In reply to the above two responses - yes, I understand how my last post, in and of itself and to someone without full knowledge of the situation, may have made it look like I am unrealistically optimistic.
Don't worry. Yes, I see how that post in and of itself may make it look like I've lost touch with reality! - but I haven't. I will confess to wild "mood swings" at least as far a my optimism level between times when things are going "well" in that department and when they aren't - but I've also been through those cycles enough times to know that both extremes are temporary. Yes, I'm aware there are going to be down times ahead as well...and there are going to be times when I'm going to be as frustrated as I was when I made this original post. Hopefully from this last downtime, however, I will retain some of the lessons learned...such as communicate no matter how much I don't feel like it at the time...and if I can bring myself to do that hopefully those down cycles won't be as deep or as long.
I haven't specifically read the "10 Stupid Things Men Do" book, but believe me, I have seriously read dozens of Christian and secular books in the same vein (and, to those who don't already know this, believe me when I tell you the Christian ones invariably come down even far more harshly on what husbands must avoid doing wrong than the secular ones. So I know all those recommendations and generally work very hard to follow them (and my wife would honestly agree).
The bottom line is, I've still got both feet very much on the ground.
