**

With a guest named Gustav. What fun.

It was about three years ago that Hurricane Rita roared through our area, forcing my family's relocation from Lake Charles.We lost electricity for 11 days. It was a hell of a ride. This time though is different. For the past week, lines have been long at gas stations, store shelves have been steadily emptied and home improvement stores are running out of stock as people are preparing for the arrival.

That's a good thing. People are taking this one seriously and with good reason. The storm track, as of this writing, takes Gustav in over New Orleans, through central Louisiana (the Alexandria area) to west central Louisiana (Vernon and Beauregard Parishes ... my area) and then into East Texas. It is expected to make landfall as a cat. 3-4, hit our area as a cat. 1 and end up as a tropical storm or less as it moves into Texas.

The missus and I are on standby as mission essential emergency personnel and so the family is fated to ride this one out. I will lose my Labor Day holiday and report to work at 8 a.m. Monday. The mini-Gunns, will hold down the fort at Gunn Central, but we are fully prepared. We have food, water and other drinks to keep us running for a couple of weeks. The only thing I am really worried about is the very large Oak tree in my back yard falling on to my roof.

While I don't expect us to bear the brunt of Gustav like we did with Rita, I know that many parts of the state I love will be devastated again. All I can say is thank GOD for Bobby Jindal. The pre-response team is prepared and ready to swoop in as soon as the hurricane goes through and immediately begin providing help. I attribute this to our new governor's vision, preparedness and leadership. We are as ready as we can be for the emergency to come. THank you Governor Jindal.

Do me a favor. Send up a prayer for our people and if you have a few bucks to spare, throw it to the American Red Cross. I have a feeling they are going to need it.

I hope to have pics and updates throughout, but if not, don't worry. I'll talk to you on the other side.

Former Democratic National Committee National Chair Don Fowler and Democratic Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina discuss the timing and religious implications of Hurricane Gustav as it relates to the start of the Republican Nation Convention that starts Monday:

In case you missed it, here is a transcript:

The hurricane's going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. [Chuckle] The timing is -- at least it appears now that it'll be there Monday. That just demonstrates that God's on our side. [Laughter] ... Everything's cool.

All together now ... CLASSY! I think I need a shower after watching that.