:99; color:purple; text-decoration:underline;} span.EmailStyle17 {mso-style-type:personal-compose; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; color:windowtext;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only;} @page WordSection1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} --></style><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9eI-RG_aSC4/U71NFvvewiI/AAAAAAAASNU/Yes-riB9A18/s640/blogger-image--557315059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9eI-RG_aSC4/U71NFvvewiI/AAAAAAAASNU/Yes-riB9A18/s640/blogger-image--557315059.jpg"></a></div>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-8477198285282425722014-07-08T08:16:00.000-04:002014-07-08T08:16:32.169-04:00Easiest way to Procrastinate<div>
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I usually don't do product endorsements but this one really is a huge timesaver. I have an app on my phone called <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/apps/#note">Squarespace</a>. I am constantly finding an article or website I want to look at but don't have time at the moment or basically I am procrastinating. The beauty of <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/apps/#note">Squarespace</a> is the simple format and basic 5 second process. <o:p></o:p></div>
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First you download the app because guess what it won't magically appear just because you told Siri you wanted it. Yeah that would be a great add on <a href="https://www.apple.com/">Apple</a> so get that one done before the next update. When you first open the app you can slide left and connect it to a lot of other services. I connected it to my <a href="https://www.evernote.com/">Evernote</a> because it is the best place to put World Domination (procrastination) Plans to look at later when I have more time to focus. <o:p></o:p></div>
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You can then just type anything and swipe up like throwing a note right into the box you want to see it later. You can copy paste a website or url that seemed interesting but couldn't read at the time or just a quick note to order that birthday gift later. After the 5 minute setup you have a simple Post-It note like pad on your phone that requires less time to save a note than to write an actual Post-it note. Plus you don't have that sticky stuff to get on your fingers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Now to be fair they do allow you to connect to your email, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/business?_tk=sem_goog_b&_kw=dropbox|e&_net=g&_ad=37321814742|1t1&_camp=sem_google_b_dropbox_us-english&gclid=CjwKEAjwre6dBRC94d-Gma7g3wcSJACNatZejzolnazf6M4bVkEb2Ahp9D0KVAMNeVnS787tT5kGvBoC2Erw_wcB">Dropbox</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://drive.google.com/">Google Drive</a> if you want a quick way to send notes to those places or update your status. If you connect all those services you have to choose where the note goes when you swipe up. I like the time savings of just sending it to my <a href="https://www.evernote.com/">Evernote</a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also you really need to determine how quickly you want to be able to update your status anyway. You can make some really bad mistakes going too quickly on that plan. I highly suggest you get <a href="http://www.squarespace.com/apps/#note">Squarespace</a> for free and use it to look at your brilliant ideas later when you are awake. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-38756316751259330902014-07-04T10:26:00.001-04:002014-07-04T10:26:55.242-04:00I didn't drink my breakfast**Quick disclaimer: I workout 4-5 times a week and eat healthy about 80% of the time. Normally I have a shake for breakfast but this time was different. I do not recommend you eat this more than once for every 30 workouts. I spend most evenings after work at <a href="http://www.sports-fitness-solutions.com/">Sports Fitness Solutions</a> because these guys have changed my life. Check them out!<br />
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<b>Today was completely different! There is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue_in_Texas">BBQ</a> place in Texas called <a href="http://www.rudysbbq.com/page/home">Rudy's</a> that has something called Green Chili Stew. They have a number of great items but this is my favorite. When it is cold outside which happens very rarely in South Texas, I think it is a great choice. </b><br />
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<b>Today I used it for my breakfast. I know that sounds weird but trust me, I put a lot of strange things in my eggs just to see what it tastes like. I love guacamole, tomatoes or even chili. Today was all about the Green Chile Stew.</b><br />
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<b>I took one small container of the stew, thanks to my son who brought it home yesterday, and put it in a frying pan. This stew is cooked so all you are doing is heating it up. </b><br />
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<b>Then whip up 3-4 eggs and pour them over the top. I happened to have a few roasted potatoes so I threw some of those in too. The taste is out of this world and trust me you will not be disappointed. </b><br />
<b>I want to stress that I normally eat really good and so that allows me to take breaks and eat something that is not the healthiest thing on the menu. </b><br />
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<b>If you are looking to get in shape I suggest you get some accountability like <a href="http://www.sports-fitness-solutions.com/">Sports Fitness Solutions</a> and add <a href="http://www.shakeology.com/">Shakeology</a> to your day. </b><br />
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<b>**Another disclaimer: I don't make any money off any company or product listed but I do benefit from Rudy's because my son works there so I guess I save money that way. If you want the holy grail of BBQ in Texas you have to visit <a href="http://kreuzmarket.com/">Kreuzmarket</a> in Lockhart, Texas</b>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-51547040269824876352014-07-02T07:41:00.001-04:002014-07-02T07:41:29.937-04:00How not to defend yourself<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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What do you do when someone attacks you? Not a guy in a ski mask walking down the street attack but a close friend or even a stranger attacking you verbally. </div>
