So, if you see a long forlorn face with flat feet, looking for a place to hang his deep-musing cap, don't annoy him by calling him an "ambivalent aardvark", a "doubting doormat" or a "vacillating vagrant". Mugwumps are sensitive souls who dearly love their uncomplicated independence. Oh, and if you're looking for someone to kick butts or kiss babies, try a high-achievement hoodwinker or a controversial contrarian, mugwumps are not interested.

Do not however mistake their calm demeanor for compliance. They just like keeping to themselves. Though not hermits or recluses, they do enjoy their own space to ruminate about what makes world go round not to mention what makes people tick.

Clearly, world sorely needs a few more mugwumps to remind us of need for less "wrangling" and more "winsome" occasions to celebrate life in slow lane.

So, if you run across a mugwump in your city or neighborhood, just smile and inquire about health of heffalumps, who makes best bubble bath, and where's best place to see shooting stars. They dearly love a good chinwag, so don't disappoint them!

And, don't forget to take time out and participate in festivities of "International Mugwump Appreciation Day" -- any day of year will do just fine!

Say what you will, and I'm sure you will, there is no wind, foul or otherwise, quite to equal a politician in full stride. Fortunately for us here in Florida, hurricane quartet has only prepared us for blustery political weather ahead, as politicians look toward us with an envious eye.

Forget "hanging chads," let's hang any politician who thinks we hang on his every word.

I hate putting CFIJ in bad company, but a politician is like a hurricane in several regards.

First, a hurricane can be sighted a good long ways away, and at a distance looks quite harmless. The weathermen predict path of hurricane but not with any degree of certainty. At last minute, depending on which way wind is blowing, a hurricane can wobble to right or to left.

This is exactly true with politicians. The farther away they are more harmless they appear. In fact, I'm in favor of a constitutional amendment of some sorts dictating elected politicians may not leave Washington, D.C., until they do something good or their term expires.

Then, when their term terminates they should be out-sourced to some country, any country that will have them. I can't think of any right now but progress is being made on outer space travel.

Secondly, I've noticed hurricanes always do more damage then first expected. A hurricane has no respect for people or property; it just goes through any area it chooses.

This is also true of politicians. No matter what they promise, it always costs (guess who) more than expected. Every politician has only one goal in view - taxes, which is quite taxing on public's pocketbook.

If a politician was so concerned about taxes, he or she would not vote for their own pay raises every year.

Without respect of people or property, politician goes through land, spouting off as though anyone, meaning me, cares much about what he is saying at time. My only concern is cleaning up after storm passes.

As storm began to quiet some, I pondered this even more. Two scriptures brought great comfort to my mind, one from Old Testament and one from New Testament.

"For I am Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Malachi 3:6 KJV.) And, "Jesus Christ same yesterday, and to day, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 KJV.)

Storms (both nature and political) come and go, but Jesus Christ remains same.