Wild Release #147

I admit I'm not always *exactly* on time for things—a minute or two or five or ten in either direction is more commmon than not. However, I was five days late for this week's SSM. I had a good excuse—I was waiting for the perfect book and *it* was late. I found it in a box of books that I bought on ebay using a gift card from my favorite little sister, and I didn't get around to registering it and labeling it properly until after this week's SSM had come and gone. Not wanting to let this serendipity slip away, I thought Leap Day itself would be a great day to release it, so I left Dean Koontz's "Tick Tock," tucked safely in a plastic BookCrossing release bag, propped up against the base of the clock outside the Courthouse on Main and Otterman Streets. I mention the bag because at the time I left it there, a snowstorm was depositing several inches over southwestern Pennsylvania. The book should be well protected until someone claims it. Mission accomplished at last!

This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:

SSM 022408: Go take a leap!
When: February 24th 2008
How: It’s leap year this year. Books related to time, astronomy or leaping/jumping (or however it translates in YOUR language). Bonus if you can place the book somewhere that the finder has to leap/jump for it.

Wild Release #146

Sister No. 6 asked for my company when she went to the mall tonight, so I graciously said OK and slipped a book in my purse. I left "Arthur's Reading Race," by Marc Brown--a brand-new hardback book I found at Goodwill before Christmas--sitting next to Arthur himself in the little coin-operated Arthur's School Bus ride on the lower level of the mall near Sears. I had to feign an interest in the dollar store's Easter merchandise as I waited for people to move away so I could release the book unobserved. My patience was rewarded; perhaps the next child to take a ride in the bus will be rewarded with my little gift.

Release #18 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #145

Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk was one of the flavors of the day at The Meadows Original Frozen Custard today, and even though I was somewhat frozen myself thanks to the lovely weather (rain, cold, and fog) I decided I was deserving of a treat. I made it a double treat when I left "Full Scoop," by Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes, in a BookCrossing release bag on a bench outside the front door around 5 p.m.

Wild Release #144

Love is in the air for patrons of Valley Dairy Restaurant in the Eastgate Shopping Plaza on Route 30 East in Greensburg. More specifically, "Love Story," by Erich Segal, is on the sidewalk outside. It's in a BookCrossing release bag and is propped up on one of the newspaper boxes just outside the door. Enjoy!

Release #17 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #143

Today was George Washington's 276th birthday. What better day to release a biography of our nation's first President? With that in mind, I braved the weather to head for the Wonder Hostess Bakery Outlet on Route 119 in Greensburg, where I planned to leave George among the cherry pies. What I didn't count on, was a trio of workers congregated in the general area of the delightful delicacies. I was forced to leave George *behind* the racks of cherry pies; I'm sure he'll fare well.

Wild Release #142

It was pretty easy to release "It's Not Easy Being Big!" by Stephanie St. Pierre, at the Eastgate Giant Eagle today. I was able to slip it in the seat of a kiddie shopping cart as I made my way to the produce section. Easy peasy!

Release #16 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

RABCKs #71 - #72

Two Dr. Seuss books are on their way to newmmy in Littleton, Colo., to give to preschool students enrolled in a program for low-income families in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday on March 3, 2008. The books are: Green Eggs and Ham and Dr. Seuss's ABC.

Wild Release #141

My teeth are sparkling, I have no cavities, and I have one less book in my AVL pile thanks to a trip to the dentist today. I left "In Search of the Far Side," by Gary Larson, on the bench in the lobby of Dr. Vince's office before my appointment today.

Wild Release #140

I found a great new place to release books today--the information center board off the upper lake parking lot of Twin Lakes Park. It's a big bulletin board with a ledge, with a little shelf area protected from the elements by a glass-front door. The shelves are just the right size for books. Meg Cabot's "Princess in Waiting" was release number fifteen for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge. Don't make the princess wait too long!

Wild Release #139

Today was both Presidents' Day and my mother's birthday, and since I didn't have to go to work (*love* those national holidays!) I took my mother to Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh for the Chihuly Gardens & Glass show. I had Sara Gran's "Come Closer" burning a hole in my pocket (well, purse really, and there was no actual smoke) so I left it behind for some lucky gardens, glass, and book lover to find.

Wild Release #138

My thirteenth SSM called for the release of a book concerning local history. I found "Pennsylvania Battlefields & Military Landmarks," by Arthur P. Miller Jr., and Marjorie L. Miller, on my bookshelf and thought it would be perfect to register and release. The book talks about two sites that are relatively close to Greensburg--Bushy Run and Fort Ligonier. Although I was unable to leave the book at either of those sites, I did leave it at St. Clair Park in Greensburg, which was named after General Arthur St. Clair, a Revolutionary War hero and one of the Presidents of the Continental Congress. Mission accomplished!

This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:

SSM 021708: Local History
When: February 17th 2008
How: Celebrate your local history! What is your town known for? Is there a hidden gem of a museum where you can release a book? Or maybe a monument or memorial? Local history, biographies, immigrants. Choose something significant and relevant to your area.

