Between Friends

Attention Fox2 IT Department: One of your humble bloggers has a [sarcastic] question:

Why oh why is the word BOOGEDY a censored word on the blogs?!

BOOGEDY is not a bad word! In fact, BOOGEDY is a very common word that is often said by people who don't even say any curse words at all. Ever! So, for these people, the word "BOOGEDY" is their only outlet for expressing frustration or making an exclamation.  

I mean BOOGEDY, these people who say BOOGEDY are saying BOOGEDY because they don't say the other -- more offensive -- words that take the place of BOOGEDY -- be it BOOGEDY or BOOGEDY or mother BOOGEDY or son of a BOOGEDY. Furthermore, please explain this to me: how come I can say BOOGEDY and dammit-to-hell -- two words that are offensive to many, many people -- without censorship -- yet when I use the harmless word BOOGEDY it gets censored? 

This -- Fox2 sensitivity with the word BOOGEDY -- was just recently discovered. I had written a blog and used the word BOOGEDY. In part because I didn't want to offend anyone had some other word been used. Since when is BOOGEDY a bad word?! If you say BOOGEDY during a church fellowship few people will take notice. Say the word BOOGEDY and every head will turn. 

So, why is BOOGEDY -- oops, I mean c-r-a-p -- off-limits on the blogs? 

BOOGEDY was not one of George Carlin's dirty words. If one of our kids should say BOOGEDY no parent will make them eat a bar of soap for it nor be counselled or grounded. If the kid says BOOGEDY it's a whole different ballgame. I would bet the pope even says it.

But what do I know. Maybe this BOOGEDY about c-r-a-p is offensive to some. What about you. Are you offended by the word? 

My name is Cheetah and I am a Blogaholic.

Somehow, someway I need to set some limits. Problem is, limits are like rules and I tend to....um....walk outside the rule book. So what's the use.. why bother.

I wonder how many of us are future members of Internet Annoymous.

And of course we both know it's going to be an Internet-based group. That's like an Alcoholics Annonymous meeting being held at the bar during happy hour.  

1 thing I have learned is that I have developed some bad habits lately! Like putting c-r-a-p on my own and others' blogs instead of doing the many things that sit on my "must-do" -- and if I don't do it then my ass-is-in-trouble -- list.

Looking back over the last 25 or so years of adulthood -- or dare I admit it, semi-adulthood -- I cannot help but think of the things that I have done -- educational and professional accomplishments and achievements, personal successes, dreams converted from make-belief into reality, goals and objectives realized...

None of which would not have gotten done had I spent my limited time and energy playing on the Internet.  It's called an addiction.

If any of you are dream interpreters let's hear your take on this.  

Last night I had a horrifying dream. I was in some sort of a corridor with a cramped ceiling that had plants and branches immediately overhead, causing us to have to duck our heads now and then. I was the lead person and looking up, I saw what appeared to be the very tail end of a snake on a branch right overhead.

Then to my horror I saw the rest of the snake and what seemed to be a harmless black snake turned out to be a cobra and it was coming our way. I turned around to get the hell outta there but the other people were blocking my way. The snake's head was flared out and about to strike my face. It was at that very moment  when I probably let out a scream -- I don't remember!

But however it was I awoke, I did so in such a way that it scared the c-r-a-p out of my dog. She sleeps next to me -- yes, on the bed -- and when I came to she was barking at me like I was the mailman. Her ears were foward and her tail between her legs!  It either scared her or pissed her off -- or both!

I'm just glad neither of us wet the bed.

That tail of the snake looked exactly like a big rat snake I saw yesterday afternoon during my run in Creve Coeur Park. I almost stopped to pick it up -- a throwback to kidhood. I'm sure that's the reason for that part of the dream. The cobra aspect would seem to be some sort of warning but of what I have no idea.

Maybe it's a warning not to have that talk with my neighbor -- to ask her to please have some decency and keep her clothes on [and not have sex with her boyfriend] outside in broad daylight on their swimming pool deck. It's happened two days in a row.

Or maybe it's something else. Or is just yet another weird dream.  

