Tom's Diner

Tonight Tom took us all out for dinner at Wildfire, a steakhouse. Larry and I were on time, the others were a bit late. Debra, her husband Bob, Tom, his wife Carolyn, me and Larry went there. I had a horseradish steak - it was absolutely perfect. I've never tasted anything so good, as far as meat goes. Sorry Gordon! Carolyn and I split a dessert.

Tom raised a toast to me and everybody did likewise. I thought that was so sweet. I held a little speech where I said that I started dancing seriously mainly because of a clip I saw of them dancing on Youtube in February, and that they helped change my life to the better. I was so happy to sit there with those guys and tell them this.

Tom showed me the mall, it was beautiful, but no people there. He says he wants to sponsor dances there, to bring people in. We'll meet up again tomorrow for the Cab Calloway dance at the Carlyle Club. I've pracised swivels and switches for 3 hours today.

One useful advice Debra gave me today when I asked about how she deals with when it comes to comparing yourself to others, and how feminine everybody looks except you, she said "Tom used to say this: you are what you are". Be who you are and use what you have. I'll try to remember that. It's easy to forget when everybody else seems cuter or taller or more feminine.

Dabe, Janelle and shopping

I went shopping today in the mall. Didn't buy very much but a pair of Keds, a flower for my hair and two candles.

Watched lots of dance videos when I came home and tried to practice the switches, but after just having watched tall, long-legged beautiful professional follows, I just felt stupid and ugly and short, so I gave up for the time being.

In the evening 2 of T & Ds teachers, Dabe and Janelle had a social dance in a place called Nick's that Larry and I went to. Tom didn't come, because he wanted to see his kids. Had some good dances there, but there were only six of us. Dabe is great, I like his dancing! Afterwards, Janelle showed me switches again and told me to keep the left foot really forward, about 11 o clock. Don't overdo it with the hips. Keep body straight from hips and upwards. Loads of things to think about which is why I have a hard time with this. Then she showed me swivels properly, and I got very excited about that, it makes such a difference! She started the prepare already on six. I filmed it.

The Plan

...is apparently as follows:
Wednesday I go dancing at a place called Nick's with Dabe and Janelle, two dancers here. Thursday we go to dinner together, Tom, Carolyn, Debra and her husband, Larry and me. Looking forward to it. Dunno what I should do tomorrow and thursday and Friday during the days, but I'll figure something out. Friday, is Carlyle Club and Saturday is apparently Glen Echo. I didn't know that, and it made me happy. Sunday I'll have classes with Tom and Debra again, and he's just said that's a good time for a private lesson. I'm not after a private lesson as such, because I just want to dance dance dance as much as possible for the experience. I also want to remember it well because who knows if I'll ever see him again.

From food coma to rock n roll

Woke up late. Skipped breakfast. Larry and I went to a place called Dog-something, can't remember. We had pizza here and a very nice beer. I got a bit tipsy due to the fact that I'd had no breakfast. On top of that was a bad case of food coma, which meant I HAD to sleep all day almost.

Came to Tom and Debra's two classes again, but today at the Clarendon Ballroom. This is where they recorded their dvds, I noticed. Anyway, I was introduced as always by lovely buddy Tom. Social dancing was great and we danced to a great live band, rockabilly. The cool thing was, that when they only just started, there was a power cut, so they played in the dark, acoustically and we all loved it and danced. Tom asked me to dance 3 times and I loved every second of it. I felt confident, happy and in love with the music. Look up!, was probably the main thing about the dances, again. Dammit. I asked Debra to show me the switches and she worked with me for 15 minutes showing me how to practise. She said don't overdo it with your hips, don't turn your left foot as much and keep your knees closer together, and also move in a circle around the guy, not straight. Will practise and do my little test on Sunday.

I got a free CD from the band and I asked if I could play a song with the bass player after the show. We did "King of the Road", it was great fun. Tom and Debra went with me to the Silver Diner, and oh boy I love it there. We talked like old friends, and even though we've only really talked on skype, it feels like I've known him forever. Even Debra is very easy to talk to. My one mission tonight became to try to get Tom to see how ridiculous I think it is with people with any kind of attitude. I said "I just LOVE the music. I LOVE the music, you know what I mean?" I too have felt competitive awhile back, but after a few days you realise it's all bullshit. This dance isn't about what moves you know and can show off, what famous hotshots you know in Herräng or what music is popular to swingdance to right now. It's about loving the music, showing it with your whole body and just dive right in there, head first. Period.

