Introduce Yourself : Fall, Fall, Fall by Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan my favourite thing about Autumn is watching other people raking leaves.

In other news. Next year I’ll grow my own pumpkins and make pumpkin pie. The last time I did it, it was a big success.

Hi Maurice Vaughan! Thanks for always being such an incredibly encouraging and active member of our community! My favorite thing is that cool crisp fall air - not that we get much of it in LA - but I was out east in the mountain last week and it was amazing

Maurice your photo made me lol

Watching other people rake leaves sounds more fun than raking leaves, Geoff Hall. That's great that you're growing your own pumpkins and make pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie is one of my favorites. I might have some this fall.

You're welcome, Emily J. Thanks for the acknowledgement! And the same thing back to you! I love the cool crisp fall air. I'm from a small town, so I know exactly what you mean.

Glad the photo made you laugh, Sydney S. :D I laughed too. A few times. Haha

Love the photo, Maurice Vaughan, and thanks for all you do as a member of our community! My favorite thing about fall is Thanksgiving. A national day of overeating? I'm in! Haha

You're welcome, David Abrookin. Thanks. Thanks for everything you do for Stage 32! Thanksgiving and sleep. The perfect pair. Haha

Maurice Vaughan Oh dude, you struck a nerve! Our fall here is really tough because our house is surrounded by leaves and it takes an ENTIRE weekend to blow it all out and that's even with the help of pro landscapers helping us. Geoff Hall would have fun watching from the shadows.

The colors are BEAUTIFUL but oh I so dread the leaves falling! I do absolutely love Thanksgiving though! The best thing about fall is that it's my daughter's birthday. We have a great time celebrating.

"Geoff Hall would have fun watching from the shadows." Haha Leonardo Ramirez! There's pine trees around our house. A lot of pine needles on the ground.

You all have a double celebration in fall. Thanksgiving and your daughter's birthday. I love Thanksgiving too. More for family than the food, but the food's definitely a plus.

Maurice Vaughan I love the smell of pine. I'd take pine any day in place of all the leaves. Yes, the double celebration is great. Mackenzy and I also have upheld a tradition since she was 11 months old. She and I have a daddy/daughter dinner on the eve of her birthday. This one will be the 22nd time we've done this and we haven't missed one yet.

Happy "build your tribe" weekend, Maurice Vaughan . Thank you for always making me smile with your presence and support!

Love the photo you included here lol

As.I get older, I have to admit that I’m not as big a fall fan as I used to be (for one thing, my cold sensitivity has increased with age), but I do still like things like the changing colors, the smells in the air that seem to belong uniquely to that time of year, and some of the.festivals of that time of the year, like the various.Oktoberfests, or the famous Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana. Heck, I even still like an occasional cold, grey rainy day (which is always a part of any fall worthy of that name).

That's a great tradition, Leonardo Ramirez. "I love the smell of pine" reminds me of that lady on the Pine-Sol commercials.

I really appreciate it, Elena Maro. Do you have a favorite thing about fall?

Thanks, Dustin Richardson. I was gonna use a photo of leaves, but I saw this photo and had to use it. What's your favorite thing about fall?

I like those things about fall too, Christopher Neal Fisher, I'm not sure if we have any fall festivals here (we probably do), but we have a Watermelon Festival in the summer. Going to it is a tradition.

So heres the thing about leaves. Leave (no pun intended!) them to turn to mulch as mother nature intended! if you can't let them lie over the ground where they fall, at least rake them into a mulch pile and use the compost next year. I do - and love observing that pile as it sinks from HUGE to small.(And the dog appreciates it as sleeping place when the winter sun lands on it.)

Thanks for the tip, Kate Merywyn Hawkes.

Oh gosh, Maurice Vaughan, it’s been a spell since I’ve seen that commercial. I can still smell it. LOL

Haha Leonardo Ramirez. I wonder if the Pine-Sol lady is still making commercials (Pine-Sol or other commercials). Speaking of commercials, I wrote some for producers. I also use commercials as writing samples. They're short (15 seconds, 30 seconds, 45 seconds, one minute, etc.), so it doesn't take long for a producer to read them.

Living on the Gulf Coast, my favorite thing about fall are cooler weather (cool being relative), and lower humidity. Definitely worth celebrating.

She's still around Maurice Vaughan. But the pandemic put a pause on her commercials, it seems. https://www.suggest.com/pine-sol-lady-diane-amos-replaced/2621147/

Hi Maurice. If you're at the AFM let's meet up for a coffee!

Fall is my favorite season for three reasons :

- The calm before the storm, so to speak.

- The moment to reflect on the entire year as a whole.

- Halloween, obviously!

