May Stats

Wild Releases: 19

RABCKs: 4

Catches: 5

Year-to-date:

Wild Releases: 98

RABCKs: 39

Catches: 17

Wild Finds: 2

Bookrays: 1

Wild Release #935

The weather is beautiful today, so I headed to Mount Odin Park in Greensburg to enjoy my lunch. Before I left to go back to work, I left Allison Brennan's "Cutting Edge" on the porch of the little cabin by the playground.

Wild Release #934

I went to Fun Party Stores in Jeannette, Pa., during my lunch hour today because they are selling the newest craze around here: Rubber Bandz and Silly Bandz. We called them jelly bracelets in my day, but in my day, they weren't in fabulous shapes or glow-in-the-dark. In any case, I was not buying them for myself, but for the daughter of a friend, whose birthday is coming soon. On my way into the store, I left "Gaudy Night," by Dorothy L. Sayers, outside on the ledge of a window that had a VERY sparkly, gaudy display.

I tried to make release notes on the *NEW!* BookCrossing site, but apparently there are still some bugs to work out, because I keep getting error messages. I'll keep trying!

New BC site!

I just spent a few minutes exploring the new BookCrossing site which launched in the wee hours of the morning (my time). I am ooohing and aaahing over the new features and fabulous new design. Very nicely done! I can't wait to use it!

Catch #133!

It's been a little over two months since I released "The Walker in Shadows" at the bandstand in Ligonier, but it has finally written home. An AnonymousFinder reports: "Took awhile to get into but not a bad read." Thanks for the journal, AF!

Wild Releases #932 & #933

Today's mission was twofold: to find the perfect plants for the garden, and to find a plain, concrete birdbath to place among said plants. Sister No. 6 and I headed to Martin's in Belle Vernon, Pa., for the first, and Marcel's Pottery in Perryopolis, Pa., for the second.

At Martin's, I found yellow zinnias, purple petunias, and red salvia, and left Wilson Rawl's "Where the Red Fern Grows" on a bench among the ferns and grasses.

At Marcel's, I found the perfect plain concrete birdbath (super cheap, too!) and left Luanne Rice's "Angels All Over Town" in the care of some concrete angels inside.

Mission accomplished!

Wild Release #931

After attending a co-worker's yard sale this morning, where all proceeds benefitted the Humane Society of Westmoreland County, and finding an armload of books to register and release, I got in my car and went for a drive with no particular destination in mind. It soon became apparent that a gas station needed to be my destination, so I stopped at the Sheetz in Murrysville, Pa., to fill up the tank and left Robin Cook's "Toxin" behind on the gas pump.

Wild Release #930

Sister No. 6 insisted I accompany her to Laurel Nursery in Latrobe this evening, but I didn't tell her that no arm-twisting was required. One of the sights I most enjoy is a huge greenhouse that is full of lush, vibrant, colorful flowers and plants. She also didn't need to coerce me because I had a perfect themed release in mind: I left "Flower Children," by Maxine Swann, among the flats of gorgeous flora.

Wild Release #929

I can't remember the last time I released a book outside Valley Dairy in Greensburg, so I decided to do so today. I left "5th Horseman," by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro, on top of the newspaper boxes outside the front door.

RABCKs #288 - #291

Today was a busy mailing day for me! My third and final 3rd BC Birthday RABCK, "A Daughter's A Daughter and Other Novels," by Mary Westmacott (a/k/a Agatha Christie), and some BookCrossing goodies are headed across the pond to hakkalina in Hungary. I'm sorry it took so long for me to read it myself, but I hope you enjoy it!

"The Other Boleyn Girl," by Philippa Gregory, is on her way to valpete, in California, who recently surprised me with a double wishlish RABCK. Thank you and enjoy!

Last, but not least, "One for the Money," by Janet Evanovich, and "The Book Thief," by Markus Zusak, are on their way to bookchick88, in Ohio, who plans to surprise a new BookCrossing member with the first, and keep the second for herself. Enjoy!

Wild Releases #927 & #928

Kennywood's open! It's a sure sign that summer is just around the corner in southwestern Pennsylvania. It's open only on the weekends, but it's a hopeful sign, nonetheless. Today, I joined an ex-co-worker, her daughter, and niece for a fun-filled day of rides, food, and games. We started off with a delightful breakfast at Eat 'n Park in North Huntingdon, where I left "The Meanest Doll in the World," by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin, on the banquette in the lobby. I saved "Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People," by Dav Pilkey, for Kennywood itself, where I left it outside the women's restroom in Lost Kennywood. It was a good day.

