Love Colleen's response! You could also say, "Thaaaat's Niiiiiice" in your best, smiling "FU" voice...
I usually just say, "Good for you!" and then change the subject to the weather or something meaningless and not give into the "look at me" people that tend to over-do it.
I bet you have a wonderful husband and are far "richer" in life with love and happiness. "Things" don't bring anyone prestige and honor. How we treat people does. All jobs are important in this world and I appreciate everyone in the "real" working world, esp. those who work hard as your husband does. Cuz ya know, we're all working together in a sense. I make sure to wave and say thanks to the garbage/recycling men cuz I get the feeling that people look down at them. I think we all do important jobs. No one is above or below me... we all just do different jobs.
But, hey, that's just me! (P.S. I think people that brag are hiding something)
I bet you're a sweatheart and you just go look in the mirror and smile. We all make a difference in this world! And so does your family!
I'd just ask her straight out why she feels the need to constantly brag about it. You've gotten some other good advice too.. It just sounds like maybe this lady is unhappy with other things in her life and needs to brag to make herself feel better? My husband is a car mechanic and works in a steel garage with no air conditioning or fans of any kind and comes home often sweaty and stinky and exhausted, but its what he loves to do, is fix things. He makes a good living which enables me to go to college for my bachelor's in nursing and I don't have to work either and I am able to take care of my sick mother who at times requires around the clock care. I have found that some people get a bit of an attitude with me or a weird look on their face when I tell them my husband is a car mechanic. Unfortunately it seems that in America working with your hands and your body is something that is looked down upon.
I'm a corporate, white collar Board member... to offer a different perspective, do they ever go on non-perk vacations? Does he ever buy her things that aren't comped? I know a lot of people who only "vacation for work" and brag about how much time they spend at the office, and a lot of wives who get gifts that were either corporate give-aways or purchased at an airport gift shop.
I encounter wives like the one you describe all the time and can almost guarantee she is insecure about what she perceives as her lack of accomplishments in comparison to her husband's. You may want to consider changing the subject to one of your recent work or volunteer successes. You'll be reminding yourself of your accomplishments at a time when you are feeling vulnerable and quite possibly hitting a nerve in a way that will never make you look bad to anyone but her.
My hubby works for a company that does internet service and runs a new station and production company...he works for the internet division...they get paid practically nothing, are expected to do ridiculous tasks, etc...
and the guy that sits in front of the camera and reads a card for 3 hours a day? oh he gets a new car comped every year, can afford to drive it, and a house, etc.
Corporate America is not based on the thought that the ones working the hardest are the ones getting the most pay, that is for sure.
I agree that the woman either feels completely insecure or insignificant - not that this is behavior that should be tolerated. I think I'd go with a firm - I've asked you to refrain from discussing this with me and if you cannot then I'm not going to be able to have any conversations with you in the future.
Here's Dana Carvey as the Church Lady saying "Well isn't that special?" I think that's a perfect response to her bragging. You didn't mention what it is this woman does for a living herself, maybe she just feels the need to build herself up because without her man, she feels she is insignificant? I would just ignore her. Her behavior must be infuriating as all heck, but maybe if you didn't show how much it bugs you, it wouldn't be so fun for her to rub it in? Sorry you have to put up with such a braggart.
This situation also reminds me of those military wives who think their husband's rank is part of their title as well i.e. Mrs. Colonel Sanders I wanna just laugh when I hear that, asking them when they themselves enlisted
Last edited by melekalikimaka; 01-22-2008 at 06:32 PM.
hahaha - on the military wives thing too. I really hate when someone pulls the - well you'd better change all your policies because I'm a colonel and I'm used to getting what I want and this situation won't be any different BS with me.
Other arguments that don't fly in a customer service situation: "Well, I'm a Dr. or I'm a Lawyer" I don't care! I can't do something just for your because you think your station in life is higher than mine. Gah!
I went to a military wedding, where the reception was set up like a formal army dinner. We were the "least important" guests, so we were seated at the very far end of the table. During the toasts, the Colonel who was drunk as a SKUNK at the time, wobbled to his feet and toasted the bride by saying "Janie makes a STUNNING addition to our Regiment."
I couldn't help it, but I said to our end of the table,
"I didn't know that Janie joined the Reserves!"
WELL, I thought I was going to get killed. Seriously. The woman across from me said that SHE had a regimental wedding and SHE was now part of the regiment and SHE was the SAME RANK as her husband. SNORT!!! I found this hysterical, because at the time I was in the army, as was my husband, so my rank was earned. I suppose she earned hers too, in a sense, but not the way I'd like to earn mine!!!!
I wanna just laugh when I hear that, asking them when they themselves enlisted 