Tom dropped me off at midnight and we decided we'd talk tomorrow. I probably won't see him then, but I'll go to another dance. Today I did boogie steps and dancing with Tom's jumpy style became more fun that way.

Court & burger with jam!

Yesterday I took the Metro to the Vienna/Fairfax station. Tom was picking me up and it was freezing standing there. We went for a burger in a place where he used to go disco dancing in the 70s, before heading off to court. The murder case was postponed and instead I got to sit in and listen to other stuff that he did there. We then went to his house in Fairfax. It was a perfect house. The prettiest, biggest mansion I have ever seen. The master bedroom was huge, and their kitchen was heaven. He showed me around and I was a bit in shock. The bathroom upstairs was amazing. Better than a hotel... The walk-in closets (they have one each) were to die for!

I met wife and kids and played lego with them. They were wonderful. They left, and Tom fell asleep in his room and I fell asleep on their sofa. It was so quiet. We left for dance class and ate Hershey's chocolate bars in the car, and we talked about everything. Traffic made it impossible to get to their class on time. When we did show up half an hour late Debra said "here's Tom and the Swede!". I was in the intermediate class, and enjoyed it.

We stayed there to do social dancing. I enjoyed all the dances there and when Tom took the microphone to make announcements he again said "this is our lindy-with-lina week" so I'd like her to get up here", me and 2 other girls had to stand in the middle. That was my first jam!! Very exciting!! I danced two dances with Tom, once I asked and he reminded me only once to keep my frame and look up, and the other song he asked for , the last song. It was a disco tune. It was great to dance to. He did a move with me in there called the pretzel. Very neat. A jump was thrown in, as well as a small aerial that we had tried in class before - it had two jumps in it.

Went to eat a sandwich afterwards with some other dancers, and then Larry and I went home.

Dance classes and WiFi

Stephanie Fuller and two of the boys we practised the aerials with.

Larry and I went for breakfast in a Mexican fast food place. I had 3 soft tacos. Weird not having any breakfast, and then eating a big lunch. I then of course put off having dinner until after our classes when Tom, Debra and I went to the cheesecake factory.
In town, Clarendon, I bought a cute outfit. I'm quite happy with it. I sat down trying out wifi in the bookstore and had a coffee. Then Larry gave me a glass of wine (didn't take much to make me tipsy) before driving me to Tom's classes. I met Debra, which was neat. Then Tom said I could be in the aerials class next door to their beginner class. I felt so out of place, but I decided to stick with it and do my best. We did a flip over the guy's back, which was pretty hard. Anyway, after that I took T & Ds intermediate class. I was introduced to everybody. "This is Lindy with Lina week... Lina is my friend from Sweden and we'll have her for ten days, so ask her to dance..". Tom was good because he went around dancing with everybody. I knew most of the stuff from that class, but it was still very fun.

After class, Tom and I drove to the Cheesecake factory. He then proceeded in eating the hugest burrito I have ever seen. I had meatloaf but saved 8/10 of it in a box. :) He drove me home, and I went to bed straight away. I'm slightly jet-lagged and woke up in the middle of the night, for some reason.

Best dance ever, sorry guys.

I've had the best dances ever tonight. Sorry you guys back home, but these beat it. Oh lord. I got ready to go dancing tonight at a huge place built in the 30s called Glen Echo park. It used to be an amusement park, and is now run by the government. It's beautiful and it reminded me of a larger upscale version of tangopalatset. There were about 4-500 people there. Me and Larry danced many dances, and it went great. Then I danced with the reverend who married Tom and his wife Carolyn. Arnold, I think his name was. He was a good dancer and it turns out he's 83 years old! I then danced with many other guys and they were doing the switches, and I find it hard but I will try to nail it while I'm here. I danced and danced to a great live band and I thought I did pretty good.

All of a sudden, 30 mins before it ends, Tom arrives. He's standing there among 400 people watching me (ME!) dance. I didn't know this but he told me afterwards. He grabs me, then dances with me. Everytime the music stops, some girl comes up to him to snatch him and he says: I'm dancing with my Swedish friend here". We did a couple of songs, then he wanted to do a fast one with me to see how I was doing. I did fine, but he kept telling me "Look up!", all the time. Story of my life. Well, being able to dance with him has been a dream of mine for a long time, and he just was great and the dances were wonderful. I'm amazed I didn't die or faint, or both.

Afterwards Tom and I drove to another diner which I can't remember the name of. I had a ceasar salad and loads of caffeine in the shape of tea and coke. Apparently the waiter thought I was Debra, so he brought in tea automatically when we came in. I was quite happy to drink it. The meal was on me and I'm glad I could pay for them. Larry came too.