Wild Release #926

After enjoying a delicious Italian dinner and productive meeting at Bar Rizzi's in Crabtree, Pa., I walked across the street to Rizzo's Malabar Inn and left "The Man Who Liked Slow Tomatoes," by K. C. Constantine, on the ledge of the chalkboard outside their entrance.

Wild Release #925

It's becoming a ritual: gas goes in the car, books come out of the car. This time, after filling my gas tank at GetGo in Greensburg, Stephen Coonts' "Liars & Thieves" was chosen to continue its journey on its own. It was tough to drive away without looking back. Happy travels!

Catch #132!

Eight months after leaving on its exploratory mission, "The Starships of Star Trek" has made first contact. An AnonymousFinder reports: "I was given this book by a fellow sci-fi fan. She found it on display at the Star Trek exhibition. I told her to check out Futurama's "Where No Fan Has Gone Before". I left the book at the Montclair State University ADP Center on 5-10-10. Live long and prosper." May it continue boldly exploring where no BookCrossing book has gone before!

Wild Release #924

I killed two birds with one stone at Starbucks in Greensburg today (metaphorically speaking, of course). I satisfied my craving for a tall Caramel Apple Spice and released "Species," by Yvonne Navarro, on a table on the sidewalk.

Wild Release #923

I thought I had an appointment this morning at Smail Mazda in Greensburg to get my oil changed and to have my headlight replaced. Even though I made an appointment online yesterday, when I got there this morning, they were not expecting me. Fortunately, the service manager was able to fit me in anyway and I sat in the waiting room and read my book and surfed on their free wi-fi until my car was as good as new. I left "Calvin and Hobbes," by Bill Watterson, behind on the glass table in the waiting room in case anyone needed some amusing reading material while they waited.

Catch #131!

Seems my intuition was on the mark about "Zen Attitude." An AnonymousFinder journalled: "found at china king, don't have time to read, will pass on to friend." Thank you, and I hope you find some time to read soon!

Wild Release #922

I had to drop off some mail at the post office after work, so I also dropped off a book. Look for "Empire," by Orson Scott Card, on the automated postal machine in the lobby of the post office on South Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg.

Wild Release #921

I had a zen attitude about leaving Sujata Massey's "Zen Attitude" on a window ledge outside the front door of China King—a Chinese restaurant that serves Japanese cuisine—on Route 119 in Greensburg. Intuitively, I feel this one will be caught and journalled soon.

Catch #130!

"The Runaway Jury" was quickly found and journalled by a new member, love2read2010, who reports: "The book was left on a gas pump. I was intrigued by the stickie. This is my first bookcrossing, what a great idea!! I usually leave books I've read at the doctors offices I visit. I'll pass this book on of course." Thanks, and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #920

Once again, running on fumes, I stopped at the nearest gas station to fill up my tank. I felt a little guilty this time, because the nearest gas station was the BP on Route 119 in South Greensburg. Sister No. 6 boycotted Exxon gas stations for years after the Exxon Valdez accident, and I felt a similar urge to do the same since the recent BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Some people say that boycotting the gas stations only hurts the individual station owners and your own local economy; it has little to no impact on the giant corporate behemoth you really want to take notice. Long story short, I filled up at BP and I left John Grisham's "The Runaway Jury" behind. Hopefully, my verdict will come back "not guilty."

Wild Release #919

It amused me to leave "Pitching Around Fidel: A Journey Into the Heart of Cuban Sports," by S. L. Price, on the ledge of a place called "Comrades" in downtown Greensburg. Small things amuse small minds, as my mother used to say, but I was amused nonetheless.

Catch #129!

The day (well, today, at least) did get better with a catch and a new member! "My husband found this book at the GetGo on Rte. 22 in Delmont," says hatetoweed. "I plan to read it and pass it on." What a great husband! Enjoy!

Wild Releases #917 & #918

I met some friends for breakfast this morning at The Lamplighter in Delmont. The food and company were fantastic. The only thing that could make the day better would be quick catches on the books I left behind: "If Morning Ever Comes," by Anne Tyler, is on the newspaper box on The Lamplighter's sidewalk and "Blow Fly," by Patricia Cornwell, is on top of one of the gas pumps at the GetGo next door.