WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?

In the past fortnight there have been three report on adults/parents killing infants for various reasons two of which relating to gaming. It is incredibly sad . . .

Last week I read a report about an American woman form Orlando who shook her 3 years old daughter to death, because she interrupted her Farmville game on FB . Yesterday I read a report about an man from the UK hitting, shaking and STOMPING!? his girlfriend's daughter to death because the baby interrupted his XBox game, furthermore the girlfriend was at their home and didn't bother to try and stop him because she'd rather keep her boyfriend - he got 21 years gaol and i think she got a year. Today my father told me about a Middle Eastern man whom was breaking up with his wife and he threatened to harm the child- he repeatedly stabbed their two year old to death.

This is beyond ridiculous- adults/parents taking their frustrations out on infants , becoming violent and killing them over things that either don't matter (games) or don't have anything to do with ( i.e. they are not the cause of the parents breaking up). Some people do not deserve the wonder of bringing a child into the world, I hope they all get taught a lesson in gaol and feel miserable for the rest of their lives ( and i hope they live a long time just so they can feel miserable or some one else does to them, what they did to those innocent babies).

I'm so over all this aggression . . .

My "Bi-annual Stress Flu"

So over my many years of university I've discovered that at the end of every semester, as a sort of release of anxiety, i guess - I get sick with the flu. I know it probably sound really strange, but every 6 months i get sick, and always after I have finished university for that semester. Usually it can take anywhere from a week to a month after I have finished for this sickness to appear. But this semester, being my last, I had only finished university for two days and I woke up sick. As it turns out there is a scientifically researched and documented reason for this (phew!).

In and article on scienceline.org, Andrea Anderson explains that 'Good health depends on a properly functioning immune system, the complicated network protecting the body from potentially threatening bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders, like cancer cells or transplanted tissue'. The basics of what this article is trying the explain is that stress can significantly alter the immune system responsiveness, but it is still unclear why this is occurring.

As is states in the article 'Peter Uchakin and colleagues at the Mercer University School of Medicine, Wyle Laboratories, the University of Texas Houston Medical School, and NASA also observed immune system effects in first year medical students in the 24- and 48-hour periods after a first semester exam. In addition to other effects, they detected decreased secretion of certain immune signaling molecules and changes in the balance between the humoral and cell-mediated branches of the immune system'. They are considering concept such as psycho-emotional stress and that psychologic stressor are having a suppressing effect on human immunity.

More interestingly, they found that students 'who scored highest on a perceived stress test also had increased levels of cortisol, a hormone suspected of dialing down the immune response'. So what can be derived from this is that a student's personality and ability to deal with stressful situations appears to affect their physiology. But there are also other factors that relating to a student's suseptability to sickness ( other than the mental stress and strain of studying, or in my case research) this may include changes in sleep patterns, poor diet and maybe even genuinely catching it off someone else.

So with me finishing university, lets hope that I am also finished with my "bi-annual stress flu".

http://www.scienceline.org/2007/01/ask-anderson-finalscough/

William's proposal to Chiron

It was Chiron's last semester of her teaching degree, and she was nearly finished university forever. William suggested that he would take her out to celebrate this milestone, and kept all the details a secret- but he was really planning to propose to Chiron. Three weeks before William's planned proposal date, he asked Chiron's Parents Bradley and Lisa Laidlaw, for Chiron's hand in marriage. They said yes and were very pleased and happy for William to propose to Chiron. Brad gave William an big hug, and Lisa became a bit teary, both with big smiles on their faces.

William planned everything very well and worked hard to make sure it was kept a secret from Chiron. As Chiron was over William's place while he was packing, William asked Chiron to put his suit in the car So that he would have an opportunity to put the engagement ring in his bag. When they went to Chiron's place and William asked Chiron to pack stuff for overnight, and her new dress (that she bought with the money Gran Snow gave her for her birthday).

About to drive through the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Chiron and William headed off and Chiron has no idea where they were going. Chiron was very excites when they arrived at the Rydges North Sydney, and after they checked in they headed up to their suite. William arranged to have chocolate covered strawberries brought up to their room, which was very sweet of William and they were very lovely. While Chiron had a shower William was very sneaky and decided to wrap the engagement ring (so that Chiron would not identify it as the engagement ring box, when it was presented to her). Then while William showered, Chiron started to get ready.

Strawberries dipped in chocolate

Us eating the strawberries

Chiron was very confused about the surprise William had in store for her, because he said they did not have to be ready until 8pm and they did not have to be at the place until 9pm. As they began to drive, Chiron considered the different places it could be. They began to drive out of the city which really confused Chiron. Then Chiron noticed that the direction they were heading in was out to Ryde, which confused her even further because she had no idea what could be at Ryde that would be worth William taking Chiron to.

Just before we left the hotel

Just before Chiron discovered they were heading out to Ryde, William asked Chiron if she had any ideas about where she thought they might have been going. She said she considered if he was taking her to Bondi Icebergs, because she had always wanted to go there, but the food was a bit strange, although it would be very sweet if he did take her there- But, It wouldn't take that long to get to Bondi from North Sydney; She said she considered if he was taking her to see "Wicked" as they sometimes have two showing in a night- But, she remembered hearing they were in Melbourne this week, and William replied that he hadn't even thought of that and had forgotten that Chiron had wanted to see it.

This is when Chiron saw the sign that said they were headed out to Ryde. She said she considered if he was taking her to the revolving restaurant ( which she didn't know the name, or where abouts in the city it was located)- But, they were heading in the opposite direction to the city. As they kept driving she wasn't really paying attention to where they were headed, and as she looked up she realized that they were about to go over the Anzac Bridge and they had just driven in a gigantic circle. Chiron told Will he was a "sneaky cheeky bugger" and she got very excited to see where he was really taking her.

