Wild Release #479

I was pleased to find that we now have an Applebee's relatively close by. Apparently, there has been one in Mount Pleasant for a little over a year. I really need to get out more! I got out today, as did Sister No. 6, to do some shopping in Mount Pleasant and have dinner at Applebee's. I was able to leave Sue Monk Kidd's "The Secret Life of Bees" on a windowsill in the vestibule on our way in. It was gone by the time we left.

Catch #61!

Serendipity *was* with us! "The Birth of Venus" has been caught and journalled by new member BERNARD57, who says, "After going through the Museum of American Art in Westmoreland, PA, I found the book at the foot of the statue in front of the museum. At first I thought it was lost but after reading the ribbon on the book, it looked interesting and I wanted to be part of the chain of readers. After I complete my finals, I plan to read the book during my semester break. Thanks!" Thank *you*, BERNARD57, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #478

Niece No. 2 was performing at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art this afternoon, so Mom and I went to be entertained. Serendipity was with us: we actually got a space in the parking lot, and I had just finished "The Birth of Venus," by Sarah Dunant, so I left it propped up on a statue outside the doors. The book was still there when we left, but there was also a tour bus parked on Main Street--more serendipity? I think it is very possible that it will be picked up and travelling soon.

Wild Release #477

Oh, you have to love the winter weather! At this time of year, I love Ziploc bags, which keep my books nice and dry even in rainy, sleety, snowy weather. If you happen by the Wendy's on Route 119 in South Greensburg, you may find David Baldacci's "The Camel Club" inside a plastic bag on the ledge outside the front door.

Wild Release #476

I pulled the old "leave-a-book-in-the-prize-bin-of-the-claw-machine" trick today at the Giant Eagle in Hempfield Plaza. "The Rescue of Prince Caspian," by C.S. Lewis, is waiting for the next lucky person to reach their hand in the chute!

Wild Releases #466 - #475

Today was the annual Holiday Parade in Downtown Greensburg--a fabulous opportunity to release lots of books. I got a fabulous parking space and was able to release ten books, moving quickly in order to stay warm in the cold weather. The books I released were: "Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn: The Story of the Thanksgiving Symbols," by Ursula Arndt and Edna Barth; "F-Freezing ABC," by Posy Simmonds; "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," by Barbara Robinson; "The Third Option," by Vince Flynn; "The Giver," by Lois Lowry; "Iced," by Carol Higgins Clark; "The Black Ice," by Michael Connelly; "Marisol," by Gary Soto; "Christmas Magic," by Patricia Hermes; and "Chicken Soup for the Soul," by Jack Canfield.

Wild Release #465

I spent a lovely evening with friends on Pittsburgh's South Side, and as I walked back to my car, I left Steve Berry's "The Third Secret" on a table outside the Mirabella Salon on the 1900 block of Sidney Street.

Wild Release #464

Today I had to give Steak n Shake a hand. Every time I go there I am impressed with the speed; I can sit down, be waited on, read some of my book, eat my lunch, and get back to work all within an hour. I can also leave a book behind, which, of course, I did. I left John Irving's "The Fourth Hand" on top of the garbage can outside, protected from the snowy weather in a Ziploc bag.

Wild Release #463

I decided to try out a new bank branch today so that led to a new crossing zone, too. I left "Pooh's Little Instruction Book," by A.A. Milne, on a bench in the lobby outside the First Commonwealth Bank branch at Greengate Centre.

Wild Release #462

Once I finished reading--and thoroughly enjoying--Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express," I had the perfect place to release it. I left it on a bench in the Amtrak Train Station on Ehalt Street in Greensburg, just in time for the 6:52 arrivals. Happy travels, Monsieur Poirot!

Wild Release #461

I hope Danielle Steel's "Lone Eagle" won't be alone for long. I left it on a bench on the sidewalk outside of The Ground Round restaurant at Westmoreland Mall.

Wild Release #460

I meant to release "Nest of Vipers," by Linda Davies, on my walk down Main Street to the bank, but there were people sitting on every bench I passed. I couldn't leave it in the bank itself because there were no handy ledges or tables, so in the end I left it on one of the ornamental lightposts outside the old Courthouse entrance on Main Street without even breaking my stride.

Wild Release #459

I had a craving for Giannilli's pierogie pizza--with the sauerkraut layer--for dinner, so while I was out, I stopped in to order one. I thought I would be able to go to Sister No. 3's house while I was waiting for it, but to my surprise, it was done within 10 minutes. While I was waiting, I left Anne Tyler's "Saint Maybe" on the coat rack in the vestibule.

Wild Releases #457 - #458

There is nothing quite like a trip to Starbucks to give one the energy to face a day of shopping. While visiting my local Starbucks in Greengate Centre, I left "Chasing Cézanne," by Peter Mayle, on a table on the sidewalk outside. My next stop was the Kmart in Mount Pleasant, where I left "The Karate Kid Part III," by B.B. Hiller, in the seat of the kiddie ride on the sidewalk. It was gone by the time I left the store.

