table talk

[pokerqueen10]

I'm usually pretty quiet when I play and just kind of try and be invisible. But when I do talk I blurt out stuff that gives away my strategies. For instance, last night I flopped three nines. Bet it on the flop and turn against one opponent, but checked behind him when a card that completed a flush and straight draw hit. He said to me "why didn't you bet that?" and I replied "oh, I don't like to bet the river unless I have a really strong hand." I couldn't believe I said that. How can I expect to get any action on the river? Anyway, how should I respond to questions like this without being rude?