DEAR ABBY: I am a 23-year-old woman who has always had a hard time letting people down or saying no. A few months ago, I met a man online who lived across the country, and within a week he was telling me he loved me. I'll admit now that I have some emotional and relationship problems because of my past, and I enjoyed hearing it. In fact, I embraced it and told him I loved him in return. Now that I look at it, I realize I was only in love with the idea of being in love.

We had several problems in the first few days, but we worked them out. Two weeks after he first told me he loved me, he proposed. We had never even met. Being the person I am, I said yes. He told me he was going to buy plane tickets for me, as soon as he could find a place to live. (He was living with his parents.)

I called him later that night to tell him I was deeply sorry, but I could not accept his proposal nor move to be with him. He became irate and told me he had already bought the tickets, and unless I was on that plane he would sue me for the money he'd spent. I feel horrible about it, but he has shown me no proof that he bought them.

Now he's threatening to send some indecent pictures that he somehow managed to get from a past lover of mine to all my family and friends. I'm grateful to have gotten out of this relationship before I made a serious mistake and actually got on that plane. Can he sue me, and how should I deal with his threats about the pictures? -- NOT IN LOVE IN THE USA

DEAR NOT IN LOVE: Your online suitor appears to be both vindictive and an extortionist. Neither is a desirable quality in a mate. Ignore his threats about posting the pictures. You are lucky that your common sense kicked in before things went any further. Can he sue you? If he bought the tickets, he might be able to take you to small claims court.

However, the larger lesson here has to do with the revealing photographs of you that wound up on the Internet in the first place. Let this be a warning to others: The danger in posing for x-rated pictures is that in the cold light of day, they can be a huge embarrassment.

DEAR ABBY: I am 24 years old and have been married five years. My husband, "Richie," and I have known each other for about 15 years. I loved him as a friend, but the older we got, the more his mother pushed us together.

When we married I thought it was a joke. We got in the car to go somewhere, and when I asked where we were going they said to get married. Well, it was not a joke. Neither my mother nor my father was there.

Richie and I fight all the time, and I have reached the point that I don't even want to talk to him. I can't stand him. I have told him I want a divorce, and he tells me he will kill himself. I would hate myself if he did that. We have a 5-month-old baby. I don't want to hurt Richie, but I can't stand to be with him. What should I do? -- SICK AND TIRED IN INDIANA

DEAR SICK AND TIRED: Go home to your parents. It's time you and Richie took a break from each other. While you are there, discuss this with a lawyer. If you married Richie because of coercion or trickery, it's possible your marriage could be annulled. I wish you had written me sooner, because then there might not have been a child involved.

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DEAR ABBY: My husband and I are in our early 30s and we spend a lot of time with three other couples. A few months ago, we went on a picnic at a local park to play ball and have lunch. One man (I'll call him Bill) thought it was funny to pour what was left of a soft drink on one of the wives' head. She and her husband had to leave. It was obvious she couldn't stay with sticky hair and clothing. Bill called them "party-poopers."

Three weeks ago, Bill yanked the cloth off a table that had been set with another of the wives' good dishes. Broken china lay everywhere. That wife was also a "party-pooper" because she didn't think it was funny.

Last weekend there was a pool party. I didn't want to go because I'm not comfortable with the water. My husband promised he'd stay right with me, which he did. However, Bill swam under the water, grabbed both my ankles and yanked me under. I was terrified. I told Bill I never wanted to see him again, and I meant it.

Now his wife, "Nicki," is upset because she found out I had a dinner at my home and didn't invite them. I told her she could come, but I would no longer let her husband near me. I think he needs professional help.

Nicki and I work in the same building, and I see her almost every day. We eat in the building cafeteria, and she's spreading the word that I have caused trouble with their group of friends. She's saying I made a play for her husband and he rejected me, and I'm angry about it. I have not said anything to defend myself. I don't feel the need. But my husband says I should tell the real reason. What do you think? -- THE VICTIM, NOT THE PERP

DEAR VICTIM: I agree with your husband. You have an obligation to protect your reputation, and you should by all means tell the truth -- the whole truth. Bill appears to be a real handful; whatever his problem is, I'll bet this isn't the first time this has happened to that couple. You are wise to avoid them. They both appear to be troubled.

