Wild Releases #255 & #256

This weekend, my books are not the only ones traveling. I am accompanying Sister No. 5 and her family to New York for a wedding and I have many books to release. My first release of the day was at the Wendy's in Hamburg, Pa., where I left the junior novelization of "Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace," by Patricia C. Wrede, on the pay phone outside on the sidewalk. My second release was in our hotel on our way down to dinner. I left James W. Hall's "Under Cover of Daylight" on the table by the elevators on the sixth floor of the Hilton Garden Inn Queens/JFK Airport. It was gone by the time we went back to our rooms.

"Star Wars" was release #63 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Catch #29!

BookCrossing is indeed a good thing. New member cherher9 from Grapeville, Pa., just checked in with "Martha Stewart: Just Desserts: The Unauthorized Biography." Thanks for joining and journalling, cherher9, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #254

Mom asked me to stop at Panera Bread in Greengate Center and get her some dinner, so I left "Remember Me 2: The Return," by Christopher Pike, on a table on the sidewalk outside the front door before I went in. It was still there when I left, so happy hunting!

Wild Releases #252 & #253

It is a beautiful day today, so I decided to eat lunch at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg. I went to the "secret" parking lot off of McWilliams Road. It's not really a secret, but it is far removed from the other lots and is on the opposite side of the lakes from them, so not a lot of people use it. Or so I thought. Today I was lucky that someone was leaving as I arrived; otherwise, there were no parking spaces left. I noticed a little garden with benches on the island of grass in the middle of the road that leads to the lot and thought that was an ideal place to leave two books--one for each bench. It turns out the garden is a butterfly garden, filled with plants that attract butterflies, and that it was provided by a group called Compassionate Friends. I left "Artemis Fowl," by Eoin Colfer, and "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II" for a compassionate friend or two of books to find.

RABCK #92

"Valley of the Dolls," by Jacqueline Susann, is on its way to hostile17 in Indiana as a RABCK for her mother, who said she'd like to reread it before she dies. It must be a great book or hold some fond memories, or both! Enjoy!

Wild Release #251

Arby's in Greengate Center was quite busy at lunchtime today. Even so, I was able to leave the picture book, "Curious George the Movie: Meet Curious George," on the window ledge of the side door before going in. I didn't see what happened to it, but when I left, it was gone.

Release #62 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #249 & #250

T.G.I. Friday's is almost always busy, and invariably, people have to wait on the lovely benches in the vestibule or outside on the sidewalk. Being the kind person I am, I left some reading material on the outside benches for their patrons: Agatha Christie's "Murder Is Easy" and Astrid Lindgren's "Pippi Longstocking." Something for the parents, something for the kids--what could be better? Oooh, I know--two journal entries for me! ;)

Releases #60 & #61 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Catch #28!

Henry and Mudge have a new home, thanks to bookluver101, who caught "Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps" and made a journal entry. Thanks for joining BookCrossing, bookluver101! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Wild Releases #245 - #248

It's Memorial Day weekend here in the United States and for some of my family, that means camping at Deer Meadow Campground in Cooksburg, Pa. I used to be one of the ones that went up on Friday after work and suffered through cold nights in cold tents, and rainy, damp days under the tree canopy, and then coming home on Monday just to set up and rinse off the tent and chairs and coolers and anything else you took with you and then put everything away until Labor Day when you would do it all again. I got smart a few years ago and now I only go up for the day to visit the crazy ones who still camp overnight. Mom and I left home around 11:30 a.m. and my first release of the day took place about 90 minutes later--15 minutes away from camp--when I needed to stop and get gas. I left "Beneath the Silent Sea," by Richard P. Henrick, on top of one of the gas pumps at the Sunoco station on Route 36 near the I-80 interchange in Brookville, Pa., before driving off.

Book No. 2, Christopher Pike's "Remember Me 3," was left on a flat rock by the entrance gates of the campground. We were on our way back to the campsite after playing and losing 20 games of Bingo at the camp's pavilion.

