You've got to go through hell before you get to heaven

Happy Greetings!

I was just bopping down the road singing Steve Miller's "Jetliner" and it came to the part "You've got to go through hell before you get to heaven" and I thought bingo! That's the name of this month's blog!

I actually have had the blog all typed up and ready to enter - now I am going to switch it up a bit to fit the new title, if you were. After singing "Jetliner" I was reminded of the line in the song as I was doing a kick butt pilates and exercise workout with Teresa - it often times feels like "hell" during the workout but at the end it feels like "heaven". Maybe childbirth fits into the same cliche as labor and delivery can feel like "hell" but then you hold your baby and you are in heaven. And....maybe you leave San Diego or Los Angeles at 2:00pm on a friday en route to a weekend away in SLO and you hit bumper to bumper traffic .. H E L L ! Then you arrive at Petit Soleil, one of our sweet employees greets you, offers you a glass of wine and a yummy nibble and then you go to your cozy room, French music softly playing, the faint scent of lavender in the air...HEAVEN!

............

Since returning from Europe so much has happened –some was good and some was not so good.
The “good stuff” (heaven) is what you are thankful for after the “bad stuff” (hell), and the “bad stuff” is what life’s lessons are built around. How profound!

Bad stuff: on January 14th dear, sweet Wally (our goofy Airedale) developed pancreatitis and he went over to the Rainbow Bridge. We miss him terribly, but
Good Stuff: we are adopting TWO Welsh Terrier puppies and they will be coming home with us at the end of March! They were born on January 17 and they look like little Wallys! We thought to name one Willi and then Wylie, but we rethought the whole name thing and retired Wally’s “W”. We plan to name the new pups HUCKLEBERRY and FINNLEY. We think our other sweet pound puppy, Nottie, will be a good “mommy” to the puppies as she has missed her playmate and best friend, too. We will keep you updated with pictures and stories! (Two little puppies will not exactly be "heaven"....we will probably need to go through a bit more hell before we get to heaven)

Bad stuff (hell): our house was broken into! This violation happened in the middle of the day…..can you believe it? They took all of our cameras, my laptop (and on it all of our pictures from the last decade or so). They took our back-up memory, flash drives, I-Pods, all my jewelry, the heirloom jewelry and treasures that I inherited from my folks, our passports and Euros, coins and cash. In the very short time that they were in our house they cleaned us out pretty well AND gave Nottie a “chewy” to keep her quiet. Really quite disheartening, but
Good Stuff: Not quite Heaven, but the police did arrest one of the alleged “thieves” and many of our stolen goods were recovered! We got back my laptop (with all my pictures), and our cameras (with many more pictures not yet downloaded), our memory capsule and John’s I-Pod and a few charms from my mom’s charm bracelet. We are quite thankful to have just those things back. -well, maybe a bit of heaven, indeed.

There were other bits and pieces of good and bad that have happened, but those two pieces of personal hell and heaven were the most poignant.
(Both those events will be continuing stories that I can keep you tuned in on:
1) “The Story of Welshies, Huck and Finn”
and
2) “Law and Order – The Case of the Conner’s Stolen Treasures”.)
…
SAVE THE DATE
Sunset Magazine’s SAVOR THE CENTRAL COAST
September 30-October 3, 2010
“To celebrate the beauty and bounty of this unspoiled and largely unexplored part of the Golden State in an incredible four-day experience. Sunset’s Savor the Central Coast will showcase the talents of the area winemakers, chefs and many artisanal food producers. Sunset’s expert editors as well as celebrity chefs will guide attendees through unique culinary tours, one-of-a –kind winemaker dinners, historic excursions and amazing culinary showcases.”
More on this event later, but if you are a foodie, a wine-lover, an advocate of sustainable living programs, a gardener or a fan of Sunset Magazine mark these days on your calendar and take a few days off work. This event will be stellar!
SAVE THE DATE
Remnants of the Past Antique and Junk Treasures galore!!!
April 24, 2010 at the Dana-Power's Barn in Nipomo
I love this event! The vendors are superior and the setting is awesome! Grab a couple of girlfriends, or boyfriends and come visit!
( www.remnantsofthepast.com ).
……
The El Nino effect has made San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast more beautiful that you can ever imagine! The views from atop Bishop’s Peak and San Luis Obispo Mountain are breathtaking, Montana de Oro is laced with colorful wildflowers, brooks, streams and creeks are running strong and the vineyards are lush with mustard flowers and surrounded by emerald green hills. Come visit! A photographer’s dream!
If you are in the middle of yet another "hellish" snow storm, hop on a plane and find a bit o'heaven....

Smiles,
Dianne

You can see a sentimental video that John made on youtube.com under
“A Tribute to Wally” It will make you laugh and cry at the same time.