Mick-I agree with you about
Rick being quite funny. But you and David both can put a turn on words too.
As for me becoming more social. Between Dougie's sobriety and the resulting improvements in his health...well, I will just say I am feeling safer in the world than I did when I first found this forum. When I first came here I was overwhelmed and scared. Spending my time planning Dougie's funereal mass and thinking about one of my friends that became a widow 6 months earlier, at age 50. I don't think he was that sick, but at the time I just didn't know which way things would go...would he get worse or get better? Would he stop drinking or not? Every time I would come to this forum I would be so afraid when I would read about the terrible, terrible complications and suffering of this disease. I felt like I was drowning in sorrow and fear.
David was actually one of the first to answer my question if there were any happy endings told here. He of course had the successful transplant. Connie mentioned a member (Rick) that use to post, but had improved so much that "he got his life back". She told me his handle and I looked up his old posts. Gave me so much hope. Then he came around again and was a life saver for me. He helped me bridge the divide between nurse/mother vs. wife/lover. Helped me to better understand where Dougie might be coming from. Both David and Rick's straight talk, Connie's knowledge and wisdom, PG's hugs, MamaLama's Mike and my Dougie are the same age and both stopped drinking on the same day...plus she offered me important financial planning and vacation advice (both of which I used!), and all the countless other members helped me through the toughest time in my life/marriage to date.
Anyway, I feel safe enough now to smile every day and not to worry quite as much as I use to.
I have given myself permission to come out and play a bit. 
Emma