Books No. 3 and 4--"ttfn," by Lauren Myracle, and "Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps," by Cynthia Rylant and Suçie Stevenson--were left on benches at the camp store after dinner. We went to the camp store in search of ice cream, but pickings were slim, so we left with Slush Puppies instead. While we sat sipping our Slush Puppies, we saw two pre-teen girls take "ttfn"--first to the arcade, and then inside the store to see if the book was lost or left behind, even though they read the "I'm FREE! I'm not lost!" bellyband on the book. I hope they ended up keeping it and enjoying it.

Wild Release #244

All my hard work in the yard (after getting back from the morning's adventures) was rewarded with dinner out at King's Restaurant with my mother and Sister No. 6. I decided that such a royal occasion needed a royal release, so I left "The Prince of Egypt," by Jane Yolen, propped on the window ledge outside the front door.

Release #59 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #241 - #243

Today has been a busy, productive day as far as BookCrossing goes. I had to get the oil changed in my car this morning, and I was able to leave "Geraldine's Big Snow," by Holly Keller, in the waiting room at Monro Muffler/Brake & Service on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. Once my car had been given its clean bill of health, I went to Johnson's Hardware in Norvelt, Pa., to pick up a few things I needed for my yardwork. While there, I managed to leave "A Simple Plan," by Scott B. Smith, on an endcap with the bug repellent. As I left Norvelt, I decided to take a drive and try to find Kecksburg, Pa.; I have been wanting to leave a themed release there for months, but the weather and my life have been uncooperative.

This time, my sense of direction was the culprit, because I ended up in Pleasant Unity, Pa., then Latrobe, Pa., where I left "Star Wars," by George Lucas, on a payphone at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport. From Latrobe, I went through Whitney, Pa., and a dozen other little towns, and saw signs for Kecksburg, but I must have been through it and past it before I realized I missed it. I ended up in Mount Pleasant, Pa., which is never good for me because I always end up lost when I'm there. Thankfully, I managed to make it back to Greensburg without making any wrong turns. Kecksburg will just have to wait for another day. This was release #58 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Catch #27!

"A Tangled Web" was journaled by an Anonymous Finder at the Courtyard Pittsburgh Greensburg hotel. They say, "Found by Hotel employee and put with our collection of free books in the lobby. Who know's where it will be logged next!" Thanks for contributing a chapter to the book's journey, AF!

Wild Releases #239 & #240

I took a little drive through the Seton Hill University campus at lunchtime today, and stopped on the road that runs between the main school and Caritas Christi, where the Sisters of Charity live. I left "The Road Less Traveled," by M. Scott Peck, wedged in a fencepost on this less traveled road since the campus is pretty deserted this time of year. I wonder how long it will be before it is found.

My next release was "A Tangled Web," by Judith Michael, which I left on the outside ledge of the portico pillar of the Courtyard Pittsburgh Greensburg hotel at Greengate Centre. Hopefully it will go home with a traveller soon! This was release #57 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #238

The Wendy's on 119 in South Greensburg hasn't been a very lucky release spot for me, so I thought I'd try a different Wendy's--the one at Hempfield Pointe on Route 30 West. I left Robin Cook's "Shock" on the window ledge by the door that is on the same side as the drive-through windows around 1 p.m.

Wild Releases #236 & #237

I had $2 left in my wallet, which was not enough to buy my lunch, so I had to stop at the bank and get a refill. It was the perfect opportunity to leave a themed release--"The Cat Who Robbed a Bank," by Lilian Jackson Braun. I propped it up on the ATM machine outside Dollar Bank at Westmoreland Mall, and couldn't help but smile as I did so.

