painterman and others,
i understand your concern about what he might do in retaliation for me kicking at him but i guess i have to stick with the fact that my asking/demanding him to let go did not work so i kicked him and he let go and he left. i don't regret it and i see a huge difference between assault and defending oneself.
that said, i agree that i should do everything in my power to ensure that such a scene doesn't occur again.
and, i will reitterate that as far as AH is concerned he has no idea how much his words bothered me. as i said in my 1st post-- i didn't take the bait, defend, etc... he spewed and i tried to not be bothered by it.
so, particularly to mtusa who is comparing me to their mom and saying i must enjoy being a victim, you're missing the boat.
i have worked hard to not respond to his verbal crap but it doesn't lessen how much it hurts to hear it. i posted here as a sort of cathartic- get it out and let it go kind of thing and once i did i felt much better...