June Stats

Wild Releases: 25
Catches: 5

Year-to-date:
Wild Releases: 143
RABCKs: 85
Catches: 28

Wild Release #646

Friends are in from Chicago and Pittsburgh, so we all headed to Sister No. 6's house for a delicious dinner of take-out from Cozumel Mexican Restaurant. Since I live closest to Cozumel, I was elected to bring the food. Since I had the perfect book to leave there, I did. I left Carlos Fuentes' "Old Gringo" leaning up against the railing on the sidewalk. ¡Muy bueno!

Catch #90!

The last time I saw Hello Kitty, she was sitting in a child's rocking chair on the sidewalk of the Cracker Barrel in Erie, Pa. Today, an AnonymousFinder reports she somehow made her way to Jamestown, N.Y.: "We came home and found the book on a bench on our front porch." I wonder how she got there and where she will show up next!

Wild Release #645

I was hoping to do a clever themed release with this book at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store, but I was unable to find any notions that went with my theme. Don't people make things with tucks anymore? Aren't there any tucking tools? Somewhat disheartened, but still with a book ready for release, I ended up leaving "Tuck Everlasting," by Natalie Babbitt, on a camp chair in the summer seasonal merchandise.

Wild Release #644

My car was running on fumes yet again, so I headed to the GetGo at the Hempfield Square Giant Eagle to fill up. Thinking that I'd get better gas mileage if my car were lighter, I left "By the Rivers of Babylon," by Nelson DeMille, behind on top of the gas pump. I'm sure that will make all the difference.

Wild Release #643 & Catch #89!

I went to Michaels behind Westmoreland Mall after work today to browse for some more organizational and craft supplies that I don't really need and released "The Night Class," by Tom Piccirilli, on a display outside. When I got home, I got involved in other things and forgot to make release notes for it. I only "remembered" to do so when I saw the journal alert in my inbox. Thanks for the quick catch and journal, sunshineash, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #642

Baseball was on the menu tonight. Mom and I went to see Nephew No. 1 play Legion ball at Hempfield High School, and by the end of the game, we were joined by Sister No. 3, Brother-in-Law No. 1, and Nieces No. 1 & 2. It's very unusual to see the whole family in the same place these days, so we headed to Cracker Barrel in New Stanton to celebrate over a late dinner. I left "The Hangman's Knot," by David Wiltse, on a bench on our way in; it was gone on our way out!

Wild Release #641

A SONIC Drive-In opened in my hometown not too long ago. For weeks after the grand opening, the lines for the drive-thru and drive-in lanes were so long they backed up onto the highway. The excitement has dwindled a bit, so Mom and I headed there for dinner, but only after checking their website to see how the whole thing operated. Mom doesn't like eating in the car, so we parked and sat down at a table on their patio and promptly had to move when the loudest, wettest, thunderstorm began. Once the rain stopped, we studied the menu board, pressed the red button, and placed our order. Nothing scary about it. The food was pretty good, and pretty fast, and the entertainment of carhops on wheels dropping drinks and whole trays was unending. Before we left, I left "Marley & Me," by John Grogan, on our table for the next patrons.

Catch #88!

"Calvin and Hobbes" have done a little travelling since I last saw them in Edinboro, Pa. New member inthelordshands reports: "I was on my way home to Lancaster, NY from Atlanta, GA through Mebane, NC and spotted a book lying in a not usual space. I am a book lover and couldn't bear to see a book lost. I retrieved it and was pleasantly surprised to see I could enjoy it sadness free (because someone else had 'lost' it) and with a smile on my face. I love Calvin and Hobbs. It was great car reading for those last two hours or so. I will now forward it in some place where it will be found and travel somewhere else. What a fun idea! I'll have to share one of my own soon." It *is* a fun idea, and journal entries from new members make it even more fun. Welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #640

I felt a need to be organized today, but one can't be organized unless one has the proper equipment from IKEA, so off I went in search of boxes, and shelves, and a delicious fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon roll. While there, I left Lois Lowry's "The Giver" in a cute green and blue chair in the Marketplace area.

Catch #87!

I seem to have a double catch for "The Silence of the Lambs." First, a lovely AnonymousFinder entry from the staff of the Coffee Bean Café and Roastery saying, "Customer picked it up today...Happy Travels!" And second, an entry from the customer and now a new BookCrossing member, mmounts, complete with a photo: " When checking out at the Coffee Bean Cafe in Greensburg, Pa on route 30 near the Westmoreland Mall, the cashier asked if i would like to have the book, because someone left it behind. i looked at it and saw that it was silence of the Lambs which is my favorite crime mystery. So i happily obliged and now I am here writing about it." Happiness all around--I love it!

Wild Releases #634 - #639

After breakfast, I left Mom along the river in Niagara Falls State Park and I crossed the Rainbow Bridge and walked to Canada to make my first international wild releases. "Eragon," by Christopher Paolini, was left in a stone pagoda across from the American Falls; "Anne of Green Gables," by L.M. Montgomery, (which takes place in Canada, albeit not Ontario) was left on on a bench across from the American Falls; and "The Adventures of Rainbow Fish," by Marcus Pfister, was left on a safe ledge (no falling into the water!) of the Rainbow Bridge Pedestrian Walkway on my way back to the States.

Once I cleared Customs back in the U.S.A., I found Mom and we indulged in a deliciously cool ice cream cone at Twist o' the Mist, where I left Dennis Lee's "The Ice Cream Store," before heading home.

We collected our car from the parking lot of the Comfort Inn The Pointe after I left Sandra Brown's "Three Complete Novels in One Volume: Heaven's Price, Breakfast in Bed, Send No Flowers," on the bench outside their front door.

