hey t,i always tried to read your posts because i know they come from the heart and you are a little rough around the edges. i have a couple of friends that you remind me of. please trust me when i tell you that i felt the same way that you do. nothing you say here is new to me...i've felt it and read it on other threads...hell i even lived it when my best friend's wife left him eight years ago. BUT ...you knew there was a BUT didn't you, you need to mellow out. You would be better off if you stopped focusing on your W. Is it easy? Fu## no! For your kids sake and for yours...try to relax. i think your number one goal should be to become friends with her again...because if you do not get there the rest (if you are still interested) is unattainable. So when Kerry says act as if, act as if she can not affect you, act as if she is a sick friend if you have to...but act like a friend even though she does not act like one. When she does send you a nice e-mail regardless of her ulterior motives, be nice back...someone has to make the first move, why not you T?