If I Were a ______, I'd Be ________.

It's been a long time since I've done any of my usual Q&A style posts. But I was out with my friends and our conversation led me into the mood to answer a few fill in the blanks. There might be a few repeat questions from several years ago but it could be interesting to see if any of my answers have changed. Here we go...

If I was a ______, I'd be _______.


1. Board Game: Scrabble

2. Musical Instrument: Piano

3. Flower: Hydrangea

4. Time of Day: Midnight into the early hours of the morning

5. Alcoholic Drink: Champagne or a Dry, Red Wine

6. Country: Ireland

7. Weather: Thunderstorm

8. Era/Decade: Renaissance or the Roaring 20s...hard to believe it's nearly here again

9. Genre of Music: Alternative Rock or Ambient/Downtempo

10. Room in the House: Bedroom or Library

11. Book: Anne of Green Gables

12. Holiday: Halloween

13. Day of the Week: Saturday

14. Sport: Football

15. Song: Truth by Alex Ebert

16. Article of Clothing: Oversized Turtleneck

17. Movie: Hocus Pocus or Clueless

18. Car: '69 Chevelle SS. Black on ecru

19. Planet: I only want the Moon...at least in this solar system

20.  Accessory: Hat

21. Animal: Himalayan Cat

22. Food: Pepper Jack Cheese

23. Art: Midsummer Eve by Edward Robert Hughes or Fetal Trapping in Northern California by Mark Ryden

24. Corner of the Internet: Conspiracy Boards

25. Quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt












Now Playing: "Summer in November" by SiR

Queen of the Pumpkin Patch Fall Tag

What did you dress as for Halloween last year? I actually think that last year I didn't dress up. I just went to a haunted house and the bar on Halloween. It was a cold, rainy, nasty night. The year before that I was a deer because I love the makeup and wearing faux fur. 

What is your favorite Fall food? Candy. Any candy.

Do you have any Fall traditions? Every year I go away in the Fall for a Steelers away game. We're going to Miami this time. 

Do you have any Halloween traditions? Not really. Every year is a bit different. I just know that I always like to buy new decorations to add to my collection.

What music do you like to listen to during Fall? Here is my Fall Feels playlist to keep it literal. I tend to go for softer, slower, deeper music in the fall. Acoustic, alternative rock, Americana... with elements of dark, gothic undertones. Timber Timbre, Nick Cave, The Cure, Jeff Buckley, Mazzy Star, The National, Radiohead, Ray LaMontagne to name just a few...

Favorite spooky movie? Hocus Pocus is my favorite Halloween movie. But spooky? Maybe Let the Right One In

S’mores or pumpkin pie? S'mores

Hot chocolate or warm apple cider? Neither. I don't like warm beverages. I'll take a cold Oktoberfest beer, though. 

Do you like Pumpkin Spice Lattes? No way! I don't even drink regular coffee. Yuck.

What is your favorite day of the year? Christmas

What would your familiar be, if you had one? I do and she's a shih tzu and her name is Ireland Pearl. I also love cats. Someday I'm going to have a black kitty and name him Thackery Binx.

What is the story behind your URL? I came up with something that incorporated my name (Roman) and the most common font that was in use when I first started to use the internet in the 90s. I figured that blogs were the modern day newspapers so I visually laid out my site to mimic that look. The content is basically what's 'new' with 'Roman' (myself) in these current  'times'.  

As a side note, before I bought this domain several years ago, I believe that it was owned by a Baltimore band. I still occasionally get visitors who are looking for their music. If you're one of them, check out some of my Spotify playlists. They're not on any of them but there's about a million other songs to listen to. 

What is the best thing about your town during Fall? The stunning foliage is incredible in this part of the country. I read that Pennsylvania has the longest season of anywhere in the world. Of course football in western PA is unrivaled. 

Do you step on crunchy leaves just to hear their crunchy awesomeness? Yes.

Do you like going to the pumpkin patch? Yep. It's fun to ride the tractor and choose a pumpkin shape that speaks to you.

Do you go hiking through the woods during Fall season? No but that sounds like it would be a good time. I love the Laurel Highlands.

Where do you buy your Fall candles? I'm not choosy. I think most candles are severely overpriced considering they don't last long. I try to repurpose the jars to get more value for my money spent. I have candles from the dollar and craft stores, some from independent labels, randoms from the discount stores, others from the typical mall spots and even a few fancy ones that I hate to burn. My collection ranges from The Family Dollar to Diptyque. 