Today was another day I will never forget. A dream of mine came true. Wow.

The rain and the practice.

Today it's been pouring down with rain. Yet, I've had some nice scrambled egg in the wonderful kitchen here. Larry took me on a drive around DC to see some monuments from the car. I also had to pick up a hairdryer. We danced for about an hour trying some different moves, and it strikes me I cannot do proper switches. Today's goal is to improve those as well as not look down when I dance. Contacted Jack from Herräng on Facebook, since he's from here. We'll dance tonight at Glen Echo. I would be lying if I said I wasn't superthrilled that I'll be trying Tom out today.

Tom, 600 euros and an authentic chocolate milkshake

I'm blogging from the guest room in Larry Macdonald's house. He's a very friendly, retired man who kindly offers to put up dancers here in the Koerner/Sternberg scene sometimes. I just found out that this bed was last used by Lennart Westerlund, and that the sheets are still the same. :)

These past 24 hours have been so neat. Hard to describe but I will try. First, in Heathrow a few of us were told we had to wait there for six hours because the flight was overbooked. I got reimbursed though - 600 euros! Paid for my whole trip, almost. The flight across the Atlantic was great, very good service. The best part was having Richard Branson welcoming you on the little screen in front of you.

I thought I'd be nervous about meeting Tom IRL but I wasn't. As I went through customs, leaving fingerprints and whatnot I could feel nothing but excitement. He stood there waiting in a black leather jacket. I noticed straight away that he is shorter than I thought. We hugged for a long time, then went out to his car. On the way out he said "you're shorter than I thought". :) His licenceplate says "JITRBUG". As we drove to a Diner near the Clarendon Ballroom called the Silver diner, we talked about this that and the other and it felt very natural. I like him so much, and he's meant alot to me since February. We ate in the Diner and met up with some guy who is also a dancer and talked to him for awhile.

Tom dropped me off at Larry's at 12.30ish and stayed around to chat some and to semi-plan the rest of the week. Apparently this really IS "Lindy with Lina week" and everybody has been told to take good care of me. I will see Tom tomorrow night at Glen Echo after his and Debra's paid private gig. During the day though, I'll just catch up on some sleep I think and hang around here.

I will be sure to be back but for now...zzzzz.

Meeting Tom today was very very exciting.

I'm out of here

OK. It's 3 am. I didn't go to bed. Bags are packed, I'm all set to go in a little bit. This is ridiculously early. I'm going out dancing at the Carlyle club as soon as I get there, apparently.

What a great night.

Yesterday we had a really great night here. Ali wore my dad's kilt (without the underwear, of course). We contemplated over life's big issues, had some drinks and cigars and were generally pleased with the way things turned out. Tonight I'm packing for DC, skipping the dance for the first time ever. Gaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, can someone please pop by for a dance on your way home from Tangopalatset?

Stop, look & listen baby!

I've had recent conversation with a dancer-friend of mine over here about the importance of doing nothing at all. He's a very interesting character. We're both a bit older than most of the people there, and life just flies by. Everything becomes a happy-go-lucky mess of sorts, and you never take a break, never sit down and wait for things, thoughts to enter your brain. You never allow them to. I told him this yesterday, and that we should both take a week-long break from all activities etc and try to see what happens if we stay at home by ourselves. It's probably better for you than 100 yoga sessions. I dared him and myself both to do it. We'll see.

That being said, DC awaits and I don't have time to take a break right now. :)

This week's swingmail...

I just received this mass-email from Gottaswing.com:

Tuesday, October 21

Join us in welcoming Lina Kvist, Gottaswing's first (and thus far, only) official Swedish pen pal on her first visit to the United States. Arriving on Thursday, she'll be our guest for about 10 days and will be traveling around to our various Gottaswing dances. Stop by and say, "Tja!" Then ask her to dance, please.

Very flattering to receive this kind of welcome, I must say, although it makes me slightly nervous. And no, it's not my first visit to the United States, neither to DC - I lived in Dobbs Ferry, New York for a year when I was 16. Best year of my life, I would say.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3

DC is slowly becoming reality in my head. I cannot begin to tell you how exciting this is.

Today at the dance, Johan N showed me some dips and I totally loved it - sometimes I think that people take for granted that you do some manuever and you're all set - but for me, I do the dip, I manage it, and you have to realise this is the first time ever I can do these things. It's huge. It's like losing your virginity, of sorts. :)

Washington DC - the ultimate getaway

I've had one of the worst weeks possible. If I work very hard during the next few days, I'll feel extatic when I'm on the plane bound for DC on Friday. Please, let this week be better than my last. I so hated it...

