>>>>>>Whoever is going behind my back to give (mis)information to Marie about things I say on the UT, please stop it. She sent me an email overnight saying she doesn't ever want to talk to me again, based on something she was told about a message I posted on the UT. It was not accurate, but she is just as gone. This is not the first time. I have been in love with her for 7 years. It has been a rocky relationship, usually my fault, but I do not appreciate little talking heads sabotaging it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I know I have a restless soul but I have never, ever, stabbed anyone in the back like this. Please stop it.
>>>>>
>>>>>Mike, I really didn't think Marie was a real person until your last episode when you posted asking for someone to call her. Even then I wasn't sure and thought perhaps when you were drinking you created this person in your own reality. Obviously you know of people here who do know her since you posted that message and this one now here on the UT. Ask her who is providing her with misinformation or talk to those who know her yourself. Better yet, ask her to sign into the UT and research your posts herself to get the truth and then she will know that the other person who is feeding her information is not being honest.
>>>>>
>>>>>Personally, I find it very very sad that anyone would contact this person and spread rumors. There's enough misery in life for some folks that they don't need more heaped on them by others. Folks should stay out of other people's private lives.
>>>>>
>>>>>This place is turning into soap opera central!
>>>>
>>>>You said it.
>>>>
>>>>Marie is definitely a real person. I couldn't even swag the number of hours we have spent on the phone, in email, and in IM. (We dropped IM quite a while ago because we were spending too much time there). She has asked me twice to marry her. The condition was that I had to be sober. Her mother was a nasty alcoholic and she said I can't be with anyone who drinks.
>>>
>>>That, and your daughters, should be motivating factors for you to stop drinking. NOTHING is an excuse to drink. Stick to your guns and stay sober. It will do more to impress her than anything else.
>>
>>I know. But I will tell you, without making excuses, that it is easier said than done. Alcoholism is a disease. Willpower is not enough.
>>
>>I know many people in AA who have beaten it. It's possible. But no one who has been there will say it is easy. There are people in my group who have been sober for over 20 years who say they know they're only one drink away from losing it all. It's a lifelong disease.
>
>I'll tell ya what, Mike. Your higher intelligence has been shining between the lines these past few days of sobriety. Don't let that go. Stay focussed on you. Once you have rebuilt and established that 'rock solid' base, everything else will follow.

Thanks, Grady.