The world is becoming a hostile place. More hostile than I can handle without some things spilling over into my deep psyche uninvited.

Now I have never been one to focus on the negative. And I grok the suggested strategies of some Zen types who say, "Turn off the TV, don't watch the news etc." and they have a point.... up to a point.

I think it would be silly to do that all the time however, because sticking your head in a hole in the ground don't make the rhinoceros disappear, you know what I mean?

But on the other hand, me sitting here at the computer pouring over the Drudge report, and World Net Daily and Fox News Online every half hour like the hound of doom doesn't seem like a good strategy either.

Now, what complicates this situation is that I really don't know how much of my reaction to this stuff is my own hormonal chaos, and how much is just plain really real normal dismay at the recent events in the world.

From hate crazed Islamic terrorists killing innocent children and their parents, to hate crazed Islamic "clerics" (what the hell does that word MEAN anyway?) holing up in so- called holy places and inciting others to murder and mayhem, to a series of ill tempered rogue hurricanes plowing over the countryside, everywhere I look, things look VERY grim.

Add to this a deep mostly sub-conscious dread, that contrary to what the guy in the movie 2001 thought, 'Something AWFUL is going to happen', and you have the recipe for some world class depression. World class.

I don't like to be depressed.

For one thing, it's so damn depressing.

I usually pull all kinds of things out of my big black bag, just like the one the Wizard of Oz kept behind the curtain. Oh look, here is Dr. Rubber Duckie, ( ) and the Oracle of Pupik, my beloved citizens of Bogwillow. all my faithful helpers, who assist me keeping the horror at bay.

But today, I feel very much like Dorothy. I don't think there's anything in that black bag for me.

And that's where I come to the strategy I intend to employ to help keep my balance.

It begins with Dorothy's premise: There's no place like home.

I want to huddle up with my friends. And of course family when possible. I want to invite them over and bake cookies and pop popcorn and we will watch Pirates of the Carribean. I want to see Captain Jack Sparrow face off with the boogie men and win. Never once smudging his great eye makeup either.

I want to watch Harry Potter battle the forces of evil. And win. If only temporarily.

I want to watch Tom Seleck straighten out a sadistic despot living in the outback.

I want to be near familiar, warm bodied, good hearted people that remind me that indeed the WHOLE world has not gone mad. Only parts of it.

And when we are together, I will be sending a prayer of gratitude to the military men and women in the far corners of the world, who are standing strong and brave, doing their best to protect us from the hate filled madmen, wherever they may be.

So here's the plan. My door is open. Come on over. Let's play Pictionary, or cards, or do a jigsaw puzzle and make hot chocolate, and stop holing up in our houses alone and watching bad things on TV. Just for a while mind you. I'm not a fool. I know we need to stay aware. But at the same time, I don't want to inflate the boogie man till he seems to fill the whole world.

God is the only One who is big enough to fill the whole world.

This alone gives me the courage to walk on this planet one more day.

But what would make it a special blessing, is if my friends and family are walking very close by.