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After Thanksgiving Comes ...

... black Friday. What were you thinking -- Christmas?

Here's my annual attempt to pry Christmas lists out of my friends and family by offering up what's good for me this year.

First, I do not NEED anything. I know that will contradict what you read below, but I'm sure you're all smart enough to understand the context. I have been incredibly blessed by family and friends this year, and by the opportunity to continue my studies. I do not expect anything except some holiday love, and I know that don't always come easy, either. I keep wish lists -- and gift lists for others -- at amazon.com for my own amusement. I hope to get my little bit of holiday shopping done early, for my own ease of planning and, frankly, for the good of our consumer economy.

"NEEDS:" pencils, particularly #2 Ticonderogas (they have the best erasers.) and drawing pencils (either the green ones or the blue ones are fine); pink pearl or similar erasers; recycled three-subject notebooks with as high post-consumer content as possible, with three-hole punches, if possible; drawing pads, fairly large format; graph paper; hygienic supplies: moisturizing soap (I particularly like Crabtree & Evelyn's rose scents.), Crest or Colgate whitening toothpaste "WANTS:" books and book gift certificates to area bookstores or chains; non-decadent jewelry, particularly earrings and bracelets (simple designs, beadwork or bees are best); gardening supplies (soil, soil amendments, clay pots, herb and vegetable seeds -- avoid the brand name & chemical; buy North American if at all possible)

With all due respect to my friends who are always kind enough to remember me with a token at the holidays, I'd really appreciate it if you left more personal gifts to my family and to my boyfriend of eight years. But PLEASE post or email a Christmas list. How can I help Santa without one??

A Request from the Left Coast

An old school chum of mine asks that you hold in your prayers a friend of hers who just had emergency brain surgery. At last word he was in a coma: I'll post updates if she sends them. In the meantime, good thoughts are in order, too.

Checking in at Ground Zero

If you have questions about the effort to rebuild at Ground Zero (and we all probably should), you now have the chance to get them to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Starting today and running through Tuesday the public will may pose their questions to Christopher Ward, the port authority's executive director through a form on a Web site mounted by the governmental agency. Ward has indicated he intends to answer questions online.

Put on your thinking caps, boys and girls, explore the WTC progress web page, whatever other materials you think may help and, if you can, the Financial District and Lower Manhattan themselves. Don't be shy about asking your questions -- then check back for answers.

Let's assume the port authority will manage to address all subjects and issues brought to its attention, but if your question doesn't get answered, feel free to post here. Where there's a question, there's usually an answer.