I'm going to assume that you're an adult, know your own mind, and want a divorce. Your call, not mine, and I respect that.

I've done it. It's really, really hard. Here's some of the practical things to do before you even broach the subject:

1) Make copies of all of your financial statements (your accounts and his), any real estate deeds and tax returns. Put them in a safe place outside of your home.

2) Make sure you have enough ready cash to live for at least three, and preferably six, months. Minimum.

3) Make sure you have a secure place to stay for that time. Again, at a minimum. Don't share that location with your ex if you have any concerns about your safety. Get a cell phone account in your name only if you don't have already.

4) I very much sympathize with your concern about your dog. If there's any chance that your dog might be abused by your husband once you announce your intentions, remove the dog ahead of time to a safe location. In some places, women's shelters will help foster your dog if this is a concern.

5) I disagree with many here about the need for an attorney. Call a local woman's group for a sympathetic and affordable lawyer. You will need an advocate, unless your situation is very, very unique and amicable.

Often, situations that seem amicable on the surface degenerate very quickly. Get a lawyer, most especially if you are not in a community property state.

6) Write down, in detail and with xeroxes of relevant accounts, tax returns etc. as backup, your respective financial situations before and during your marriage prior to meeting with your attorney. Attorney time = your money, so spend it wisely.

Leaving my first husband was the smartest, and hardest, thing I've ever done. Protect yourself the best you can.

Good luck.

I also thought McCain showed more class in his concession speech than he had in his entire campaign, cumulative...and was impressed. Then I remembered that one of his staffers wrote it for him.

Words/phrases I never ever EVER want to hear again (join in if you want)...

Maverick

Outsider

You betcha

Socialist

Reverand Wright

Bill Ayers

Redistributionist

JOE THE PLUMBER

MY FRIENDS

and MOST OF ALL...

Sarah Palin.

Thank you.

is that this time, she was running for vice president and was widely viewed by the electorate to be severely unqualified.

In 2012, she's talking about president. Does she honestly believe that four more years can make that kind of difference, especially since she clearly has no intrinsic intellectual curiosity?

She was three valuable things for the RNC: she was attractive, she was a Conspicuous Christian and she was totally devoid of conscience.

In short, she was a tool to be used, and in 2012 she may no longer be so attractive, and her reputation as a punchline will follow her, so her tool value will be diminished, accordingly.

that's a brilliant idea--Palin as TV evangelist. After all, that's where the monster money and no accountability really is.

You film your TV show, tell people they'll get their jobs back if they just "prove their faith with a Trig Tithe," whip up a fear-filled frenzy about the "socialist satans," circle Trig, Joe the Plumber and the new grandbaby around the stage a few times, get some country/western bubba to whoopee-up a few hymns, call it a day and then go back to your palace while the money pours in.

None of that nasty getting informed/educated problem, and you don't have to read anything other than the bible.

Brilliant!

Tough to go from being a candidate Tuesday to being asked to act like the President on Friday, especially when there is still a guy who has that position. He looked and sounded like a man who gets it, and that's what I ask. What a wonderful change from the last eight years.

Dunno why people want to nitpick him to death already. Amazing, really.

Sigh.

If he had been as articulate in a live press conference (where you are essentially having a conversation with members of the press, you don't get the questions ahead of time)as he has been in his speeches, you'd be all over his ass for being too glib.

You might want to check out a few youtubes of George W. (or even John McCain's town halls) before you start slamming someone for "umms."

Mika, you hypocritical twit. He didn't "almost say it," HE SAID IT.

The never-ending supply of hypocrisy and aggrieved-victim attitude spewing from the Republican pundits staggers the fucking imagination.

No wonder I quit watching this show.

I don't give a rat's behind whether he's got a politically correct mix of colors, ethnicities, genders and preferences in his cabinet. And I'm a "Moonbat" and proud of it.

We're in a world of hurt. Get the smartest people you can find and get on with it.

That's what this election was about, remember? Ignoring race and focusing on talent?

just STOP GIVING THIS WOMAN COVERAGE!!!!!!!

She's doling out the sound bites and the media is lapping them up like trained rats. CNN has four stories on her crap on the front page ALONE.

Can't Salon be a leader and be the first to go cold turkey on this headcase?

Note to the GOP: it IS possible to have too much publicity. And she's proving it.