If you happen to be at Wendy's on Route 119 North in South Greensburg, you may see my latest release there on the window ledge by the front door. That's where I left "Anne of the Island," by L.M. Montgomery, before I went inside for lunch; when I was leaving, a lovely older man held the door open for me and noticed the book, but he didn't take it with him. I guess it's meant for someone else.
This week's SSM challenge was a salute to independence, so I freed an appropriately themed book at an appropriately themed place. I pinned "Journey to America: Fiona McGilray's Story: Voyage from Ireland in 1849," by Clare Pastore, to the notice board at the entrance of St. Clair Park, named for Arthur St. Clair, a hero in the Revolutionary War, and one of the founding fathers of the United States.
This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:
We had an impromptu picnic at Mammoth Park in Mammoth, Pa., today so everyone could see my brother and his family who have been visiting this week. One of the great features of Mammoth Park is a really tall slide that is tons of fun for kids and grups alike, especially when you go down sitting on a sheet of wax paper for maximum velocity. I left two books while we were there: "The Fall," by Garth Nix, which I left on top of some rocks in a landscaped area of the parking lot, and Lemony Snicket's "The Vile Village," which I left at the top of the giant slide. I'm thinking now that I should have reversed the locations of the books since "The Fall" would be much funnier at the top of the giant slide. :)
Mammoth is not that far from Kecksburg, Pa., where a UFO is said to have crashed in the woods back in 1965. The official story is that it was just a meteor, but eyewitnesses claim it was far more than that. Quite a few people tracked the object into the woods and reported seeing an acorn-shaped object embedded in the ground. The military arrived in short order and cordoned off the area, and supposedly left with the object on the back of a truck. In the mid-1990s, the television show "Unsolved Mysteries" came to Kecksburg to try to find out what *really* happened in the woods that night. They built a model of the *meteor* and donated it to the village of Kecksburg when they were done filming. It is now mounted on a pole behind the fire hall and attracts a fair number of tourists a year. 
"Highlights Top Secret Adventures: Guide to Brazil," by Marion Morrison, has booked a ticket for travelling. I left it on the window ledge of AAA Travel Services in the Eastgate Plaza in Greensburg, Pa. Perhaps it will inspire someone to take it along on their journey. Happy travels!
Seven months and eleven days after being released at the Greensburg Holiday Parade, Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre" has turned up in the hands of demmi, from Normalville, Pa. "I bought the book at the greensburg library book sale," she says. "I have been wanting to read this story for a long time and I loved it, I am going to send it traveling and I hope some one else enjoys it." Thanks for joining and journalling, demmi, and welcome to BookCrossing!
I was looking for a shady spot where I could eat my lunch and I thought I'd find one at Hempfield Park on Route 66 North in Greensburg. I have passed the sign for it numerous times, but I have never been there, so I decided to see if it indeed offered a shady parking spot. Alas, it did not. It is a lovely park, though, with baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a playground, lots of benches and bleachers, and an athletic complex building. And there are some trees, just not in the parking lot! That didn't stop me from leaving a book, since I was there anyway. Jack Higgins' "The Keys of Hell" can be found on the landscaping rocks by the athletic complex building.
Today is Brother No. 1-and-only's and Sister No. 3's birthday (yup, twins) so I released a pair of books in their honor at one of their favorite places--The Meadows Original Frozen Custard on Mount Pleasant Road in Greensburg. For my brother, it was "The Lost City of the Jedi," by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids; he has been a big fan of the Star Wars saga since 1977 when the original movie was originally released. For my sister, it was "Twelve Sharp," by Janet Evanovich, since she is a big fan of the Stephanie Plum saga. A year ago today she and I and Niece No. 2 met Janet at a book signing for "Lean Mean Thirteen" in Monroeville. Now *that* was an unforgettable birthday gift!
I have a perfect record with releases at the Westmoreland Bar Association offices in Greensburg: I'm 1 for 1! And since I had another perfectly themed book dealing with lawyers and law and truth and justice and all that good stuff, I thought I'd push my luck and try to go 2 for 2 with Perri O'Shaughnessey's "Acts of Malice." I left it on the windowsill at the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance and if there is any justice in this world, the book will be caught and journalled before the statute of limitations expires.
I missed releasing a book for last week's SSM because I wasn't able to find a book that matched the theme. Luckily, that wasn't a problem this week. "Catch that Pass!" by Matt Christopher, has been hanging out in my car for months just waiting for the perfect time and place. I left it on the ledge outside of Play It Again Sports in Greengate Center South (where Big Lots is). It seemed fitting to leave a previously owned book at a store that sells previously owned sports equipment. Get a lot of playing time, little book!This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:
In order to mow the lawn tomorrow, I needed to get gasoline for the lawn mower tonight. There are so many BookCrossers who swear by releasing at gas stations, that they get oodles of catches from them. I have left several books at gas stations, and I have yet to get a journal entry on any of them. Perhaps Stephen White's "Kill Me" will be my first. I left it at pump #12 of the BP Gas Station on Route 119 at Huff Avenue around 8:45 p.m.
