Help for Christmas gifts

Two questions for the LJ hivemind...

Does anyone know of a good (well, decent) page magnifier, or other magnifier that is useful for cookbooks (especially)?

I don't care if it's a magnifying glass, or a page magnifier, or whatever it is that works, but it should be something easy to use and easily cleanable.

Second: does anyone know of a good way to make Christmas ornaments with a third-fourth grader that can be done with the assistance of a clumsy-but-careful uncle? And/or any good bead stores in Renton?

(Wish I had more time, and more to say - I'm coming off a nasty infection that might still be tickling my throat a bit, and I'm busy as heck at work.)

Help for Christmas gifts

Two questions for the LJ hivemind...

Does anyone know of a good (well, decent) page magnifier, or other magnifier that is useful for cookbooks (especially)?

I don't care if it's a magnifying glass, or a page magnifier, or whatever it is that works, but it should be something easy to use and easily cleanable.

Second: does anyone know of a good way to make Christmas ornaments with a third-fourth grader that can be done with the assistance of a clumsy-but-careful uncle? And/or any good bead stores in Renton?

(Wish I had more time, and more to say - I'm coming off a nasty infection that might still be tickling my throat a bit, and I'm busy as heck at work.)

(no subject)

One the one hand, I'm having serious mood issues.

On the other hand, on Sunday I made a cassoulet. Well, not really... I didn't have any duck fat, so I substituted bacon grease. I figured that was okay, and I even said as much, in public... "... and if some French chef wants to make an issue of it, well, that ain't gonna frighten me!"

I don't think that Microsoft has a policy against making public statements that bring the wrath of a dozen French chefs onto the Sammamish campus. (Thankfully I didn't try this when I was working in building 7, where I understand there are more rules about this kind of thing.)

I have to admit, fighting off a dozen French chefs *is* a bit tougher than it sounds, but the first 11 were really pretty easy. It was that last one....

I finally got him buried under the collection of "E.T." video game cartridges being recycled into brand spanking new CDs intended for distributing Windows ME.

And, someone, just satisfy my curiosity, please answer this, but I think I know the answer already from the context; I'm pretty sure this is what he said.

But just in case I'm wrong: how do you say "Beware... I was trained by the chicken" in French?

(no subject)

One the one hand, I'm having serious mood issues.

On the other hand, on Sunday I made a cassoulet. Well, not really... I didn't have any duck fat, so I substituted bacon grease. I figured that was okay, and I even said as much, in public... "... and if some French chef wants to make an issue of it, well, that ain't gonna frighten me!"

I don't think that Microsoft has a policy against making public statements that bring the wrath of a dozen French chefs onto the Sammamish campus. (Thankfully I didn't try this when I was working in building 7, where I understand there are more rules about this kind of thing.)

I have to admit, fighting off a dozen French chefs *is* a bit tougher than it sounds, but the first 11 were really pretty easy. It was that last one....

I finally got him buried under the collection of "E.T." video game cartridges being recycled into brand spanking new CDs intended for distributing Windows ME.

And, someone, just satisfy my curiosity, please answer this, but I think I know the answer already from the context; I'm pretty sure this is what he said.

But just in case I'm wrong: how do you say "Beware... I was trained by the chicken" in French?