Do you enjoy carving jack-o-lanterns? No. It's too messy. But I love the look of them.

What is your favorite Fall color? Burnt orange.

Favorite tree? I'm not an expert but I did some research and it's looking like the Sugar Maple is predominant in western PA.

Corn maze or haunted maze? A haunted corn maze, of course. If I had to choose one or the other, I'd go with the haunted variety. 

Are you good at carving pumpkins? I don't have much experience so I'm going to say no.

Why did you start your Fall blog? My blog isn't focused primarily on Fall but I started it as an outlet for self-expression. I think it's extremely cool that I can share things with people all over the world. Even if no one ever reads my posts, it's therapeutic to write, create and inform.

Do you have a ‘main blog’? Link it! This is it. I also have a tumblr but I don't use it very often.

Spooky or sweet? I enjoy a mixture of both for different reasons. When it comes to Fall decor, I'm more traditional than I am spooky or sweet. I like the rustic glam look for Autumn.

Do you enjoy visiting graveyards? Yes. I love to read the headstones. If I ever get a good camera, I'd love to do a project on epitaphs.

What is your favorite Fall memory? There's so many. Dressing up for Halloween parties in grade school, cheering for football games in high school, homecoming dances, college parties, traveling to Salem and New Orleans for Halloween in my 20s. 

What was your best Fall ever? Fall 2004. My freshman year of college at WVU.

Gloves or mittens? Gloves.

Do you enjoy rain? Yes. I love it! As long as I don't have to drive in it.

If you could spend Fall anywhere, where would you choose? Pittsburgh has spectacular Falls. Other than home, I'd like to visit New England again. I've never been to Vermont or Maine.

What’s your dream Halloween outfit? I want to be Peg Bundy but I have to find an Al first, lol. I'd get the hair done to look exactly like her. My hair is tremendously thick so I know they could tease it properly to high heaven. 

Be honest…are you already stocking up for Fall? It's currently October and I have purchased quite a few new decorations for the season. 

Do you enjoy the other seasons? Yes. I like Winter for many reasons. I'm a night owl so I actually don't mind darker days. I enjoy the sports, holiday season, my birthday, Valentine's Day... Curling up by the fire and watching the snow fall is always nice. Spring is pretty because by then, I'm ready for sunlight, greenery, and fresh air. I also love thunderstorms and the temperate weather. Summer nights have a magical energy to them and people are always much more social. There's more things to do like concerts and festivals. One of the things I love about where I live is that we are fortunate enough to experience all four seasons. I think nature is perfectly balanced when it's cyclical. I could never live in a climate that is always the same.

How do you plan to spend this Halloween? Despite living on a main road in the city, we get 0 trick-or-treaters. On Halloween itself, I'll probably go out to watch Monday Night Football. For the weekend leading up to Halloween, I'm not sure yet. Maybe a party, maybe the bar.

What is your favorite Fall candle scent? Diptiyque Feu de Bois (wood fire), Bath & Body Works Leaves and Marshmallow Fireside. Anything pumpkin. 

Do you enjoy Christmas? Yes, I love just about everything surrounding the Christmas season. 

What is your favorite store during Fall? Michael's. I'm all about that DIY. 

Do you enjoy cold weather? Yes. I prefer the cold over the heat. I hate to be hot.

What is your favorite Halloween candy? It's not exactly a Halloween candy but my fave is flavored Tootsie Rolls- the cherry ones, especially. 

What is one thing you would love to try during Fall, but haven’t yet? I'd love to go on a hot air balloon ride. I've also been wanting to visit Gettysburg and do a ghost tour. 

What do your friends and family think of your Fall obsession? I think most of the people in my life also love this time of the year. How could you not?

Be honest…are you already planning your Fall-themed wedding? Yes. And I'm single. My parents were married in October so I always wanted to follow in their footsteps.

Do you have Fall/Halloween boards on Pinterest. Link them! Of course! I have them grouped into one section. It can be found here.


The original tag from the Queen of the Pumpkin Patch can be found here.