After parking, just before we went into the restaurant

William asked Chiron to look out for a parking spot, and after Chiron has spotted one, Will parked the car. William walked Chiron over to this big round building, Australia Square (Lol, the irony), and found an elevator that went to the 47th floor. As they went up the elevator Chiron was getting even more excited and realized when they reached their floor that they were at "The Summit" which was the revolving restaurant. Chiron and William were taken to their seats and overlooked the gorgeous views of the city. William told Chiron a few details about the restaurant- that i takes 108 minutes to make a whole revolution; Celebrity chef, Michael Moore is the owner; The restaurant is super expensive (so they would go there only once in a blue moon). William also explained that the reason he had to book dinner for 9pm was because it was originally booked 6pm, but due to daylight saving it would still be daytime, so the next available booking was 9pm.

William said to Chiron to order what ever she wanted. Chiron and William ordered a Heineken to drink; Chiron ordered the Organic Baby Lemon Chicken (which was so tasty, tender and tempting); William ordered the Ribeye Steak (which was tender, and cooked exactly the way William asked); Chiron and William shared the side of Yamba Prawn ( which were so tasty and fresh) and Buttered Mash Potato (wich was super creamy and buttery). For dessert Chiron and William both ordered a Chocolate Souffle each (it was super chocolatey, fluffy and very large).

Chiron and William took in the beautiful view while they were dining, talking and laughing. Chiron also took photos of Centre Point Tower, Sydeny Harbour bridge, and Sydney Opera House. William pointed over at something behind Chiron and she turned around to see what it was, but could not see anything. As she turned back around to ask William what he was pointing out she saw a card in front of her, she opened the envelope and started to tear up as she read the lovely words on the card about how God had brought Chiron to William. Chiron read the message William had written telling her how much William loved her, how happy he was they he had found her and that he was happy he got to spend the rest of his life with her.

The view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

William knelt down on one knee as asked " Chiron, will you marry me?". Chiron began to cry ( which worried William for a second), and Chiron said "Yes, I will marry you". William asked Chiron if she was okay and she explained that they were happy tears, and they kissed. William put the ring on Chiron's finger and gave her another kiss and a cuddle. William sat back down and explained that he was worried for a second there, because William thought Chiron was crying because she was going to say "No". Chiron re-iterated that they were happy tears and that she was very happy that William proposed.

First photo after William proposed

My beautiful ring ( it's part of a bridal set)

My hubby - to - be, my ring and I

Chiron and William asked the waiter to take a photo of them, and then Williams asked for the bill ( and wouldn't reveal how much the bill was hahahahah). After they left they went back to the car and rang Chiron's family to tell them the good news, they were ecstatic and very happy for William and Chiron. William asked Chiron what she wanted to do next, and she asked him to take her to a lookout at Bondi. after they went to the lookout and looked at the beach William took Chiron back to the hotel. To end the night ,William and Chiron had a celebratory drink- William drank his favourite spirit pre-mix, Jim Beam and Cola; Chiron drank her favourite spirit pre-mix Electric Pink Vodka Cruiser, out of a Martini Glass (all class baby).

Celebratory drink

!

Me in my dress

Ultimate love-o pic of my ring and I

The next morning,Chiron and William had their first breakfast together as an engaged couple. After breakfast they repacked their things and drove home. Chiron and William spent the afternoon ringing their relatives, family friends and others to inform them of their special news. Everyone they spoke to congratulated them and wished them well, looking forward to the coming celebrations.

<3>

EXCITING NEWS

So it just occured to me that I have not been very involved in actually writing in my 'blog'- with the state it is in, it doesn't even deserve to be called that. So, I have decided that i will attempt to write in my blog everyday, yes EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!! (This will probably be flexible on weekends, but i'll make up for it :p). What will I write about you may ask (probably no one will ask, because I currently only have 1 follower - Riley aka Rockstar (aka The Bitten Tongue)).

Aha but i have a lot of exciting news and will embarrassingly post this to my facebook wall (cringe!) in attempt to gain more followers LOL. So on with the exciting news . . .

1. I HAVE FINISHED UNIVERSITY - And no I do not just mean for the semester, na ah, I mean FOREVERRRRRRRRRR! After 5 years of university Ms Fluffy Ruffers here will be joining the real world, finally. My man has expressed to me on many occasions particularly over the past week just how proud of me, he is. Through out the whole of my Masters degree, when i was down at times and felt like it would never end, he reminded me how close i was and how much i had already achieved ( I am very lucky). There are others that may be saddened at joining the real world (who you may ask who, believe me they are out there) but I am not one of those people. I intend on gaining a full time teaching position, earning the big dollars, and moving out of home with my man- which brings me to my second bit of exciting news (even more exciting than the first) . . .

2. I AM ENGAGED!!!!!!- My lovely and beautiful fiancée' William proposed to me on the 23rd of October (23 is his favorite number and when arrived at the hotel his parking space was number 23 as well) I will post a separate blog post giving the specific and very detailed description of how I was very romantically proposed to by the love of my life. So I believe I may even blog about how our plans move along (without actually giving any of the details away until after each of the events)

3. I RECEIVED MY FIRST EVER DISTINCTION - Okay so it's my last semester of uni and i finally received a distinction. I am a very intelligent person, but do fantastically on the practical side of things. This was also in a unit i was worried i would not pass, and i also gained two credit in the other units i was studying. My family and fiancee' are very proud of me and it makes me happy that have such a strong support system when i know many others in the world, do not.

Okay so that is an update on what happening and what i plan on doing :p

ChironsFluffyRuffers x