Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fall

OW! My ribs!

Thorzdad — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:44:46 -0800

How long does a rib injury take to heal? A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I fell. Hard. I landed with my full weight on the legs of a wood coat rack with the right side of my ribcage. OW!

I have no problems breathing...no painful catches as I breathe in as deeply as I can. No pain when I move my arms around (though, the first time I tried checking my mobility there were a few distinct "pops". None since.)

Right now, roughly a week later, I am very sore, very tender and very stiff along my left ribcage. Coughing is painful. Sneezing is very painful. Sleeping is uncomfortable at times. Otherwise, I am mobile, can lift, bend, etc. with little issue. Everyone I've spoken with (not doctors, of course) have been pretty universal with the comment "If you aren't obviously in danger, there really isn't anything they can do for you even if you've cracked or broken a rib." I don't know how true this is, but it seems to be a fairly universal response.

So, to those of you who may have sustained a rib injury, just how long does the pain, tenderness and stiffness last? When can I no longer fear a sneeze?

As for why I haven't been to the doctor yet...well...if it's true that there's really nothing they can do, I'd really rather avoid paying out-of-pocket for the imaging my doctor would invariably order. Crappy insurance, y'know.

Thanksgiving Vodka?

The Whelk — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:42:50 -0800

Vodka That Tastes Like Fall? Since I do my Thanksgiving a week or so after everyone else, I have time to infuse a massive jug of vodka with seasonally appropriate flavors for the festivities. What infuses well and tastes like fall/thanksgiving/etc? I was thinking cinnamon/apple but that almost seems too trite. Maple? Nutmeg? Do nuts infuse well(or at all?) if you mash them into a powder?

quiet beachy birthday romance

pearl228 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:49 -0800

Awesome, romantic getaway in proximity to nyc? Secluded, autumn beach spot preferred... So, I'm looking to take my man on a sweet trip outside of the city for his birthday this weekend. I can rent a car, or we can take a train then rent a car. I was thinking Montauk, which remains a possibility, but would prefer something a little more unexpected if I can figure it out.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions in terms of towns, transport, lodging, and things to do when we're not taking long walks on the beach..?

Thanks in advance!!

Will I kill the poor, defenseless plants?

Zoyashka — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:01:29 -0800

Is late October late to plant some shrubs in the PNW? I know autumn is the best time of year to plant shrubs, and I just found these beauties that I'd like to plant.

Is late October too late in the season to plant (I'm in the Seattle area to be precise)? I trolled some gardening forums but couldn't quite find the answer to such a simple question!

Thanks folks!

Non-Disneyfied apple picking options in GTA?

setanor — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:54:58 -0800

Are there any non-Disneyfied apple picking options around GTA? Hi! So, when I was in Maine, we had a few apple orchards that we loved going to in the fall that were really out of the way and had some great heirloom varieties and not many kids running around screaming and places to sit on the grass and nice smells.

Now, I'm sure there are places to go like this around Toronto, but most of the links I've found have all these "amusements" or special parking for tour buses or a giant store with all sorts of other stuff not even tangentially-related to picking fresh fruit from an orchard.

Give me your rustic, quiet and delightful. Ideally within a 150km round-trip of Toronto, as we'll have a Zipcar for the day and don't want to pay too much extra, but being right near the city isn't really a priority - we want to get our money's worth for our car, anyhow.

October book suggestions

CZMR — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:52:42 -0800

Woohoo, it's October! Lets get some Autumn/Halloween reading suggestions! There was this from last year and I thought it was a decent thread but hopefully we can get a few more suggestions.

I'll start off with a few -
Dracula - Bram Stoker
House of Leaves - Mark Z. Danielewski - Although the Leaves in the title doesn't relate to autumn, I kept envisioning it taking place during the fall. And not to mention it is a terrifying novel that will scare you for the Halloween season.

Do these lederhosen make my ass look awesome?

JimmyJames — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:29:19 -0800

Where in the SF Bay Area should I celebrate Oktoberfest? Last year I felt like I found out about amazing Oktoberfest parties a few days after they happened. Where should (and shouldn't) I head to celebrate the most noble of drinks? Size really doesn't matter, big or small both appeal to me. Events with Oompah bands and other fun touches score bonus points.

Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colors ...

jammy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 07:25:07 -0800

Tell me of your favorite poem to welcome the autumn. This Tuesday, September 22nd, is the Autumn Equinox. I like to read & learn of new poems whenever a new season turns, and then share them with my family & friends.

So! Tell me of your favorite poem to welcome the autumn. As with a similar question previously, it doesn't have to be about autumn directly - themes of harvest & feasting, of balance, of memory & remembrance, etc., are all welcome. For example, Rainer Maria Rilke's Sunset is a poem that powerfully evokes autumn for me.

Beyond pumpkin pie, cider and turkey - your favorite autumn party recipes?

librarianamy — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:26:17 -0800

Autumn is almost here where I live! Tell me your favorite autumn party recipes, with some restrictions listed inside. I will be the hostess of a small (less than 15) gathering of friends in a few weeks. By then, autumn will be in full swing here (Western PA in late Oct-early Nov), and I'd like to have a seasonally themed and delicious menu.

Our monthly gatherings usually include one large main dish, a variety of finger-food-esque or salad-ish sides, some snacks, and at least one dessert. And drinks. Both alcoholic and non.

The restrictions are that one of the group has celiac's and at least two others are doing South Beach. So wheat is an issue, though I do have access to a great gluten free bakery, if I had to.

I'm tired of eating faux-souffle.

Ms. Saint — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:47:18 -0800

I've made four cakes, and two of them have fallen. Enough with all the plates of beans -- please help me overthink (and correct) my cakes. I'm pretty sure the problem has to do with the fact that I'm not following the recipes. I don't want to make anything as huge as a two-layer 9'' cake (but I also get a kick out of making two-layer cakes). So, I've been halving cake recipes and using two 6'' cake pans. The packaging for my 6'' pans said to cook them at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

The first time I did this (using this recipe), it turned out beautifully. The second time, one of them had fallen by the 25-minute mark, and the other fell immediately upon me testing it with a toothpick. The toothpick came out with stuff on it, so it didn't seem overcooked. The third time (using this recipe), both of them looked really iffy at 25-minutes, but I couldn't tell what was going on with them, and they fell right before my eyes as I tested them with the toothpick.

I'm growing very angry at my toothpicks!

Here are some factors I'm pretty sure I'm not getting wrong:
* Freshness of ingredients. I checked all of their expiration dates, especially the baking soda and baking powder. All of them are good.
* Ratio of ingredients. I've been very careful, measuring. I've read that even halving a baking recipe can lead to disaster because of the chemistry-magic involved... But, really? Is it that disastrous an idea?
* Altitude. My town's elevation is 1,117 Ft. That's pretty normal, isn't it?

Here are some factors I'm pretty willing to blame:
* Those stupid toothpicks. Am I testing for doneness too early? I know you can also test by putting your hand on it and so on, but so long as the batter isn't wiggly anymore, I don't really understand what to look for. I also worry that I'm opening the oven too early into the cooking process, but I can't see into the oven too well without doing so.
* Recipe-to-pan ratio. Yeah, 6 is not half of 9. But it worked the first time I tried it, so I figured it was okay. Was I just really lucky the first time?
* Oven temperature and cook time. I am having a lot of trouble finding any understandable guide about how to alter temp and cook times for cakes. I've read that oven temperature should stay the same, is that true? I would assume that, given less batter and smaller pans, I would have to cook the cake for less time.. But, this last time, the recipe called for a 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes and even mentioned that you should check early, but my smaller cakes fell after cooking for 25 minutes at 350! And they came out all gooey, so it's not like they were overcooked. Yes, I make sure the oven's preheated (but maybe I shouldn't trust it's thermometer?).

My main suspicion is on the baking time and temperature, but I just have no clue how to correct it.

So, any advice? Am I just an idiot for trying to alter recipes? Am I making any other obvious mistakes, from what I've said? Is there a good way to ensure you cook a cake properly, when you're altering the size of the recipe?

Thanks for any help you can offer. I really enjoyed making the two cakes the came out well, and I loved seeing people enjoy these confections of my own making. The fallen cakes have really left me feeling frustrated and let down by my own lack of baking skills.

Oh, and the recipes really are delicious, even when they fell for me. I'd recommend them, definitely.