Do you dream on a frequent basis?  Do you have nightmares? Do you remember your dreams? Have you ever walked in your sleep? Do you have lucid dreams?

I use to walk in my sleep as a kid -- and would even walk outside. Or maybe my mother is just making that up. Maybe she had dreams that I was having dreams of walking in my sleep. Who knows!

Yesterday I found myself unable to get the lyrics and harmony of a song -- that I absolutely hate -- out of the stereo in my mind. Over and over and over and over and over again it went on. This morning I can't even remember it. Thank God. 

What are some of the worst songs -- ever -- for you?

For me, some of the worst songs ever are tolerable. Hey, just because it sucks doesn't mean it's not entertaining. "I'm Too Sexy" [for my shirt; for my car] -- by Right Hand Fred [I think that was his name; and no I don't want to know what that means] -- was comical. Hearing it once every 10 years is fine.

Other songs are just plain horrible. Hearing only a fraction of it one time is too much. Two come to mind:

• The song by that Latino rapper in the early 1990s -- I don't know who he is/ was, but the song was about himself and the main lyric or maybe even the title was "Rico Suave" -- he and Fred were probably lovers

• Don't know the title nor the female singer's name -- and could care less -- but the lyrics were "Oh Mickey he's so fine, he's so fine he blows my mind, hey Mickey, hey Mickey" -- what an awful song

Two Australians -- Anthony (Ace) Bourke (Berg) and John Rendall -- were friends living in Europe. As owners of a boutique shop of sorts, they came across a young lion cub in a small cage that was offered for sale by an auction house. They rescued him; bought his freedom. They brought him home. 

They hand-raised him. They gave him the name Christian. They'd run and exercise -- and play with -- him in the courtyard of the "World's End" Catholic church located across the street from their boutique. They treated and lived with him not unlike any other member of the family. They took him into the country and then, returned him to a wildlife refuge in Kenya -- and from there, Christian returned to the wild to live out his life the way he was meant to live: A true, real-life Lion King.

Years later, the two friends returned to Africa. Christian had become the leader of his own pride of lions. The story -- and their incredible reunion -- is what you'll see in this story told through pictures and words on-screen -- and video taken many years ago [early-1970s] -- set to music.

Here is this incredible story. The reunion with Christian The Lion 

The two men had at least two reunions with Christian -- the one in this clip above was in 1970; and their second reunion occurred 4 or 5 years later. Here is another  -- a different -- video clip of Christian. In this clip you'll get more information [words on screen at the start and near the end]. You'll also see some charming photos of Christian as a young cub -- and later, in the mid-1970s, as a fully-mature adult. 

This is a story about love -- instinctual, unconditional love -- and friendship and trust that knows no boundaries. At least this is what it means to me. It also serves as a reminder of what's most important in my own life right now and indefinately. That being mutual respect and love and friendship; and having very meaningful--not superficial--bonds with others. 

It is a touching and heartwarming story. But not unlike all other love stories -- and stories about friendship between very different persons -- it's also a tragic story in that intense joy is followed by an even more intense sadness.  And if there is any one thing that really sucks about life that's it.

"It" being that we can find ourselves fortunate to be in a situation where we are on-top-of-the-world happy and ecstatic and we cannot possibly feel anything -- ever -- that is more electrifying or more joyous or more satisfying or more intense or more wonderful. Something absolutely irreplaceable. Only to lose it all. And find ourselves forever, deeply affected -- in the depths of despair; suffering alone and in pain indefinately. 

I hate that about life.

P.S. Here is another version of the clip -- at the start you'll see footage of Christian running and playing on the church grounds and the reunion is set to music. The Story of Christian

P.S.S. If you are one of the millions of people who think and believe -- and treat -- animals as though they are inferior to humans and incapable of feeling what most of the rest of us feel, be it joy or sadness or pain -- after seeing this video you may find yourself with a new perspective.

Most of you will not care to know what's prompted this question. For the rest of you, let's just say I have a neighbor who sees nothing amiss with having sex outdoors on the deck of her above-ground swimming pool -- in plain sight -- for all to see including kids. Even if she were Playboy bunny material my take on it is, take it inside or come out after dark. Because, hey! I don't want to see it. Nor be forced to see it. Simply by being outside in my own damn yard. Even though it was not me who was doing the dirty deed -- and I don't know the woman nor her boyfriend -- I felt embarrassed about it and it was not even my own ass that was bare and bouncing up and down. 

