It seemed like all they did was fight. Mostly she complained about him being too possessive. Later Argento would say, "I always told him my kids came first, my work came second, and he came third." One of his main worries, though, was that he would someday come fourth or fifth, behind her man or men of the moment.

The incompatible combination of Putkoski's complacency and Bourdain's intrepid desires eventually brought the marriage to its breaking point. It officially broke in 2005. Twelve years later, he still pointed to that choice as his life's "great betrayal."