Maurice Vaughan Such a great icebreaker question. Since I live in the desert, I enjoy the temperatures dropping. Halloween is my favorite holiday, so I love pulling out the spooky decorations and making chowder. And not that an excuse is necessary, but I binge horror and thriller movies all through October. Just jealous that you get to work with them all year. ;)

Maurice Vaughan , Some of my sweetest memories from back home are related to fall. When I was a kid I loved harvesting grapes, picking mushrooms and chestnuts in the woods and then cooking them and enjoying the food, paired with some good red wine, with friends and family ( the wine was added later on when I was an adult, though). As a tradition here in California I still enjoy cooking comfort food for the cool evenings ( Italian cliché... LOL)

I love the cool weather of fall, Susan Arscott. Spring and fall are my favorite seasons.

Thanks, Leonardo Ramirez. I didn't know Diane Amos is a stand-up comedian and film and TV actress.

I won't be at the AFM, Effie Trihas, but thanks for the offer!

I like your favorites, Marcel Nault Jr. Calm before what storm?

I didn't know there's a desert in Utah, Heather Jensen! Clam chowder? I'm watching Horror and Thriller movies throughout October too. What's the last Horror or Thriller movie you've watched?

Those sound like wonderful memories, Elena Maro. How can you tell which mushrooms are poisonous?

Maurice Vaughan , I only pick those three/ four safe species I know by heart. There are some little details you can't go wrong with even when the species are pretty similar. My late dad used to take me with him since when I was five and taught me about those details. For Example, the distinctions between Amanita Muscaria , poisonous and Amanita Cesarea, one of the most refined and expensive mushrooms in Europe... oh, and speaking of autumn, how could I forget about Truffles? In Alba we have truffle auctions attended by people from all over the world where truffles are sold even for around 200 Euros per gram ( 1 gram= 0.03527396 ounces) and last year a single truffle was sold at the record price of 190,000 Euros ( the cost of a big farmhouse in the area) .... Tagliatelle with truffles are to die for....

I love watching the leaves change color. And, while I'm not Goth, I DO love wearing dark colors and sweaters, and right now, the weather's just right for that.

I'm also watching horror films/series right now. the Fall of the House of Usher is a new fave along with Castlevania; Nocturne.

I don’t think there.are any fall festivals around the Madison area, Maurice. I know that Oktoberfest is a huge deal in LaCrosse, though. While I loved going to the Covered Bridge Festival, if you really want to enjoy the bridges and the scenery and the charm of the various towns, villages, and hamlets of Parke County, the best time to go is anytime but festival time. The traffic there during those 10 days is INSANE! lol Madison used to have loads of festivals in the summer, but the pandemic really did a number on that. Festa Italia, Greek Fest, and Fete du Marquette did come back, but I think Fiesta Hispaña and Mexican Independence Day celebrations may be gone (at least I don’t recall seeing anything about them, though Fiesta Hispaña, which used to be HUGE up until maybe.10-12 years ago, had been in decline well before the pandemic). Milwaukee has several ethnic festivals during the summer, as well as SummerFest.

When picking mushrooms, stick to the ones you know are safe. Got it, Elena Maro. I've heard of truffles. How do they taste?

I like watching leaves change colors, Elaine Haygood. And falling off trees. "The Fall of the House of Usher" is on my TV watchlist. I'll probably start watching "Yellowjackets" next.

I've heard of Oktoberfest, Christopher Neal Fisher. I wonder why October is spelled that way.

Because it’s a festival of.German origin, Maurice, and German usually uses the letter “c” only in combination with other letters, not on its own. For instance, a common letter combination in German is “sch”, which is pronounced like “sh”. For most instances where we would use a “c”, German would use a “s” in place of “soft c” and a “k” in place of “hard.c”. Hence they spell October as Oktober. My first name is usually spelled in German like “Kristofer” instead of “Christopher”.

Thanks for explaining, Christopher Neal Fisher. I feel like that could be part of the lore for an Adventure or Horror story.

Maurice Vaughan , hard to tell in words how truffles taste, every person seem to give a different description : for me they taste like a mixture of flavorful cheese, garlic, honey, hay and mushrooms with a light aroma of woodland in autumn ( the trees, the leaves and the humid ground). Hope it makes sense, you'll have to try them one day :)

We finished "Fall of the House of Usher" last night, Maurice Vaughan. A little uneven in spots, as most of Mike Flanagan's series, but a really masterful weaving of elements from Poe's work into a contemporary setting, and entertaining throughout. Speaking of masterful, we saw "Killers of the Flower Moon" on Friday. Scorcese never fails to amaze!

Maurice Vaughan The winter as the "storm" if you will. The harshest season around.

I'm odd, I find joys in each season. No pumpkin spice anything, but fall has its charms.

With how much truffles cost, Elena Maro, I might never try them. Haha

I'm looking forward to seeing "Fall of the House of Usher" and "Killers of the Flower Moon," Jeffrey J. Mariotte. From the trailer, I think "Killers of the Flower Moon" will be an Oscar contender. "Oppenheimer" too.

