A TV guest that won’t be forgotten – and a video snippet you would not want to miss. When Ellen met Elias.
I encourage all of us to “do an Elias” per day. Just blurb your excitement out! And if we can identify what we are awesome at, just like Elias – that would be amazing.
Be yourself. Be different, and cool. Be inspired.
Johanna
At some point it’s time to stop counting the years… But it’s 18 years ago that I travelled with Rönninge Show Chorus for the first time to compete in the international barbershop contest. 120 of the 150 choir members came along. My mom joined as our medical doctor. The big arena in New Orleans was the stage.
We had trained hard, been coached by the best, and our own musical director was one of them: Britt-Heléne Bonnedahl. Later on she was the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award from Sweet Adeline International. Another one was a male coach who had trained world class golf players. [visualization!] We got judged in four categories: sound, music, expression and showmanship.
One song from the final package was “One moment in time”, originally sang by Whitney Houston. When I hear that song today my mind is still triggered and I have straightened my spine for performance before I realize it is that music playing. Another show tune was “Gräva guld i USA”. The World Cup tune for the Swedish men’s soccer team 1994 – Digging Gold in the USA.
The soccer team came third. The choir came second. This year… may they get the gold. Last but not least in the final tomorrow in Hawaii.
Johanna
(And yes, I shared this on Facebook – so it is a back-date post… )
I had the pleasure of being invited to do a 3 hour intentional art workshop with artist Donna Marchesano. Her program Wellness4Art launched this past Sunday with the opening of her art exhibition “Courage to Create”, September 22 – December 31, 2013 at Dolce Amore, 1477 Van Ness (and Pine), San Francisco.
Donna herself has a unique story to share, where daily intentional art for 6 years has been key to the cure of her severe Crohn’s Disease and through the journey of chemotherapy and healing from Cancer. Given her own experience, she is a strong believer in intentional art – whether you are wanting to cure from a disease, wanting to change or manifest something in your life. And me – I love her art, I find her story fascinating, I wish for more patients to find the path that she has taken, and I love to try the creative process – with intention. The fact that I also have been working for 8 years in a pharmaceutical company, for the majority of time dedicated to managing the finances for the development of a drug for Chron’s Disease, doesn’t make me less connected to her story.
I put together a little video showing the process. (more…)
A little bit of sharing, and many more faces broken out into smiles.
This is the reason for my current smile.
And yes, Beatles is on the coming repertoire… I didn’t have this particular song on the list – but may change that. It’s a hit!
Enjoy,
Johanna
In the process of writing about Oprah Winfrey’s commencement speach yesterday at Harvard, and a feature of her being one of the most impact ful women who makes a big footprint, I stopped myself. What is most appropriate to say? Making a big footprint? Leaving a big footprint? Expanding the footprint? And yes, it has a double meaning, since we have chosen to feature women with size 10-12 in shoes, for whom LLXLLQ shoes in larger sizes are made. Handmade in Italy.
When researching the terms, I stumbled upon the song “Footprints in the sand”, which called my curiosity. What are the lyrics about? What if the singer of this one has size 10-12 in shoes? It would be so beautiful.
The singer is Leona Lewis, from the UK. She has size 7 in shoes.
The writers of the song are four men, among which Simon Cowell – who you may know as the producer and talent judge in Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent and American Idol – as well as David Kreuger. David you may not know, since he mostly chose to stand out of the spotlight, but you most likely know of his music. Because he does leave a big footprint for your ears to enjoy.
This song below is just one of them.
Just a few years ago 😉 , when I was old enough to go to a bar/club in Stockholm – me and one of my best friends Cissie, often went out together. Monday night was the university student night at “Collage” at Östermalm in Stockholm, that started with a taco buffet dinner and then eventually dancing. The dancing was really what we were there for. The DJ was great. He played great music. He was a great person. He often drove us home after closing. He worked as a DJ at night, and a music producer during the day. He produced Britney Spears debut album 1989 and others with other producers at the Cheiron Studio, founded by Denniz PoP. Since 2000 he has his own music production company: A Side Productions , with another impressive list of artists and songs.
All of which has expanded the musical footprint of Sweden, which is leading me home. Home to Sweden, to David, and his wife – one of my best friends…
Cissie: I won’t be there in a week, but HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY!!! Keep dancing!
Love,
Johanna
What footprint do you want to leave in the sand…?
This morning, I was talking to the world. And the world started talking back to me.
Both of us were lonely, a little angry. Both of us looking for a friend.
We were saying how we’d never be alone again.
All I heard was two little words: love, me. Love, me. Love, me.
And that the end of the note, that I wrote to the world:
Can you here me? Are you listening?
Love me.
These are the first lines from one song on the U.S. debut by Swedish singer Anna Bergendahl. On the record label Decca Records website you can read: (more…)
There is a hidden gem in San Francisco called Jazz in the Basement. That’s what it is. And it’s the best jazz, in a very intimate setting, and with a very friendly ambiance. The singer Jesse Foster and his wife Michele host one concert every month with top notch musicians.
Just about a year ago in conversation with the pianist, we started talking about Swedish music – there was this one tune he knew… I sent him something else to listen to… and one thing led to another. (more…)
Well… I passed the start line.
The first 6-7 miles the tempo wasn’t too shabby. Then the hills started…
Mile 8 I turn to my iPhone to turn on some trigger music.
The phone dies on me!
Mile 10 my knees start to really hurt. I’m speed walking – feels much better.
Mile 11 comes one cheer zone with Michael Jackson music Beat it! – and I suddenly run faster than after start line ?!?! until I can’t hear the music.
Finished strong.
My image of the San Francisco Fire Fighters was misleading. But they were classy in tuxedo.
The post finish line massage was nice!
Late lunch with runner friends and supporters super nice.
Ice bath was not as bad as I imagined it.
I hope it makes magic and that I can walk down the stairs tomorrow. Sorry knees – will prepare you better next time.
And even if it’s misty and foggy, I’ll wear sun screen next time.
And, dear iPhone – I may have taken an hour longer to run this race than 10 years ago – but I’ve got more juice than you’ve got! And seriously – we gotta change that, partner!
After all, 3.08hrs for 13.1 miles given circumstances, is quite ok.
Seeing those t-shirts with mom and dad on, in a race fundraising for Leukemia and Lymphoma Cancer, makes it real.
I hope it makes a difference.
A #NMW12 finisher.
J
Went to the best concert last night. More about that later. We started singing on the way home in the car. With this one song, the lyrics didn’t really come to mind, more than the title section… “Gimme Gimme Gimme….” Do you remember?
So, what would we do without google, or youtube?!
Found it! And I later found myself this morning, brushing my teeth, with the iPhone earphone plugged into my ears, door closed, brushing in rhythm, singing along in my mind, and dancing away – remembering the year of… 1985.
No, it is not ABBA – this time. Here it is:
Wohoo! So good! 🙂 No? I actually think it was the year when I was in 3rd grade, one too low to go to the “Mellan stadie disco” for grade 4-6 in the Parkhem School. Without false ID (:O – no, we didn’t even know what that was) – I did go. And came in. And I won the dance competition with the comment “Lillen vinner”. The kid wins.
Young grows old, small grows tall, and these days… the big ones are the winners. LLXLLQ – need no more. The size is a plus!
Enjoy,
Johanna
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