Today I made my first DIY (Do-it-yourself) project. We wanted to build a table for Nozomi, so that she would stop cutting up my very expensive dining room table.

So we go to the local DIY store, which happens to be very close to my house. I see many more projects in the future. Bought some wood and tools (about $15).

I have to say, i accually had lots of fun doing it. I do plan on making this a regular thing. May be going back to Model Railroading and R/C Airplanes.

Had to do some drillin'. Bought a new drill too. It's pretty nice. My idea was to use dowls to keep the leg of the tables from moving around on a center screw.

Nozomi helps me filling the holes with wood glue. Here is where we will place the dowls for extra strengh.

My first Idea was to just put legs on the bottom of the board and support it with dowls to keep from turning. Then I remembered... Nozomi will probably be all over the top of this table.

So another trip to the local DIY store (+$15 - total - about $30) I bought so more wood for added support. This project just sprung up in my head at the store. We were accually looking for a table to buy. So I did not prepare any drawing.

Personaly, I think I did a good job. And really enjoyed the 4 hours it took to do it.

Nozomi loved it so much, turns out... I'm making chairs next week. I'll  post that as well. I was very suprised at how much I enjoyed doing this. It really made me smile to see Nozomi wanting to help and we she saw it completed.

I think I'll make this a regular thing. It keeps my mind on family and gives me something to do. We'll be painting it soon, maybe white. Then decorating it with flowers (whatever 5yr old are into these days).

Stay tuned for more DIY projects.

Today I made my way out to "Miso no Kaneko". I decided to try the Shio Ramen, That is a salt based soup. Again I was very pleased with the flavor. Nori, Sliced Pork, White Onion, Menma (Fermented Bamboo Shoots), and Soft boiled Egg. One thing I noticed about the Shio Ramen was that it was very light. The taste was not so strong that it would fill you up so fast. I definetly recommend trying Shio Ramen if you get a chance.

Menma (Fermented Bamboo Shoots) - the thing about this is that it has a strong flavor. When I first came to Japan I could not eat them. So if your not sure if you will like them, I would suggest requesting your Ramen without. However, at some point you should give them a try. For the final touches, ofcourse I had to order Gyoza with my Shio Ramen.. :)

Watched this on iTunes lastnight. Worth every penny of what I paid to rent it. Loved the special effects and chorepgrophy. The weapon work was incredible. Those guys did a great job. Definetly a must see. I give it 2 Thumbs up and recommend it to anyone.

Let me know what you thought of the movie.

Synopsis: Raizo (Rain) is one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Taken from the streets as a child, he was transformed into a trained killer by the Ozunu Clan, a secret society whose very existence is considered a myth. But haunted by the merciless execution of his friend by the Clan, Raizo breaks free from them…and vanishes. Now he waits, preparing to exact his revenge. In Berlin, Europol agent Mika Coretti (Naomie Harris) has stumbled upon a money trail linking several political murders to an underground network of untraceable assassins from the Far East.

Defying the orders of her superior, Ryan Maslow (Ben Miles), Mika digs into top secret agency files to learn the truth behind the murders. Her investigation makes her a target, and the Ozunu Clan sends a team of killers, led by the lethal Takeshi (Rick Yune), to silence her forever. Raizo saves Mika from her attackers, but he knows that the Clan will not rest until they are both eliminated. Now, entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse through the streets of Europe, Raizo and Mika must trust one another if they hope to survive…and finally bring down the elusive Ozunu Clan.

The official website: http://ninja-assassin-movie.warnerbros.com

I watched this movie the other day. Probably one of the best Horror movies I've seen in awhile. Kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Didn't really know what to expect at first, but i was very impressed. I give it 2 thumbs up and recommend it to anyone.

Let me know what you thought of the movie.

Synopsis: For handyman and excon Arkin a quiet home and a family on vacation is an opportunity. For inside the house lies a jewlers safe and inside the safe a gem, his only hope for repaying a debt to his exwife and keeping whats left of his family intact.

Unfortunately for Arkin inside the house is also a box containing the latest addition to a collection catalogued in blood, bone and tears. As the seconds tick down to midnight Arkin becomes a reluctant hero trapped by a masked Collector in a maze of lethal inventions, the Spanish Inquisition as imagined by Rube Goldberg, while trying to rescue the very family he came to rob.

Synopsis from the official website: http://www.thecollector-movie.com