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I used to lead an organization that was intended to be filled with Christians who loved the unlovable. The reality was a few people loved the title and loved the attention. As soon as I lost my position (completely my fault) most of the “close” team never spoke to me again. Now to be fair some did listen when I took responsibility and asked for forgiveness and even pretended to miss me when we ended up in the same public place. Most just gathered together and acted like my family was not hurting. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Most of the “close” friends just cut the line and moved on with their lives of zero sin and righteous judgment. I don’t blame them because I have done the same thing in life. The issue was not with the people around me but rather my lack of sharing the script.<u></u><u></u></div>
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We are think we are the star of our own movie and have a script written just the way we want it. The problem is we don’t give that script to everyone else to learn their lines. As a result these people don’t know the role they are supposed to play. I can’t tell you how many times I was 100% sure what someone’s intent was and even held a grudge because they didn't say the right thing at the right time.<u></u><u></u></div>
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Sadly almost 99% of the time I was completely wrong! See happy people don’t sit around and foster bad feelings towards people that never had a chance to read the script. Happy people just assume you didn't know and move on. <u></u><u></u></div>
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We really never know what someone else is going through or why they did something or even didn't do something unless they tell us. The secret is they probably didn't have a clue they even hurt you in the first place. I am not saying everyone should be let off the hook for anything rude. I am saying you don’t matter as much as you think to most people so cut them some slack. I remember thinking everyone on the planet knew when I did something stupid. Truth is every other person is thinking about themselves and not you so there is no time to plot your demise. <u></u><u></u></div>
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Yes people are evil sometimes and spend all their waking hours trying to destroy other people. Yes the scratches on your car from the deranged girlfriend are real. Yes your dog did poop in the house on purpose because you didn't give him his favorite treat. (Okay that is just silly but one I have heard) <u></u><u></u></div>
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Most people are just living and do stupid, insensitive things at the wrong moment. Most people would apologize and be forgiven if asked. <br /><br /><u></u><u></u></div>
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The question is do you need to ask for forgiveness or maybe give some? <u></u><u></u></div>
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If you enjoyed this please share it. </div>
Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-62360504498403050672014-06-30T07:34:00.000-04:002014-06-30T07:34:13.308-04:00What are you hoping for?<div style="text-align: center;">
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If we are honest we rarely ask for things. I find that I hope for things all the time. I may even tell people I want to have something. Most days I actually work towards the things I say are important goals for my life. </div>
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Have we been conditioned to silently hope or wish things would happen? </div>
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Do we play the lotto hopping to win?</div>
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Do we wish that company would call and offer us the dream job?</div>
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Do we watch other people live a happy life and wish we had the same things?</div>
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My question this morning is do we actually ASK? Do we pray and ask God to give us that job? Did we go to the gym and work on getting that body but never ASK for the strength and discipline to work on it every day? What is your prayer today? Be thankful but don't forget to ASK and voice your desires. God knows your heart but still wants to hear your words.</div>
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-87329209674177089272014-06-29T14:13:00.000-04:002014-06-29T15:03:24.529-04:002 ways to ruin your lifeBelieve the world is a bad place and place it safe.<br />
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You live in the greatest place on the planet. How do I know that? Because you have access to the world. You can learn, start a business, play and even get a job from where you are right now. The world is full of really great people that will help you. The very small amount of people you hear about that are terrible is equal to a spoonful of sand. That's right <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Bieber">Justin Bieber</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Cheney">Dick Cheney</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin">Vladimir Putin</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Manson">Charles Manson</a> and every other person you hate or fear doesn't matter. Stop basing your world view off your parents opinion or the guy on the news. The world needs more people willing to reach out to show kindness. </div>
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We also need some people willing to take a chance. Sail to the new world, shoot a rocket into space, open a business or move to Africa. What is the worst that can happen? You hate it and come back. You quit your job for a business idea and it doesn't work so you go back or get a new job. </div>
