I am a believer.

Life would not be as it is if not for God's grace. Sure, he's tricky and he really likes throwing us curveballs, but it's really just to solidify our faith in Him, to show us all that is amazing and possible.

This week was the epitome of frenzy. The fact that I have all the classes I needed is a testimony to God's promises. It's funny that we can plan and plan, but the future never unveils itself as we expect it to. In the end, he always gives us what we need, but never what we ask for. Why is this great? Because He knows us better than we know ourselves! What He plans for us is so much better than anything we hoped for. So seriously, Amen!

I am missing my sisters.

I honestly can't say I miss Stockton much, aside from friends, but I can say that I miss LKS dearly. A sudden pang of LKS nostalgia was onset with a series of phone calls from a few sisters earlier this week and the following IM:

kim: hey elaine!
elaine: hiii
elaine: how are you kimm?
kim: gooodd we're about to start our lks meeting and im sad that ur not here! : (
elaine: aww me too!
elaine: i miss lks haha
kim: how is everything?
kim: i love you
kim: i love you soooooooo much!
kim: says laura
kim: lol
elaine: hahahha aw i miss you guys
elaine: i wish i lived closer so i could drop in on meetings
elaine: or rather, i wish uop was closer to here
kim: lolll
elaine: god forbid that i live anywhere near stockton

Yeah we're disgustingly cute. You can go throw up a little if you wish. ;D So here is a snippet of my experience with LKS over four years:
My pledge class! Spring 2005 Scavenger hunt at the Santa Cruz retreat Spring Formal 2005... my first one! When I backed up & fell into the bucket at a rush event =( Ritter girls!Formal 2006. Me & my sexy date! ;D My partner in crime ♥Ritter table! We sure had a lot of Ritter pride back in the day... Sisters at Formal 2006 =) My adorable little sis!White Elephant! :D I'll sure miss this! Christmas card pose! Relaxing after a rush event My beautiful big sis! Sweetest girl everrr! Triplet at Formal 2007My family line. Such beauty on both sides of me! Sisters at Formal 2007 HeartWalk 2007 My & Laura's babies!! Best pledges ever! =)Triplet at Formal 2008. How great! ;D Our pledges at Formal 2008. I miss you all!! Senior Dinner, 2008. My very last LKS picture! :'( I miss you girls lots! Hope all is going well, my loves!

I am anosmatic.

Sad are times when you can neither smell the fresh scent of warm laundry piled on your bed nor taste the savoriness of the food you're consuming. I'm sick. :(

On a brighter note, praise God for Fridays spent in the cheery studios of girlfriends, and for friends who never stop feeding you delicious food! Life is grand. It would be grander still if I could breathe through both nostrils. ;)

I am in love.

With the bittersweet end of summer came the long-awaited trip to San Jose to visit my beloved Matthew! The distance is saddening, but the anticipation only makes our enchanted rendezvous that much more wonderful, as far and few in between as they are.
We kicked off the weekend with Kelsey's birthday dinner at Straits, a unique Asian fusion restaurant set in the midst of the oh-so-chic Santana Row.


After indulging in a lavish mix of Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine, our ménage de dix headed over to Downtown San Jose and settled in at the Loft, a chic two-story lounge where the city's night life was quite restless. A round of drinks for all, and the night flew by in a whirl of spirited laughter.
There's nothing like a smidgen of alcohol to set the atmosphere, but Janick's choice of liquid cocaine might've been a bit much for me! My loving boyfriend held my hand throughout the evening as the music screamed louder and we danced far into the night.


A Bubbly Adventure & Kite Flying Fun!
Despite a long night of celebratory fun for Kelsey's birthday, we awoke the next morning unphased, energetic and ready to embark on a few milestones we had been looking forward to for two years. We searched far and wide for our kite, and though stores such as Longs, Target, and Sports Authority were abound with Barbie and Spiderman kites, our classic kite in the shade of kelly green was nowhere to be found. =(
We stumbled upon HobbyTown USA, which offered an assortment of kites, from which we chose a vivid rainbow-streaked kite, reflecting the undubious gaiety of our mood! Matthew skillfully assembled the kite, and in seconds, it was ready for boundless flight!
... Or so we'd hoped. Unfortunately, with little more than a mild breeze, our kite could not catch wind. Time after time again, we watched it crash into the grassy field, our hearts discouraged. =(

It was by sheer luck that a giant bubble kit had glimmered at our eyes at HobbyTown, and so we spent the remainder of our time at the park gleefully creating gigantic bubbles!

We freshened up at Matt's apartment in The Woods, and were pleasantly joined by Kelsey at Hoshi Sushi, a Japanese dining treasure that served the most delectable maguro shashimi I have ever tasted!
This small dish of sashimi was well worth its $20 price tag, making up for quantity with its elite quality and freshness. mm-Mmm! Thoroughly satisfied with a savory dinner, we visited the glorious RedBox and headed home to wrap up the evening with a copy of The Other Boleyn Girl, a must-rent for those who enjoy an amalgam of drama, history, and scandal.
The next day, we awoke to the warmth of sunlight streaming in through the window and packed a day's worth of snacks and water, embarking on our journey down the CA-17, to Santa Cruz Boardwalk.




