Monster Chow - can I be my own friend?

[RicWhick]

Hi y'all! Long time player, first time poster.

Yesterday, my family got together for a big reunion. About 7 hours in, my nephew suggested (of all things to play on Mothers' Day) we play Munchkin and brought out his original set with Unnatural Acts added.

I haven't played with the original cards in decades, so this was a reunion within a reunion for me!

Unfortunately, a bit of an argument started up about the wording of Monster Chow. I'm not sure which printing he had, maybe 19th, but the card is worded as: "Yummy! Use it to distract the monsters...or to lure them toward your friends. +5 to either side."

1) If Alex is fighting a monster, can Bob use Monster Chow to lure that monster away from Alex towards himself (Bob) or only towards one of Bob's friends? Can't Bob pick himself as his own friend?

2) After the monster has been lured, do you also apply the +5 bonus? I thought you can "distract or lure", you can't do both. Is that +5 bonus not coming from the monster being distracted?

Respectfully submitted,

RicWhick