Now Playing: "Depreston" by Courtney Barnett

The INFJ TV Show Questionnaire

1. Your favorite TV show: Daria



2. A TV show that you started but never finished: The Tudors (I love JRM. Saving the series for a rainy day)



3. A TV show that you still haven't seen but want to: The Affair (well, I'm behind on Season 2)



4. A TV show that you hated: Ren and Stimpy (it never felt appropriate for kids)



5. A TV show that made you happy: Saved by the Bell



6. A TV show that made you sad/cry: Unsolved Mysteries (unsettled would be a better descriptor. Loved this program.)



7. A TV show that reminds you of someone: Beverly Hills, 90210 (my sister)



8. A TV show that reminds you of somewhere: Ghost Adventures



9. A TV show that you've seen every episode of multiple times: Full House



10. A TV show that made you think: Making a Murderer



11. A TV show that should be made into a movie: Sex and the City (again! I want another movie)



12. A TV show featuring your favorite actor/ensemble cast: The Golden Girls



13. A TV show featuring your favorite character: The Office (Michael Scott)



14. A TV show that is a guilty pleasure: Scream Queens



15. A TV show that no one would expect you to like: Counting On (The Duggar family fascinates me and they make for the most unintentionally funny viewing. If you watch as if it's a mockumentary, it makes it all the more hilarious).



16. A TV show that you can relate to: Pittsburgh Dad (it's not exactly a TV show but close enough)



17. A TV show from your favorite genre: Modern Family (comedy/mockumentary/family sitcom)



18. A TV show that you tell others to watch: Odd Mom Out



19. A TV show that you never miss an episode of: The Real Housewives of New York



20. A TV show that made you scared: Are You Afraid of the Dark?



21. A TV show from before you were born: The Brady Bunch



22. A TV show from your childhood: Under the Umbrella Tree



23. A TV show that you wish you were on: Who Do You Think You Are? or Legends of the Hidden Temple





24. A classic TV show: I Love Lucy



25. A TV show that makes you laugh: Mama's Family



26. Your favorite TV Mom & Dad (not necessarily a pair): Roseanne Conner, Roseanne; Tim Taylor, Home Improvement.





27. Your favorite TV show couple: Peg & Al Bundy, Married with Children



28. A children's TV show: Mister Rogers' Neighborhood



29. A sports TV show: 24/7



30. A cooking TV show: Barefoot Contessa



31. A TV show that taught you something: Ancient Aliens



32. An animated/cartoon TV show: South Park



33. A TV show that you binge watched: House of Cards



34. The last TV show you started (and continued) to watch from the pilot episode: Grace and Frankie



35. A unique TV show: Stranger Things



36. A TV show that isn't really your type but you actually love: The Walking Dead



37. A reality TV show: The Bachelor/The Bachelorette



38. A TV game show: Jeopardy!



39. A TV news show: Real Time with Bill Maher 



40. An international TV show: The Inbetweeners



41. A TV show that always has a good soundtrack: Girls



42. A TV show that should get a reboot: The Little Rascals (it was originally a TV show long before the 1994 movie)



43. A TV show that you were disappointed to see get canceled: Wicked City



44. A TV show that you liked in the beginning but wore out its welcome: True Blood



45. A TV show that is overrated: Breaking Bad (I haven't given it a real chance, though)



46. A TV show that is underrated: Dawson's Creek



47. A TV show that you own on DVD: Summer Heights High (one of my all-time favorites)



48. A TV show that you wish was still regularly on TV: The Munsters



49. A TV show that you spent a significant era of your life watching: Mad Men



50. A TV show that made you want to travel to where it was set/filmed: Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea (Prince Edward Island)

















Now Playing: "Howling - Ame Remix" by Howling

The INFJ Book Questionnaire

1. Your favorite book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2. A book you started but never finished: Pretty Little Killers: The Truth Behind the Savage Murder of Skylar Neese by Daleen Berry (not a bad book just need to jump back into it)

3. A book you still haven't read but want to: A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard

4. A book you hated: Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (hate is a strong word but I never really liked the artwork or cared for its negative, repetitive nature when I was a child).

5. A book that made you happy: Hello From Heaven! (...After-Death Communication) by Bill & Judy Guggenheim

6. A book that made you sad/cry: Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, A Life Reclaimed: A Memoir of the Cleveland Kidnappings by Michelle Knight

7. A book that reminds you of someone: Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham

8. A book that reminds you of somewhere: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (traveling in Europe)

9. A book that you've read more than once: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

10. A book that made you think: Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge by Laren Stover

11. A book that was better than the movie: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (although I also liked the movie)

