I found a bunch of mole hills in the yard this weekend so naturally I called Pat Sweeney the Mole Man.

Pat is a printer in real life but has dedicated countless hours to the noble purpose of eradicating moles for mankind. He used to live on California Avenue near the junction. Now he lives on Glenacres golf course in North Highline where he can look at mole hills any time he gets the urge.

He gladly agreed to come over and save our soggy wintry lawn from the fiendish and wily uninvited guests.

After a studious look at the problem, I thought he would poke holes in the mounds and drop some Juicy Fruit gum sticks into the tunnel. But no, he explained, the moles have given up the strange craving for that Wrigley product and he would have to use a whole new strategy.

He also used to implant beer bottles in each hill and when the wind blew it drove the furry fellows crazy and they went to Bellevue.

This time he took out a handful of big soda straws and poked them into the hills and dropped several grey pills into the straws. He said that they were actually stool softeners and had the effect of driving the moles crazy trying to find a Port a Potty.

I have never understood how moles can find anything in the pitch dark of a tunnel and even Pat can't tell me. If he doesn't know there is no one who does. He even knows how a mole can keep dirt from getting in his eyes.

I suggested that they may use goggles but he scoffed and said, "Nope, they just keep their eyes closed."

That made sense to me. He also knows why moles push the dirt up into hills. I suggested it is possible that the hills are made by accident, the result of Mister Mole changing his mind and an attempt to go another route.

They hate to stop and ask directions. When he tries to turn around in the narrow confines he will push his head up to look around to get a fix, say on the flagpole or an azalea bush.

He says West Seattle moles often poke their heads out of the hill just to get a glance at some of the most beautiful views in the whole city.

Pat says when a mole burrows he often changes his mind and does a clever somersault without half trying and, voila, he just leaves a big pile of dirt for someone else to clean up. He doesn't care.

I hate to think how dirty his tunnel is.

Meet Snow Nguyen

She is manager of Julie's Nails in Burien.

She puts fancy designs on women's nails and is an immigrant from Vietnam. She came to America in 1994.

She has three children, one girl and two boys, all of whom went to Highline High. Her daughter was captain of the cheerleader squad in her senior year. Her son David works for United Parcel Service and often takes his mom to the homes of invalids where she does pedicures and nails. She does this gratis and is her way of giving back to the community that has been so welcoming to her.

In Vietnam she worked long, difficult years on a farm tending animals and raising vegetables. She also helped raised silkworms, chopping up leaves into tiny bits, feeding the baby worms till they grew from eggs to three inches and were able to produce huge quantities of silk thread, which was then sent to Japan for making silk stockings, dresses, etc.

Her parents still live in Vietnam and she calls them often to reassure that she is happy here and doing well.