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The moral to the story is the world is a good place and life is short so play to win and play for you, not someone else's opinion.<br />
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Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-33163287349650044382014-06-26T06:15:00.000-04:002014-06-26T09:31:42.436-04:00Stop being NICE!<div style="border: 0px; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.428571em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
We all have a life that no one sees on a daily basis. It is easy to be one thing at work, one thing at church and a completely different person alone. The hard part is remembering what those "roles" are and playing them at the right time. I admit I am the Tom Hanks of playing the most believable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="line-height: 1.428571em;">roles on stage. I recently read a<a href="https://medium.com/@nicharry/advice-from-30-year-old-me-to-20-year-old-me-b9b035d39e2d"> post </a>on Medium written to his 20 year old self from his 30 year old self.</span><br>
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<span style="line-height: 1.428571em;">One of the things that struck me was the need to write such a letter. The fact we are not real with others is common but the few extraordinary people or rather happy people in this world that are authentic is very rare. </span></div>
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You should read the <a href="https://medium.com/@nicharry/advice-from-30-year-old-me-to-20-year-old-me-b9b035d39e2d">post</a> because it is good advice for anyone not dead yet but more importantly you should apply the thought process to your present day. Stop pretending to be something and stop wasting time worrying what other people think about you. I am 44 and just recently learned the importance of being authentic in EVERY relationship not just the ones you thought were safe. </div>
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Where would you work if you could just speak up and do it? Where would you live if you had the freedom to decide? Who would you cut out of your life if you had the guts to stand up to them and walk away?</div>
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Most of us spend years in a relationship with people we wished would go away. I am not talking about a marriage because that should be fixed not thrown away. I am talking about friends or coworkers or even bosses. We can't stand to be around these people but society says we have to be nice. My advice is stop being nice. Don't have dinner with them. Don't help them move. Don't watch their kids. Don't schedule events with them. They either don't show up on time if at all or they change the plans and it sucks the life out of you. </div>
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WHY? </div>
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Simply put, YOU LET THEM!</div>
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I do love people and I have many friends. I promise if I am in the room or putting any effort into our relationship it is because I want to be there. I am past the point of pretending and spending time with people I don't like. I also promise if this bothers you, that is your fault. What I think about you does not matter. Live the life God has for you and stop trying to make everyone happy or at least not feel uncomfortable. </div>
Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-54534149428659337062014-06-21T08:55:00.001-04:002014-06-21T08:55:49.780-04:00Worst President EVER!Who am I referring to? Well it really doesn't matter. There are some that say that about President Bush and others that say the same thing about President Obama. <div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L0bua0ZB2lQ/U6WA0vvKiUI/AAAAAAAASKk/0GTkX3VpA7w/s640/blogger-image--1455785527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L0bua0ZB2lQ/U6WA0vvKiUI/AAAAAAAASKk/0GTkX3VpA7w/s640/blogger-image--1455785527.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>When someone posts a disparaging comment about an issue I agree with it makes me mad. I also voice my disagreement. Sometimes I go to the trouble of researching and proving them wrong. </div><div><br></div><div>When someone posts something I agree with I never do the research. I never challenge it. That makes me as bad as the people I disagree with all the time. </div><div><br></div><div>We can't have a society where we don't question opinions or facts we agree with. We need to think for ourselves and do our own research. </div><div><br></div><div>Listen to Fox News if you are a liberal and get the side of CNN if your views lean towards being a conservative. </div><div><br></div><div>That works in every area of life. Don't just listen to one side on any issue. Your marriage, kids or even church. Ask questions of a few different sources. </div><div><br></div><div>I admire a lot of people but not 100% of what anyone says or believes. </div>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-62754903914568904422014-06-19T08:50:00.001-04:002014-06-19T08:50:29.086-04:00Why go the other wayOne of the hard things to do in life is walk against the crowd. We have all been at a game or concert and found ourselves going the opposite direction of the crowd. I said opposite not wrong direction because maybe the world is wrong. I mean look at the history of the crowd. <br /><br />Crowd ideas: Slavery, parachute pants, disco, women staying at home, cars with no seat belts and one of the all time favorites smoking.<br /><br />Where would the world be if we didn't have people go against the crowd and ask the "unqualified" questions? <br /><br />Why can't we treat men and women of color like everyone else? <br /><br />Why can't I have a phone that holds all my music?<br /><br />Why can't we build an electric car?<br /><br />Why can't a teenager from Canada be a pop star? Okay we got that one wrong!