My second release of the day was minutes later at Chick-fil-A in Eastgate Plaza, where I purchased a delicious lunch with my newly obtained infusion of cash. I left E.B. White's "Charlotte's Web" on the ledge outside the side door. There were lots of loud, screaming children in the playroom, so I'm hopeful that the book finds a good home soon. This was release #56 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #235

My releasing trifecta was complete tonight with "Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul," by Jack Canfield, et al., which I left on the ledge in the vestibule of KFC, across from Westmoreland Mall.

Wild Release #234

Sister No. 6 and I went for a walk this evening and stopped at Weltz's Home Bakery on Mace Street in Southwest Greensburg. The bakery was not open. It has never been open while we have been in the area. It is only open from 8 to 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. It's a shame. I do love baked goods. Even so, we left a gift: "Martha Stewart: Just Desserts: The Unauthorized Biography," by Jerry Oppenheimer, propped up on the planter by the sidewalk around 5:20 p.m. When we passed by again around 5:50 p.m., the book was gone and the bakery was still closed. BookCrossing: it's a good thing.

Release #55 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #233

J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" was left in the "secret chamber" of the Information Board located in the main parking lot of the upper lake at Twin Lakes Park (the one that leads down to the Vietnam War Memorial).

Release #54 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #231 & #232

My car was running on fumes this morning on my way to work, so I made my way to Giant Eagle's GetGo gas station at lunchtime. I hadn't cashed in my money-off-gas-for-shopping in a long time, so I ended up paying only $2.69 a gallon--a real bargain these days. Since I was there, and since other BookCrossers swear they get tons of catches from gas pumps, I left Scott Turow's "Personal Injuries" on top of my gas pump. Perhaps this will be the one to finally check in.

On my way back to work, I stopped at Payless ShoeSource in Greengate Center to buy a new pair of shoes (yup, exactly like the ones that were on my feet at the time) and to leave behind a little themed release--Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes"--which was release #53 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #229 & #230

This week's SSM involved two of my favorite things--books and restaurants! The challenge was to leave books that related to food or restaurant work in a restaurant or bar. My first release, "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," by Judi Barrett, was also the first release ever made in the town of Crabtree, Pa. I left the book on the ledge of the chalkboard outside the front door at Rizzo's Malabar Inn--actually a fantastic Italian restaurant and not an inn at all. My second release, "Cooking Up Trouble," by Perdita Finn, was left on the ledge of the front windows at Mark C's Diner on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg. Mission(s) accomplished!

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

SSM 051808: Wait for Me!
When: May 18th 2008
How: May 21st is International Wait staff Day. Release a book in a restaurant or bar, preferably one relating to food or restaurant work.

Catch #26!

Niece No. 2 and Joseph's adventures in BookCrossing met with success! "The Romanov Prophecy," by Steve Berry, was caught yesterday at Cedar Point and will be going on its own great adventure soon. According to noshnhuck, the book was "found at Cedar Point on May 17th. Will be going to China at the end of the month for 3 weeks. Will be left in Newark New Jersey upon return to the country." Thanks for joining and journalling, noshnhuck, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #228

I had a movie to trade in at Blockbuster, so I thought I'd leave a book behind while I was there. I left "The Prince of Tides," by Pat Conroy, in the Drama section where the movie *should* have been--I guess my Blockbuster doesn't carry this title anymore! Not that I'm complaining. I never had any desire to see Nick Nolte or Barbra Streisand in *any* movie, much less one where they are *both* in it. ;)

Release #52 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #225 - #227, and #136 redux

Niece No. 2 is on a school trip to Cleveland, Ohio, this weekend, and before she left, she asked if I had any books for her to release there. What a wonderful, thoughtful, girl she is! I think I may have had a tear in my eye; she makes me so proud. She even sent me text messages, complete with street addresses, to let me know where and when the books began the next leg of their journey. She left "Archangel," by Gerald Seymour, and "I Was A Teenage Fairy," by Francesca Lia Block (a book I *thought* she left at her school months ago), at the Doubletree Hotel Cleveland South in Independence, Ohio.

