[shaggy eel]

,,, I went thru the hoops in December 1994 and it took three and a half years to get a cent out of the home I was kicked out of. Access to my kids was precluded by her lawyers for no good reason and I paid my lawyer $NZ230 an hour plus GST (state tax) for what seemed like an eternity.

Like you, my story is long. I've stopped dragging it with me now but there was a time when I was a conniseur of two minute noodles and I spent too much time wondering what lay ahead in life. I remarried in February 2002 and we're very happy. No bad situation lasts forever. I will say that the one thing that remains and is stronger than ever is my faith in God. He put people in my path and opportunities in my way when the time was right. You simply don't have that sort of luck at casinos that consistently. When the worst of the worst was upon me, the only stable things in my life seemed to be a cellphone number and a post box address. Have faith and know that light at the end of the tunnel will result. Spend as much time as possible with your kids and make sure you never slag your ex in front of them. That makes you a strong person.

[Stick a Fork in Me - I am Done]

No bad situation lasts forever. I will say that the one thing that remains and is stronger than ever is my faith in God. He put people in my path and opportunities in my way when the time was right.

You are right. Sixteen years after leaving the job market, I admit I picked up a masters in the interim, I found the job I didn't want that gave me the hours and more money than the jobs I wanted. And the market was glutted. It took me a long time to see my good fortune becasue I was still spitting nails. but that was a long time ago.....