Helen, Author at Wallyhood

Mommy, I Need to Swim, NOW!

Helen June 15, 2010 13 Comments

All dressed up in teeny adorable Crocs, baggy swim diapers and those little sunglasses with the strap to keep them on, where’s a toddler to go for some summertime water fun this year?

The mayor’s office announced today that, due to mid-year budget cuts, the Wallingford wading pool will be operating with reduced hours beginning June 30th through August 20th: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, noon – 7 pm.

Green Lake’s wading pool (along with those of Magnuson, Lincoln, Van Asselt, and Volunteer Parks) will remain open seven days/week. Ravenna, View Ridge and several other pools are closed. See the Seattle …

Friday Night Twilight Walk

Helen June 14, 2010 4 Comments

Slow, soft summer sunset. A stretch limo that seems to go on forever turns left onto 45th Street obstructing traffic in both directions with teenage boys hanging out the windows screaming their heads off. Prom Night I can only assume? Too startled to get a photo.

Turning south down 1st Ave. Some hard, new little pears are sprouting.

And Emily has finally gotten her Ph.D.!

More teenagers dressed in formal-wear giggling in front of someone’s house. No photo, to protect the innocent.

Swing back onto 45th Street. Two enormous guys in matching black Adidas track suits standing outside Sea Monster …

Oops! – Car Meets QFC

Helen June 8, 2010 13 Comments

Saw this in front of QFC at about 2:20 PM this afternoon:

The managers out front didn’t want to say much, only that the female driver was trying to park and kept going and ploughed into a big display of plants. The building and pedestrians seemed undamaged. It happened about 20 minutes before I got there. Probably a case of hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake? Also, this was a Disabled spot but the license isn’t disabled and I couldn’t see any tags hanging from the rear-view mirror (admittedly, it was hard to get too close):

If your …

Go Postal (in a Good Way)

Helen June 7, 2010 3 Comments

Stopped by the Wallingford Post Office the other day and noticed a sign that USPS is hiring. You apply online and there are a variety of “Peak Season Casual Positions” around the state:

Go to www.usps.com/employment Select “search jobs online” Select “Washington” only Click on “start”

Sounds like a good way to get economic stimulus along with some exercise and a chance to snoop into what mail people are getting. By the way, aren’t we lucky that the people who work in our branch are such a bunch of great personalities?…

Love Hearing From Ya’

Helen June 3, 2010 Comments are off

I’m not trying to flatter you. Wallyhood readers literally are the most articulate, interesting people in the world.

For proof, check out these Forums and Comments. And don’t hold back on sharing your thoughts!

Living in the shadow of the Wallingford Inn? Finding it shady? This discussion answers the question: “How bad is the area around Wallingford Inn?“. What about that suspicious visitor showing up at your door claiming to be a Census worker? “Census visitor or identity theft?“: prudence or paranoia? Are vinyl business signs around the ‘hood an eyesore or an economic necessity for small business?

Finally, my …

Skate, Fast Girl, Skate!!

Helen May 30, 2010 4 Comments

There are some fast girls in our neighborhood. Fast, fast girls.

On roller skates, that is. Did you know Wallingford is home to the first brick-and-mortar womens roller derby equipment store in the world?

Roller derby? Yes, since 2001 in Austin, TX roller derby has made a big resurgence, according to Fast Girl Skates employee Fighty Almighty (that’s her “derby name”). She and the store’s owners, Le Petite Mort (or Jenny as she’s known outside the rink) and Wile E. Peyote (aka, Sarah) all skate for Seattle’s Rat City Roller Girls.

Morty and Wile E. opened the store in 2007 …

Feast to Do Good

Helen May 28, 2010 Comments are off

Enjoy a delicious Farmers Market dinner with seasonal fruit crumble (does that mean rhubarb) in support of both Community Kitchens Northwest and the Community Senior Center on Friday June 4th. A scrumptious, healthy, local-sustainable feast, good neighbors and helping the slow food movement, seniors and the community, all for $20. Where else can you do more good for so little?:

Where do you get great food, wonderful company, words of wisdom from Goldie Caughlin, of PCC, on our local food system and a chance to help a program that teaches people skills to feed themselves in a healthy and …

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