From there, she spent the day at Cedar Point, in Sandusky, Ohio, where she and her friend--let's call him "Joseph"--left "The Demon Circle," by Dan Schmidt, and "The Romanov Prophecy," by Steve Berry, on benches somewhere inside the park. Thanks for being good BookCrossers! I hope you had a blast. :D

Wild Release #224

I had a lot of mail to drop off at the post office on my way home from work this evening. I also had a lot of books to release in my car. I haven't had a lot of luck with catches from the post office, but luck has to change sometimes, doesn't it? I left "Disney's Aladdin Movie Storybook," by Karen Kreider, in the lobby on the tall table by the post office boxes around 5:20 p.m.

Release #51 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Release #223

It's been awhile since I released anything at Target, so when I saw that the employee break area was empty and I had a book in my purse all ready to go, I jumped at the kindness of fate. I left "L.A. Times," by Stuart Woods, on the picnic table on the sidewalk. Enjoy!

Wild Release #222

Who knew that the television series "Bones" on FOX was based on actual books? It was news to me, but good news since I'm participating in MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge. "Bare Bones," by Kathy Reichs, was my 50th release for this challenge (cue trumpets ... taadaa!) and was left at the Starbucks in Greengate Centre. I was planning on leaving it on one of the sidewalk tables, but they were occupied by young boys playing and listening to a guitar. Since it was rather empty inside, I was able to leave it on the counter where you wait for your drinks. Hopefully another patron finds it before the staff disposes of it!

Wild Releases #220 & #221

Today was a day to celebrate love--or more accurately, to give it away in the form of two releases. My first love release was Danielle Steel's "No Greater Love," which I left on the ledge outside the front door of Chick-fil-A in Eastgate Plaza around 1 p.m. The second was Erich Segal's "Love Story," left on the bench outside Bella Styling on Chestnut Street in Southwest Greensburg around 5:15 p.m.

Releases #48 and #49 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

RABCK #91

"Northanger Abbey," by Jane Austen, is on its way to tabby-cat-owner in Arizona to become part of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die Library. The idea of the 1001-library bookshelf is to virtually collect all "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" and make them available to any BookCrossing member across the globe. The library is intended to be multilingual and collects book in all languages. If you want to keep track of your 1001 reads, you can download a pretty neat Excel spreadsheet by clicking here. Many happy readers, little book!

Wild Release #219

I drafted Niece No. 2 to help with this week's SSM. She didn't mind since she was rewarded with a vanilla ice cream cone with rainbow sprinkles from The Meadows. This week we were told to leave a book with flowers in the title or author's name at a local flower shop, so James Patterson's "Roses Are Red" was tucked into a topiary at Le Jardin flower shop on West Third Street in Greensburg around 7 p.m.


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

SSM 051108: Petals on the Wind
When: May 11th 2008
How: How: Celebrate Mother’s day (USA) by releasing a book with flowers in the title, or author’s name at a florist shop.

Release #47 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.

Wild Releases #217 & #218

Sister No. 6 demanded I accompany her to Latrobe this afternoon, so I insisted she go places where I could release a couple of books. My first release was themed: I left Stephen King's "Insomnia" tucked into a chained-up mattress outside Mattress Warehouse in the Lowe's/Wal*Mart shopping center. My second release was not so themed: I left "Wonder's Victory," by Joanna Campbell, on a ledge outside the entrance to Long John Silver's in the Latrobe 30 Plaza while Sister No. 6 was waiting on her shrimp dinner in the drive-thru.

Wild Release #216

Mom and I went to Steak 'n Shake in Greensburg for dinner this evening and we were pleasantly surprised by the number of choices on the menu and the delicious milkshakes that accompanied our healthy salads. Of course, eating out means releasing a book, so I left James Patterson's "1st to Die" in a BookCrossing release bag, propped up on the garbage can outside the front doors, around 8:30 p.m.

Release #46 for MRWiley's 2008 Movie/TV/News books release challenge.