"LOST: Secret Identity," by Cathy Hapka, is on its way to mellion108 in Michigan, as a RABCK. It is keeping Greyflank's Bookring for LOST Fans: "Bad Twin," by Gary Troup, company on this leg of its journey. Truth be told, it's a little embarrassing how quickly I snatched this book off the shelf at Goodwill as soon as I saw it. I wouldn't have believed it myself a few years ago when I was pooh-poohing all the LOST fanatics. But the LOST bug bit me shortly before Season 3 premiered and now here I am gasping for joy when I find LOST tie-in books at Goodwill. I hope you enjoy it, mellion108!
One of my wishes came true and it wasn't even my birthday! The first catch from our zoo/birthday releases has checked in. "When We Went to the Zoo," by Jan Omerod, has been caught and journalled by triciapgh, who says, "We found the book at the Pittsburgh Zoo. My family read the book three nights in a row and now we will be leaving it for someone to find." Thanks for joining and journalling, triciapgh, and welcome to BookCrossing!
I had a lovely view of the Five Star Trail in Greensburg today at lunch and spied the perfect bench for releasing a book. I left "Anne of Avonlea," by L. M. Montgomery, on the bench at mile marker 2, near the Huff Avenue trail access.
I meant to leave "The Tale of Two Bad Mice," by Beatrix Potter, on the fire engine ride outside of the Hempfield Giant Eagle, but too many people were milling around, so I had to carry it inside with me. Rather than carry it back out and be mistaken for a shoplifter, I left it with the mousetraps in the cleaning products aisle. ;)
Mom and I decided to go out for dinner at Mr. P's Restaurant & Lounge on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. I had never eaten there before, but I have driven past too many times to count. They have a harness-racing horse statue out front, which I thought would be the perfect spot for a horse book. So, with Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" in hand, I hoped to find a clear path to a clever release spot. Alas, the horse was inaccessible, so I had to leave it on chair in the vestibule of the restaurant, at the window that looked out at the horse. Dinner was very good, but dessert (tiramisu) was delicious!
Today was Sister No. 5's birthday and we celebrated with a trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo. Mom and I met the birthday girl, Nieces No. 7 and No. 8, and special guest, Haviva, around 12:30 p.m. It was perfect weather--sunny, but cool, with a slight breeze--and it wasn't super-crowded, either. I left five themed books in the three hours we were there: "When We Went to the Zoo," by Jan Ormerod (at the feet of the giant praying mantis statue); "Curious George and the Puppies," by H.A. and Margret Rey (in the monkey house); "White Fang," by Jack London (at the African Painted Dogs exhibit); "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?," by Bill Martin, Jr., and Eric Carle (on a bench at the bears exhibit); and "Artemis Fowl," by Eoin Colfer (with the sea lions in Kids Kingdom).
The book I left at Arby's on Saturday was journalled today! Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse" was logged in by gas123, who says "I found the book while closing the restaurant. I have enjoyed it with my family. We are going to release the book back into the wild for someone else to find." Thank you, and welcome to BookCrossing, gas123!
It rained all day today, which rather spoiled my plans of accomplishing things outdoors. I finally ventured outside so I could mail a bookring at the post office before it closed, fill up my car with gas, and run a few errands. I stopped at Arby's in Greengate Centre to have some lunch and read a few pages of my current book. The restaurant was not that busy at that time of day, so it was easy to be unobserved while leaving Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse" on a booster seat hanging on the wall.
Sister No. 3 called me at work earlier today to invite me to meet her and Niece No. 2 and Nephew No. 1 at Panera Bread for lunch. I have great fondness for visiting Panera and spending time with my family, so I was happy to be able to do both at once. After consuming a delicious Asian Sesame Chicken salad and having a delightful time, I left Jonathan Kellerman's "The Conspiracy Club" on the small table between the comfy chairs at the fireplace on our way out.
I went to Chick-fil-A in Eastgate Plaza along Route 30 East in Greensburg in search of a cool, quiet place to eat my lunch and read a few pages of my book. I *almost* found what I was looking for; it was cool, but far from quiet. Nearly every table was taken when I got there, but it cleared out considerably within about 10 minutes, and I was able to enjoy my chicken nuggets and waffle fries and read ... until a mother/daughter duo sat at the table right next to mine (even though there were many other empty tables by this point), both chatting away on their cell phones, and to each other, and to the people on each other's cell phones. After five minutes had passed with no relief from the noise, I decided I would prefer to read in my stuffy car in the hot sun. I left Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" on the ledge by the front door on my way in, and it was still there when I left.
Sometimes it pays to be late! At least that was the case with my late release for this past Sunday's SSM, since it has been caught and journaled by strawhatgardens. "I found the book at the Home Depot store in Greensburg, PA where I work," she says. "I plan to send it to Georgia with my son. He will release it by a fountain in the Savanah Mall." Thanks for journaling and joining, strawhatgardens, and welcome to BookCrossing!
