Ouch, everyone is hurting, but I worry the most about the kids, they are the victims of this unhealthy marraige. I honor and support the writers honesty, now take the honest feelings and seek some professional counseling.

It is not fair to f.. up the kids because the adults have not dealt with their own issues. Please seek help now, get your husband involved in counseling as well. The children's lives depend upon it.

Good luck on your journey. In the mean time, hug the kids every day.

¹

I grew up in a similar household, in the '70s. After a few years of being out of the house, I was suprised to learn that I was really angry at my mother and sympathetic to my alcoholic, never there for me, father. The irony was too great, my mom held the whole mess together and here I was hating her.

Getting your Dad to AA is a good idea, getting yourself to an "Adult Children of Alcoholics" program, is an even better idea. You may not be able to save your Dad, but you sure can help yourself to understand the consequences of growing up in the home of an alcoholic. Do it now so that you can be prepared to create a healthy family of your own.

Blessings to you and your family.

I am a 47 year old Republican and I am ashamed of my party and those who choose to reelect President Bush. The war in Iraq is a mistake on many fronts and 20 years from now I am pretty sure that we won't be building President Bush a monument next to the Lincoln Memorial.

These are dark days, and Senator Clelands honesty and humility give me hope.

It sounds like an important book that was ill served by the reviewer. Ms. Dickerson spent too much print trying to be clever instead of focusing on the book. I know more about her than I need to.

For the first time in his administration, I am proud of the President's stand on something. I support President Bush on this issue.

Now, if he could back us out of Iraq, take a meaningful stand for energy independence and avoid going to war with Iran and North Korea we could perhaps restore our own faith in our nation. I can dream.

I guess Cary is right that people have not been taught that politeness and consideration of others is a nice thing and a necessity in a civil society.

My mother taught me to open doors for everyone and to say please and thank you. My own measurement of civility is how many people, (women in particular) fail to acknowledge my action when I hold the door for them. Sadly only about 30% make some acknowledgement of the courtesy.

So, I have a choice, I could join the inconsiderate people and just let the door close in their face, or I can continue to set an example of civility and hope that people will follow.

Regarding the regional rudeness differential, I have lived all over the country and find that my current home (Boston area) is sadly one of the least civil areas that I have experienced. I too dream of living on an island with a couple of cats.

Mayor Guiliani's mean spirited, snarky swipes at Obama and Govenor Palin's sarcastic and inacurate portrayals of Obama and Democratic values reconfirmed that I made the right decision to leave the GOP after 30 years.

I was saddened and frightened by the ravenous and enthusiastic response of those in attandence. They seemed to love the meanness. I pray for our country.

.. is Bush saying "Atta boy Brownie! ".

Mission accomplished: Bush will go down as the worst President ever.

Remember when many of us were angry at the Iraqi government for sticking to their summer vacation break and leaving town without addressing legislation that the US felt was so important?

Hey Congress, sorry, you have to stay late and save the country. That is what leaders do. Get to work or go home for good.

Dude for the sake of your country and your kids, take a stand on following rules and personal responsibility.

The rules on what players ingest is clear, you eat it, you own it.

My 7th grader came home and told me that her class did not get to watch the speech. The Superintendent of our schools left it up to the teachers to decide. I just got off the phone with the superintendent, and I let him know that he took a less than courageous stand on this issues. Giving in to the Obama haters will only encourage them to be more vitriolic and hateful. Allowing an ignorant and misinformed minority to dictate public policy is bad for all of us. We are witnessing the disintegration of our society. God help our Children.