A Bit of This and That

Good Saturday morning. Isn't it nice that the weekend is here? I found this button of the little puppies with the umbrella and it fits perfectly. Friday was hot and humid - in the 90s. I can take the heat but not the humidity. About 8pm it started to rain, but a nice gentle rain, not the thunderstorms the weatherman predicted.

Friday morning I went upstairs and shoveled (literally) most of the plaster and lath out of the bathroom. It is completely gutted now. Hubby didn't go upstairs because the meds he is taking for gout is making him tired. I think that is the idea - to keep him off his feet. Anyway, after I shoveled that mess out of there I was tired too. LOL I came downstairs and took a break, then went up and tried to strip the wallpaper off the largest bedroom. Never, and I mean never, put stucco paint over wallpaper. A previous tenant did this and I am having a terrible time getting it off. It comes off an inch at a time, so it is quite time consuming. I did take an hour break and then went back up about 4pm. Hubby BBQd, so that was a big help. I didn't go back up after I ate. I was finished for the day.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It is to be cooler today according to the weatherman and I hope he is right. Even with the AC, it was hot working up there. Take care and remember to take time to stop and smell the roses. ~Blessings, Mary~

What's New in My World

Well, this has been some week. Along with the problems with Brandon, there have been quite a few other set-backs. On Tuesday morning hubby woke up with gout in his big toe. This is the third time in a couple of years. I told him he should go to the doctor but of course he didn't think that was necessary. By Wednesday afternoon, he knew it was necessary. He got a prescription and today it is less painful but very red and swollen. However, the meds will clear it up.

There has been little work done in the upstairs apartment this week. Jack came on Tuesday and got some work done. All the plaster is off the walls and ceiling. The room has been cleaned out a little but the last two days neither hubby nor I have been upstairs. Between the gout and other medical problems, hubby just hasn't been up to it. And of course I have been busy phoning people about Brandon being bullied.

Brandon went for an appointment with the owner of the farm on Thursday. He talked to him and when we were on our way home, he told me it did help. The owner told him that it is his job to make sure his kids are safe and that he had worked for the Ontario government helping kids. That seemed to impress Brandon. He gave Brandon his business card and told him to call him if he wanted to talk again.

So, things have settled down. Brandon is going back to school this morning of his own free will. Hubby and I will be busy working in the apartment. I am stripping walls of old wallpaper and preparing them for painting. Once all the prep work is done, it should go together fairly well.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for Brandon, your kind words, love and support. ~Blessings, Mary~

Update on Brandon

Posted on Wednesday night:

Thanks to everyone for your prayers for Brandon. I spent most of my day on the phone and finally got fed up and called the Chief of Police. I spoke to the secretary and she had a lady officer call me back. This is the safety officer that goes to the boys' school once a month. We have no police in our schools on a regular basis.

Anyway, the constable said that there is no way the boys have to put up with this. She wants to talk to the boys and says that charges can still be laid because the boy threw Jordan into the street. There is no statue of limitations on assault and she says it definitely was assault. She is going to get back to me and get this straightened out.

Thanks again for all your prayers. I am exhausted so am heading to bed early. ~Blessings, Mary~

Prayer Requests

Please pray for Brandon. He is having a difficult time at school again. It seems that he is being bullied by the same two boys that were bullying him and Jordan a while back.

Three weeks ago two boys confronted our boys a couple of doors down from their home. My regular readers may remember that Jordan was thrown up against a parked car, Brandon was punched in the face and then Jordan was thrown into the street. Their Dad saw part of the incident and went out and confronted the boys that had attacked them. He then called the father of the boy who had thrown Jordan.

The boy's father was glad that Barry called as his son is on probation. Things got very quiet for a couple of weeks but this week it's all started again.

We have been to the principal, vice principal, superintendent of the boys' school and the director of the Board of Education, all to no avail. Things get better for a bit and then they go back to the same old, same old.

Tonight Brandon was having a meltdown, something he hasn't had for some time. He was very upset, sad and depressed. I took him for animal therapy and he didn't even want to see the baby fawn. He allowed me to put my arms around him and hug him and pat his back right there in the driveway. This tells me that something was seriously wrong because he is old enough that he doesn't like demonstrations of affection in public.

Brandon talked to the lady who owns the farm and told her all his troubles. She recommended that he not return to the school for the remainder of the school year - approximately two weeks. She said he is at the "edge." Michelle and I talked about it and she is keeping him home tomorrow to see how he is doing. We don't want to learn Brandon he can run away from his problems, but it seems that no one cares about what he is going through. We are at our wits end.

After I came home, I was upset at all that has been going on. I called our police department and talked to the Desk Sargeant. He told me, "This is not our department." He went on to say that we had to go to the principal, the superintendent of schools and the school board. When I told him we had done this kazillions of times, he didn't know what to suggest.

Why isn't this a police problem? My grandson was assaulted, thrown up against a parked car and thrown into the street. Isn't this assault?

We do not know where to turn for help. Brandon is so depressed that I fear something terrible is going to happen. Bullycide is suicide that relates to bullying. The child is fearful of going to school or going out into his community. Things become so hopeless that he/she commits suicide. This has happened to way too many children and I don't want my grandson to become a statistic. Please pray for Brandon and our situation.

Another prayer request is for Grams at Talk to Grams. She is going through a tough time at present.

Be sure to remember Denise at Shortybear's Place. She is mourning the loss of her brother.

I'm sure there are many others who need prayer. If you would like to be added to my prayer list, please email me or leave a comment. I will be glad to pray for you and your family or any other request that you have. ~Blessings, Mary~