In the wonderful town of Santa Cruz, we strolled along the boardwalk, enjoying the jovial atmosphere of frolicking families and taking in the salty beach breeze, which carried the scent of carnival foods such as gloriously deep fried twinkies and generously seasoned garlic fries.
When we had our fill of the bustling boardwalk atmosphere, we ventured down the coast to Twin Lakes Beach, overlooking a marvelously quaint lighthouse. We assembled our kite once again, and crossed our fingers for hopeful flight.



The gusty winds of the Pacific coast proved to be the perfect missing ingredient to our flightful fancies of the previous day. On the sandy shores of Twin Lakes, the rainbow kite had no difficulty whatsoever catching the sea breeze. Accompanied by a chorus of crashing waves, our kite climbed in altitude so swiftly that it soon became a struggle to hold onto the grounded end of its string!
We experimented with keeping our kite at several distances, learning that the kite exhibited the most wild behavior when kept within 20 feet. With the kite practically at his fingertips, Matt performed enchanting tricks, dazzling me with wild loop-di-loops galore. =) Seeing our kite soar to magnificent heights was a great delight, indeed! I can't believe it took us over two years to finally fly our kite, but it was definitely worth the wait.
The relationship between wisdom and romance is like the one between a string and a kite. Romantic love is the kite that catches the wind and tenaciously heads to the sky; wisdom is the string that holds it back. The tension is real, but healthy. Without the string, the kite would quickly come crashing to the ground. In the same way, romance without wisdom will soon take a nosedive… Like the string on a kite, wisdom enables romance to really soar. It anchors it, disciplines it, and brings it to its highest potential. -Joshua Harris
Our beachside day left us only all the more excited to partake in other forms of nostalgic childhood fun, so we returned to San Jose to indulge in some delicious frozen yogurt. It was cookies & cream for the boyfriend, who never turns down an opportunity to satisfy his sweet tooth, and kiwi, peach, & lychee for the girlfriend, who harbors an incessant love for anything fruitfully refreshing. Pinkies linked and scrumptious froyo in hand, we headed back to The Woods for more unforgettable bubble-making!
Mid-bubble, who was to come along other than Matt's wonderful roommates -- both eligible bachelors, might I add -- Janick and Kelsey!



In the sheltered courtyard of Edenwood, harbored from the strong afternoon breeze of San Jose, our bubbles proved to be quite large, creating soapy showers as they popped delightfully above our heads.

Over our five days together, we immersed ourselves in the fun of school children, treating ourselves to hearty dinners that left nothing to the imagination, and drifting into deep slumber to the much-missed lullaby of comforting conversation. 'Twas a most splendid vacation indeed!

I am cracking up.

my little brother IMs me from upstairs...

Ray7: hi jeje
elainey: hello
Ray7: im playing runescape
Ray7: wanna play rockband later/
elainey: sure =)
Ray7: dont worry i wont fart like last time i #2ed in the bathroom
elainey: LOL
elainey: okay

hahahha. i love my baby brothers. =)

I am walkin' on sunshine...

... oOooh! and don't it feel good!

Nothing brightens my mood quite like summer sun. With the start of the school year rapidly approaching, it seems to be an appropriate time to sum up my summer in a (Wal)nutshell! ;)

Graduation
In the sweltering Stockton heat, which I was lucky enough to bid farewell to forever, I ecstatically received my Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences. Yay!





My wonderful family drove the perilous 367 miles to partake in the festivities, afterwards whisking me away with them to home sweet SoCal!


... but not before one outrageously entertaining photo shoot with my lovely friend Audrey! :)





Venice Beach
Matthew and I said goodbye for a short duration after the end of the semester while he returned to his tropical paradise of a home before beginning his internship with a fortunate engineering firm in San Jose. Luckily for us, an unavoidable 9-hour stopover in Los Angeles en route to his northern Californian destination provided us with an opportunity to spend a few coveted hours together before assuming our new "long-distance" relationship status.

We strolled the rustic streets of Venice beach, taking in the lively culture, salty breeze, and gorgeous Italian-inspired canals. We then ventured to Santa Monica Pier, and strolled along the promenade of Third Street, pausing to be delighted by street performers galore. After indulging ourselves in scrumptious burgers and french fries at the all-American Johnny Rockets, we bid adieu at LAX once again.

Hawaii
In the ripeness of the first true summer month, my parents, brothers, and I boarded a spectacular Boeing 767 in LAX, arriving five-and-a-half hours later at the humid and pleasantly warm Honolulu International Airport. Aloha!

