Six months ago we had warmer temperatures and a lot more sunlight. Someone said that "this is the most wonderful time of the year." The lack of warmth, the lack of sunlight, watching the colors of autumn fade away, enduring the end of the year as a single person with no prospects of spending the holidays with a potential significant other, enduring the cold and flu season, the pressure to buy someone "the perfect gift" or the incessant hounding of a demanding person who only wants to know "what are you getting me for Christmas?" are only a few reasons why people get depressed during this time of year. The older I get, the more I hate wintertime.

Depression is brought on by a lack of gratitude. Overall, we just aren't thankful enough.

Some things I would be thankful for:

1. Bill and Hillary Clinton retiring from public life. Same goes with Rudy whatshisface, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, Kayne West, 50 Cent, and other useless celebrities that we too often hear way too much about.

2. A mass defection of Democrats to Cuba where they can live in peace and not screw up the lives of the rest of us.

3. Politicians who had common sense and an honest love for the people they claim to serve, and who actually did serve their people. It is unfortunate that becoming the president of the US is nothing more than the ultimate ego trip. If one can't be president, it is enough to become a bothersome bore who has to make up for some inadequacy by overstaying their welcome as either a representative or senator in Washington D.C.

4. Be great to see everyone's Constitutional rights restored and to see the people who have abused their power by limiting free speech and other rights guaranteed to us punished for violating their oaths of office.

5. Having a girlfriend for the holidays.

Take care.