This is more of a whine but similiar to a post from earlier this year. I have a very dear friend. I have been friends for almost 20 years now.

Lately, she has become very annoying on the phone..she ONLY talks about 5 things..her almost winning a boat on a radio station ( 2 years ago ) , her cruise she took with her sister almost 7 years ago !, How I should hit my dog with a rolled up newspaper ( all the time for every offense )..How she hates her primary care dr ( talks about this constantly )..and how sick she is...( she will cough and ask me over and over if I think it is bad..)

Most of my phone calls go like this..on my end..." Yeah..uh huh..yeah..uh huh..yeah..you told me about that already..uh huh..yeah, I remember you telling me that..uh huh"

what in heavens name can I do to get this to stop ? she can be very hurt and put out if I simply state it..she is like that *sigh*

I try to switch channels and get the conversation moved to a new topic, but she will immediately switch back to the same tired topics that I mentioned above.

Example: I will tell her that my dh and sons at a nice dinner at Medevial times restaurant..she will go on and on and on and ON about when she was on the cruise ship....she had lobster..and she told the waiter that it looked good, etc. She does not do it to one up or brag..but I HEARD IT ALREADY. I have heard for 7 years now how you had lobster on that cruise. I have heard every single detail about that cruise now for 7 years..from the fact that she could not sleep, to the lobster, to the this and that..

EVERYTIME my puppy does something puppyish..she says to get a rolled up news paper and swat her. That will not work..I tell her no, I am not going to use a newspaper on my puppy..but she gets miffed sounding and again will say..go get a newspaper !

what can I do to switch topics ? She lives in FL and say for example, I wanted to stop off at ashopping center when I drive down there next month. I asked if the shopping center had such and such a place..then she immediate started in on another old subject..when she and her dh ate at PJ Changs..and how good the food was..and how I should try this one dish..even though I have TOLD her numberous times, I used to live a few blocks from a PF Changs in Va Bch..I ate there a lot. I know the food is good..I know , I have had that dish..lets move ON!

she is a very nice person and would give you the shirt off her back..it is just this is bugging the (*&^ out of me

thanks in advance.

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OH, I have the same friend! I love the friend dearly... We were friends from childhood and basically saved each other from very difficult childhood circumstances. We owe each other a lot BUT... it really has turned into all about her which is very difficult for someone like you or me -- who maybe cares too much!

Sadly, I basically have turned our friendship into an email or instant message only type of friendship. It evolved slowly into this because I screened calls for awhile and it became the only way for her to find me! We now schedule times to IM and email the rest of the time. That way it doesn't become one-sided and 2 hours long!

I posted a similar problem about a month ago. Maybe the thread will be helpful to you as it was to me:
How do you get off of the phone politely?

Yes, I remembered your post.

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Let me put a different spin on this - to me (just from your post) the way your friend goes on and on about the cruise that was years ago - well, it sounds like that meant a lot to her, that was a good memory and it sounds like the way she goes on about her dr and her health issues, she just doesnt have a lot of good things to go on about. The deal with her voicing her opinion about your puppy, she maybe is trying to be helpful. But to me bottom line I say she sounds depressed, lonely and doesnt have a lot of positive, happy things to talk aboutm her best and favorite memory is of 7 years ago!
I know it has got to be frustrating tho! Maybe she needs more in her life - hobbies, voluteer work, something?? Her life sounds a little empty.

I agree. There may be some underlying problem that is causing her to act this way. OP said it's been lately that she has become annoying over the phone. Repeating the same things over and over despite being reminded that she had told OP that before is not common. Maybe her memory is slipping?

It's hard to know but OP maybe you can just ask her what is going on? Maybe she is on some new meds or something? Can you talk to her husband or close family member (if you don't feel it would be out of line)?

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Dont go through life,
GROW through life

Real eyes...realize...real lies.

I agree with what the above posters are saying that this person probably has very little in her life and that is what compels to stick to these things that she knows.

I have a person like this in my life as well. Topics are usually what she made/is making for dinner and her health, although the health issues seem to have abated. We (our family) kind of started making comments about her possibly being a hypochondriac and she seems to have gotten the hint. But I know it's because she has so little in her life. Oh my word, if her and her dh find some product they really like, that's all you hear about forever!!

I didn't know you're friends with my mom!

LOL I read this and thought "OH NO, my neice is a member at this board....!!!! I've been caught!!" LOL

It's late, I need to go to bed! hehe

Yea, I guess your problem with her is of a different nature. Hopefully, you are getting some ideas from the others.