I’m planning to separate from Kim and Pooh today, something that will be very painful for me to do.  Part of being a husband/man is sometimes doing something for your family that isn’t pleasant, but for the best.  Today will be one of those times for me.

I have to take them to stay with my sister (Kathy) while we deal with this storm (Gustav) here on the Gulf Coast.

Sheltering during the storm just isn’t a place I want a two-week old to be.  I have to do what I have to do to protect my family so this will have to happen.

I woke up this morning - think how hard it is to sleep with a newborn AND a hurricane on your mind - to see that Gustav has gained some momentum.  It almost seems like this isn’t fair to the residents of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans.  The 3-year anniversary (I don’t like calling it an anniversary because that sounds like a celebration) of Katrina was just yesterday.

Check here and at 7daybuzz to see how things are going.  I will hopefully have computer access tomorrow, but after that things could get dicey.  It may be me and the almighty iPhone!

I have to go.  Today is going to be busy to say the least.

Pooh (K) has arrived on earth and managed to steal our hearts in less than two weeks!  She is an answer to our prayers and definitely sent from God.  I would have never thought I would be interested in just looking at a baby, but I have no problem just watching her sleep - it always brings a smile to my face.

One of my feelings hasn’t changed and that is sharing pictures.  Honestly, she is my child and I think she is the cutest thing.  The same goes for her aunts, uncle, grandmother and cousins.  But when it comes to showing others pictures of her I’m hesitant because I still question whether we think babies are cute because they are innocent creatures or they are really…cute.  I don’t know.

My wife and I have new iPhones and the camera has been working overtime.  There is nothing like being able to take a picture, send it to the web and then email her aunts, uncle and cousins withing a minute.  I have been away from my family for almost 20 years and I want them to be able to see her growth in all stages so they have plenty of pictures available to them.

Funny thing about the iPhone.  I just sent an email to my brother and sisters with my iPhone.  Nothing strange about that except I’m sitting in front of my desktop and my laptop is turned on sitting on the desk too!  The thing is really addictive.

For Pooh, daytime is the time to sleep and nighttime is the time to become feisty.  I feel sorry for my wife because she is breast feeding and has to be the one to get up.  However, my wife is constantly trying to leave the room so I can stay sleep.

For one, I’m not a light sleeper - I once went to sleep at a Lakers (pre-season) game.  Secondly, I want to go through this experience as much as I can too.  I wouldn’t be upset in the least for K to wake me up.

K does not like her basinet very much at all, but she does like to take naps on the couch.  Wow, she isn’t a week old and already a couch potatoe.

She was in her crib today for the first time (she was awake).  She was looking around at some of the Winnie the Pooh characters and was content for about 20 minutes.  During that time, she rolled from her left side, to her back and over to her right side.  Isn’t she too young for that?

Martha Ann was born in 1934 and passed away in 1998 after having multiple strokes - that was ten years ago today.

She was the daughter of Lucille, a fine woman in her own right, and the oldest of 6 girls. She was the mother of three girls and two boys. She was the grandmother of 9, one of which she never knew.

Her versatility as an all-around human being has been un-matched in my lifetime. She could meet someone and literally spend hours talking and laughing with them as if she knew them her entire life. She loved children - she worked as a teachers aid for many years - one reason she started this job was to be close to her youngest son when he started going to school all day.

She had class coming out of her pores without ever acting as though she was above anyone. Nobody was unworthy of a smile and conversation.

She was an excellent cook all around, but she made the best dinner rolls in the world. This, according to anyone who had the pleasure of tasting them.

Martha Ann was the glue that held her family together. Not just in life, but her loving influence holds her family together ten years after her death. She was the rock, a best friend and someone people loved to sit around and talk to.

Martha Ann was my mother and I miss her today like I did ten years ago.

Here I go again right?  I have to say this because this is starting to get pathetic.

The USA women’s softball team lost to China and only won the silver medal in a sport they previously dominated.  Again, American failure.

Mark Lopez (I think Mark is his first name) got kicked in the chest at the end to lose the Gold in Judo.  Who is this Lopez guy and why does it matter?  It matters because now that he has lost we shouldn’t have to endure any commercials with him and his family kicking a phone around and jumping over swimming pools.

Now this really burns me up - the women’s 4×100 relay team dropped the baton and finished 8th.  I thought this was one of our things.

The grand prize for today’s failures goes to the men’s 4×100 relay team and I’m going to call someone out.  Tyson Gay pulled up lame at the trials and didn’t make the team in the 200.  Tyson Gay wasn’t right, because of his injury, and didn’t make the finals in the 100 at the Olympics.  So tell me, why would Tyson Gay be on the 4×100 relay team?  What ever brilliant person made this decision was a genius.  Tyson Gay messed up a hand off and the team didn’t medal.  I have some late breaking news.  Tyson Gay may not be a loser in life, but he is a loser when the spotlight is on him.

Thank goodness for Michael Phelps.