Part-time summer, full-time fall

firei — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:06:14 -0800

I'm graduating college next month and thinking about getting a part time job for the summer, then looking to get a full time job come September/October. Should I do this? Here's the skinny: I'm graduating from Fordham University, with a 3.7 GPA and a BS in Business Administration.

I'm planning on moving back home (in Putnam County, NY) for a few months.

Although I've been looking and applying for jobs, I haven't found any that I am both qualified for and are what I want. I don't think I'm being that picky, but, the last thing I want to do is start working full time immediately after four hard years at a job I'm not thrilled with.

Instead, I've been thinking of getting more of a standard part time summer job, whether it be in an office, as a receptionist, retail, childcare, whatev, which will allow me to make some money, but still have some summer to myself. I have a lot of personal projects and things that I'd like to work on before I'm doing the 9-5.

I'm banking on the idea that it will be easier to get a good, full-time job come the fall, because most recent college grads will have stopped looking. However, I don't know if this was ever true or is just a rumor, or if it will stand up in this economy.

Questions include:

Is this a good idea? Have you done this or know someone who has? Will future employers look down on me for not jumping right into the full time workforce? Will more jobs be available? Will there be less competition?

Any thoughts or ideas will help!

Forgotten fall of the Roman Empire quote?

jellywerker — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:51:38 -0800

I am looking for a quote I once read about the decline of nations/empires. I think the quote was specifically referencing the Roman Empire and said something to the effect of when a nation starts putting the current generation ahead of the unborn generation, that's when it falls. I think the quote might have been in The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, but I can't find it. I have always thought it was a very powerful quote, and rather relevant to today's social security issues.

Another way I think it might have been said was something along the lines of an empire falls when it puts pleasure ahead of the needs of the next generation.

I think this is also applicable to the cuts on education and research and development that recently went through, and I'd like to be able to quote it correctly.

Where can I find the clip of Andy Hurley on Cable in the Classroom?

thebrokenmuse — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:13:39 -0800

Where can I find the clip of Andy Hurley on the safe sex Cable in the Classroom speical on MTV last night? I don't know what it was called but he, along with members of Liz Phair, OK GO and other random people on the street were talking about safe sex and sex myths. I can't find it anywhere, my google-fu is failing me.

In the clip, he said that he heard that "pulling out was kind of effective."

I can't explain why I need this, but its urgent. Ha.

This weekend's iron chef ingredient: pumpkin. Now please help me do it right!

olinerd — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:15:14 -0800

Help me cook with pumpkin. More information than you require inside. I have a couple of gatherings this weekend to which I am requested to bring food. I'm looking for savory recipes, not so much sweet, and I'm hoping to make things sort of fall/Halloween themed by using pumpkin.

I've been investigating recipes online and in my dad's Cooking Light magazines. I have a lot of questions now.

Parameters: I have access to Whole Foods (which carries pumpkins as well as various types of squash). I do NOT want to use canned pumpkin (which, oddly, is the only thing Cooking Light suggests using to cook). Completed food must be capable of surviving a ~30 minute subway ride and 10 minute walk tonight and/or a 20 minute car ride tomorrow. (So, like, soup is hard, as is anything that must be served immediately). There will be 10-15 people tonight (adults) and up to 30 people tomorrow (adults and small children).

So my questions:
(1) Purchasing pumpkin. I read in some places that Jack-o-lantern type pumpkins are no good but then some previous AskMe questions have people from non-US countries saying things like "oh yeah, we have slices of grilled pumpkin on the side for breakfast." Are we talking about different pumpkins here? Can I buy the big orange pumpkins that I see everywhere -- and which I saw in grocery store produce sections year-round in Mexico -- and successfully cook with them, or should I stick with butternut squash or something?

(2) What sort of cheese goes well with pumpkin? I've found a few recipes with things like goat cheese and feta, but I'm not such a fan of either of those. Does anyone have experience with something like cow's milk brie with pumpkin that has turned out well? (Modify to substitute other types of squash for "pumpkin" depending on your answer to question 1)

(3) I have a cheap-o blender but not much else for food processing (which I see in many pumpkin/squash recipes). What else can I do to make pumpkin/squash go from cubes to mash, if I need to? Can I cook it down (like I do with applesauce or mashed potatoes) and leave it a little chunky, or is processing necessary?

