The 18 Foxtrot Chronicles

The 18 Foxtrot Chronicles http://nawata.multiply.com/ the adventures of a starbucks-drinking, sushi-loving, japanese-canadian living in the philippines. Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:32:16 -0000 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:18:07 -0000 The 18 Foxtrot Chronicles http://images.nawata.multiply.com/logo http://nawata.multiply.com 100 100 7 hours in tokyo <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SGc1jwoKCEkAAEDpP101/macstation.jpg?et=4xTrX2UvACdIx5zLjgZgBg&nmid=0" border="0">so here i am in tokyo's narita airport with a 7 hour 45 minute layover before my continuing flight to honolulu. i ate some sushi, bought a japanese novel called "after dark" (how could i resist a book that describes one of its main characters as "a very ordinary young man with the air of a nice -- but not very clever -- stray mutt"), perused all the shops, bought some riceballs (my contingency plan for inedible airplace meals), reconnoitered the entire northwest transit terminal, drank a cappucino, rode the world's shortest moving walkway (they have "people movers" here that literally only go for maybe 20 feet... might as well just wax the floor, you could almost slide that far with a good running start) -- and i still have 5 hours to go. so what's a girl to do? blog, of course! thankfully, they have a super nice northwest lounge at narita -- with rows of big screen macs with free internet and a view of the planes taking off and landing in the driving rain. having had ample time t... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/45/7_hours_in_tokyo Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:18:07 -0000 The Purple Book hits YouTube!!! Check out this inspiring video that shows how "Baja Bob", Rice Broocks, and the newsboys are building homes for the poor and distributing Bibles and Purple Books in Baja, Mexico with the goal to disciple 1 million people and build 10,000 homes, classrooms, and churches in the next 20 http://nawata.multiply.com/links/item/16/The_Purple_Book_hits_YouTube Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:34:12 -0000 lessons from the gravel road of despair - part III <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SA-ncgoKCEkAABl2Atw1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SA-ncgoKCEkAABl2Atw1/road%20to%20civilization.jpg?et=uk%2BKjNhWaNXNYyAI9x3V7Q&nmid=&nmid=92679578" border="0"></a>the faint hope that a search helicopter would suddenly appear and a good-looking ranger would rescue us occurred to one of my friends (she's obviously seen too many movies). but then we realized that no one actually knew we were missing yet and therefore no one would be looking for us... so we pressed on. the gravel road of despair had a profound effect on us. once we realized how truly and utterly lost we were, our thoughts were no longer of outback steaks and ice-cold colas. with no real end in sight, our pace slowed, our lively conversation ceased. we decided to concentrate on just putting one foot in front of the other. we knew we had less than a couple more hours of daylight left and i started mentally preparing myself to sleep overnight in the park (we were all wearing tank tops and had no other clothes, or a flashlight, or a lighter, or ... well, we basically had no supplies). we made the decision to turn around on the gravel road of despair and retrace our steps until we fou... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/40/lessons_from_the_gravel_road_of_despair_-_part_III Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:51:10 -0000 Real Life Grad Banquet We held a banquet on April 15 to honor our 16 graduating Real Life scholars (www.igivetolife.com). It was a great night as we heard inspiring testimonies from two of our graduates, honored my predecessor, David Bonifacio, for his service to Real Life, and were treated to a testimony and a song from Christian Bautista. I am always so impressed and inspired when I meet our Real Life scholars -- they really embody Leadership, Integrity, Faith and Excellence. The new grads were especially excited about their grad gift -- a limited edition (and very exclusive) Real Life watch, which they all modeled enthusiastically (while I only got to model the box). Thanks to Junjun Perez for the great http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/44/Real_Life_Grad_Banquet Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:00:46 -0000 lessons from the gravel road of despair - part II <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SAwhdAoKCEkAACvKFDI1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SAwhdAoKCEkAACvKFDI1/fall%20creek%20falls.jpg?et=zxipsarul8R%2BRu%2C8vO4Z1Q&nmid=&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684&nmid=92183684" border="0"></a>we summited the incline, only to find ourselves on what i fondly referred to as "the gravel road of despair." gaining the summit, it was clear even to my directionally-challenged mind that we were now walking in the OPPOSITE direction from the entrance to the park, our car, and most desired of all, the vending machines. however, none of us could bear the thought of turning around and backtracking the gruelling 4 hour climb we had just completed. we were now on what appeared to be a gravel logging road, so we decided the best plan was to keep going forward and pray that we would encounter a road, house or human that would lead us back to civilization. my still very fit kickboxing friend gamely offered to jog down the gravel road to see if there were any people at the end of it that might help us out. she ran on ahead with her equally fit black labrador retriever whom i secretly envied for his ability to drink from the occasional puddle of brown muddy water. meanwhile, dehydrated, ... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/39/lessons_from_the_gravel_road_of_despair_-_part_II Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:39:12 -0000 lessons from the gravel road of despair - part I <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SAwf5woKCEkAAHtlJNo1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SAwf5woKCEkAAHtlJNo1/fall%20creek%20falls1.jpg?et=nB6R%2CRua4WZW9msuxJGKiQ&nmid=&nmid=92183352" border="0"></a>i once went on an 16 km hike that became a 45 km experience of wandering in the wilderness (of tennessee). it was one of those -- "if i get out of this alive, i'm sure it will have a great life application" kind of moments that become much funnier once they are over. it all began with a camping trip to <a href="http://www.myfallcreekfalls.com/">fall creek falls state park</a> in eastern tennessee with some friends from church. on saturday, we went on a very pleasant 3 mile roundtrip hike to a waterfall. one of our friends had even brought his two young kids, so we chose the easy route. we camped overnight and the next morning while most of our group prepared to drive back to nashville, one of my friends (a very fit kickboxing instructor) asked if anyone wanted to stay and do a longer hike with her. her roommate (also a kickboxing instructor) and i were the only volunteers. my friend, being not only a very fit kickboxing instructor but also a former wilderness orienteering instructor, decided we would take the most difficult 16 km... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/37/lessons_from_the_gravel_road_of_despair_-_part_I Mon, 21 Apr 2008 03:37:13 -0000 Play an online game and help end hunger This is a very cool website which will donate 20 grains of rice to the hungry for every word whose meaning you correctly guess. Have some fun, improve your vocabulary, and help feed a hungry person somewhere in the http://nawata.multiply.com/links/item/15/Play_an_online_game_and_help_end_hunger Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:14:15 -0000 My best and worst health habits <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R80q2AoKCEkAAFnZ81A1/martha.jpg?et=wIYAcalTMx64e6Hm%2B47D4w&nmid=" border="0">What do <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/">Martha Stewart</a> and I have in common? We're both media moguls? We both know how to make a table centerpiece out of a recycled hubcap? We've both done time in federal prison for insider trading??? No!!! We both have blogs about our best and worst health habits. I found <a href="http://women.webmd.com/features/martha-stewart-best-and-worst-health-habits">Martha Stewart's Best and Worst Health Habits</a> on the web, and just couldn't resist trying my own version. Those who know about my <a href="http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/26/15_things_you_never_knew_about_me_and_didnt_know_to_ask...">alter-ego-life-as-an-aerobics-instructor</a> often ask me questions, such as "does the ab-roller/thigh-master/<a href="http://theimproper.com/Template_Article.aspx?IssueId=3&ArticleId=1256">gazelle-glider</a> really work?" (hint: just about any piece of exercise equipment works, the trick is actually getting it out and using it 3-5 times a week since they generally do not work if you leave them in the closet) So here are my "best and worst health habits": 1. Health Flaw: Eating fat. Yes, it's true -- I love fat. It's my favorite part of a steak or pork barbecue, and the best part of a roast turkey or lechon is the crispy, fatty skin. Yum! 2. Health Flaw: Procrastinating.... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/36/My_best_and_worst_health_habits Tue, 4 Mar 2008 10:01:43 -0000 my brain is green and female <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R8UHvwoKCEkAADr8KmQ1/greenbrain.jpg?et=7iYHGvwltPGqY4mkyATfFQ&nmid=" border="0">i recently discovered that my brain is green and female. not green in a vulcan, mr spock kind-of-way, but at least according to sheila glazov. <a href="www.whatcolorisyourbrain.com">what color is your brain</a> is a "fun and fascinating" (according to her) book that explains your personality and that of your friends, colleagues and family according to four colors -- blue, orange, yellow and green. at first i wondered why she picked such boring colors -- if it were me, i would have chosen turqoise, violet, fuschia and chartreuse. perhaps that's why she chose blue, orange, yellow and green. i also thought it would be more interesting if she called it "what animal is your brain?"  she could have had a lion brain, dog brain, cat brain, bird brain... oh, well, then again maybe not... apparently i am green because i am logical and composed, i value knowledge, my priority is "no drama," my stress factor is not having enough time to myself, and i like no frills greeting cards. (please note: that last one is not entirely accu... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/35/my_brain_is_green_and_female Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:22:02 -0000 Things that are super <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R7T74AoKCEkAAFEzUi01/incredibles.jpg?et=WIZ7ScIx5vSTNtORGN9%2Cbg&nmid=" border="0">i have been a delinquent blogger of late. this is mostly due to a confluence of events which includes <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/02/supertuesday.guide/">super tuesday</a> and being super busy. I am not an american (and therefore cannot vote in the upcoming election) and have always had as much interest in american politics as I have for, say, the inner workings of the internal revenue service. this year, however, is different. when a filipina friend invited me to a dinner party on feb 5, I responded, "oh! that's super duper tuesday!!!" (whereupon she gave me one of those, "o...k..., that's, really odd..." kind of looks) i found myself glued to cnn the next morning, watching the results come in, trying to make sense of superdelegates and the super-confusing american electoral system. some random thoughts from super tuesday ... In the span of 5 minutes, the commentators on cnn referred to THEMSELVES as "the best political team on television" no less than 5 TIMES. now, is it just me, or are these folks missing a little thing called "HUMILITY... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/34/Things_that_are_super Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:19:52 -0000 marathon flights & new year's in hong kong i set a personal record for flights in a 3-day period when i flew edmonton-minneapolis-nashville-detroit-nagoya-manila-hongkong -- it was a very roundabout way to get to hong kong for new year's. i managed to keep myself awake through sheer will power and a whole lot of starbucks as tiffaney, aj and i saw the sites of hkg and macau and spent new year's eve in tsim sha tsui with about 500,000 other people (see http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/42/marathon_flights_new_years_in_hong_kong Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:30:43 -0000 my first time to ice skate in 15 years I went ice skating on Christmas Day with my niece and nephews in Edmonton, Canada. It warmed "up" to about 0 degrees celsius (I say 'up" because it was -16 degrees when I landed.) As far as I can remember, it was my first time to go skating in about 15 years. It's not exactly like riding a bike, but the good news is, I did eventually remember how to do it and managed not to fall. I have gliding down but I still don't know how to stop... the day I left, it started snowing heavily. All of my friends in the Philippines told me to take pictures of the snow -- I wasn't really sure how to take action shots of snow, but here is what I http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/41/my_first_time_to_ice_skate_in_15_years Wed, 9 Jan 2008 09:18:20 -0000 Why they call Canada the "Great White North" For those of you who have never been to Canada -- and more so for those of you who have never seen snow -- here is the photo evidence of why they call Canada the "Great White North." Upon first approaching Canada from the air, you may think you are actually landing on Io, the frozen chunk of ice that orbits the planet Jupiter. Upon closer inspection, however, you will actually find evidence of life. My first thought whenever I fly into the Great White North in winter is: "Why do people choose to live http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/40/Why_they_call_Canada_the_Great_White_North Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:52:36 -0000 EN Manila Office Xmas Party well it's that time of year again -- when we all make fools out of ourselves for the sake of the call (and the sake of winning the free lunch for the best christmas party performance!) along with operations, facilities management, technical services and real life, we did our version of band aid's "do they know it's christmas" with many special artists in http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/39/EN_Manila_Office_Xmas_Party Thu, 6 Dec 2007 04:37:17 -0000 why men hate cats <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R0t4cgoKCsUAAC3bK4g1/catsign.jpg?et=D%2BuJFv%2BMM2eKv39sDf1gYg" border="0">Have you ever wondered why so many men hate cats?  I don’t mean they prefer to have a dog or that they have a mild dislike for cats… we’re talking “HATE.” Now “hate” is a strong word. We tell little kids that they shouldn’t say “I hate…” And yet the fact still remains – men hate cats. I’ve never heard of a man who hates dogs. Some men dislike yappy little lap dogs (like the ones that live in my high-rise condo and wear rhinestone-studded booties when they go out for a walk). But, on the whole, men like dogs. You will notice the phrase is: “man’s best friend” and not “woman’s best friend” (that would be a diamond). Having given deep thought to this age old question, I believe I have hit on some reasons. In his book, “Cat and Dog Theology,” Bob Sjogren (a man, you will note) recounts the old joke that the dog says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me – you must be God.” The cat says, “You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me – I must be God.” He sums it up... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/33/why_men_hate_cats Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:02:32 -0000 Three Cups of Tea Three Cups of Tea is one of those rare reads that is so inspiring it makes you re-examine the entirety of your life and wonder if you shouldn't be doing something more meaningful with it. I normally read books because I am fairly confident they are good -- either because someone has told me so or because I have read rave reviews. Three Cups of Tea is one of the very few times I bought a book solely on the basis of the intriguing blurb on the back cover, which states: "Here in (Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business; the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything -- even die." - Haji Ali, Korphe Village Chief, Karakoram Mountains, Pakistan This is the background against which Greg Mortenson's remarkable story is told -- lost and despondent after a failed attempt to summit K2, the second highest mountain in the world, Mortenson stumbles into Korp... http://nawata.multiply.com/reviews/item/10 Wed, 3 Oct 2007 10:46:51 -0000 My brief and amazing career as an attorney <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RvsvtQoKCsUAAFFxcqY1/Avenger.jpg?et=%2BSFLEdja0AewL9LRTk9x1w" border="0">One of my friends recently asked me about this shot. ("This has the makings of a blog!," thought I) After the <a href="http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/26/15_things_you_never_knew_about_me_and_didnt_know_to_ask...">not-so-famous-melon-modelling experience</a>, I never really thought I would do anymore modelling (melons or not) -- let alone become a lawyer. This is where my story begins ... When I was a child, I always thought I would become a lawyer. My parents started encouraging me toward law from a fairly young age, since they thought I would make a good lawyer. This was undoubtedly due to the fact that I was quite good at arguing with them. I, on the other hand, thought I would make a whole lot of money if I became a lawyer, so the idea appealed to me as well. I dutifully set out to study hard and become a lawyer. I passed the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) and was even offered a full scholarship to go to Law School. It was about this time that I started having second thoughts about going to Law School. Instead, I went to Japan and taught English for two years in Akita (home of the A... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/32/My_brief_and_amazing_career_as_an_attorney Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:23:09 -0000 Long Walk to Freedom At the risk of sounding like Paula Abdul again, I have to say that Nelson Mandela's autobiography -- "Long Walk to Freedom" -- is probably the best autobiography I have ever read and a book I would recommend to anyone as an incredible testimony of character, integrity and what it takes to be a leader. I actually bought this book many months ago but it took me awhile to psyche myself up to tackle its 625 pages. Once I started reading it, however, I literally could not put it down and ending up finishing it in roughly a week. Long Walk to Freedom surprised me -- first, because I didn't expect Nelson Mandela to be so funny, dignified, humble and inspiring -- all at the same time. Second, I didn't know he was an attorney -- he actually practiced law for many years and continued to study and receive degrees during his long imprisonment. Third, I was surprised that a book this thick could be this interesting from start to finish. The autobiography starts with Nelson's childhood in the... http://nawata.multiply.com/reviews/item/9 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 07:50:19 -0000 Do you have great EN07 photos you want to share with the world??? You can now submit your best photos from the recently concluded EN07 world conference on the everynation07recap.com website! Pick your best shot, follow the link and click on "submit your best EN07 photo" -- then just follow the easy instructions and, presto, your photo will appear on the EN07 recap website under "shared photos"...! The best photos will appear on the official everynation.org website and may be used for future brochures and http://nawata.multiply.com/links/item/12/Do_you_have_great_EN07_photos_you_want_to_share_with_the_world Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:58:33 -0000 Dispatches from the Edge I have to admit to being somewhat of a CNN junkie. I recently moved to a new apartment and decided to run an experiment on myself to see how long I could last without a TV. I survived for a month and a half. Last saturday, however, not being able to watch the news was starting to drive me crazy so I broke down and bought a TV. Anderson Cooper has long been one of my favorite news reporters/anchors -- mostly because I appreciate the fact that he is not afraid to betray his own emotions in his reporting. It has always bothered me to watch news reports of the most heart-rending events -- from war to famine to natural disasters -- and then see the camera come back to a smiling anchor who cheerily whisks on to the next story. "How can you smile and act like nothing's wrong after seeing that??!!" I want to shout at the TV. "Dispatches from the Edge" is a raw book about rediscovering that kind of emotion. It is a well written and compelling read -- but most of all, it is the story of... http://nawata.multiply.com/reviews/item/7 Thu, 9 Aug 2007 04:30:54 -0000 How Not to Light a Candle <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RrgKfwoKCsUAAA6Fwi41/ermin_wedding.jpg?et=sEZYWpbpTRwUmG9ToRWB7w" border="0">July 23 was the wedding of my good friend, <a href="http://ermin24.multiply.com/">ermin</a>. it was also my first time to be a secondary sponsor in a filipino wedding -- namely, the candle sponsor. now, for those of you who have never attended one, a filipino wedding features a veil sponsor, a cord sponsor, and a candle sponsor. being a candle sponsor sounds like an easy task -- all you have to do is light the two candles that represent the separate lives of the bride and groom. you and your candle sponsor partner (in my case, our friend <a href="http://jeremysmultiply.multiply.com/">jeremy</a>) then use the two smaller candles to light the "unity candle", which represents the two lives that have become one. sounds simple, right? well, this is where it all went terribly wrong... i was told there would be a lighter, which i mistakenly presumed would be one of those long gadgets you use to light a gas stove (ie, one that doesn't burn your fingers). it turned out to be a cigarette lighter. after about 5 tries, i was able to get the cigarette lighter to light (can you tell i... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/31/How_Not_to_Light_a_Candle Tue, 7 Aug 2007 05:23:54 -0000 Every Nation World Conference The EN07 world conference was held in Manila from July 20-22. The week before the conf, we held the Wii boxing elimination round at the Fort. We also had a pre-conf staff meeting during which I gave a blogging seminar with Keith Tower and Wolfi Eckleben. It was a long week -- didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun http://nawata.multiply.com/photos/album/36/Every_Nation_World_Conference Fri, 27 Jul 2007 03:43:21 -0000 EN07 -- Before and After Shots <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/Rqh5zgoKCsUAAGMY6mc1/lynn_before.jpg?et=VcYaAfmtYsU%2BFk8mTv4WEQ" border="0"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/Rqh5wQoKCsUAAGLQypY1/lynn_after.jpg?et=cTrhCsSi5IAfCGMpft9B9Q" border="0">Well, <a href="http://everynation07recap.com">EN07</a> is over. And as a cure for my vanity, I decided to post these before and after shots of me from world conf. The first photo is me with <a href="http://robhernjr.multiply.com/">Robert