WheresMyStuff

What a way to wake up at 1AM in the morning when an oak tree on the back side hill got unrooted from all the rain and dropped on the roof. The major branches just missed the critical structures and the canopy provided some cushioning. Still quite a bit of damange and a challenge to get the tree cleaned up from the roof and the hill. Victor from East Bay Tree service got his crew together and got most of the job done on Saturday.

Tree trunk visible on back of house after removal of canopy

more pics at Flickr
A previous post showed a pic of the tree still standing

On June 3, 2009, Chris became US citizen. With 978 other immigrants from 99 countries, the quick process of transitioning from “alien card” to US citizen was completed in the Oakland Paramount theatre.

Another rite of passage completed when Natalie did her first communion at Santa Maria Parish.

More pics at flickr

Living in a house built in 1947 in Orinda also means discovering some “delayed” maintenance. When the sewer line doesn’t work anymore, the consequences are readily noticed…. Good thing we found Roy Garrity plumbing who was able to pull a new line without having to dig up the whole street and sideyard. Impressive job, completed in one day (makes me think of laparoscopic surgery).

More pics at Flickr

The annual Sleepy Hollow Elementary School auction yielded a nice surprise when we scored two courtside tickets for the Warriors Basketball game. Nicholas and papa saw the Timberwolves take a win in Oakland. Best of all, we were sitting six feet away from Kevin Love, UCLA hero.

The tickets are unfortunately a little bit outside our comfort zone…

Almost Christmas and end of 2008. Natalie is in 2nd grade and turning 8 with the traditional gingerbread party.

Natalie needed a bit more room to accomodate new teeth and some baby ones had to go, 4 in one day. Can’t believe they get this big!?

4 Teeth

The tooth fairy was extremely generous!

Another turkey gave it’s life for American feast. Went to Walnut Creek with Kleber family to skate around.  Thanks (?) to global warming, we’re still enjoying 70 degree weather in Bay Area.

Kathy and Nat on ice

Few more pics at Flickr

After a long life in Orinda, an oak tree above the house died this summer and needed to come down. Already cabled back, it was just a little too risky to have it come down on the roof. Natalie is shown for sizing to the root base.

Expert dudes at East Bay Tree Service did a quick job taking it down. More pictures at Flickr

Per City of Orinda ordinances, we received prompt permission to proceed.

Nicholas and papa went to Berkeley campus to see the mighty UCLA Bruins take their second road win(70-58) this season over the Golden Bears in Berkeley. Great game, fabulous talent, hope they can sustain till March…