(4) Any recipes you personally recommend? I have a few things in mind -- mostly involving filo dough -- but I am open to other possibilities if you've made something you think is great. (I too can Google, so just pointing me to lists of recipes is not as helpful...)

(And if heresiarch is reading this, yes, at least half of this is for your thing tonight. I hope you appreciate my dedication.)

Lawn leaf removal best practices

profwhat — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:02:26 -0800

What is the easiest way to get leaves off of my lawn? (Short of paying someone to do it). Leaf blowers? Ergonomic rakes? Lawn mowers?

Help me find another great fall book

sevenless — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:49:22 -0800

I'm looking for a book to read this month along the lines of Ray Bradbury's "From the Dust Returned." I want the book to feel like autumn. A few years ago I read "From the Dust Returned" during a typical rainy Seattle October. (It was my bus book.) For me it was the perfect combination of atmosphere, nostalgia, characters, loneliness, regret, wistfulness, and a touch of Halloween to make the perfect October fall book. What are some other books along the same lines that would be good for this year? I'm not really looking for a particularly scary or horror novel, but the right one would be fine (e.g. Something Wicked This Way Comes.) The book doesn't have to be by Bradbury. An anthology of (mostly) related stories would be great, but it doesn't have to be that similar.

Japan autumn colours in early November?

destrius — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:45:20 -0800

Going to Japan over the 1st week of November: where to see autumn colours? I'll be landing in Tokyo on 2nd November this year and I'll probably be spending upwards to a week in Japan. Does anybody know where would be a good place to visit to see the autumn colours (kouyou)?

I've found some online resources (e.g. http://kouyou.nihon-kankou.or.jp/) which give me a rough idea of what areas will be in full "bloom" during the period I'm there, but I get the idea I'll be a few weeks too early for the main autumn colour season. The areas towards the north (Tokohu) will likely be in season, but from what I gather there are less places up there to visit. Currently I'm planning to stay in Nara for a day or two.

Any more general suggestions of places I could visit are very welcome too... this is quite a sudden trip so I haven't really made any concrete plans yet.

Autumn music.

Dreamcast — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:29:13 -0800

What kind of music reminds you of autumn? I've been trying to compile a list of "autumn" music, but I'm having a difficult time trying to figure out exactly what kind of music would give off autumn "vibes". What kind of music reminds you of autumn? I'm looking for anything; specific songs, genres, instruments, et cetera.

As for me, I've found that this song most personifies autumn, but that could just be because it was used for the autumn season in a video game I've played extensively, so I'm not sure if other people would be reminded of autumn, as well. Not sure exactly what style of music that is, but that's the kind of music that reminds me most of the season [as a side question, does anyone know what style of music that song is?]. (Hopefully, it's all right to post that -- the game never had a soundtrack release, so I figure it's all right).

What's wrong with my wrist?

anotherpanacea — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:28:00 -0800

What's wrong with my wrist? My left wrist hurts, badly, when more than a few pounds of pressure are applied either forward or backward--hyper-flexion in the palmar/volar and dorsal directions. I don't think it's a sprain or a break, because there's no swelling or bruising visible, and I have full range of movement. Similarly, I don't think it's tendonitis because the pain is from pushing, not movement. I can go all day without pain or any special carefulness, and then accidentally lever myself up from sitting and have that horribly painful jolt. Examples of now-impossibly-painful activities: the down position in a push-up, propping my head with my hand.

[Probably irrelevant personal narrative: Several months ago, I tripped while running and landed on my hands. They were badly scraped up, but I was otherwise fine. Since they've healed, there's been a growing 'twinge' in that left wrist. Last month I engaged in lots of heavy lifting while moving and since then that hand has been pretty much useless. Yet despite the fact that I've avoided using it, it doesn't seem to want to get better.]

What's wrong? And, while we're at it, what's the treatment?

Fall Fiction

prior — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:10:22 -0800

Recommend some fiction that takes place in autumn. I'm an East-coaster living in California and I miss the seasons. My favorite is autumn, and I'd like to read some fiction that takes place in autumn/has good descriptions of fall weather/in which the season features large in one way or another. Any ideas?

