I can only offer support and sympathy. At least my X and me were able to settle things with just a few emails. Guess that's one advantage to not having gotten married.
[/quote]This is what we're reduced to, haggling over money & fees & how much does he get of a cash windfall I got during our M. [quote]
Yes, that is so much of the heartbreak. Years of love and life and it comes down to the dollars. And we so much don't want to look petty that we might not fight for what is rightfully ours. At least, that's how I felt.
The dogs--ugh. How can he ask for one of them? I don't imagine there's any legal way he can make you? Or can one write whatever one wants to into a D agreement? Have you asked your lawyer about this?
I guess any attempt you make to speed up the process might just result in you not getting a fair deal? As in the temptation to just say: Whatever! let's get this OVER with! and maybe he is working that angle?
It does seem like death of a thousand cuts; I wish for your sake it could be done and over with.
Is the D process holding you back from making your own new life? I understand burying yourself at work to avoid the pain/interior work, but it's gotta get done--the new life, that is.
Certainly cry. Post. Cry some more. But GET OUT THERE. What do you like to do that your X didn't? play scrabble? window-shop? roller-blade? YOU can do them now. Yes, it sucks that you are doing whatever activity without a partner. Yes, it sucks to see "everyone" else with their partner.
But since you didn't die, and there's no point in dying now, you might as well live. And to live means having some FUN. And having FUN is great revenge, if you need that to motivate you. Not that we want to hold on to revenge, but if you can use it in small doses, do so.
Another weekend is upon us--what do you have planned? A movie? sorting your socks? a good run with the puppies? coffee with a girlfriend? serving soup at the local Soup Kitchen?
Let's get that grade point average up to a "B+", OK?
