Holden ...Oh Holden

So in the past couple of months, I have completed a few projects. A sock here or there, a hat here or there and a few quick scaves for gifts. But here is the biggest accomplishment of the year.

May I introduce you to the most handsome dog on the Upper East Side .... HOLDEN !!!

Holden is owned by Catherine, a bookseller at my store. She had been talking about how cold it has been and how cold her dog Holden would get. Holden is a picky doggie and so spoiled... he is extremely fond of Godiva stuffed bears. But he does not like anything heavy against his skin.
So I offered a handknit doggie sweater.

By the end of the night I found this pattern in the new book Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Loved Them.
We chose the ever faithful Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky in black and walnut instead of the Lorna's Laces ( seriously ... merino wool and silk for a dog sweater ) and within a few days I was working on this extremely simple sweater.

So Holden no longer shivers during his walks in Central Park and he is getting hit on by all the poodles in Central Park ( those bitches ).

I am quite proud of my first dog sweater...

Where I spent my winter vacation !

So I hear that people have been looking for me. A little upset that I have not blogged in some time.
Have I been missed?

I have been spending my winter in the best place I know. There is this small little hotel on Mosholu Pkwy that connects easily to public transportation, near some restaurants and a private bath.
The great thing about this place.. and I do believe that more hotels should provide this service...there was a big yarn stash and lots of books and needles to knit with... I was amazed .. I slept with the owner.
Don't worry everyone.. I am back, rested and feeling bloggerish ( is that a word ) and I actually have some goodies to show everyone soon.

So what is the gossip? Anyone sharing knitting needles behind others backs? I don't want to know of anyone raiding others stash without them knowing, that would be just too much to handle. Any dirty knitting tricks I missed.

Please forgive me ... I have missed you all.

Happy New Year .... First Project Complete !

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

So its 2007 ... another 365 days - so what do you have planned? Vacations? Remodeling? Dieting? ... or just a whole lot of knitting.


Here's wishing everyone a fantastic new year full of love, joy, health and fun.

So to start this year showing off ... here is my first finished project of the new year. About 3:00pm in the new year I finished this scarf for the Red Scarf Project. Not to take away from my knitting greatness ( I was in my pj's all day watching movies) I used up two skeins of Rowan Ribbon Yarn to work up this seed stitch scarf.

It looks great and the I have already started another hat using some of my stash ( Karabella that I bought 4 years ago).... I am taking this knit along to heart this year.

My kind of Knit -a - long

Lets just say I am not a knit along kind of girl. I like doing things at my own pace and when I want to do them, but this one interest me. In this past year I had tried to put myself on a yarn diet...that did not work at all. I have tried to use some of my stash for projects but with stores going out of business and those evil sheep and wool festivals I gained more weight...literally.

I got this from Nancy's blog... and she got it from a few others. Its an industrious knit along.



The corner of my living room can be mistaken for a small yarn store and I need to lighten the inventory.
I have already started using my stash for the scarf for the Red Scarf project and I have to finish some caps.
So luckily there will be enough to use up a lot of my stash in this coming new year.... can we all say socks socks and socks.
Hey...maybe I will finally start that messenger bag ... hot damn !

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all !!!

Hope Santa is very good to everyone and that no one gets coal or acrylic yarn in their stocking.

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Twas the night before Christmas ...

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a thing was organized, no not in my house.

It has been a while since my last blog entry and for this I apologize but I work retail and that is all I have to say.

The few knitted gifts that I planned have been wrapped except for the cardigan that I was planning to give my mom. I really should have started a lot earlier than I did, she will get it this winter... considering it is 55 degrees in December she will have it ready for the summer snowfall.

I have worked the last six days and it is finally catching up to me and if it wasn't for the nap that I took today...I would be asleep underneath this table.

So for now this is my quasi entry for the night....more to come.

I promise there will be more soon.....

Get the cookies ready for Santa !!!

My Thanksgiving Day.... Im Pooped

Happy Thanksgiving to all !!!

Time for rest for all.

Today like millions of people in this country my family and friends celebrated Thanksgiving Day. There are many of us that are scattered all over this city and we don't get to see each other often. So Thanksgiving Day is our family day. For years it was New Years Eve but it has moved earlier and earlier in the past few years.

It was my turn... to be the one to get the turkey together. Well my mom and I shared the turkey duty. I have been watching her for years, I know the routine like I know how to knit and purl. But my mom is my mom and she has to step in... so the turkey was 75% me and 25% her. I must say so myself... my turkey was fabulous. The pernil ( roast pork shoulder) was perfect and of course the rest of the food.

This was our table before the hungry masses attacked it.


And this is after !
I was pushed and shoved as I carved the big bird.


I am so Thankful for my family and friends.
They are so deverse and amazing ... through the good times and bad... we are always there for each other.
The family had a great time and we all had a blast. We joked laughed and had a few too many drinks. There are pictures of family members dancing in a black short bob wig... but those are for those important blackmail moments.

Of course no party would be complete without my best friends. Nancy has been a permanent fixture in my home for the past 26 years and I get pushed aside when she comes in. Now everyone is in awe of her beautiful family.
Mark has been around for 15 years and besides the fact that my mom askes for him and if he is coming ... he comes for the food... he also makes me sit down and eat since I spend most of the time making sure everyone is fed and happy... its the hostess in me. I feel the love ...


So now its time for some rest... and I actually have tomorrow off... can we all say sleep and knit.
My crazy holiday season starts this weekend and you all can find me at register #10 at my store or making sure all the new stock hits the sales floor.

Have a great weekend

A blog without pictures....oh damn

Hello All

So what is a blog about knitting without knitting pictures?

A journal entry without the goodies.

I don't know whether it is the blogger system today or my computer ( chances its my older computer ) but I cannot get the pictures to upload.

Lately I have been busy getting my store ready for the holiday rush and working to hire up some extra holiday help. I have been doing retail for a long long time and I really don't get a chance to enjoy the holiday season as much as I did when I was a kid. I do enjoy Thanksgiving Day and the whole family coming to my moms and this year she will have a surprise ( don't tell her but my nephew is flying up from Florida to surprise her -- don't worry, my mom doesn't read my blog )
Since most of the kids in the family under the age of five are in Florida except for my niece Nyrie there isn't the big hoopla for the kids, the tons of gifts and me having to wrap them all. Everything is quiet and simple but I do go to Nancy's house Christmas Eve, its our tradition. We do our thing with her boys and just hang out for the evening. I am usually exhausted by the end of the night and they are rolling me off the couch so I can get home. Maybe someday if and when I have my own family I will create my traditions.

I have to at some point sit down and write a gift list. Except for the few goodies that I am knitting, I have no clue what to buy my family and friends. Yesterday I hung out with my friend Heather to go shopping finally. Heather got some gifts and I bought myself three DVD's and CD's, a pair of pants and a top. Don't judge ... I need some spoiling too.

As for the knitting goodies they are coming along. I have become a Magic Loop guru. I have finished two pair of wool thick socks to wear at home ( see the nice pictures.. love the color).
I just finished a cap using my BrooksFarm Four Ply that I bought at Rhinebeck ( love the way it stripes.. don't you agree ) and I am starting the famous Odessa today and another hat set using the Lopi I bought in Iceland for Mark...of course in blue and black.
The major project is the cardigan for my mami, the back is almost done and then it will be the my best friend for the next month.

How is everyone doing on their gifts this season?

Rhinebeck Roadtrip

Overnight stay at the Best Western in Poughkeepsie and a new job as a doorlady ...$65.00

Assorted Brooks Farm and Spirit Trail and other goodies yarn haul ...$165.00

Apple Crisp ala mode .... $5.00

Riding in the mini van with Nancy, Katy and Sue .... PRICELESS

This past weekend was the infamous Rhinebeck Sheep and Wool Festival. It was my first time at any sort of wool extravaganza and let me say it was a little overwhelming at times. The amount of wool, roving, fleece and handspun was wild.
I had the absolute pleasure of riding up to the festival with the best bud Nancy and of course Katy and her mom Sue.
We all had our budgets planned and a plan of action... sock yarn first and then the rest of the fair. Of course all the Socks that Rock was gone in 2.5 seconds when the doors open but I was very happy with my Spirit Trail and a good deal on Lorna Laces and Koigu.

I am simply in love with my Brooks Farm haul and some people in my life will have some great gifts this holiday season.

Overall the festival was fun, I don't know how often I will return and I did hear that it was not as exciting as last year and it is getting as crowded as Maryland...It was amazing to see so many lovers of our craft in one location.

I had a ball joking around and handing out with Sue and Katy. It was the first time that I have met them, and they made the long ride on I-9 so much fun.... silver diners, subaru dealerships and FDR will never be the same again.

At the blogger meet up I was able to see some familiar faces again, and I met some new friends. It was like a knitting fashion show and high school reunion all in one. Who would believe that fried articokes could cause such havoc or people hiding to eat fried dough in private would be so scandalous.

So I have finished my first Magic Loop sock, its a worsted weight winter sock.. and it does knit up fast. Lets see how much I like it when I am working on #1 needles. But it will be great when I have to do all those hats next week.

Duck ... Duck... No Goose

Here's my duckie, well... here is Zoe's Duckie.

I was asked by a co worker to make a duck for his niece Zoe. It seems that there is a love for ducks in the household and he wanted her to have a special duckie ... later on I added her name to the front of the duck.
I find a certain amount of joy in knitting up toys and putting all the final touches on them. One of my favorite toys book is Knitted Toys by Fiona McTague. I have made the dolls and I will make more from the book in due time.




















I used Dale of Norway- Baby Ull on this duckie and with Treasure Island closing I have to settle for another type of stuffing that wasn't fun to work with. I was on a time constraint so I couldn't order in some special stuffing.

Sorry for the short post today...I have to swatch for my mom's cardigan.

Next time .... Rhinebeck Recap.

A Summer top...Just a little late

So I finally finsihed it... just a little late. Here is the summer tank top from the Sexy Knits Book that was released this summer. I had started this in late June for a co worker Denise. She loved the pattern and asked me to put it together.

Something that could have been done in a month or so took me three
Something that I could have done on circular needles, I did on straights
And this Summer tank top 2006 will be worn Spring 2007.... Oh well

After Denise understood that I would not have the top ready for the end of the summer she was happy when I was finally done when it was handed over to her.

I was so happy to finally see it put together and looking like a top. Its the first adult top that I have put together that worked. It looks like something wearable, and pretty.


The ruffle edge was the hardest part, and the most tiring thing to do. I was up putting it together until 3 in the morning finishing that edge and then casting off those 400+ stitches. Cascade Fixation was a lot easier to work with than I thought even with the elastic in it. And completed piece is a little heavier than I had imagined, but most important thing to me was that IT FIT PERFECTLY !!!

Here is the pretty Denise modeling the tank top for me and it fit her perfectly. I was so worried since the top has a stretch to it.

And the back looks good too.

I am so proud of me ...

Have Knit Out ...will frolic

Today was the KNIT & CROCHET OUT 2006 here in NYC at Union Square Park. As many know this is the major knitting event here in this wonderful city and it is attended by hundreds of people. Last year I couldn't attend but I made a point of making sure I had the day off and no other plans.
Nancy and I met early this morning along with her oldest son/my godson Avery. He has learned to knit and is working on his own Harry Potter scarf. ( the first one I made him mysterouly disappeared at school)
We made sure that we got to the park about 20 minutes early to score some goodies and to see what booths were there this year. All the retail businesses from the city were there as well as the major stores like Michaels, AC Moore and of course people from LionBrand, Clover and Bernat.
Most were giving out patterns and magazines and yes I waited 40 minutes on the Clover line for free needles. The line was ridiculous and the Clover guys ( no women ) were too pushy but for some free bamboos we wait.

The Yarn Harlot herself, Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee was there this year and she was roaming all over the place and she was one of the mc's at the fashion show. She was hilarious especially as she tried to sound happy about all the crocheted items.
She squeezed into a booth to take a picture of Amy Singer of Knitty fame.
She was there signing any of her books and talking what she talks best.

Today was HOT ... I got a darker tan today than I did when I was in Florida last month. So about 2 we were done, the heat was too much and we had hit all the booths and it was time for lunch. Nancy's co-worker Tisha and her son Aaron had joined us by that time and we took a leisurely walk to UNOS.

The crowds were diverse and they were all having lots of fun.


Avery here was melting from the heat but he patiently waiting on line with me for his mom's needles, she has trained him well.


Some of the best booths at the event were charity related. Warm-Up America was collecting squares and both Save the Children and Knit for Kids were there giving out important about their organizations. Please take a few minutes to look up these groups, we all have extra yarn that would be perfect for these charities. There are not asking for major projects but they are asking for just at bit of your time. They have action kits and additional information which will guide you all to how to donate your knitted and crocheted items.

I finally got my Knit Picks yarn for my moms cardigan and I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Summer Tank Top. Of course pictures will come soon.

Have a great week!!!

THANK YOU KATRINA !!!

OH WHAT A SURPRISE !!!

Today I received one of the sweetest and most generous gifts I have ever received. I had a package waiting for me at my door from the lovely Katrina.

Katrina was my spoilee from the One Skein Secret Buddy exchange, the one I was spoiling in Oregon. She has a beautiful family and does some great handknit pieces. I don't know how she finds the time to do all that she does.
So I was so surprised to get a package with two of my favorite things:
a Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino book which I don't have and two skeins of Baby Cashmerino yarn in the coolest purple color. Its not too bright but perfect for me and I know exactly what I am going to make myself and the sweetest thank you note.

She didn't have to do this for me ( she had her own secret buddy to spoil ) ... but I am so grateful and overwhelmed by her kindness.
I practically skipped to the train station as I was going to my knitting group. I told everyone about her gift and they were all so jealous.
We share a love for all that is Debbie Bliss and of course the color purple.

Thank you so much Katrina for your appreciation and friendship... I am so lucky


I tried to make the color stand out against the orange towel, I should have waited for daylight but I wanted to blog about this immediately when I got home today.

This weekend is the Knit Out at Union Square park ... hope to see some of you there. It should be packed but that is part of the fun...3000 obsessive knitters.

I picked up the summer tank top again, I did no knitting while in Florida and I am feeling so guilty since the summer is almost gone here in NYC.
The lesson has been learned, I need to plan things out better before committing to them.

Sickie in Orlando

So I travel 1000 miles to come down to Florida to visit my family...my brother Abraham, my sister in law Vilma and their kids....and their kids kids and guess what happens to me ....
I get sick....a horrible head cold and cough that lasted me for almost three days. I hate that in and out of air conditioning and it didn't help that I got caught in the rain while in the pool and I had to run into the cold house.

I spent three days sleeping and trying to breathe in between cups of tea and nyquil. My mom enjoyed taking care of me but I am on vacation...so it really sucked.
I couldn't spend more time with my niece Nina and her two beautiful boys because I did not want to get them all germy.... I know that bummed my niece's plans.

By Friday I actually was able to breathe out of my own nose and my ears unclogged and I ventured out of the house. My sister in law Vilma took pity on my and took me to Downtown Disney. We had dinner at the Rainforest Cafe and then just walked around for a bit.
I have done the Disney and Universal thing too many times but at least I got to go out for a bit.

My mom and sister in law have an amazing relationship... its the ideal and sometimes surreal. They get along, they bicker, they laugh and have a great time together. My mom adores Vilma like she was her own and Vilma loves my mom so much. ( my brother and sister in law were set up by our mothers over 30 years ago)


This is the hunky man in my bed all week... Ladies his name is Chico....single no kids and has his own pad ...or should I say wicker basket...
He is so happy when he sees me, loves me to pet him and feed him and loves to cuddle...Go figure the man of my dreams is four legged.


This is my hunky nephew Abraham...or Abe .... He has started his first year of college and he manages to work and take a full load of classes. Abe was my partner all week if I wanted to do anything...like buy him a very expensive calculator at Circuit City or dinner or a movie. He is a smart and funny young man so I don't mind helping him out if I can.



I wished I had the energy this week to do something else than sleep and veg.. but maybe that is just what I needed.

Hope everyone had a good week...

Finally some knitting stuff

I finally have the opportunity to sit down and do some blogging .... yes I know that it has been a long time since I have actually did a knitting entry.

Last month I went to Lakeland which is near Tampa and about an hour from Orlando. I went to visit my other best friend ...Frances, but more about her later.

The one thing that Frances had to do for me was to take me to the nearest yarn/knitting stores. Frances is not a knitter but she did to me this favor. We found a fantastic store in Tampa called Knit 'n' Knibble.
A great store in which I could have spent a couple of hours and then have her pick me up later. The store has plenty of class space and a cafe in the back. I asked the owner if I could take these pics to show everyone. I was able to buy the Magic Loop book and a few needles while there.
The staff was so friendly and they even tried to help me find a pattern for a cardigan for my mom.



The other store which I went to was one called the Yarn Basket in Winter Haven. This store is still suck in 1974 and the only modern thing in the place was the LionBrand ( which I have no problem with) and the Clover needles. The pattern book in which I found the pattern for the cardigan was from 1972. So if you are looking for patterns for cozy and granny square blankets thats is where you should go. I only spent about 15 minutes in the place... that should tell you how dated the place was.


This is Frances.... and Goldie her new Golden Retriever.
Frances and I were next door neighbors and we have been friends for as long as I have known Nancy. We did our first holy communion together and we have been tight ever since. Her family moved to Miami when she was a teen and we never lost contact. I have followed Frances to Florida, Maryland, California and back to Florida.
She has a beautiful family and a loving ( and hunky) husband who adores her. So I make the effort to go visit at least once a year and do the mommy thing.
This visit Frances and her husband took me to Cocoa Beach to the Ron John Surf Resort.
The place is a great resort near Cape Canaveral ... not one sighting of Major Nelson or Jeannie anywhere. The beach was amazing but I will spare you all the pictures of me on the beach.


So Im in Orlando this time visiting my brother and his family. My mom is with me and I finally got to meet my niece Nina's second son Jordon and my niece Connie surprised my mom by driving up from Naples and I finally got to see her daughter Aliyah.

Shame my nieces and nephew have kids before me...( tick tick tick goes the clock)

So after this blog entry.. I will be watching these ... I totally hooked on the Gilmore Girls now.

And hopefully by the end of the week I will almost finish this: The summer tank top. ( crossing the fingers )



Soon I will be starting a cardigan for mom and a ducky for a friend....Finally some really knitting.

Have a great week.

WHERE IS MY TYPEWRITER !!!!

Yeah I said it... TYPEWRITER

Remember those simple days when you sat at your desk, took out your notes, poured a cup of soda or iced tea and you sat at your desk and you carefully put in your first sheet of crisp 8" x 1" paper in your typewriter. I can't even remember the name of my lovely cream electric machine. My mom bought it for me before I finished junior high school and it was wonderful. My mom knew that I needed it for school and that I would take great care of it. So many papers and reports were typed on that machine and it even served other members of my family well.

So why do I miss my old typewriter?

Because I have had a hellish time getting my router to work. Not like a day of problems but three long days of trying to get my desktop to communicate with my router. Nothing has worked, not hours on the phone with customer service, not me bitching on the phone with Nancy and not me buying new ethernet cords. So do I return the router, do I call friends to help, do I go buy a wireless router or do I break down and call Geek Squad.

I go to my mom's for dinner
I enjoy a bowl of ice cream
I download some cd's into my Ipod
I somehow connect this laptop to some wireless network (don't tell anyone)

And I unplugged the router ( evil thing )

I am frustrated.

This is what I get for just wanting to have a simple laptop that I can use for DVD's in bed, download pics for email or just do some blogging from bed.

So if anyone has any suggestions let me know before I make router stew.

Oh yeah... I have got some knitting done too ... I had to destress somehow.

I'm back

Hello everyone.

This will be a short post. I have so much to do and I have been having a hellish time getting my wireless system up in my apartment. Thats what I get for trying to be current by buying a laptop. Poor Nancy has been dealing with all my computer issues... she is about to disown me soon. Back I go to my old typewriter.

So sorry that it has taken me so long to blog since I came back from Florida but work has been busy and I have been using all my spare time to work on my one skein project and the tank top as well. I have the late summer knitting blues and I have to fight myself to pick up the needles.
Florida was lovely and hot... I was able to go to two knitting stores which I will blog about soon, forgive me for my tardiness

Hope everyone is having a great summer.

Finally ..

If no one has noticed ....

The past couple of days have been impossible to believe here in NYC. The 101+ degrees have been unbearible and for those of us who HATE such weather it has been horrible. My poor mami has been home for the past 4 days, but I didn't want her out in that weather at her age.

