A Very Zoe Holiday... We're off for a few days as Zoe explores the mid-Atlantic region on her first road trip. The various Chanukah celebrations started a week early last Sunday and continue through New Year's Day, meaning a relatively minor holiday on the Jewish calendar now has a lifespan this year of 15 days.

Dogs may become an issue over the holidays, as several of our family and friends we'll be visiting have them. Zoe lives in fear of dogs--the only ones she knows from her orphanage life are the mean-looking guard dogs. She hasn't made the association that there's a warm and fuzzy variety trained to cuddle and play and love. Family allergies prevent us from having a dog--not to mention the lack of responsibility we've demonstrated in caring for living things such as houseplants. So we're packing the Benadryl while keeping our fingers crossed as Zoe meets her new canine friends.

We'll have plenty of photos and good stuff to share when we return in 2006. We wish you all the best for a safe, happy holiday season.  ¶ 9:46 AM