It’s the Advent series that celebrates the bane of every December, the Secret Santa gift exchange. We’re doing it Shelf Critter style this year, where the only thing more outrageous than the crummy gifts that will be gifted are the antics that will no doubt ensue during the forced reciprocity. Let’s see what lucky critter gets to give until it hurts next….
Oh no, here comes the sermon…..
RICKY: You know that materialistic endeavors like this are NOT in the true spirit of Christmas.
Yeah right, and the Three Wise Men weren’t the first schmucks that got rooked into buying gifts for a baby shower. Just pick a name there, Mr. Holier Than Thou…
RICKY: Lord, please don’t send me to the bad place for associating with Satan himself….
UNCLE SAM: How did you get past my secret service agents, son?
RICKY: I come bearing gifts for our great leader.
SAM: Oh goody! I mean, errrr… well, give them to me now!
RICKY: I bought you this pocket King Jimmy version of The Bible.
SAM: The Bible!?!? Son, don’t you know that as a government official, I am not allowed to mix affairs of the church with the Shelf. I’m afraid I’ll have to decline…..
RICKY: Did I mention it comes with this nifty bookmark?
SAM: You know, I think this regime is due for a shift in a more theocratic direction….
RICKY: Our Lord will always be your favorite lobbyist, Mr. President….
Evil Squirrel's Nest 
There are going to be SOME candidates this next time around who wouldn’t be able to function without a little “bookmark” in their gifts from time to time…….
Pam
Yes, and I hear that “bookmarks” don’t have to be claimed as income for tax purposes…
If only all politicians believed in not mixing religion with “The Shelf”!
Ah, well, since there’s a free bookmark and all…
Always judge a book by its bookmark….
That whole not mixing Shelf and government things needs to overflow into current society. Sigh.