Wild Release #137

I planned on eating lunch at Panera Bread and releasing a book there today, but fate had other plans for me. I *did* release a book--Elise Juska's "Getting Over Jack Wagner"--but no lunch for me! I thought I was being very stealthy and clever, pinning it to the bulletin board by the restrooms, but someone witnessed me and I headed for the door as quickly as I could before they would call or chase after me to give the book back. Silly, I know, but me, nonetheless. Somehow, I don't think my Filet o' Fish was as tasty as Panera would have been. :D

Wild Release #136

Sister No. 3 asked me to pick up Niece No. 2 and a friend from their high school play practice last night since she was unavoidably detained elsewhere, and being the wonderful aunt I am, I agreed. Besides, I thought it would be a good opportunity to release a book while I waited for them to come out. It was too cold to leave the car, and I was reluctant to be observed by all the other people waiting for their little thespians, so I asked my niece to release "I Was A Teenage Fairy," by Francesca Lia Block, in the school this morning. I hope she remembered to take it with her!

Wild Release #135

Ah, Valentine's Day. What better day to release "Princess in Love," the third book in the "Princess Diaries" series by Meg Cabot? A big, gushy pink heart on the oh-so-sweet bright pink cover, it just screams love and romance. That's why I had to get rid of it! ;) Of course, the fact that it qualified as my twelfth SSM and fourteenth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge, helped, too. I left in in a new location for me--on a bench in the vestibule of the Shop n Save on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. Happy Valentine's Day to whomever finds it!

This week's challenge, set by sfrenchie, follows:

SSM 021408: Valentine's Day
When: February 14th 2008
How: Anything about love, with "love" in the title, love stories, etc will do, I think. I suppose a big red heart on the cover could be good. If there's no big red heart on the cover of the book you want to release, just put one yourself!! ;-)

Wild Release #134

I had a movie to trade in at Blockbuster, so I left "Spider-Man: Spider Bite," by Leslie Goldman, behind. It is on the shelf in the Family section that has Spider-Man movies for rent. This was my thirteenth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge--perhaps it will be lucky enough to be found and journalled.

Catch #14!

Nora Roberts' "Night Shift & Night Shadow" checked in today. This book was released at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg, Pa., on January 28, 2008, as part of an SSM challenge. Thank you for journalling and joining, juliek46! Welcome to BookCrossing :)

Wild Release #133

Leaving Michael Crichton's "Disclosure" at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg was something of a themed release since this thriller centers around the practice of law. I left it in a BookCrossing release bag in the square outside the Main Street entrance. This was my twelfth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #132

I had some things to drop off at the Post Office on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg after work, so I thought I'd drop off a book as well. I left Disney's "102 Dalmatians" on a table in the lobby by the post office boxes. It was my eleventh release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV books release challenge.

Wild Release #131

I wanted to accomplish two things at lunchtime today: 1) go to the ATM, and; 2) release a book. Because I'm so clever, I was able to do both at once. I left "One for the Money," by Janet Evanovich, on top of the ATM in the lobby of the Amtrak Train Station on Ehalt Street in Greensburg. Money=ATM, get it? Well, at least *I* thought I was clever! ;)

Wild Release #130

My tenth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV books release challenge was Disney.pixar's "Monsters, Inc." I left it in a BookCrossing release bag on the newspaper boxes outside of Eat 'n Park, across from Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg, around 8:30 this morning.

Wild Release #129

My ninth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV books release challenge was Jacquelyn Mitchard's "The Deep End of the Ocean," which was made into a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer in 1999. You'll find it on the shelf of the phone booth on the sidewalk outside of the Eastgate Giant Eagle in Greensburg. Happy hunting!

Wild Release #128

It was rather spooky driving around Greensburg tonight. There were very few cars on the road and all the restaurant parking lots were nearly empty--I guess everyone was at home watching the Superbowl. That was great news for us as we headed to the Olive Garden to celebrate my sister's birthday. I had such good luck with the last book I left there being caught and journaled so quickly, that I wanted to leave another. I pulled Sue Grafton's "S is for Silence," out of the trunk of my car and planned to leave it on the benches outside, but just as we got there, a couple came out the front doors and insisted on holding them open for us, so the opportunity was lost. We were seated right away inside, so I couldn't leave it in the lobby. Once we were settled in our booth, I put it up on the dividing wall between the seating sections to get it out of our way and it looked so good up there, I ended up leaving it. I hope it catches someone's eye soon.

WIld Release #127

My eleventh SSM challenge saw the release of "Charlotte's Web," by E.B. White. I chose "Charlotte's Web" because I needed a book about a rat, and Templeton the Rat was as close as I could bear to get to the lovely little creatures. I know some people say they make great pets, but they're just not my cup of tea. I left the book outside of the Super Panda Chinese restaurant on Route 30 West in Greensburg, at the foot of one of the cutout pandas guarding the doors. This release also qualified as my eighth release for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV books release challenge.

This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:

SSM 020308: Year of the Rat -- Chinese New Year
When: February 3rd 2008
How: Books about rats (rodents), China, Chinese cookbooks etc. Ideally, release in a Chinese restaurant, but these may be closed in celebration of the New Year, so release anywhere that fits the theme and says “Happy New Year!” to you.