I'm glad there are a lot of high-but-reachable windowsills on the buildings in downtown Greensburg; they are the perfect place to prop a book and catch someone's eye. On my way back from lunch today, I left "I is for Innocent," by Sue Grafton, on one of the North Pennsylvania Avenue windowsills of Penn Towers, which fronts on Harrison Avenue. I hope it catches someone's eye soon!
I was a little late for this week's SSM thanks to the sheer enormity of my yard and the unreasonable amount of time it takes for one green-thumb-challenged person to make it look presentable. Needless to say it was well past sunset on Sunday when I was finally done with my day's task. Of course, if I hadn't lounged about reading and watching TV for most of the morning and afternoon, I could have gotten much more accomplished yesterday than I did! Instead, today I ventured to Home Depot in Greensburg, looking for something to plant around a tree in the back yard, and also looking for a good release spot for my tardy SSM book, "The Deep End of the Ocean," by Jacquelyn Mitchard. I didn't find anything to plant, bur I did leave the book in a fish pond (unfilled, of course) in the garden center.This week's challenge, set by dicentragirl, follows:
Today was a day for not one, but two, inspired themed releases. I finally made it to the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa., with two books just itching to be set free. The first was Michael Chabon's "The Mysteries of Pittsburgh," which I left at Carnegie Mellon University--Michael Chabon's alma mater and a key setting in the book. They had a very unusual sculpture in front of Warner Hall called "Walking to the Sky." I left the book with the boy in the green shirt and yellow baseball cap. He didn't even notice me; his mind seemed to be on other things.
I feel lucky when I get journal entries every few days, but today must be my lucky day: I got two journal entries in less than 24 hours! "Red Phoenix" has docked, after getting underway nearly three months ago. But it seems it won't be in town for long; the Anonymous Finder says, "I am going to drop this book off in Europe." Thanks for journaling, AF, and safe travels to both you and the book.
Greensburg's SummerSounds concerts at Saint Clair Park have begun, and where great numbers of people gather, so should BookCrossing books be released. I left "Nuke Hill," by Steven Spetz, in General Nathanael Greene's care, at the feet of his likeness, while Vivian Vande Velde's "There's a Dead Person Following My Sister Around" can be found on the water fountains by the restrooms. Enjoy the concert, and the books!
John Grisham's "The Street Lawyer" was quickly found and journaled and will be on the move again soon, according to Doobee9: "this is my first "catch" and I am thrilled with the idea. I plan on having the book travel asap since I have already read it!" Welcome to BookCrossing, Doobee9!
I was in the mood for a themed release on my way to work this morning, so I left John Grisham's "The Street Lawyer" on the ledge by the Westmoreland Bar Association sign on Pennsylvania Avenue around 8:30 a.m. When I passed by on my way to lunch, the book was gone.
I released a couple of books on my roundabout way home today. The first was Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies," which I left propped up against a railing on the ramp to the front door of Pet Supply Warehouse on Roseytown Road in Greensburg. The second was "Highlights Top Secret Adventures: Guide to Mexico," by Brian Williams, which I left on the window ledge outside AAA in Eastgate Plaza along Route 30 East in Greensburg.
"Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" has been logged in by an Anonymous Finder at the YMCA in Greensburg, Pa.: "Several books cross our path here at the Emergency Youth Shelter in Greensburg YMCA however this one remains to be the all time favorite!" I'm glad I could help this book find the right readers.
We made it back home safe and sound and Mom and I went out to Steak 'n Shake in Greengate Center to celebrate and catch up. I left Iris Johansen's "Firestorm" on top of the garbage can by the front doors before we went in; it was still there when we left. Happy hunting!
We left the lovely Hilton Garden Inn Queens/JFK Airport in Jamaica, N.Y., very early this morning and I left a few souvenirs behind in our rooms. Whoever looks in the desk drawer of room 604 next will find "Proof of Life," by David Robbins and William W. Prochnau, while whoever looks in the drawer of the nightstand of room 600 next will find "The Specialist," by Gayle Rivers.
We stopped at the Perkins Restaurant & Bakery in Harrisburg, Pa., to get gas, stretch our legs, and eat breakfast. Niece No. 8 and I released "The Runaway Bunny," by Margaret Wise, on the bench in the vestibule of the restaurant before we left.
I couldn't resist releasing another book at the Hilton Garden Inn Queens/JFK Airport in Jamaica, N.Y., today, while I waited for Sister No. 5 and her family to get back from the wedding. I left Beatrix Potter's "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle" on the free literature rack outside the fitness center on the first floor of the hotel.
We just came back from spending a few lovely sun-filled hours at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh, N.Y. I was surprised to realize that my four books--"Scooby Doo and You: The Case of the Lost Lumberjack," by Jesse McCann, "Free to Trade," by Michael Ridpath, "Batman: Knightfall and Beyond," by Alan Grant, and "The Witch Goes to School," by Norman Bridwell--were the first four books ever released there. 
Jones Beach is the closest beach to New York City, and the most popular and heavily visited beach on the East Coast with an estimation of over eight million people visiting the beach each year. There were lots of great release spots at the West Bath House where we accessed the beach--benches, walls, railings, picnic tables. Perhaps my releases will inspire other releases there in the future.