During our stay on the lovely island, we hiked to the top of Diamond Head to experience a breathtaking panoramic view of Oahu, paid pensive moments of remembrance at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, and enjoyed the unrivaled creaminess of authentic Hawaiian shave ice. Not a moment of any day was wasted, as we hiked under the blazing equatorial sun to see Makapu'u Lighthouse (featured in romantic comedy 50 First Dates), relishing the view from the top, of Makapu'u Beach. We made sure not to miss the Blowhole, even as the site was under rigorous renovation, and even visited Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream in Hawaii Kai, where the golf-ball sized fetal scoop left you only wanting more of their unique tropical flavors. We picked up several delightful trinkets at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, where souvenirs were offered at a fraction of Waikiki prices, and drove along the historic Pali Highway to the windy lookout, where, as legend has it, King Kamehamaha drove over 400 soldiers off the precipitous 1,000-foot cliff, watching them as they fell to their horrific deaths.
The drive around the island to North Shore was well worth it, bringing us along the Waimanalo and Lanikai beaches, which sheltered the vicious Portuguese man-o-war beneath its glistening translucent waters. Waimea, Sunset, and Pipeline showed eerily tranquil waters in the summer, in high contrast to the merciless waves that reach 50 feet in height during the winter season on the North Shore. A quick stop was made at the secluded Laie Point, where we relished the cool breeze and gentle lullaby of the crashing waves before we headed down Kamehameha Hwy to the Polynesian Cultural Center, eager to expand our bountiful knowledge of the traditions of the indigenous Polynesians.

More snapshots from our tropical holiday:

San Pedro
On a bright and sunny Saturday morning, Helen and I arrived at Jireh's at 8:30 am only to find a very confused Tita Gi with no idea where her Jiji was. On a whim, we headed over to Jigger's to find the lovebirds fast asleep, and decided that our original plan to drive down to San Diego Zoo would most likely not work out.

As a delightful alternative, we embarked on a relaxing adventure to explore the seaside village of Ports O' Call, a quaint New England style neighborhood centered around San Pedro Harbor. The picturesque town provided photo ops in a plentiful manner, and we rejoiced in the company of friends of yesteryear, as we frolicked down the red-brick paths.
The afternoon sun glistening in the tranquil waters served as a handsome backdrop for the docked leisure yachts in the marina...



... and the stress of everyday shenanigans was lost as we leaned over the red oak posts to observe the calm Pacific waters.



After several well-spent hours perusing the antiquities of San Pedro, our jolly little quadruplet ventured further down the Los Angeles coastline, coming upon a grandiose pagoda. "What might this be?" we pondered. Our curiosity bested us as we found ourselves upon its magnificent threshold.
'Twas a Korean Friendship Bell! What more appropriate a time to stumble upon a historic friendship bell than with a chum with whom you'll remain friends forever? =)





Our excursion led us further down the coast, overlooked by the friendship bell's lofted pavilion, to Point Fermin, home of a unique Victorian lighthouse. Complete with a colonial porch that wrapped around its entire perimeter, the lighthouse was pleasantly reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables, setting a perfect milieu for any given 19th-century romance novel.
Of course, the only romance in my Southern California life this summer was that which I fervently shared with my dear soul sister, Helen!







Disneyland
For the first time in years, I made the magical trip to Disneyland with my baby brothers! In the sweltering August heat, we entered the gates of the Magical Kingdom and made a beeline for Splash Mountain.
We relished the exhilaration of countless attractions, the last of which was the Matterhorn Bobsleds, before heading over to California Adventures.


Perhaps it was merely my own cheesiness, but who could resist taking a picture within the "O" of "California" to document our outstanding Disney day? x)





The Imagineers who designed the landscape of this California-themed park made sure there would be an abounding of picture-perfect spots for the tourist patrons. My shutter-happy little fingers resisted snapping photos every other minute only at the embarassment of my younger brothers. "Must you take a picture of everything??" they implored.
Despite its hour-long line, the park's newest attraction, Midway Mania, was delightfully entertaining! It is a must-ride for any fan of Toy Story, virtual reality, friendly competition, or any combination thereof!
Before the picturesque waters of the park's boardwalk, my (not-so-baby) baby brothers and I feasted upon a supper of turkey leg, chicken alfredo, and pepperoni pizza before returning to Disneyland to enjoy the spectacular fireworks show and the astounding display of hydrotechnics in the critically acclaimed Fantasmic! to conclude our evening. We headed home slightly before midnight, exhausted from a long day of eating, walking, and playing. Disneyland never fails to deliver!

Other Random Fun
The rest of my summer was filled with eleven-hour work days, graciously speckled with random delights such as...

... grabbing dessert with the "birthday kr3w"...


... frequenting Disneyland in the girliest of parties...


... relishing the taste of Shabu Shabu for the very first time...


... partying it up in LA, particularly the time when dearest Irene left her ID in Walnut...


... indulging weekly in frozen yogurt topped with mochi balls...


... partaking in classy dinner parties in the homes of lovely friends...


... and receiving works of artistry from my younger students!


Praise God for yet another wonderful summer!