Hell, I retreated back to the house. 

I'm far from a prude but isn't this weird? I mean, what's happened to common decency? And what's wrong with having some respect for yourself and your neighbors -- who don't want to see that sight nor hear it.  Age is irrelevant but this gal is in her 50s. And at that age, should she not behave just a tad different?

If you ask me "is sex in public right or wrong?" I'd say it depends on both the setting and degree of privacy -- and perhaps the act itself. My take on it is that if anyone can see or hear you -- or your actions are offensive or repulsive -- then it is most definitely just plain wrong for a public setting. There use to be ordinances prohibiting indecent exposure but if these still exist is anyone's guess.

What say you?

You have been punked!! 

If you don't know what that means consider yourself old.

As for the licentious sexual content you wanted to see here, hey, you're on your own! Who do you think I am, a congressman? 

This evening was perfect outside -- hot, no wind, and almost perfectly quiet. Sitting in the chaise out in the back yard, taking in some sun while watching the hawks, perched on the fence looking for critters on the ground, planted the idea for this blog.  

You know those times -- when everything at that moment triggers certain memories -- be it a certain sense in the air, a scent, a song or a scene. One minute your sitting there with your present-day thoughts and a second later you're mind's eye is reliving something from the past. More or less "taking you back there."

I grew up back when kids could be kids -- we lived near a creek and a large track of woods and fields. We'd play and explore and spend hours, if not the whole weekend day, sometimes completely alone -- or with friends. 1/2 or more miles away from home. We'd play in the creek -- sometimes swinging across it on a tarzan vine -- sometimes falling in it -- sometimes exploring the woods. We were rarely inside.

I have fond memories of spending a serious amount of time in nature -- and bringing home all kinds of snakes, turtles, frogs, toads, crawdads, lizards...and so it's no wonder I love the great outdoors and spend as much time outside as possible. And yes, I still pick up snakes, crawdads, frogs...

Remembering this stuff earlier today brought to mind another cherished childhood memory --- going camping with my parents and my older brothers and sister, and their friends. We had this huge green tent with metal poles -- and everything else like the green and white Coleman cooler and campstove. Our folks would take us to those places along the Big River and to Johnson Shut-Ins and other places.

For some reason it was me who was always wanting and trying to lure the racoons to come into our tent at night -- and for some reason it never went over too well. Gosh those were incredibly fun times.

Remember having to get those huge blocks of ice -- and having to use an icepick to break it up into pieces. That's right, no such thing back then as cubed ice. Go figure.

What are some of your most cherished childhood memories?  

Okay. It's real simple. Tell me what you think I should do -- or what you would do.

1) There are 3 persons involved -- and I know all three of them -- and they all work together. I am in their company frequently -- at least 3 times per week. At times, I see all 3 of them together at work. At times, I am with all 3 of them -- and others from their company -- outside of work.

2) Person A [man] holds an executive position -- we've known one another for 20 years; but ours is a competitive friendship. Person B [man] holds a management position -- he and I are good friends. Person C [woman] is in a frontline client services role -- it's a situation where she knows me and I know her but that's about it.

3) All 3 are in the same department -- Person B reports directly to Person A; Person C reports to another person who reports to Person A.

4) Person A is married; Person B and Person C are married -- ie, they are husband and wife.

The point to this: Person A and Person C are having an affair.

I did something outside my typical weekend routine and at just the right time and at that place, seeing those 2 persons together -- more spefically, their body language -- leaves no mistaking the situation. For over 2 years I -- and others -- have had these suspicions.

What makes it bad -- more so than the affair alone -- is Person A and Person B are also friends -- and all of them do things socially [as one group]. Worse, because he is in mid-level management he puts in far more time at the office than his boss puts in. And so his wife and their boss have quite a bit of opportunities to spend quite a bit of time together.