I do too, Bill McCormick. I find joys in each season. What's one thing you like about fall, winter, spring, or summer?

Oh ok, Marcel Nault Jr. That reminds me of a script I need to finish.

Halloween!!!!

And I watch Horror all year round, but I love the "Haunted Houses" and corn mazes! I also have a black cat, so it's his Day

I remember the last time I went trick-or-treating, Suzanne Bronson. I was 13. The teenage girl who answered the door said, "Aren't you too old to be trick-or-treating?" I told her it was my last year. She gave me some candy and complimented the zebra-printed pillowcase I was using as my bag. Haha

Pretty cat. Does he sit on your laptop when you write?

I haven't been to a haunted house since I was a kid. That place SCARED me! Haha I don't think I've ever been to a corn maze.

Well as an adult, it's not about Trick or Treating, it's about Halloween parties and costume contests.

Not him, but my tabby likes to walk on my keyboard.

That's the point of a Haunted House. It's all about the jump scares! Don't you write horror? There's nothing more disappointing than a non scary horror movie.

@Leonardo Ramirez So, Leonardo, you I guess you could say, “I love the smell of pine needles in the morning.”

I've never been to a Halloween party or costume contest, Suzanne Bronson. Do you throw your own or do you go to ones that other people throw?

I wrote a Horror short script about a cat. I added things that cats do like sit on a laptop and reach under a door when it's closed.

Yeah, it's really disappointing when a Horror movie isn't scary. I like to mix jump scares with other scares like psychological scares.

Haha Geoff Hall

Maurice Vaughan Spring -- the smell of new life, summer - laying in the sun, fall - walks in the woods, winter - the seclusion.

Yes Maurice Vaughan there are usually someone on Meetup.com throwing a Halloween party at their home or at the local bar. And Old Town Scottsdale has an annual bar crawl the Saturday before Halloween. I often don't make it to events though in my previous job I usually worked on Halloween and we couldn't dress up at work. I suppose I could go this Sat, I haven't come up with a costume idea though.

Maurice Vaughan , you actually need three/four very thin slices of them for a full dish, so, yes, it is not the cheapest course to order at a restaurant, but it is doable once in a while... There are also some truffle flavored oil you can add on top of fries, for example, that are very affordable and will give you an idea. One whole truffle would last a year, but I myself can do more than the two options I mentioned ;)

Walks in the woods sounds great, Bill McCormick.

"I haven't come up with a costume idea though." A Stage 32 Lounge Moderator, Suzanne Bronson! :D Or your favorite Horror movie character.

I might try the truffle flavored oil on fries, Elena Maro. Where do you buy your truffle flavored oil?

Maurice Vaughan grocery stores usually have it. I found it even online ( don't want to sound like I am promoting any brands or stores... LOL)

Not until they give you an endorsement deal, right, Elena Maro? Haha I'll look online first.

Of course, Maurice Vaughan . haha

I love the color of leaves changing and knowing the holidays will be here soon.

So do I, Asmaa Jamil. Leaves changing colors and the holidays coming soon. Candy (Halloween), food (Thanksgiving), and gifts (Christmas). :)

One of my favorite seasons. There is no cold, a sweet coolness, nature is changing, the leaves are turning yellow and my birthday is coming! Not everyone has the chance to be born on October 30th, Halloween! This is what it's like to be a naturally bad a...! LOL. Now good a... Thanks to those who change everything!

My birthday is in fall too, Volkan (Walkie ) Durakcay. Happy Birthday in case I don't get a chance to say it on the 30th!

Halloween!

Loved this :) Happy to read more about you Maurice ^_^

In Italy usually we don't celebrate halloween (I do), actually we 've started celebrating "Halloween" like a "cool" thing we robbed from the other culture.

Having said that, one of the things I love the most is one: Tim Burton (yup, to me, Autumn is the perfect expression of this: meloncholy, sadness and beauty.

Ciao! :)

What's your favorite thing about Halloween, Martina Girlanda?

Tim Burton has INCREDIBLE movies, Ugo Cavallo. My favorite is "Beetlejuice" or "Batman Returns." What's your favorite?

The Nightmare Before Christmas

I like "The Nightmare Before Christmas" too, Suzanne Bronson. I haven't seen it in a long time. Maybe time for a rewatch.

It's my favorite Christmas movie.

Maurice Vaughan Legend of Sleepy Hollow is one of my favorite Tim Burton movies.

I think my favorite Christmas movie is "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" with Jim Carrey or "The Santa Clause," Suzanne Bronson. I saw "The Santa Clause" in theaters as a kid.

"Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is one of my favorite Tim Burton movies too, Jill Godley. I saw the play in elementary school.

Maurice Vaughan right now my hometown is having a Tim burton's exhibition (so awesome!), my fav movie? nightmare b christmas and.... Edward Scissorhand! I'm going to make a post about it, stay tuned ;)