Trish,

You sound so much better about things... I'm glad!

Don't stay TOO mad or it won't serve you well. Maybe just remember that if you're not on course with your own personal growth path, it becomes more of a burr under your saddle?

I think if you can build upon your own path, things are going to align themselves better. Want to know what I think holds real promise?

The fact that he called you 3x on Saturday and had the gall to be annoyed with you for not being around... the quickest way to get someone to schedule things is to make yourself unavailable. Not to the point of total exclusion (because you have to maintain some interest here), but to the point of "Gee, if I had known that you wanted to go to dinner, I would have rearranged things."

Put the onus back on him where it belongs, Trish. Then YOU feel more in control of your life, what you're doing and who you're doing it with.

So make sure you keep these two things in balance: you know he is attracted to you more when you're acting independent and self confident, but he also likes the stay home mom part of you too (because you're nurturing and coddling--things he loves about you).

Now you just need to put on your thinking cap to come up with a plan for your own career path.

I like your kids, Trish. Gabe sounds so mature, and Laural sounds fun. I guess every family needs a pissant. Mine found some white out last night and painted herself, the kitchen table and chairs, and then D9 (who slugged her).

I didn't find a locking cabinet, but I did find some baskets which I put on top of the entertainment center. She's not to happy about that.

Thanks for the suitcase reassurance. I'm thinking D9s aversion is more along the lines of having 2 homes. She's doggone sick and tired of going back and forth. But this isn't my choice, is it?

Take care and talk to you soon, Nemo.

Bruce (I am a nice shark)

"There are only 2 ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstein