Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

“But what about the lurkers?”

You cannot shame the shameless.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

This fight is for everything.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Let there be snark.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

No Kings: Americans standing in the way of bad history saying “Oh, Fuck No!”

You are here: Home / Medium Cool / Medium Cool – Changing of the Seasons

Medium Cool – Changing of the Seasons

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Medium Cool is a weekly series related to popular culture, mostly film, TV, and books, with some music and games thrown in.  We hope it’s a welcome break from the anger, hate, and idiocy we see almost daily from the other side in the political sphere.

Arguments welcomed, opinions respected, fools un-suffered.  We’re here every Sunday at 7 pm.

On The Road - JanieM - Maine #2
Maine photo by JanieM
Maine photo by JanieM. Same spot as the photo above, but facing the other way.

Cliosfanboy sent me a couple of ideas for Medium Cool as we move from summer to colder weather.

First up, changing of the seasons. Fall.  Autumn.  Whatever you call it.  This week, I call it RFC. (Pretty sure you can figure that one out.)

Next week we’ll talk about Halloween and traditions.

Okay, back to Fall.  What cultural things capture the changing of the seasons for you?  Music, books, movies,TV shows shoes, clothing, murals, postcards, neckties, samplers, stained-glass windows?  Changing leaves, apple cider, first frost on the windows?  (We had frost on the windows this week.)

Cliosfanboy will start off the conversation with these happy thoughts:

 My wife and I celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary in mid-October.  For our first dance as husband and wife at the reception we chose “Moondance” by Van Morrison.

Well, it’s a marvelous night for a Moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
‘Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
You know I’m trying to please to the calling
Of your heartstrings that play soft and low.

OK, your turn!  (collectively speaking)

Note: for those new to Medium Cool, these are not open threads.

Reader Interactions

91Comments

  1. 1.

    The Audacity of Krope

    Requiem for a Dream develops in characters and story along thematic lines connected to the season in the story.

  5. 5.

    A Ghost to Most

    End of September/start of October, we generally take a trip to the San Juan Mountains, and soak up the empty off-road trails, after the tourists have gone.

  8. 8.

    CliosFanboy

    Today is our 34th. We’re going to watch our wedding video and remark how young everybody looks. A 2d song for our wedding is The Georgia Satellites “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” which is cranked up on my cars stereo as I drove to the church.

  10. 10.

    Mr. Prosser

    @A Ghost to Most: Oh, I agree. The high mountain valleys, even after a frost, still have flowers, small streams chuckling around lichen covered granite sherds, and the sweeping views of snow on high peaks. Blue Lakes and Yankee Boy Basin are among my favorites.

  11. 11.

    Miki

    It hit 83 deg F in Frostbite Falls today, and tomorrow is also forecasted to be summer. A year ago we were hot and heavy into making soups. This year the grills are fired up.

    This isn’t right. Minnesota is deep into a drought – it’s been weeks and weeks since we’ve had decent rain. If the forecasted La Nina shows up it’s going to be hell on our trees and plants.

    A summer storm (before the drought) split the last Linden on the boulevard next to my house and the city finally took it down, so now I have no shade. The city is replacing the trees but it’s probably not going to be a beautiful shady street here before I’ve moved/passed on. Circle of Life, etc.

  12. 12.

    JMG

    Cooking with root vegetables is a fall starter for me. And of course here in New England we have the colors outside, Mother Nature’s encore. The leaves come out, they fall and it’s “thank you, drive home safely, we’ll see you in April!” Oh, and while I’m not that into it (a simple jack o’ lantern suffices), Halloween has become Massachusetts’ big-time holiday. Almost as many and as elaborate outdoor decorations as Christmas. Big parties for adults (met my wife at one long long ago). If it was put to a vote and Massachusetts had to choose, I think we’d vote to keep Christmas over Halloween, but I’m not sure. It’d be close.

  15. 15.

    BellaPea

    We sat out on the patio and looked out at the lake for happy hour this afternoon. Leaves are changing, the water has FINALLY stopped looking like chocolate milk. For me, fall means cooking (spaghetti, enchiladas, casseroles), UT Vols football, and welcome cool temperatures. I also have a sexy little New Year’s Eve memory about that “Moondance” song by Van Morrison, which I won’t go into here…

  19. 19.

    Soprano2

    We’re having one of the weirdest falls in memory. It was 90 degrees a week ago Saturday, then 31 degrees Wednesday morning. Now it’s warm again. It hasn’t rained since mid-September, so it’s super dry. I’ve had to water stuff, I’m usually not doing that this time of year.

    I like fall, but I know it means winter is coming, and I don’t like winter!

  20. 20.

    What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

    The Moondance album is one I return to every autumn.

    I also try to read one horror book or mystery  with some atmosphere (Hound of the Baskervilles for example).

    The other music I like to return to is the vocal jazz and pop of The Great American Songbook era – Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra etc. singing Cole Porter etc.

  21. 21.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    Apples. Unquestionably apples and cider. I grew up in Central New York apple country. We didn’t have much of a fall leaf-wise.  Seems like they just all turned brown and fell off the trees at once.

    But the fall apples and the fresh-pressed cider… that’s fall for me. I can’t enjoy the taste of cider any other time of year. It has to be October-December.

  22. 22.

    WendyBinFL

    @CliosFanboy: Happy Anniversary! Since you’ve broached the topic, I’ll add that Mr. B and I are marking our 50th this month, and every year autumn fills me with joy, remembering the day when we first celebrated our enduring bond. Here in Florida, we don’t see changing foliage colors as dramatically as we did when we lived up north, but some deciduous trees lose their leaves, and folks get to switch from pastel to darker-colored shorts!

  25. 25.

    laura

    I love fall food- braises soups stews casseroles baked fruit desserts and red wine. I have a special spot for Italian fall food that deserves it’s very own list of great eats.

    I read (actually listed to) the new fiction by Louise Erdrich The Mighty Red. It was a really good fall read in my estimation.

  27. 27.

    kalakal

    Autumn always make me think of smoke.

    As a kid in the Yorkshire Dales, there would be the early evenings with mists and smoke from burning leaves. We didn’t do Halloween much, instead we all got to unleash our inner pyromaniac with Bonfire Night. I loved it.

    Visually for me it’s summed up by John Atkinson Grimshaw’s paintings.

    Lake at Roundhay Park

  28. 28.

    Scout211

    I’m showing my age here, but It’s the Great
    Pumpkin, Charlie Brown     was must see TV for my family throughout my childhood.

  35. 35.

    Central Planning

    I haven’t done it in probably 45 years, but burning leaves on the side of the road is one of those fall things. As a kid that was always fun to help my neighbor – don’t burn them too fast and create something out of control, but not so slow that the fire goes out. The smell of burning leaves/wood always brings back that memory.

    ETA – 31st wedding anniversary is next month. If I could find the video from then we would watch it :) it’s somewhere in the house…

  36. 36.

    Central Planning

    Mulled cider (and wine) is another. I had mulled cider in the Adirondacks last week. It was delicious (and also too warm outside)

  38. 38.

    hitchhiker

    Halloween here on the island has been one of the (many) great surprises. We live on the edge of a village of 1200 people, in a neighborhood that’s about 50 years old. Think, funky houses, fanciful yards, many geezers. For some reason this fun little cul de sac is the go-to trick-or-treating neighborhood for miles around.

    We came here four years ago, while covid still kept everyone hunkered down, but neighbors told us to fucking be ready once that was over.

    They were right.

    It’s astonishing! Starting at about 5 pm, and then continuously for the next 3 hours, our usually empty street becomes an absolute parade of little kids with parents, bigger kids with parents discreetly behind, bigger kids still all on their own, and friendly teenagers. I’m saying, we just park a chair on the front porch for all that time because it’s constant — like a back to the future lovely Halloween, with costumes and candy and happiness.

    Last year at the very end we ran out of candy, but before we could get the porch light off a few teenagers showed up. We told them sorry, we’d just run out, and they said, “That’s okay! Happy Halloween.”

    This year mr H has invited his honk band buddies to set up in the driveway and do a couple of short sets during the great giveaway. Monster Mash. Thriller. Stuff like that.

    I can’t wait.

  40. 40.

    zhena gogolia

    @zhena gogolia:

    There is in incipient autumn
    A brief but marvelous time —
    The whole day stands as if made of crystal,
    And the evenings are radiant . . .

    Where the bold scythe played and the ear of grain fell,
    Now everything is empty — there is space everywhere, —
    Only the fine hair of a spiderweb
    Shines on the idle furrow. . .

    The air is empty, no more birds are heard,
    But it’s still a long time until the first winter storms —
    And a pure, warm azure pours out
    Onto the resting field.

    1857.

    Есть в осени первоначальной
    Короткая, но дивная пора —
    Весь день стоит как бы хрустальный,
    И лучезарны вечера…

    Где бодрый серп гулял и падал колос,
    Теперь уж пусто все — простор везде, —
    Лишь паутины тонкий волос
    Блестит на праздной борозде…

    Пустеет воздух, птиц не слышно боле,
    Но далеко еще до первых зимних бурь —
    И льется чистая и теплая лазурь
    На отдыхающее поле…

    1857 г.

  41. 41.

    SpaceUnit

    I wallow in autumn.  Best time of the year by far.  My living room is an ode to the season all year long.

    I spend a lot of time walking outdoors.  Sometimes I just walk around the neighborhood counting pumpkins on my neighbors’ porches.  Mostly I wander the woods and collect autumn leaves.  If you press them for a few days under a book they’ll stay flat and retain their color.  I then arrange them on a tray with pine cones and a miniature pumpkin in the center.  I’ve got a pretty good batch this year.

    October Project:  Ariel

  43. 43.

    lowtechcyclist

    Neil Young has already made a few appearances in this thread, but I’d say his “Don’t Let It Bring You Down” is the most October song ever, with just the right level of creepiness to it to go with the season.

    The linked version is from the 4-Way Street live album, with Neil’s introductory words that I’ve loved from the get-go.

  44. 44.

    Central Planning

    @SpaceUnit: When I was a kid, we would collect cool colored leaves (and probably some un-cool colored leaves) and then put some crayola shavings with them between pieces of waxed paper and iron them. There were some fun, interesting colors and designs that were created. Again, probably something I haven’t done for 45 years :)

  47. 47.

    SpaceUnit

    @Central Planning:

    I do it every year.  I’ve also got a pair of fancy decorative candles that resemble tree stumps to put on either side of the arrangement.

    I don’t actually light the candles because that could go horribly wrong!!

  54. 54.

    HumboldtBlue

    Snoopy playing jazz on an autumn day

    ’tis autumn (1993 digital remaster) – nat king cole trio – 0:00

    i fall in love too easily (remastered 2004)- chet baker 3:05

    my one and only love – john coltrane, johnny hartman 6:13

    in a sentimental mood – duke ellington, john coltrane 11:00

    a taste of honey (live) – paul desmond 15:11

    when your lover has gone (2013 – remaster) – johnny hartman 19:28

    out of nowhere (take 2) – miles davis 22:31

    it never entered my mind – chet baker 26:19

    i’m through with love – arthur prysock 30:47

    don’t explain (album version) – wynton kelly 34:26

  59. 59.

    NotMax

    Must include a movie trailer because of the title. John Huston firing on all cylinders. Rest of the cast none too shabby either: includes Jeff Bridges, Anthony Perkins, Eli Wallach, Richard Boone, Toshirō Mifune, Sterling Hayden, Dorothy Malone and Elizabeth Taylor.

  61. 61.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Every fall we go ride the chairlift up our nearest ski hill.  Last year it was cold, rainy, and miserable.  The leaves had really even changed, yet.  Today it was 68 degrees and not a cloud in the sk the entire day.  And the leaves were beautiful.

  65. 65.

    RevRick

    Halloween!
    As a child living in a neighborhood full of kids, we patrolled in packs, going door to door, filling our sacks with candy and popcorn balls. Of course, back in the 50s we wore one of those ridiculous, hard plastic masks with the nose holes never being in the right place, and our faces got so hot that eventually we just walked around with it sitting on the top of our heads.
    And then, six months later we would visit the dentist to get yet more cavities filled, and this was in the days when the drill was wire cable driven.

    As a teen, we ditched the costumes and went knocking door to door collecting for UNICEF with  our church/temple youth group.
    And then there was the acrid, but entrancing smell of burning leaves that filled the air, the piles being raked into the street by the curb and then you got to let your inner pyro do its thing. Before that activity got banned.
    If you count Fall as meteorologists do, starting September 1st, then it signaled the beginning of a new school year and the start of the new TV lineup, which meant pouring through the TV Guide to suss what shows you wanted to watch (on the three network channels).

    Finally, let’s not forget the immortal Sears Roebuck Christmas catalogue with its pages and pages of toys to choose from. For kids, Fall is a continuous holiday: HallowThanksmas.

  67. 67.

    dnfree

    @RevRick: I remember collecting for UNICEF at Halloween, too.  And there was the Halloween when my one of my brothers had a ghost costume (old sheet) that now looks like a KKK outfit.