Finally today the weather has broken and things are better but still warm but the humidity is down.
And after all this heat I am heading to Lakeland, Florida on Sunday.
Everyone knows that I have known Nancy for over 25 years, but in Florida lives Frances and her beautiful family and I have also known her for over 25 years. We were next door neighbors and we actually met when we did our Holy Communion. Frances is married to a hunky man and has three handsome boys and a beautiful little girl. So on Sunday I am flying to Tampa and spending the week down there floating in her pool...lol

I still have that sexy tank top on the needles and stupid me I should have down the project in the round. The front has a lot of shaping for the bust and I thought it would be hard in the round but I was wrong, I could have done it that way. So the piece will go to Florida with me and I want to have it done by the mid of the month... it is a summer top.

This is Carmen... I made her the striped bikini for the Gay Pride Parade in June. I hounded her for picture and she finally brought it to work. I didn't make her put on the bottom in front of the staff but she did put on the top.
I do see where I could have adjusted the some areas on the top piece but I had to do it quickly. She was happy with it and the colors look great on her.


I hope that everyone is having a great summer.

See you all when I get back from Florida...

Adios

Updates...

So have been a bad bad blogger as of late, I guess the blogger blues have set in. Also the horrible heat and humidity here in NYC have not helped any. I had no desire to sit in front of my computer even for 5 minutes to check my email. Today is much better, the amazing thunder storms this evening have cooled things off and the lovely breeze is making me very happy.

I have even started two new projects:

The first is the sexy tank top which I mentioned in my last entry. I had to order Cascade Fixation for the project which was harder than you could imagine. Yarn Market and Patternworks did not have enough of this particular color. I had to get 6 skeins of number 9946 - Easter for the top. So after doing a web search I discovered a great site and my new favorite web store. Its called Angelika's Yarn Store and it is based in Lakeside Oregon. I called the store on Saturday afternoon, I got in touch with the owner, she had my order out that afternoon and it was in my greedy little hands by Monday afternoon. I had also ordered some Lornas Laces and it was all there in less than two days.


The second project is for my ONESKEIN secret buddy. I have decided to start the project early and it most likely will go with me to Florida next month. I am making the cabled booties for her. She lives in Oregon and she will need to keep her tooties warm. I chose my favorite Lornas Laces color and its my first real cable project. I aim for them to be perfect ... cross my toes and fingers.


So I am going to start the tank this weekend and the booties will be my travel and work project.

How is everyone doing on planning all their holiday gift?

Hello Everyone...

It has been more than a week since I have blogged... I am so sorry. My computer has not been behaving lately and to top it off, I have not been really working on much this week.

I have finally become inspired to work on a summer dress for a little girl plus planning my next two projects. One of the projects might be from this book ... Sexy Little Knits by Ashley Paige. I got an advance reading copy at work and since there is no way in hell I can fit into any of the projects in this book unless I don't eat for a year, I didn't think I would be using the book. One of the lovely girls at work wants a very cute rib and st st tank top from the book. It is made with Cascade Yarns - Fixation and it has come shaping to it. I would love to make it and it might lead some hired knit work.

So yesterday after spending the day with my friend Mark going to see Superman Returns, having dinner downtown on MacDougal Street, we headed to Brooklyn... Yeah I said Brooklyn.
I have no issues with going to Bklyn except that I really don't know it well and I need extremely detailed directions once there. We headed to Bergen Street to a bar called Vegas for a meet up with some of his friends. I was hesitant at first since I didn't know anyone but I trust Mark with my life and I know that he wouldn't take me anywhere weird. We finally ended up playing double pool games with some cool people, too many beers and having a good time.

So after three trains to get home ( I hate the mta during the weekends ) I came home to find my One Skein Package stuffed in my mailbox. It was the perfect end to a cool day.

Its like my Secret Buddy knows me.... HOW DID YOU KNOW I LOVE LOVE LOVE LORNA'S LACES YARN.
It is called Irving Park and it has orange, purple, fuschia and blues. Its shepard worsted 100% superwash wool, 225 yds. The colors are so pretty and some of my favorites.

Thank you so much ... Secret Buddy !!! ..... You rock.

I hope that everyone else is getting the great goodies like me... Don't be jealous.

Have a great week... smooches