Wild Release #456

There are often discussions on bookcrossing.com about the best places to leave books. Someone mentioned a while back that they like to leave small books in the prize bins of game machines since kids are always hoping that someone "forgot" to take their prize and automatically check them as they walk by. I finally had a book small enough to do the same. I left "Lucy Steps Through the Wardrobe," by C.S. Lewis, in the prize area of the claw machine in the lobby of the Hempfield Giant Eagle around 5:30 p.m.

Catch #60!

The first book to check in from yesterday's road trip is the last one I left. "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was logged in by new member technogeeq, who says, "this is a prety cool program i think it will enforse reading a little more." Welcome to BookCrossing, technogeeq!

Catch #59!

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" has been found and I think this may be my lengthiest journal to date. BookCrossing member InSitu writes: "I found this book at work! It's one of my all time favorite books, too!

"I work at the art museum in Greensburg, PA. I saw it on the receptionist's desk, and at first glance I was excited that she was reading this book. Then I saw it was a BookCrossing book and I had to ask her about it. Turns out, it wasn't hers; two co-workers found it outside of the building. They were outside because someone had tipped over our large, blow-up, anthropomorphized Bessemer Furnace. (Our museum purchased it from the Pittsburgh ROARS public art project.)

"So, I said I would take the book, and I did. I did a little furtive reading today at work, while waiting for the opening of the museum's newest exhibit. The introduction that Oscar Wilde wrote for his story was so apropos for the day, and I can only assume that the releaser left it at the museum as a commentary on art. ;)

"The real question is, releaser, did you actually lose this book in the process of tipping over our inflatable? Did it fall out of your bag as you were pulling at the balloon? Because that is what my (paranoid) boss thought. I had to reassure him that people who use Bookcrossing and read Oscar Wilde don't make a habit of vandalism and tipping things."

Please be reassured, InSitu, that I have far too much respect for the museum and Oscar Wilde to tip over the balloon. I put the book on one of the black straps that was holding the balloon down, took a quick picture and drove away. Welcome back to BookCrossing!

Wild Releases #451 - #455

Mom and I took a road trip to Bethlehem, Pa., today and I released a few books on our way there and back. "Seabiscuit," by Laura Hillenbrand, was left at the Plainfield Travel Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike; "The Word Eater," by Mary Amato, was left on top of a gas pump at a Wawa in Bethlehem; "The Devil Wears Prada," by Laura Weisberger, and "Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace," by Patricia C. Wrede, were left at Cracker Barrel in Hamburg, Pa.; and "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," by C.S. Lewis, was left at the Sideling Hill Travel Plaza of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Wild Release #450

I planned to leave "The Picture of Dorian Gray," by Oscar Wilde, somewhere outside the Westmoreland Museum of American Art--on a bench, or a planter, etc.--but when I pulled up to its main entrance I was met by this giant anthropomorphized flame-spewing, steel-making balloon and I felt I must leave it there. I gently placed it on one of the black straps that was holding the balloon down, snapped a photo, and was on my way.

Wild Release #449

What awaits you outside the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Greensburg? A lion, a witch, and a wardrobe are sharing a bench outside the front door. I left "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe," by C.S. Lewis, there around 9:40 this morning on my way into work.

Catch #58!

My "Flat Stanley" has already found a new home! Not long after getting back from our outing, I got a notification that the book had been found and journalled by charski3, who says, "As I climbed the steps on the way back to the parking lot I saw the book sitting on a bench. I was happy to find it since I'm a 4th grade teacher and I'm on a retreat with the rest of the teachers from my school. We are going to share it with all of our students. Thanks :)" Thank *you*, charski3, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Releases #446 - #448

I have been hosting a Flat Stanley from Christian in California for a couple of days. He's trying to see as much of the world as possible by March 1, 2009, when he has to return home. He has already been to England, New Jersey, Hong Kong, and Georgia. After spending a couple of days in Pennsylvania, I thought I'd take him to West Virginia as well, since it's only about 90 minutes away. Mom, Flat Stanley, and I stopped at Martin's supermarket in Connellsville, Pa., on the way there and I left Roald Dahl's "The Magic Finger" on a bench outside the front door. When we crossed the Mason-Dixon line, Pennsylvania's border with West Virginia, we headed south and east to Coopers Rock State Park between Morgantown and Bruceton Mills. We had a beautiful view from the overlook. We were so high up that the hawks were flying below us and we couldn't even hear the water from the river below. I left the book "Flat Stanley," by Jeff Brown and Steve Bjorkman, on a bench on our way back to the car, and "The Outsiders," by S.E. Hinton, on top of a large rock with a commemorative plaque situated near the parking lot.

Wild Release #445

If you happen to be at the Mountain View Inn in Greensburg today, you may find "The Mystery at Lilac Inn," by Carolyn Keene, on a white bench under the pergola outside the front door. Happy hunting!