I had conquered my Starbucks habit. Ok, so I admit I replaced it with a tea habit. There are worse things to be addicted to. Then someone gave me a Starbucks gift card. I tried their green tea blackberry frappuccino - oh my was it tasty. I ordered it then went to the restroom and I forgot to say No Whip. I checked online when I got home - 530 calories!!
Holy crap! But it gave me 40% of my recommended daily calcium....

I also found a new tea house. It has far fewer choices and fewer things to eat, but I tried more green tea and a rice donut with red bean paste. The donut tasted better than it sounds. I must have been in a try new things mood because later I went to a new ice cream place with weird flavors. I got a sampler (3 small scoops) with lime cardomom, lavender blueberry, and dark cocoa gelato. I couldn't detect any cardomom, but I really liked the other two. I hear some people stick with vanilla - I won't mention any names :)

I finally cleaned out my car the other day. I was surprised how dirty it was. It's pretty funny that I drove mom around in it before cleaning it out. That could have given her fodder for a few hours of conversation...."and there were CRUMBS
on the console!!!". Ha! Then today I managed to get a start on pulling the weeds. I tell ya, the free standing condos I have to check out for work at times sound pretty good.....no lawn maintenance. But then they would just use a bunch of chemicals...

Thinking more about how someone can continue certain behaviors for so long....this person specifically has her family totally enabling her to do this. But then that's what people do - we surround ourselves who give us what we need.
Some people feel they are helping others by enabling their weaknesses, as is likely in this case.

So as a person who at one time had a need to be needed, I've changed to a person who has an aversion to neediness, mine or others (my kids are excluded from this aversion). I get annoyed when I perceive emotional weakness if the person has no interest in trying to get stronger. I see it as totally selfish. It seems like these types I have come across tend to see themselves as "special". So special that of course I should be willing, if not happy, to accomodate them and their behaviors. Sorry, I don't buy that any more.

The need to be needed can be a good thing, if the person is emotionally healthy. It can make for great nurses and other types of professions. I believe it was a great quality to have as a mom. But life, or an event can throw things out of whack. If the need to be needed is based on justifying your existence, it's not a good thing.

I had more to say, but it's getting late.