January Stats

Wild Releases: 24
RABCKs: 21
Catches: 4
Wild Finds: 1

Wild Release #861

Karen Robards' "Vanished" and I have finally parted company. Ever since Sister No. 3 gave it to me to release in the wild, it has been playing hide and seek with me. Every time I thought I knew where it was in my house or car, I was wrong. It had literally vanished on me. At last, I am sure I left it outside the front door of Bob Evans Restaurant in Greensburg, where I hope it vanishes from the bench quickly.

Wild Release #860

I did a little shopgifting at the Greensburg Goodwill store on Donahoe Road. While looking for books to buy, I snuck "Digging Up Otis," by T. Dawn Richard, onto the shelf!

Wild Release #859

Planning on visiting T.G.I. Friday's in Greensburg today? Look on the bench outside the entrance doors for something to read while you wait. You may be lucky enough to find Ken Follett's "Eye of the Needle." Happy hunting!

Catch #120!

Konnichiwa, "Memoirs of a Geisha!" It's been four months and one day since we parted ways at the Gateway Restaurant in Breezewood, Pa. Thank you, AnonymousFinder, for logging in and writing home.

Wild Release #858

There is no river in Greensburg, but we do have plenty of flower shops, so I left "Petals on the River" on the brick ledge outside Greensburg Floral on Euclid Avenue.

RABCKs #253 - #273

Twenty-one books are (finally!) on their way to Tribefan, in Lakemore, Ohio, for The Rubber City Book Posse's mass release at the Akron Family Reading Festival on February 6. Good luck with your event!

Catch #119!

Long time, no see, Mrs. Brisby! I got a journal entry today on a book I released 1 year, 3 months, and 16 days ago--a new record for me. The last time I saw "Mrs. Brisby's Important Package" was in October 2008 when I left it at the post office in Greensburg. Somehow it travelled a few blocks to the Westmoreland Hospital emergency room, where it was a welcome distraction for new member stem99. Thanks for the journal entry and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #857

If you happen to go to Arby's in Greensburg today, watch out for dragons. I left Yasmine Galenorn's "Legend of the Jade Dragon" on a ledge outside the door.

Wild Releases #855 & #856

You never realize how many people go in and out of a place of business until you are sitting in the parking lot, waiting for the coast to be clear, so you can leave a book without being noticed. This afternoon, it took quite a few minutes for there to be a break in the comings and goings at Hoss's Family Steak and Sea on Route 119 in South Greensburg before I could leave "Cold Harbour/The Courtship of Peggy McCoy" unobserved  on the ledge by the front door.

I had better luck leaving "Deep Wizardry," by Diane Duane, at Cracker Barrel in New Stanton--not on the way in, because there were too many people about, but on the way out, when my book was the only thing occupying a bench when I left.

Wild Release #854

I tried a new place for lunch today: Five Guys Burger & Fries in Lincoln Place in Greensburg. I learned a few things. First, if you have peanut allergies, stay away from Five Guys. They have cases and cases of peanuts in the shell that are free for the customers so there is no escaping the peanut dust and shells. Second, if you order fries, they not only fill the paper boat, they fill the whole paper bag with the delightful potatoes. Third, the staff is very good at cleaning off window ledges. Sebastian Junger's "The Perfect Storm," which I left on a ledge inside the front doors when I went in, was last seen in the hands of a conscientious employee. I hope she likes to read!

Wild Release #853 & Wild Find #3

I did some browsing at Kohl's—I didn't end up finding anything I wanted to take home with me, but I did have something to leave behind. I left "Handbags and Homicide," by Dorothy Howell, in the purses department before I left.

On my way home, I stopped at the Goodwill store in Greensburg to see if there were any books that needed to come home with me. Imagine my surprise when I came across one of my books there for the first time since I have been BookCrossing! I found "Birthright," by Joseph Amiel, on the shelf. It was caught back in February 2009 by an AnonymousFinder, who said they would set it free for someone else to find once they were done reading it. I'd love to know where it spent the last 11 months! Rather than repurchase it, I left it there for someone else to find. From the tag, it looks like it arrived there just before Christmas (on my birthday, in fact!).

Wild Release #852

It's Martin Luther King, Jr., Day so I have the day off! I still got up early, though, to meet a friend for breakfast at Bob Evans in Greensburg. I left "Trial & Error," by Paul Levine, on the bench outside the front door before we went in; it was gone when we left!

