Originally Posted by
goodenough 
I just want to know how to protect myself from his attempts to suck me back in as a player in his drama.
--snip--
I can see that the best thing I can do is disengage when he can't resist the old wife-bashing ways. I just don't know how! His words cut like knives, and I don't know how to step out of range.
IMO, you stop out of range by creating physical distance between the two of you.
YES, it's great that he graduated from treatment, but he was only there 50 days. A mere drop in the bucket in the lifetime struggle of sobriety. Yes he cried and you cried and you both embraced...but AFTER he verbally abused you once again.
I don't know the particulars of your situation, but I think it would be very wise to physically remove yourself from this while things are still so NEW. You're still figuring out how to enforce your boundaries and he's still figuring out how to live sober.
The suggestion of a sober living facility is excellent.
Keep posting!