<br /><br />My point is we wait to be picked and told we can do something for so long sometimes we miss our chance to be great. Why do you need someone to tell you it's okay to open a business or write a book or start a movement? <br /><br />Let me eliminate that question and just say GO FOR IT! No one needs to be picked or approved. Just take that idea and give it a try. The result could be financially hard or even physically hard. You may even cry a little. BIG DEAL! Do it anyway and expect it to be financially awesome and maybe those are tears of joy! <br /><br />No one starts with the certainty of success. Everyone has to start with just the expectation. <br /><br />What is the dream you need to start working on today?<br />Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-16440434670887019152014-06-16T12:29:00.001-04:002014-06-16T12:29:49.730-04:005 Ways to a better Marriage<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<b>If you want it go get it.</b> </h2>
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Give it to me is the opposite of work. </h2>
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My bride and I recently took a <a href="http://majmn.blogspot.com/2014/06/marriage-vacation.html?spref=tw">Marriage Vacation</a>. Eight days away from everything is a great way to refresh and revive your mission in life. A man I knew growing up always said, "If you want it go get it. Give it to me is the opposite of work." What he meant was, to have anything of real value means you work for for it. What I love about the way he said it was it meant any thing of value had to be worked for and taken. No one was ever going to give you everything you heart desires. </div>
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I don't have a perfect marriage but I do have a really good one most of the time. I also work at it. I plan vacations, date nights and time alone with my bride. The kids, work or friends do not come first. My bride doesn't even come first. That place is reserved for God. I won't get into the huge benefit that formula is today but rest assured it matters more than anything. </div>
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The point is we went to Las Vegas for a few days and just hung out. We didn't gamble even though I am not against it but rather it seems to be against me. We saw shows and visited the casino's and did a lot of people watching. If you have never been to Las Vegas, you should be prepared for some interesting people. There was a small Mr. T. Superman (weighing 120 pounds) and what appeared to be a version of the band Kiss. I really can't describe it better than that with out using words that may be wrong. We also went to Hoover Dam and hung out by the pool at the condo. We didn't party until the wee hours of the morning but we did find some hidden gems in the restaurant areas. </div>
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We both love food so finding the places off the beaten path is always fun for us. </div>
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For breakfast you have to visit <a href="http://www.worldfamouscoffeecup.com/">The Coffee Cup</a>. It has the best biscuits and gravy and corned beef hash. Yes it is a little drive but it also is on the way to <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/">Hoover Dam</a> and <a href="http://www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm">Lake Mead</a> so totally worth it to start your day.</div>
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For lunch or dinner it would be <a href="http://lolaslasvegas.com/">Lolas Kitchen</a>. The best catfish in town and amazing flavors. Make a reservation because it is popular. The Bronzed Catfish is over the top good. </div>
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For dinner it is absolutely worth the 20 minute drive to <a href="http://www.bobtaylorsranchhouse.com/">Bob Taylor's</a>. This is the best prime rib in the area. The grill is right in front of the dining room and you get the freshest steaks in the world. Price, service and taste are a perfect 10 at this old school ranch house. </div>
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Quick disclaimer: You don't have to own a timeshare and spend $10,000 to take a trip like this. We do happen to own a timeshare because we invested in it many years ago. The value has paid for itself but don't buy just any timeshare. Talk to me or someone you trust and avoid the mistakes we made. Also get a room with a fridge and stove and make some meals at the condo. Avoid the buffet scam. You should not eat that much and even if you do it won't be worth it. </div>
Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-1342851869320186472014-06-14T16:38:00.001-04:002014-06-14T16:38:27.578-04:00AskWhat is the secret to getting almost everything? Ask! It amazes me when someone comes to me for help and I find out they have struggled for weeks or even months. I ask the same old question and get the same old answer. "I was afraid to ask". <div><br></div><div>Every thing I accomplished professionally has been a result of asking. Can I have that job? Can I have that salary? Can I have that opportunity? </div><div><br></div><div>The truth is you can't do it alone. You will be shocked at how many people really want to help you succeed. People like helping and you need help. So ASK! </div>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22781030.post-50844714744628539462014-06-09T17:59:00.001-04:002014-06-17T12:15:14.947-04:005 ways to change your situation<div><br></div>Use your words to change the situation not describe it. <div><br>Don't say what is, say what you want it to be. </div><div><br>There is an advantage when your issue gets so bad you can't pretend it doesn't exist anymore. I mean it stinks when you get caught or get the diagnosis but at least then you can get to work addressing it. <br><br>You can do something remarkable WITH the boundaries not outside them. Don't let the situation define the solution. </div><div><br>The only people who call something a failure are the ones who give up.<br><br><br></div>Brandon Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04631684121317672146noreply@blogger.com0