Co-workers that won't shut up!!

As long as you keep nodding and saying uh-huh, they will keep talking to you. There should be no reason you can't tell her that you really don't care to hear about those personal details. I sounds like she is one of those who cannot be in a room with someone and remain comfortable with silence. The other options would be to simply get up and walk away as if she isn't there, but I assume that you don't want to hurt her feelings like that.

I had a co-worker like that and were next to each other. I would just ignore her or make it seem like I was always frustrated with something else so that she would not bother talking to me. She caught on to my game and started sending me emails. I guess she fighured that was not bothersome. In turn, I just started making it seem like I was busy with work all the time and would get back to her. Sometimes I would reply to her stupid stories with a work related issue. Eventually she gave up. She actually started working a little harder, might I add! :-)

My boss tells me stories about what happened when he was hooking up his satellite and about his car lights. Like if I care what he has to say about that, but have no choice but to nod and listen. The worst part is that he talks with no ending.

Hmm.. 2 choices, either you stay listening to all her stories and still be friends or tell her how you feel about it and part ways. She may take it against you if you tell her how you feel. She might even think that you don't care. Choose wisely. =)