If there are any decent vegan mayonaises, perhaps that could be used as an egg substitute? My mom taught me that in a pinch, an egg-sized lump of mayo works pretty well in most recipes.

There is a pretty good vegan mayo (Veganaise), and I never would have thought of that. I'd think it would taste weird in challah, though. I can see it working in something that's supposed to be a little tangy.

That's an interesting idea. I'll try to remember it next time I'm having my parents over. I'm pretty sure I've had cakes made with mayo that tasted fine.

I bet that banana one would make kick-ass french toast.

Thanks for your advices, everyone. I think the most important thing is for me to strengthen previously said boundaries, because she tends to exaggerate with pushing them. One of her calls? 3 days after my grandfather died. And she knew. Kept apologizing for calling me at time like this, but she really needs my help. And that help is mostly to listen to her.

There's not much advice I can give to her, in the first place. I'm more like some sort of a comfy blanket, to whom she keeps apologizing if I'm telling her I can't deal with her at the moment, yet continuing. And from her perspective, I know she thinks she's considering.

I'm usually in favor of Laga's approach. I wouldn't try to run away from this if she really didn't have anyone else, but especially now, after she stopped seeing her psychologist, this may become dangerous for her to depend on me.

I bet that banana one would make kick-ass french toast.

That was my plan for tomorrow, but french toast requires soy milk, which I don't have, and I was too lazy today to go out and buy some. So, french toast on Tuesday. And Wednesday and Thursday, probably.

I think I'd really like a slightly banana-flavored challah.

Hi, Shir! Hope you don't mind a stranger jumping in with advice... having been in that situation (right after my mom died, with a relative, even, who kept calling me at work) I think the only thing you can effectively do is, say you have to go and give her a chance to let you off the phone, and if she doesn't, say, "No, I really do have to go, right now, I'm sorry, but I'm hanging up now." and hang up. Don't wait for her to acknowledge, just hang up. It sounds really mean, but if she's causing you distress, you need to protect yourself. You don't have to stay on the phone just because she's still talking; you can enforce your own boundaries even if she won't respect them. Good luck.

Shir, would it work to get a timer with a loud bell, so that you can say to her, "Right now I can give you 5 minutes, then I absolutely must get back to my studies. So I tell you what, I'll set my timer for 4 minutes 30 seconds, and when the bell rings, we will have time to say good-bye." Then when the bell rings, watch the clock, if she does not stop on her own, you say, "OK, it's time. I have to go. So sorry to rush you. Goodbye," in a very pleasant voice, talking over her if she won't stop to listen, and then regardless of her response, hang up.

Because you can't substitute for her therapist. If she is in that deep need, she needs to not be able to have access to an hour of your time for her selfish purposes. If she can get you to act as her unpaid therapist, she won't have that need to go back to a real therapist.

ETA: Shir, am I overwhelming you with saying all kinds of things that you should do? You can tell me to shut up if you want. How are you really feeling?

Really Really bad idea for Bubble Gum: [link]

Really Really bad idea for Bubble Gum: [link]

ohgodohgodohgod, don't click.

nasty nasty nasty.

I hates the boyfriend for posting that, I hates him, the nasty Baggins.

Could be worse, could be SPAM flavored.