There is no mistaking the clandestine meetings -- nor the sexuality! Only an idiot can't read body language that screams "hey, we just had very, very good sex and we're gonna go do it again."  And the body language of "acting as though you don't want to be seen" is also very telling. Ya I know what you're thinking...

It's none of my business. And you're right. But...

If a friend knew that my wife was having an affair I'd want to know; and if they knew but didn't tell me, well, what does that say? What bothers me about it is the deception -- and the dual -- secret -- life they both [the adulterers] have and do so intentionally.

Yet I cannot imagine telling him. And telling him that his wife is not only having an affair, but that she is f-ing his boss -- who also happens to be her boss' boss! -- is a hardcore revelation. I don't know if I can tell him.

We are friends but to discuss something such as this requires a different type of friendship than what we have. In other words, men talk to men about sex but we don't talk about our own sexual matters. How is a bombshell like that dropped?

Yep, I'll just keep my mouth shut. But I can't help but wonder...

Am I doing the right thing?

What would you do?

If you enjoy exercise -- or abolsutely hate to exercise but workout anyway because you want the 150+ benefits that exercise provides [provided the exercise is appropriate, safe and effective, per your desired goals] -- here's a question:

What are your top 10 exercise equipment choices -- your preferences and interests; what equipment you use daily or most often; or most enjoy and benefit from? 

Treadmill?

Arc Trainer?

Elliptical?

Cross-trainer?

Stair-climber?

Versa-climber?

Tread-climber? 

Rowers?

Recumbent bike?

Standard bike?

Spinning bike?

Air-dyne bike?

Selectorize weight machines?

Free weights [dummbells, etc]?

Plate-loaded weight training machines?

Cables?

Pilates chair?

Pilates reformer?

Stability balls?

Medicine balls?

Bosu balls?

Bands?

Tubes?

Mats?

Speed [boxing] bags?

Kick-boxing bags?

Golf clubs?

Tennis raquet?

Bud Light?

TV remote?

__________?

If you don't exercise, why not? What is your reason -- hey, I'm just curious! 

Is it lack of time?

Too busy?

No energy?

Injuries?

You do what your idol -- Dr. Phil -- does?

Pain?

Don't like to sweat?

No access to exercise equipment? 

Don't like health clubs or fitness centers?

Don't like to exercise for more than a minute? 

Annoyed from all that exercise in the past and yet no results?

You'll miss Hell's Kitchen re-runs?

Don't know what to do?

Too many things to figure out how to do?

Too stressed out?

Face high risk for medical emergencies during exercise? 

Too boring?

Don't want to workout in the same area as persons of the opposite sex?

Don't want to change?

Don't want to workout with persons more physically fit and trim than yourself?

Don't want to workout with co-workers?

Not enough sleep?

More hair on your body than a silverback gorilla?

Prefer playing sports instead?  

Would rather go for a walk?

Don't want to have to hire a personal trainer?

Too fond of the gazillion fat cells adding extra junk in your trunk? 

Don't want to wear spandex?

Don't like having to see oneself in the mirror?

Don't like being flirted with? 

Prefer watching Tony Little exercise machine infomercials?

Don't want to see posers [people who admire their beauty in the mirror]?

Don't like having to "work-in" [use equipment others are using at the same time]?

Don't like limits on cardio equipment?

Muscle-heads [body-builders like Hans and Frans] annoy you?

You're afraid you'll sit on a syringe loaded with steroids?

Don't like the music?

You are afraid you'll look silly?

Too busy eating donuts while watching exercise-TV?

Will see your ex there?

Can't find a parking space close to the front door of the Y?

Fitness center is too far out of the way?

Don't want to waste your gas?

Prefer working out in your living room with a Richard Simmons tape?

Not into yoga?

________________?

Caution: Thinking is required!

What have been your most significant turning points -- and watershed moments? These are the times when your inner voice spoke up... or your gut-instinct slapped you in the face -- leading to some profound  -- often life-changing -- vision or idea.

Maybe the turning point provided the direction you needed at the time -- which fork in the road to take to get your needs met -- or perhaps it enhanced your self awareness -- such as the realization of inner strengths and abilities you didn't know you had -- or millions of other things.

