I'm writing this on Sunday, while eating an egg salad sandwich for lunch. (Sorry, Mark.) I call my Monday blog "Mental Health Monday," mostly because I do it for my mental health. It takes the place of journaling.

While watching Jeff Dunham on Facebook, I realized something. Masks can make anyone a ventriloquist. 

LIVING NATIVITY

Our four LCMS churches in Norfolk got together & presented a living Nativity yesterday in the parking lot of the DeVent Center. There were various stations depicting the Christmas story. There were even a live donkey, colt, goats, & sheep. Bentley was a sheep. Not a live sheep. He seemed to enjoy it, even though it was really, really cold. Lois was an angel for awhile. I wimped out. When we were done, we took Bentley to Sunset Plaza Mall, where Rachel works at Claire's. Thanks to Rachel we enjoyed treats from Pretzel Maker. Then we brought him home, where he & Lois played hide-&-seek. Indoors. Seriously.

A MOVIE WORTH SEEING

On SAT we watched "Priceless" on Netflix. It's a movie about sex trafficking, & stars one of the brothers who head up For King & Country. You should watch it. You should also check out pricelessmovement.com. They are affiliated with Compassion International. I think you'll be glad you did.

DEPT. OF SHAMELESS JOKE-STEALING *

* courtesy of Norfolk Daily News latelaughs, 12/11

"Baskin Robbins has brought back its turkey ice cream cake. Because all kids are like, 'If only our favorite treat looked more like a dead bird carcass.'"  Jimmy Fallon

THE COVID GRINCH

"Sorry, COVID-19, but you're not going to stop our Christmas cheer this year. You remind me of the Dr. Seuss Christmas Classic, 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' . . .   The year isn't over, but we know from early numbers that people are giving more than in previous years, in particular to food banks, to groups that focus on housing & to mutual aid groups, which are more grassroots efforts, neighbors helping neighbors,' reports Marketplaces's Marielle Segarra . . . 

"I've got new for you, COVID:  We're going to prevail over you. In fact, we already have. Because the true outcome of your disruptiveness has been to bring out the best in most of us--to bring out our Christmas cheer in abundance. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some Christmas carols to sing."  Column by Tom Purcell, Norfolk Daily News, 12/12

SANTA

"NHS commercial terrifies children by showing Santa dying of COVID."  Drudge Report, 12/12

YOUR HEALTH

* "People who drink 6+ glasses of water daily happier, more successful."  Drudge, 12/12

* "STUDY:  Climbing 4 flights of stairs in under 60 seconds indicates optimal heart health." Ditto

* "Beards may grant owner supernatural abilities, study finds."  Babylon Bee

CHRISTMAS

> "Local family enraged they can't attend their once-a-year church service this Christmas."  Ditto

THE HOLY FAMILY

> "Holy family arrested in Egypt for violating travel restrictions."  Ditto

WHAT I'M READING

Sorry, I know this is getting tedious. It's part of the nature of my OCD. I quit on "The Bridges of Andau," a novel by James Michener about the Hungarian uprising in 1956. It was just too dark. When reading it at bedtime, I'm convinced it was getting in the way of my falling asleep. So on SAT night I started reading "1861:  The Civil War Awakening," by Adam Goodheart. Much, much better . . . & I fell asleep okay.