Last, but not least, we stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel in Erie, Pa., where I left "Hello Kitty's Little Book of Big Ideas," by Marie Moss, on a child's rocking chair on the walkway.

It's nice to be home, safe and sound.

Wild Releases #632 & #633

Finding Stefanie Matteson's "Murder at the Falls" at the Christian Laymen Corps Thrift Store in Greensburg inspired me to take a road trip to Niagara Falls and truly experience this natural wonder of the world. I have been to Niagara Falls twice before--both whirlwind trips where we drove up, looked at the falls, and drove back. I have never been there in the daytime, or for more than a couple of hours. Now that I had a good reason to go--a themed release opportunity--Mom and I went.

I stopped for gas on the way up at a Sheetz in Edinboro, Pa., and left "Calvin and Hobbes," by Bill Watterson, behind on a display of bottled water on the sidewalk outside. I just realized this is a themed release of many layers--on our way to Niagara Falls where unfathomable water rushes over a precipice I leave a book by Bill WATtERson that has a body of water on the cover on a display of water. Funny how the subliminal mind works.

Once we actually got to Niagara Falls (the U.S. side--we were ejected from Canada since Mom doesn't have a valid passport), I left "Murder at the Falls" on the path to Luna Island, just above the Bridal Veil Falls. Mission accomplished!

Wild Release #631

I happened to be in Greengate Centre this evening doing some shopping, so I thought I'd mosey over to Bob Evans Restaurant--not for a meal or even a snack, but to leave a book on the bench outside the door. I had to wait a few minutes to be sure I was unseen (yep, still release-shy) but in the end, Dean Koontz's "Intensity" was sitting pertly on the bench waiting for a hungry reader to happen by.

Wild Release #630

I treated myself to lunch today at the Coffee Bean Café and Roastery next to Office Max on Route 30 West. They have delicious, but somewhat pricey, sandwiches, comfortable furniture, free wi-fi, and a brick ledge outside the front door that is the perfect size for a book. Never one to turn down a perfect ledge, I left "The Silence of the Lambs," by Thomas Harris, there. The movie creeped me out, so I'm kind of relieved not to have the book in my car anymore!

Wild Release #629

On my way to Latrobe, Pa., to pick up an old family friend for dinner, I passed Sisters II Bridal and Formal Wear on Frye Farm Road. Since I was a bit early, I decided to turn back and leave "Clearing the Aisle," by Karen Schwartz, as a party favor on a ledge in the parking lot outside the front door.

Wild Release #628

Today was a perfect day to enjoy lunch al fresco--sunny, but not too hot, with a lovely breeze. I wasn't the only one who thought so; the outdoor seating at Panera Bread at Greengate Centre was more than half full. After enjoying the weather, my lunch, and a chapter of my book, I left "The Lost Mother," by Mary McGarry Morris on top of the newspaper box on the sidewalk. May she find her way home soon.

Wild Release #627

Icky yard work consumed my late afternoon and early evening, so I made a late-ish-night run to Burger King for a long-delayed dinner. Under cover of darkness (sort of) I left "Murder on the Orient Express," by Agatha Christie, on the ledge of the first drive-thru window that isn't used anymore. Perhaps someone will enjoy the unexpected brain food as well as their Whopper combo.

Wild Release #626

It was hard to part with this book because I love the plaid cover. However, the time had come for Sherlock Holmes to embark on an adventure, so I placed "Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, on the bench at 101 North Main Street where the FedEx and U.S. Mail boxes will keep it company until the mystery of its new owner is solved.

Wild Release #625

The Shop 'n Save on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg has a little area set aside for post office boxes. A bulletin board hangs on the wall above a little shelf in that little area and on that little shelf there is now a book: Lillian Braun's "The Cat Who Played Post Office." Hopefully it won't be there for long.

Wild Release #624

Perched on the highest hill in Greensburg, Pa., is the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. Perched on a bench outside the hotel that is perched on the highest hill in Greensburg, Pa., is Jan Mitford's "These High Green Hills." Appropriate, yes?

Wild Releases #622 & #623

When lunchtime rolls around, as it does punctually every weekday, I always forget about how close the Dairy Queen on Route 119 North is to where I work. Today, however, I remembered, so that's where I--and Lois Lowry's "The Giver"--went. "The Giver" stayed on the window ledge by the main door while I and my chicken fingers basket headed to Twin Lakes on this beautiful day. After I finished eating, I still had plenty of time to take a walk, so I headed for the gazebo between the upper and lower lakes with Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" as my companion. Tom stayed behind at the gazebo where, unfortunately, no fishing is allowed. He will just have to find another way to amuse himself.

Catch #86!

I love it when the month starts off with a catch. "Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes" has found a new home with mathisfun from Uniontown, Pa.

Here is the new journal entry: Dear Grubsneerg, This is to let you know that I found your book, and it is safe and sound! I found it on May 22, 2009 when my husband and I took a day-off and some how ended-up at Phipps Conservatory. It was a beautiful day. I found the book on a bench in a quiet spot in the Botanical Gardens where you said you left it. I first noticed the tag that said "I'm Free! I'm not lost!," and so I just picked it up. I thought it was a children's book. I did not look at it until after we walked through the conservatory, and were having a cold drink in the cafe.
We were both surprised--we never heard about bookcrossing. We told some of our friends and family about our finding, and they were also fascinated. My husband read the story, but I did not read it yet. He will not tell me about it, but I got the impression from him that it is somewhat sad. I intend to take care of it, and sent it on its way. I will let you know what I think about the book after I read it, and when and where I leave it. Thank you for a great find! mathisfun!

Thank *you*, mathisfun, and welcome to BookCrossing!