DC - the ultimate getaway? I'll be dancing with Tom and other people. I can't wait to get away from this place right now. My brain is so pre-occupied, I find it hard to focus. I thought I was ready, but it turned out I was wrong. Maybe, just maybe now, I am, however. Remains to be seen. Below you'll see Jean Veloz, the lady dancing with Tom Koerner in the photo, in "Groovie Movie".

Mitt nya liv

Mitt nya liv är definitivt rikare och mer givande än mitt förra, på så många plan. Jag älskar människor, och umgås mycket med mina vänner. Det visar sig dock att det ibland kan bli lite för mycket av det goda. Ska nog se om jag inte kan försöka ha en dansfri vecka. Det tar emot nåt enormt, men jag tror det kan behövas, inte minst med tanke på resan till USA - måste packa och fixa och dona.

Igår fick jag en fin komplimang: "inser du hur underbar du är som sätter guldkant på människors vardag?" Det var verkligen snällt sagt.

Kom på att min första dansbild togs nån gång i mars eller april och är med Anton, som var här igår. Den bilden visar nog rätt så tydligt hur jag tycker att det känns när man dansar.

Dinner with friends #3

Yesterday I had 5 friends over for dinner. The purpose is to get to know them better, because we dance all week long but rarely talk to one another. This time around, the guests at the table were: Johan N, Ali, Magdalena, Anton & Matilda. It was a great night with quite nice food and lots of wine. I learned a few new things about each of them that I didn't know before, which was really cool.

Late last night..

The other day took its toll on me, for sure. I was dizzy all day yesterday and I wasn't very good on the dance floor, although, I had a ball, as always.

Busy week ahead and countdown to Washington DC begins...

stryk!!

Snälla kan nån se till att snabbt som fan stryka dagens datum ur kalendern. Vill aldrig mer tänka på att den här dan fanns.

Som tur är finns det en säng. Som tur är finns det tonfiskpasta.

Dans är som espresso!

Igår på dansen var tempot väldigt högt och energin var på topp. Jag dansade väldigt många danser och häftigaste ögonblicket var när jag klarade en dipp som jag inte klarat tidigare med Micke Antich. Skithäftigt.

Tyvärr hann jag inte dansa med alla mina goa killar, och alla var inte ens där. Men så är det ju, vi börjar bli rätt många som är där.

Denna och nästa vecka är väldigt hektiska och jag får anstränga mig till det yttersta för att hinna med allt.

Som sagt var, epresso eller dans - vad som finns att tillgå, funkar bra för mig!

Att sätta gränser

Idag har till stor del handlat om att sätta gränser. Jag har sagt ifrån till en elev, min chef, min kollega och en av mina vänner. Konstigt att det sammanföll på en och samma dag. Jag har ganska svårt för att visa vart bordet ska stå ibland, men idag kändes det helt befogat, naturligt och rätt.

Remember, regain territory. Man är värd att ta plats.

Yesterday

Yesterday we had a whisky sampling night at Anton's. It was very laid-back and pleasant. I must say, however, that the "Smokehead" whisky didn't work for me.

The "Can-I-have-a-pint-of-Macallan-please" story went down well, as always. Oh how I miss those days now all of a sudden. Hi to you dearest friend/"wife"/reader.

I want!

All I can think about today is this. Isn't it great?

Tired

Just been hanging around at home for the past two days. Feels kinda weird. I'm not used to it. I'm so tired though, I fall asleep no matter what I do.

Speaking of which, I'll take a nap now so I have energy for the dance tonight.

See it Once, see it twice.

One of the best films I've seen. Simple and terrific.

"Out of my league?"

What does that mean? Isn't that a very relative phrase? I've heard myself say it recently, but listen to it: "It's out of my league". Doesn't that just mean you're degrading yourself? Nothing is no longer out of my league, it may just not be IT for me.

Monday at Kårhuset

I don't know why, but I feel happy right now. Dancing at Kårhuset in Lund yesterday was bliss. I danced with some of the guys in beginner/intermediate class. My best dance yesterday, however, was with Johan Åkers. Anton came in as a close second.:)

Isn't it great to have this dance on Mondays? That way, you can't say that you dislike Mondays anymore. Oh.... reminds me... great song:

Weekend fun

Jag har haft en fin helg. Mina vänner är så gulliga. Fest hos mig i fredags och igår var det möte med Cats' Corner som övergick i en höstfest med efterfest hos Johan. Jag har inte skrattat så mycket på länge. Om inte helt fullt ut, så tror jag ändå att vi löste några av världsproblemen igår.