  68. 68.

    prostratedragon

    dnfree@62:

    Also the Spanish original, Abre los ojos [Open Your Eyes. Interesting comparison.

  69. 69.

    RevRick

    @dnfree: Yeah, I had one those homemade sheet ghost costume and I damn near killed myself stepping on the front of it dragging on the ground and constantly tripping.

  71. 71.

    The Audacity of Krope

    @NotMax: Turns out I do know Swoosie Kurtz.. I just didn’t recognize her as my exposure to her work was still more recent. Grace and Frankie definitely my favorite item on her filmography.

  74. 74.

    Suzanne

    Autumn Grasses.

    Autumn Grasses in Moonlight.

    So I finally finished reading a book that I have started a few times, and then I would get distracted and not get back to it for a couple of weeks, and then I’d forget all the intricate detail and restart it. But, since I was just on vacay, I got some dedicated reading time. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Damn. It was excellent.

  75. 75.

    p.a.

    I have an OCD friend and this is NOT his fave time of year.  Leaves.   He’s out daily except in the rain.  He has 2 large trees and the immediate neighbors are elderly and just let their leaves be.  He even notes the daily wind direction to know whose leaves are coming to his yard on what days.

    Oh and acorns too…

    It’s funny/not funny but except for needing hand sanitizer when he goes out to eat there’s no other issues I’ve seen, he leads a functional life, just does a lot of leaf work in season.

  77. 77.

    Spanish Moss

    One of my favorite Eva Cassidy songs is Autumn Leaves:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c

    So beautiful, so melancholy.

    As Autumn rolls in I get to enjoy all things apple: freshly picked apples, apple cider, apple pies, and best of all, cider donuts! Growing up in the South, I never knew how good this fruit was until I moved to New England.

    We live in MA and usually manage a trip to the Berkshires near the end of October to enjoy the leaves and the bucolic settings. We stop by the Hancock Shaker Village for a taste of history and artisan demonstrations, and visit the Clark Art Institute to see the latest exhibit and wander around the beautiful grounds.

  80. 80.

    UncleEbeneezer

    I can’t really separate Fall from Halloween.  They are so intricately woven together for me.  Right now we are making paper mâché pumpkins so that we can be a couple of the Pumpkin People from episode 2 of Over The Garden Wall, for our Halloween event at the Huntington on Fri.

  81. 81.

    Paul in Jacksonville

    Fall more me begins the day I walk out of my apartment and the humidity is gone, there’s a slight crispness in the air portending the need to open the windows and turn off the a/c has arrived.

  84. 84.

    Gloria DryGarden

    Pressed leaves in a book, then under a glass-topped table. Our yellow aspen leaves, so pretty on the hillside, don’t keep the color, and in Colorado it’s a quest to find a few red or orange ones.

    The smell of autumn leaves. In Colorado, you CAN recreate that smell, if you’re missing it: you need a pile of leaves, then run your hose over it. First discovered, when someone was washing their car, the leaves were piled on the street by the curb, the water was running down the curb, through the leaf pile. So heavenly, the Midwest fragrance of autumn!

    As a homeowner, fall is about getting the furnace filter cleaned, filling up jugs for winter watering, watering the bejesus out of my plant ecosystems, the poor beleaguered trees and shrubs that hated the dry hot record-breaking summer. And then walking the hose out, disconnecting it, coiling it up.

    And extra special, finally, first time in years, drumming and dancing around the fire with old and new drumming companions, just last night:

    Perfect weather for it. No wind blowing smoke in people’s faces. Just steady drumming, an azure darkening sky, turning to dark teal, an even surface to dance on the land, and the will and body strength to weave the energies into positive blessings for our world. And so it is.

    autumn is the time of grief, in Chinese medicine, and it usually hits me pretty hard. We’ll see. Dancing with the fire is good medicine….

  88. 88.

    SpaceUnit

    @Gloria DryGarden:

    I live in Colorado and never drive up to the high country to see the fall foliage.  Boring and overcrowded.  Stop and go traffic.

    All the real action is down here along the front range.  Hit up the local parks.  My go-to is the Bear Creek Greenbelt path.  Lair-Of-The-Bear Park is also good.

  89. 89.

    Tehanu

    @WendyBinFL:  Congratulations! We had our 50th last month, which we spent very happily watching Dylan Cease blank the Astros. As for autumn, we live in L.A.; we do get some fall color as there are sycamores on our street, but it’s mostly just a relief to get past the godawful heat waves we had this summer. Now I come to think of it, pumpkin pie appears to be calling my name…

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