12. A book by your favorite author: Barrell Fever: Stories and Essays by David Sedaris

13. A book featuring your favorite character: Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

14. A book that was a guilty pleasure: I'm with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres

15. A book that no one would expect you to like: Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt

16. A book that describes you/you can relate to: Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

17. A book from your favorite genre: Lily Dale: The Town That Talks to the Dead by Christine Wicker (Nonfiction/Metaphysical/New Age -- although Memoirs/Humor/Essays and Art/Coffee Table books are also some of my favorite genres)

18. A book that you tell others to read: What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill (one of my favorite books)

19. A book that you love at Christmas: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

20. A book that you love at Halloween: Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice and Ghost Stories of Pittsburgh by Beth E. Trapani

21. A book that made you scared: The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Michael Newton

22. A book from before you were born: None Dare Call It Conspiracy by Gary Allen

23. A book from your childhood: Kenny and the Little Kickers by Claudio Marzollo & Jacqueline Rogers

24. A book that you wish you were in: Pittsburgh Born, Pittsburgh Bred: 500 of the More Famous People Who Have Called Pittsburgh Home by C. Prentiss Orr

25. A classic book: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

26. A book that makes you laugh: My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands by Chelsea Handler

27. A romantic book: Come to the Edge: A Love Story by Christina Haag

28. A children's book: A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

29. A sports book: The Color of Sundays: The Secret Strategy That Built the Steelers Dynasty by Andrew Conte

30. A cook book:  Ladurée Macarons The Recipes by Vincent Lemains (I prefer to bake)

31. A book that taught you something: Mysteries of the Unexplained by Carroll C. Calkins

32. A coffee table book: Fornasetti: The Complete Universe by Mariuccia Casadio

33. A unique book: The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

34. The last book you read: Stone Houses: Traditional Homes of Pennsylvania's Bucks County and Brandywine Valley by Margaret Bye Richie

35. The next book you're going to read: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

36. A book you wish that you wrote: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

It should be noted that after I completed this post, I took a look at my selections. I never realized that I read a lot of books that have death as a major plot point. I'm not sure how that ties into my psyche but there you have it. To see my virtual bookshelf, click here.












Now Playing: "The Walker" by Gayngs

The INFJ Movie Questionnaire

1. Your favorite movie: Before Sunrise (the entire trilogy, actually)



2. A movie you still haven't seen but want to: The Godfather



3. A movie that makes you happy: Troop Beverly Hills



4. A movie that makes you sad/cry: Steel Magnolias



5. A movie that reminds you of someone: Anywhere But Here 



6. A movie that reminds you of somewhere: The Next Three Days (filmed in my neighborhood)



7. A movie that reminds you of a certain event: Zack and Miri Make a Porno (high school reunions)

8. A movie that you know all the lines to: Clueless



9. A movie that makes you think: Eyes Wide Shut



10. A movie with a good soundtrack: Stealing Beauty



11. A movie by your favorite director: Dazed and Confused (Richard Linklater)



12. A movie featuring your favorite actor: The Notebook (Rachel McAdams & Ryan Gosling)



13. A movie that is a guilty pleasure: The Women



14. A movie that no one would expect you to love: Party Monster



15. A movie that describes you/you can relate to: Safety Not Guaranteed



16. A black & white film: For Lovers Only



17. A movie that you see often on TV: Mean Girls



18. A movie that you wish you saw on TV: To the Wonder



19. A movie from your favorite genre: Titanic



20. A movie that you love at Christmas: The Family Stone



21. A movie that you love at Halloween: Hocus Pocus



22. A move that makes you scared: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre



23. A movie from before you were born: Gone with the Wind



24. A movie from your childhood: Now and Then



25. A movie you wish you were in: Sixteen Candles (not necessarily the movie but the era)



26. A sports movie: The Mighty Ducks



27. A movie that makes you laugh: What We Do in the Shadows



28. A romantic movie: Charlie Countryman



29. An animated movie: The BFG



30. A musical: The Wizard of Oz



31. A fairy tale: Ever After: A Cinderella Story



32. An action movie: Striking Distance



33. A documentary: Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen; Nursery University



34. A foreign film: A Swedish Love Story













Now Playing: "Anabel - (Radio Edit)" by Luc Angenehm

The INFJ Music Questionnaire

1. Your favorite song: Having a Party by Sam Cooke



2. Your least favorite song: I don't really have one but Bad Day by Daniel Powter isn't great.



3. A song that makes you happy: Rebel Yell by Billy Idol



4. A song that makes you sad: Blood by The Middle East (a beautiful kind of sad)



5. A song that reminds you of someone: Return of the Mack (C&J Street Mix) by Mark Morrison (makes me think of my best friend)