My own experience reveals at least 2 types of turning points:

1. Turning points we experience but don't have awareness of at the time -- nor their value   
2. Turning points we are acutely aware of -- and know their value -- at the very nanosecond it arrives

If we lack awareness at the time -- of the actual occurrence of a turning point moment -- we may continue to be in the dark for months or years or decades. Then one day, for some reason, it becomes evident to us that -- back then -- we had, but turned our back on, an opportunity of a lifetime. 

But sometimes -- for only some people -- lacking awareness at the moment a turning point moment arrives doesn't prevent our acting on the message it presents! How is this possible? Answer: The programming of the world's most effective and fastest super-computer and servo-mechanism: our subconcious mind.

And either you know what I am talking about -- because you have experienced firsthand this very dyanmic -- or you don't know -- and if you don't know, no amount of time I may spend trying to help you understand will be enough time. You'll have to tackle that steep learning curve on your own; investing your own dime and time.

My own experiences have me convinced that without self mastery, it's impossible to see and understand and grasp these moments at the moment they arrive -- when action is required. Since these moments come and go in a gazillionith of a second -- just as fast as a nerve cell sends its signal to the brain and the brain signals the body to respond -- seizing the moment -- and the myriad opportunities that come with it -- must be immediate.

Failure and success alike is built one moment at at time. The right decisions at the right moments -- during the moment -- makes all the difference. And having awareness that a turning point is upon us -- and making the decision to act on it -- is all it takes to shift from one path to another.  

Everyone -- irrelevant of their age, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, race, education level, job or occupation, marital status, sexual preference, lifestyle, IQ, EQ, DQ milkshake flavor preference, health and wealth -- has this innate ability. But very few people know it and act on it.

Why is this?  

There are tens of thousands of quotes -- and sayings and proverbs -- to live by. 

I'm a collector of quotes -- after all, others' wisdom is invaluable and many quoters are very successful women and men; putting these quotes to use has been very profitable. As I sit here working on a writing project and preparing for a speaking engagement, several favorites come to mind.

There are too many to pick out a "top 10" but here are 15 quotes on topics within the broad category of self actualization, personal development and success: 

RE: 

Candor. A "No" uttered from deepest conviction is better and greater than a "Yes" merely uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid conflict or trouble [Mahatma Ghandi]

Uncertainty. Leap and the net will appear [Zen saying]

Adversity. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity [Albert Einstein] 

Fear. Feel the fear and do it anyway [Dr. Susan Jeffers]

Change. Never swap horses when crossing a stream [American proverb]

Ability. They are able because they think they are able [Vergll]

Success.  Persistance doesn't produce the desired results. Success is born from persistance and experimentation [David J. Schwartz]

Behavior. Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt [K Hubbard]

Love. We are shaped and fashioned by what we love [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe] 

Happiness. Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life [Burton Hills]

Belief.  You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can [(39th U.S. President) Jimmy Carter]  

New Beginnings. Bad times have a scientific value. We learn geology the morning after the earthquake [Ralph Waldo Emerson]

Results. All rising to great places is by a winding stair [Francis Bacon]

Imagination.  A pile of rocks ceases to be a rock pile when somebody contemplates it with the idea of a cathedral in mind [Antoine de Saint-Exupery]

Effort. Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself [Katherine Mansfield]

Who they is I don't know, but whoever they are, they say that we have nine lives. Thank you, because at least six of mine have been used and most of these spares have really come in handy! Some have allowed me to do some really, really stupid things.  

So, how many of your 9 lives have been used -- and how? Do you believe in this phenom or is it yet another silly furry tail? Ooops, I mean fairy tale. 

This came to mind upon hearing that a close friend and her entourage were on the water during the horrendous lightning and storms that drove through our region over -- what could be called the worse -- Memorial Day weekend.

It's an exhilerating experience seeing a front come in over water. But if you're on the water at the same time it can be absolutely terrifying -- yet exciting! After all, what doesn't kill you makes you want to do it again.  

Speaking of storms, maybe I'm just weird but there's something majical -- and dare I say it, erotic -- about intense thunderstorms with torrential wind, rain and hail. Except when the power goes out.