Hi Barb Sadly I never did meet your sister. We were initially supposed to do so in Arizona way back in the day but it never worked out. She and I did have a lot of good times on the board and in Hacker's chatroom though. I was friends with her *out there* but dumped that account and lost touch with her. She is a delightful lady.
There is no breaking the ice with my X. He is, and probably always will be a narcissistic JA. Don't you love that he is almost 50 and has 3 year old twins? I still crack up about it. When my kids come home telling me about how much work they are or the antics that ensue I just laugh and tell them that no good turn goes unpunished. Doesn't it just seem nuts that as our youngest was graduating HS he started all over again with diapers? That being said - the little guys are super cute and my kids love them to pieces. It took some work on my part to help my son separate the little ones from the idiot that is his father. He finally accepted that the babes need him to be a good big brother for them regardless of what his father had done. My girl - being older, a girl and slightly baby crazy had an easier time with acceptance. Funny story: Upon being told that her father and the new wifey were having babies my daughter immediately sent my fiancé a text message informing him that if he knocked me up she would shank him. She was mostly kidding, of course. He wasted no time in assuring both of my children that that was just not possible. They still joke about that to this day. They love my fiancé and cannot wait for us to get married.
The kids still bear the scars of the divorce but 9 years later they are fading somewhat. That isn't to say that things don't back up on them. Life as an adult child of divorce isn't an easy one. *sigh*
Life for SWL is good. The last photo I saw of the X - he looks like hell. I saw a someecard a while back that fits perfectly. *For every photo that you post on Facebook of your kid, I will post one of me having a life.*
I am happy that you check in here once in a while. I often wonder about so many that were here back in our day. It is good to see how we have picked up the pieces of our lives and soldiered on. We are the lucky ones.
Happy Wednesday! ~ swl
Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear. {Henry Wadsworth Longfellow}
She is a delightful lady. 
Doesn't it just seem nuts that as our youngest was graduating HS he started all over again with diapers? That being said - the little guys are super cute and my kids love them to pieces. It took some work on my part to help my son separate the little ones from the idiot that is his father. He finally accepted that the babes need him to be a good big brother for them regardless of what his father had done. My girl - being older, a girl and slightly baby crazy had an easier time with acceptance. Funny story: Upon being told that her father and the new wifey were having babies my daughter immediately sent my fiancé a text message informing him that if he knocked me up she would shank him. She was mostly kidding, of course. He wasted no time in assuring both of my children that that was just not possible. They still joke about that to this day. They love my fiancé and cannot wait for us to get married. 