DEAR ABBY: I am in my mid-50s and in a relationship with "Josh," who is 40. We have been seeing each other for three years. We care about each other, but we're both insecure.

Josh looks through my cell phone every chance he gets, even if it's in my purse. This bothers me because I have male friends, but he erased their phone numbers and forbade them to call me. Occasionally, I ask to see his cell phone. Sometimes he'll agree, other times he refuses.

A text message I sent to a friend caused Josh to question my loyalty. In retaliation, I went through some things at his house and questioned his. I have begged him to stop going through my cell phone, but it falls on deaf ears. I feel like I'm walking on eggshells. What should I do? -- TREADING LIGHTLY IN DETROIT

DEAR TREADING LIGHTLY: See if Josh cares enough about you to go with you for relationship counseling. You and he appear to feed off each other's insecurity, and that's not healthy for either of you. Don't you realize that you cannot -- nor can he -- compel fidelity? The decision to forgo romantic involvements with others must come from within.

Rummaging through personal papers and cell phone histories accomplishes nothing and only heightens both your anxieties. You could live in a convent and Josh would still suspect you of cheating, because on some level he doesn't feel he's man enough to satisfy you. And it appears you have the same sickness.

On the one hand, you could dump him and end the frustration. On the other hand, because you and Josh have starred in this soap opera for so long, it's possible you are meant for each other.

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DEAR ABBY: My next-door neighbors are renovating their house to sell and have installed motion-sensor lights. Unfortunately, their floodlights shine on our deck and hot tub, and have destroyed our privacy. I have spoken to them about it several times. and they turned them off for a while.

Now that they're getting ready to sell, they have turned them back on. Their property is only about 45 feet wide. One light that shines down the center of their property seems sufficient to me. Despite my having talked to them, they seen unconcerned. They say they need them to walk through their property at night, but they don't do it that often.

I don't want to do anything that could escalate into something ugly. Other than politely asking them again to do something about the floods, what's my recourse? They have seen the lights shining on our property and acknowledged that they do shine on our deck and hot tub, but it doesn't seem important to them. I hope you can help. -- BLINDED BY THE LIGHT

DEAR BLINDED: Write your neighbors a nice registered letter and ask them to reposition their sensor lights so that when they go on, they do not illuminate your property. If they ignore you, then consult an attorney. I seriously doubt their property will sell easily if there is the taint of forthcoming litigation.

DEAR ABBY: I have one child, a daughter. When I was divorced, "Maddie" was 17. I have been there for her in good times and bad. She now has three beautiful children.

The problem is Maddie treats me like dirt. She yells at me constantly for stupid reasons, or because she's in a bad mood or maybe had a fight with her boyfriend. I have stopped loaning her money because all I get is empty promises to pay it back.

When things don't go her way, Maddie threatens me with "you won't see your grandkids." She wasn't raised this way, but she is one of the rudest people I know. I cry all the time. I can't sleep, and my nerves are shot. I just don't know how to deal with her anymore.

By the way, my daughter is 25. Because she is my only child, I don't want to lose her or my grandkids. -- HEARTBROKEN MOTHER AND GRANDMA

DEAR HEARTBROKEN: Your daughter may be 25, but she appears to have the maturity of a young teenager. It's time to realize that her abusive behavior is having an effect on your health. For your own sake, you must draw the line.

Absence sometimes makes the heart grow fonder, so please step back and devote some time to healing yourself. Spend time with friends, devote some energy to activities that bring you pleasure. I promise, the next time your daughter needs something, you will hear from her, and she'll be reminding you how much your grandchildren "need" to see you, not threatening you with banishment.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 43-year-old woman with a lot of experience in my field of expertise. My problem is, my boss hired a student intern full time. I have been working here four years and, basically, run the store -- opening up, etc. -- but the student is making more money than I do.

What would you do? Move on, or stay and feel unfairly treated? -- THE OLD SHOE

DEAR OLD SHOE: I would certainly explore other employment opportunities. Money talks, and by paying you less than the intern, your boss has sent you a message.

It appears your boss is taking you for granted. But before you leave, have a chat with the boss and give him or her the opportunity to offer you a raise and retain a trusted employee.

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