6. A song that reminds you of somewhere: Country Roads by John Denver (brings back memories of college in West Virginia)



7. A song that reminds you of a certain event: Disparate Youth by Santigold (a music festival)



8. A song that you know all the words to: Head Over Feet by Alanis Morissette



9. A song that you can dance to: Yeah! by Usher, Lil Jon, & Ludacris



10. A song that makes you fall asleep: All the Wild Horses by Ray LaMontagne



11. A song from your favorite band: The Sun by Portugal. The Man



12. A song from a band you hate: Hate is a strong word but if I had to choose, any song by Green Day is not something I'd keep on the radio.



13. A song that is a guilty pleasure: Goodbye, Horses by Q Lazzarus



14. A song that no one would expect you to love: Who You'd Be Today by Kenny Chesney



15. A song that describes you: Red Headed Woman by Bruce Springsteen



16. A song that you used to love but now hate: It's not like me at all to drastically change my opinion on things. There really isn't any I can think of. Here's a song that you may have never heard before that I play nonstop. Love it! Higher by Kwamie Liv



17. A song that you hear often on the radio: I don't listen to a lot of top 40 radio but growing up, I remember I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston constantly being played.



18. A song that you wish you heard on the radio: Little Red Corvette by Prince

19. A song from your favorite album: Born to Die by Lana Del Rey



20. A song that you listen to when you're angry: Ghost Lights by Woodkid



21. A song that you listen to when you're happy: Balance by Future Islands



22. A song that you listen to when you're sad: Port of Morrow by The Shins



23. A song that you want to play at your wedding: All I Want is You by U2



24. A song that you want to play at your funeral: Aside from traditional church hymns, Turn Into the Noise by Patrick Watson has a fitting vibe.


25. A song that you love at Christmas: Other than holiday music which I love, Blood Bank by Bon Iver



26. A song that makes you laugh: Alexander Wang by Bon Qui Qui. If you're unfamiliar, she's actually a comedienne (Anjelah Johnson).



27. A song that you can play on an instrument: Unfortunately, I don't play any instruments. It would be nice to play piano or acoustic guitar. I've always liked listening to classical music.



28. A song that you wish you could play: First Arabesque by Claude Debussy. I loved the version from the theme of the PBS show Jack Horkheimer: Star Gazer.






29. A song that makes you feel guilty: This was a challenge. I wouldn't say this song makes me feel guilty per se but the imagery it conjures is interesting. No Stranger by Small Black



30. A song from your childhood: Jump by Kris Kross



31. Your favorite song at this time last year: I Went to the Store One Day by Father John Misty

Ten Things

1. Houses. I can't get enough of looking at them. Every house for sale within a 10 mile radius- check. Houses featured in movies and television- always researching. Pinterest, Apartment Therapy, Design Blogs... I've become obsessed.

2. Ice Cubes. I know it's not a wonderful habit but chewing them is so damn satisfying when you're living without air conditioning.

3. Green Salsa. Love spicy foods. Really enjoying this as a snack.

4. New Music from some of my favorites: Bon Iver, Portugal. The Man, Father John Misty... Can't wait for the albums and hopefully some tour dates.

5. Football Season. It's finally back (sorta). My favorite time of the year is just around the corner! Looking forward to fall.

6. Men from Scotland. I've admittedly been around the globe via Tinder passport and Edinburgh seems to have the most concentrated group of "my type" in the English-speaking world.

7. My shih-tzu Ireland's fur is growing back in rather cutely from her Summer buzz cut. She looks like a puppy! So adorbs.

8. Stranger Things. I first heard about this show on my favorite conspiracy theory message board (don't judge). It's cool to see how popular it has become. Love the actors and the soundtrack.

9. G Wagons. As strong as my love affair is with Lana Del Lexus, I'm craving the boxy lines on these bad boys. Being higher up makes driving much easier. Keeping my eyes open for a black on brown model that is priced well. Dreaming.

10. Amusement Parks. I don't know why it never really occurred to me but Pittsburgh is relatively close to quite a number of them. Kennywood has always been more than enough to satisfy my thrill seeking ways but I've been thinking about road trips to the several parks in nearby states and regions (Cedar Point, Six Flags, Hershey Park, Busch Gardens, etc...).









Now Playing: "Smoke Rings" by Kristin Kontrol