Wild Release #851

I was in Latrobe this afternoon, doing a little shopping, and a little releasing. I left Jeffrey Archer's "Honor Among Thieves" on a newspaper box outside the front door of Valley Dairy around 5:15 p.m.

Wild Release #850

Today we were celebrating the marriage of one of my best friends with a tea at the Morning Glory Inn on the South Side of Pittsburgh. She is one of my favorite people in the world, so I left one of her favorite books, Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" on a ledge on the front steps of this charming B&B.

Catch #118!

BookCrosser juliek46 found "Fudge-Laced Felonies!" "It was well written," she says, "but it was more religious than most mysteries." I'm glad you enjoyed it; thanks for contributing to its journey.

Wild Release #849

If you happen to stop by Panera Bread in Greensburg for a cup of joe, you may find "The War of the Worlds," by H.G. Wells, on the counter by the coffeepots. Enjoy!

Wild Release #848

The Palace Theatre in Greensburg has seen its fair share of stars, and today it has one more. I left Sidney Sheldon's "The Stars Shine Down" in a BookCrossing release bag on an outside windowsill of Megan's Lounge (between the theater and the patio).

Wild Release #847

I had a late lunch at Steak 'n Shake today and was brave enough to try the guacamole burger. It was better than I expected it to be, but I don't know if I would get it again. On my way in, I left "Martin the Warrior," by Brian Jacques, on top of the garbage can outside the front door. It was gone by the time I left.

Wild Release #846

I stopped at Shop 'n Save on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg on my way home from work today. If you happen to stop there, look for Penny Jordan's "Power Games" on a bench right inside the front door under the literature rack.

Wild Release #845

Those in search of a delicious sub and a free book should head to the new Lincoln Plaza Subway in Greensburg where they will find dozens of different sandwiches inside, and "Poisoned Petals," by Joyce and Jim Lavene, outside on a ledge to the right of the front door.

Wild Releases #842 - #844

My wild release efforts have been lax over the last few days, so I thought I'd make up for it today with multiple releases. My first of the day was Jane Haddam's "And One to Die On," which I left on an endcap display at the back of PetSmart in Greensburg. That was followed by Alice Hoffman's "Practical Magic," which I left on top of the drive-thru ATM at Dollar Bank's Greengate office. Finally, I parted with Mario Puzo's "The Godfather" at The Sunset Cafe on Urania Avenue in Greensburg.

Wild Release #841

Today is the day some celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, commemorating the visit of the three wise men to the Baby Jesus. I celebrated the day by releasing O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi and Other Short Stories" at King's Family Restaurant in Greensburg. You can find this royal gift on a window ledge of the Hempfield Pointe restaurant.

New label!

I was feeling inspired last night and came up with a new label that is perfect for those mysteries and thrillers you want to label and release. The tagline says: "track a good book lately? where will this one turn up next?" Download them by clicking here. You can find links to other user-created labels in this thread on the BookCrossing forums.

Wild Release #840

It seemed like it had been awhile since I released a book at Eat 'n Park in Greensburg, so I did so today. I left "Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Midnight Visitor," by Donald J. Sobol, in the tourist information rack inside the front doors on my way in. It was gone (and the rack had been refilled with tourist information pamphlets) by the time I left.

Catch #117!

"Destroying Angels" was found rather quickly by veteran BookCrosser Jedijoe9, who reports: "My girlfriend and I took a snowy evening walk to the American coffee shop. As we entered, I noticed a bag on an outdoor table in the corner of my eye. I saw the book crossing logo and excitedly grabbed it up. I've been apart of book crossing for a few years and this is the first random encounter I've had with a book crossing book." Thanks for the journal entry, Jedijoe9! Enjoy!

Wild Release #839

The snow won't stop falling, but that didn't stop me from doing an outdoor release today. I left "Destroying Angels," by Gail Lukasik, in a BookCrossing release bag on a chair outside the front door of The American Coffee Shop on Main Street in Greensburg.

Wild Release #838

My first wild release of the new year is "Hurricane Homicide," by Nora Charles, which I left on top of a gas pump at the Sunoco station on West Pittsburgh Street and Vannear Way in Greensburg. Will it be my first catch, too? Only time will tell.