'08

I started writing a year end wrap three days ago, and prematurely thought my year had finally come to it's close. With five days left in the year, how could anything else happen? Clearly, I jinxed myself. But now instead of writing out my whole year, because the painkillers I am on make a lot of coherent thoughts impossible. Writing that sentence took three tries before it made sense.

By the way, I am alive and well and fine, stop asking/freaking/rumour mongering. Let me keep my personal things private, and just know that I'm fine. Thank you.

Onward!

10 Best Bands of 2008.

10. Brand New - if my year had a soundtrack, it could be comprised almost entirely of Brand New tracks.
9. No Doubt - because I want this reunion now. NOW.
8. Social Club - I was told to listen to this band, because a certain song reminded someone of me. I liked that song, and the entire album, immensley. This is definitely my top release of this year.... after BlackHoles and Revelations, of course.
7. The Cure - always. They really shouldn't be so far down the list, but the top is fambily. Sorry Robert Smith, until you put a ring on my finger, you're coming in seventh.
6. Bombardier - I am going to be in one of their videos maybe. I love Keiran. We burn things.
5. True Blue - best pure pop music ever. Also, their prettiest is carrying my niece. Bonus points.
4. Sons of Uisneach - a longtime favourite. Somehow I only made it out to one show this year, which is tragic - however I sang at this show, therefore it is also hugely epic.
3. The Laine Fambily Rockband - look, we're fucking brilliant.
2. Soundwave - Um... duh. I think the only surprise here is that they've fallen to number two. Sorry babies, but I think you likely agree with the number one. You're still my favourite band, if we're getting technical... also BH&R is still the love of my life.
1. August and his buddies - if I include them, they are a band, so they will be included. But honestly, I have been anxiously awaiting August's own music since I was, what... six months old? I'm glad he's finally listened to me (or at least humoured me) and ventured on his own. I'm so proud.

10 Awesome Things That Happened to Me in 2008

10. Reality TV. It's awesome, okay.
9. Coming back to Australia
8. Watching my brothers fall in love.
7. More nieces!
6. Buying a house with my sister.
5. Being cast in an awesome, life-changing movie and having awesome producers and co-stars and crew who worked around my other committments..
4. Singing onstage for the first time with SOU, and the second time with Soundwave.
3. Proving to the world I can still swim, and still holding the world records in my events.
2. No more drugs/drinking. Didn't think it was good at the time, but it is.
1. Love.

10 Things I Probably Shouldn't Have Done / 10 Things That Sucked in 2008

10. Five countries in eight days. Actually, this wasn't so bad - just exhausting.
9. Getting banned from Black Christmas promotion.
8. Perez Hilton continuing to exist.
7. Losing people.
6. Coming clean about a lot of things.
5. All those jagerbombs/shots/bowls/lines/other intoxicating activites
4. That DUI
3. Getting tossed from the Olympic team.
2. Hospital visits
1. Screwing up and breaking up.

10 Plans for 2009.

10. Take over the world. You will see.
9. Find a charity I can embrace, and embrace it.
8. Be a better sister, daughter, aunty and girlfriend.
7. Rebuild some more burnt bridges.
6. Another season of LIA? Maybe? Yes?
5. Stay sober, and quit smoking.
4. Music. I love it, and I want to be part of it. I want an album by the end of the year.
3. Take some time off. For sanity's sake.
2. Settle down. Make my house a home.
1. Be happy. Live happily.


I might do a better post later. When I am home, and when this codiene wears off. Maybe. If I don't... happy new year, kids. Don't party too hard.

Fuck.

there's no place like home.

I, however, firmly believe that Oz trumps Kansas, or anything else America has to offer.

There still hasn't been a chance to catch up on sleep, but at least I've figured out what time it is where I'm at. I should be fast asleep like the rest of Australia, but my body still feels like it's in America, and it's the wrong end of the morning - I should be up and at it. In Europe, it's well into the evening and I should also be up and at it. So despite what my Mum wants me to do, I am up and at it.

At least I am not the only Laine child who doesn't sleep. Most of us are up and at it, those of us who are here. I hear Rockband on down the hall, I suppose that means everyone is up. Everyone except Mum, and maybe Alyse. She is probably asleep on the couch down there, somehow blocking out the boys being rowdy. I wonder which one of them is trying to sing? I wonder when someone will pay Asher to play this game? Kid is epic, and hey... he's one of us. He's got to be famous for something, right?

This is only the tip of the iceberg. Friday we go around the gulf to whichever beach Mum has chosen this time, and Friday, all 500 of us will be together again: aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, in-laws, and friends. Seriously, a hell of a lot of people. I love our family Christmases, for as long as I can remember we've done it like this: rent house on beach. Head to house the weekend before Christmas. Decorate in a mad whirl. Celebrate Christmas on beach. Food, beer, cricket and music, until the sun is long gone and someone passes out. As soon as someone passes out (or nearly falls into the fire, or tries to get the babies drunk, or throws up in sight of Mum), Mum calls an end to it and we all go to bed. So we try to stay on our best drunken behavior. Try.

On top of Christmas, we have other celebrations to attend to. My niece is turning 5 next Wednesday, and my littlest brother will be a teenager two days into the new year. Where has the time gone?

It's probably a good thing said little brother just burst into the room, ranting about Alfie's lack of vocal skills (...what?) and demanding I come join his band before his scores go to waste, because I would spend the rest of the night rambling and reminiscing. But who am I to deny our littlest, and spoiledest, what he wants? He's going to make tiger toast if I comply - how can I say no to that?

I never want to leave this again. Burn the ruby slippers, I refuse to depart.

it's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new life.

And I'm feelin' good.

I am angry that blogspot will not let me embed this beautiful video of my brothers. Search it on youtube; watch it live. Unbeatable.

Three hours from Greece. Two weeks from home. Rove, Gma, Christmas specials with my brothers and a proper fucking meatpie. All the carmello koaloas we can stand, Julian Jonsson. Everyone under one roof - well, three rooves, but all together. Christmas on the beach; it's been too long. California beaches just don't cut it. Awesomeness awaits.

Awesome happenings will awesome. Just you wait.

The Empire Strikes Back, again. 1231. Beware.

go see black christmas, i need a paycheque.

It's amazing how you never realize you've lost something until you find it again. It pops up when you're expecting nothing and all you can say is 'Oh... oh!'

I didn't realize I'd lost myself. I didn't realized I'd changed so greatly. I know I'd changed, everyone changes. I've kicked habits and worked through more than you could even imagine. But I let go of things I should have held onto. I lost more of myself than I'd planned, more than I ever wanted. And I wondered why adjusting was so hard.

But the pieces are coming back together. The trick will be to keep out the bad and bring back the good - but I think I'll manage. I think... I think I'll be ok.


Question of the day: How are you spending Thanksgiving?

We don't have Thanksgiving in Australia, and I've never really done much on it while I've been in America. I usually call my Mum, order chinese, and that's that. This year I've got my brothers with me (Alfie and Jules jsyk) and I'm giving them their Christmas present early and hanging out after Julian's work things. I might crash Hallie's familys dinner... they love me.