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter?

gregb1007 — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 00:41:28 -0800

How do I ensure that I stay healthy while spending time outdoors during the winter? I love being outdoors, walking around the neighborhood, taking the train into town and sauntering along the streets.

However, the cold weather of fall and winter has had the unfortunate effect of turning me into a couch potato. I've started fearing the outdoors because even though I dress in layers and never feel cold, I still manage to get at least a minor case of cold/sore threat. I think it may have to do something with the fact that I walk briskly and work up a sweat. ( That is phenomenon is exacerbated by layers of clothing)

So what should I do to avoid the potential cold/sore threat?
(Btw, I usually wear a coat with a warm sweater underneath, and a hat. Also, sweatpants underneath my khakis when it's really freezing out. When the time comes, gloves and a scarf will come into the equation.)

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT

RobotHeart — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:36:01 -0800

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT. I have about 10 days to obtain what I need. I got this dress in chocolate. I would have preferred the grape, but it wasn't available. I technically bought it for the wedding, but don't think it's exactly ideal. Nevertheless I bought it -- it'll work for other occasions, and it's one of few dresses that fit properly on my weird little body. (I am 5'3", short-waisted, full in the tummy and also a bit heavy in general, heavy-busted with a pacemaker scar I'm not ashamed of but would prefer not be my primary accessory for the evening. My body can make certain perfectly awesome things look frumpy/matronly. FYI -- I am 23.)

One of the reasons I am not sure it's ideal is that this wedding will be populated, I would guess, mostly by people about 25-35, who are educated but far from stuffy. It's possible the majority of the women will show up in slightly more casual attire, maybe in punchier colors and/or the occasional print.

I'm looking for advice regarding shoes, jewelry, and some kind of sweater etc, nudging me towards slightly more casual. (Oh! And Spanx. I know nothing about them except that I need them to make the awkward transition between my hips and my ass less lumpy.) I'm too klutzy for slitettos and would prefer to keep the majority of my toes covered if I can, because I dislike them, but I understand that's not always stylistically possible :)

I have to be able to obtain these items within about 10 days. You can leave pictures and links along the lines of "this is the kind of thing you'll want to look for when shopping," but bonus points if you can tell me a place to find a particular item on Cleveland (OH)'s east side suburbs. I'm on the Cuyahoga/Lake Cty line, and I'm willing to go as far east as Mentor, and as far south as Solon.

If a person trips on rubbish...

dantodd — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:04:31 -0800

Neighbour leaves rubbish or rubbish bins on roadside curb. Third party trips on rubbish. Who assumes liability? I live in Brisbane, Australia. My neighbour and I live a "multi-unit dwelling". Said neighbour often leaves rubbish or rubbish bins on the curbside. If a someone tripped on the objects, who's responsible? The Body Corporate, the Brisbane City Council or the individual leaving the items?

Help me chase the fall!

AsRuinsAreToRome — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:37:59 -0800

I'm looking for people's past experiences visiting Julian, California. A little backstory: I'm originally from the East Coast (Northern New Jersey to be exact), but I now live in Los Angeles, CA. My favorite season has always been fall, and by the time I actually make it back home for the holidays in Dec, New Jersey is already well into winter. Recognizing that fact, my girlfriend suggested we book a cabin in the mountains surrounding Julian, CA for our Anniversary in the middle of October. The way the town was described to me was a "transplanted New Hampshire village". I want to get away from the palm trees and the beaches of Los Angeles.

I want all the trimmings: apple picking, hayrides, cider, pumpkins, pie - all of it. I've checked out the Julian Chamber of Commerce webpage, but I'm interested in what other MeFi'ers experiences have been at Julian. Whats your favorite part? Where do we go? What do we see? Lay it on me!

Aspens in New Mexico?

1f2frfbf — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:35:45 -0800

Amateur photographers want to find aspens in New Mexico. I will be visiting my father in Las Cruces, NM on the first week of October. We recently read in the National Geographic about the decline in Aspen populations, so we'd like to stage our own "Last Chance to See" trip. What's the best/closest place to go see a stand of aspen in a natural environment (ie. National or State Park, National Forest, etc), and how far would we have to go to find then in fall color?