Hern</a> before the first session on the first day of the world conference. The second photo is Robert and me during the last hour of the last day of the conference... The second photo is also quite possibly the most pathetic picture I have ever seen of myself (it scares me, in fact). Conference exceeded our expectations -- worship was awesome, the talents inC production numbers were better than ever, the speakers all delivered incredible messages -- and of course the <a href="http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/EveryNation/Wii%20are%20the%20World/">Wii boxing</a> was just hilarious good clean fun!!!) Here are some of my "best of the best" observations from EN07: Best vertical leap: I think this goes to Jose (<a href="http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb220/EveryNation/Sunday%20Worship/?action=view&current=D2183.jpg">click here</a> for evidence) -- the conf staff were all wondering if the stage was going to be able to support all of the leaping worship leaders (those were some big boys...!!!) Best performance by a stand-up comedi... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/30/EN07_--_Before_and_After_Shots Thu, 26 Jul 2007 10:25:18 -0000 The short, grande & venti reps of the blogosphere <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RqMvoAoKCsUAABaHJqY1/tall_grande_venti.jpg?et=aK%2BIyvdMgmd6m8F9iDf4hg" border="0"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RqMvWAoKCsUAAAvvZ801/feelin_hobbit.jpg?et=G2I4BXk0uf%2BmM8j773gHKg" border="0">The last few weeks leading up to the <a href="http://www.everynation07recap.com">Every Nation World Conference</a> have been incredibly hectic for the staff. Last Thursday, July 19, I did a blogging workshop at the pre-conf staff meeting. True to form, I did not have time to eat breakfast or lunch that day, since I was running around like a madwoman getting ready for: a) the world conf; b) my blogging seminar; and c) my friend <a href="http://ermin24.multiply.com/">Ermin</a>'s wedding on Monday. So, I asked some of my office-mates to get me my Starbucks "meal replacement" (ie, a tall, non-fat, caramel macchiato). After fitting my gown in the <a href="http://fort.victory.org.ph">VCF Fort</a> restroom (luckily no one spotted me in there in my full length formal dress...!), I went to do my blogging workshop. The funny thing is, I was just explaining how you need to "find your voice" when you blog -- and that my voice is that of a "Starbucks-drinking, sushi-loving, Japanese Canadian in the Philippines" when not one, but TWO, caramel macchiatos were brought to the front of the room for me. The workshop actually re... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/29/The_short_grande_venti_reps_of_the_blogosphere Sun, 22 Jul 2007 10:23:33 -0000 Vote now for EN's Funniest Home Videos!!! Join the fun and vote for EN's Funniest Home Video! The most-voted video automatically qualifies for the finale at the EN07 Halftime Show on Saturday, July 21 at 5PM at the Araneta Coliseum. The Halftime Show will be hosted by Boy Kulot and Andi Manzano -- the winning video will be chosen by our celebrity judging panel of Piolo Pascual, Donita Rose & Rica Peralejo. Voting will only last for 2 days so vote now...!!! http://nawata.multiply.com/links/item/10/Vote_now_for_ENs_Funniest_Home_Videos Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:54:15 -0000 EN07 -- The Final Countdown!!! <img class="alignleft" src="http://images.nawata.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RpiAcwoKCsUAAC0m5ho1/conf_aftermath.jpg?et=DviUt5QtK7HAE51Na%2Bi1Qg" border="0">I thought I would post a quick blog on the 11th hour preparations for <a style="font-family: Verdana;" href="http://en07.everynation.org">EN07</a>.  I have been away from my blogs for quite some time now due to the fact that the world conf has more or less consumed my life for the past two months -- the irony is that I am supposed to do a workshop on blogging at the pre-conf staff meeting ... So here are my reflections on the final week of preparations for EN07: 1. My Starbucks intake has tripled. I have always been a big proponent for the fact that caffeine improves memory, lifts your mood, and fends off migraines (Pastor Joey -- I'm not making this up -- it's scientifically proven!!!)  On the bright side, all the staff at Starbucks' Fort branch are always so happy to see me, and it's good to know there's a place where everybody (literally) knows your name. 2. My last thoughts before sleeping and first thoughts upon waking go something like this -- "Should the Wii boxing contestants be facing the big screen or facing the audience...?" 3. Yesterd... http://nawata.multiply.com/journal/item/28/EN07_--_The_Final_Countdown Sat, 14 Jul 2007 07:53:02 -0000