Just venting and would like a little input....

I recently reconnected with a friend. She is a good person, but she changed in some ways. She talks about all her achievements and all she does at her job and how successful she is. While I am happy for her, it seems to be over and over again and not in a particularly humble way. I like hearing about the accomplishments of others, but this friend took it to a different level.

She went as far as dissing where I work and saying she's heard bad things about the people and everything else. We are both in the same field. I told her a few times that I like the people and the environment. I had to repeat this more than once, when she pointed out again how her place is "better." I tried to give her cues in the conversation, but I don't think it worked. It seemed that she could not help herself with having to boast.

I know that she has been through a lot in the past, so I don't want to put her down or make her feel worse about herself, but it didn't make me feel too good when she compared where I work to what she is doing more than once in the conversation. I understand she was probably seeking some validation, but it gets old. I have been through a lot too, but I don't boast, repeat my achievements, and last of all...compare my success and what I do in my career, by making it sound like I have it better.

She even asked me what my salary was, prior to her revealing her own success!! I shouldn't have. She bragged about how although we are making around the same thing, she is getting a big raise and how her place is better. I shouldn't have even answered the question, since it was inappropriate in this context.

Do you have any friends, who brag a lot and downplay your own achievements or make theirs sound better? I had another friend like this, who was even worse. I am wondering how to handle this.