July Stats

Wild Releases: 24
Catches: 9
Bookrays: 1

Year-to-date:
Wild Releases: 139
RABCKs: 39
Catches: 26
Wild Finds: 2
Bookrays: 2

Catch #142!

The jig is up—"Spy Games" has been caught and seems to have travelled to California! An AnonymousFinder says: "If you want just to waste time in coach or in train - that book ' ll perfect suit to you. Anyway that isn't an ordinary fiction. There you 'll find everything you want to. Also I have to mark that for me this book seemed not so interesting cause i don't have fluent english(i'm russian). But this book was a real gift for me. When I found it in the night near Greyhound station. So I spent all my way from Pennsylvania to California (!!) enjoying this book. So you should read it & perhaps you'll find loads of humor and adventures for you. Enjoy reading." Here's to being in the right place at the right time.

Wild Release #976

I stopped by The Chocolate Shoppe on North Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg after work to leave this themed release: "If Looks Could Kill," by Kate White. The theme is in the cover, not the content (I hope!).

WIld Release #975

Nate the Great and I went to lunch at Panera Bread in Greensburg today, but only one of us made it back to the office. Nate decided to hang around—undercover, of course—on the bulletin board by the restrooms and do some recon. Can't wait to hear back from him!

Catch #141!

Another day, another AnonymousFinder, another catch! "Abuse of Power" was journalled as caught and it will soon be continuing its journey. The AF plans to leave it at the Pittsburgh Airport in a few days. Safe travels!

Catch #140!

I got an e-mail from "Rebecca" today, who has been spending time with an AnonymousFinder since going out on her own a little over three weeks ago. The AF writes: "i thought the book was a good read over all. However it sseemed to be a little wordy to me. Thanks fot sharing it with me!"

Wild Releases #971 - #974

Home at last, with a trail of books left in my wake. I stopped at three travel plazas on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and released a book at each: "Werewolves Don't Go To Summer Camp," by Debbie Dady and Marcia T. Jones, at the Lawn Travel Plaza; "Dog Eat Dog," by Laurien Berenson, at the Blue Mountain Travel Plaza; and "Spy Games," by Gina Robinson, at the Somerset Travel Plaza. I left the Turnpike altogether at one point to make a detour to the Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pa. The medicinal values of Bedford's springs were discovered around 1796, and the resort was soon visited by numerous notables. James Buchanan used the Springs as his summer White House while President. I have wanted to stop there ever since I learned about it, so today seemed like the perfect opportunity. If it hadn't been so hot outside, I would have enjoyed exploring it and taking lots of photos, but the heat got the best of me and I retreated to the comfort of my air-conditioned car after leaving "The Picnic Caper," by Carol Reinsma, on a wall at the entrance to the hotel's circular drive. Fall would be a cooler time to go back.

Wild Releases #967 - #970

Even though it was 150°F today (or felt like it, anyway), Sister No. 1 and I went into Center City to do some sightseeing, shopping, and book dropping. Sister No. 1 was very good at finding little pockets of air conditioning as we explored. I loved the Reading Terminal Market, an indoor farmer's market that features an eclectic array of fresh baked Amish goods, produce direct from the field, unusual spices, meats, cheeses, flowers, ethnic foods, and much more. I was also glad to finally see LOVE Park, named for the statue in this photo. I remember a U.S. postage stamp from the 1970s or 1980s with this statue on it, but I didn't realize it was real until decades later. All in all, it was a long, hot day, but I got to spend it with my big sister, so it was a good one. Books we left along the way included Wish You Were Here, by Rita Mae Brown; Never Give Up, by Hiromu Mutou; Eyes of Fire, by Heather Graham; and A Better Angel, by Chris Adrian.

Catch #139!

"Granny Dan" has written home via an AnonymousFinder who says: "I usually do not read fiction, but due to the subject matter I did enjoy this book." I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for adding to its story.

Wild Releases #965 & #966

Since I'm on vacation this week, I decided to visit Sister No. 1, who lives in the Philadelphia suburbs and loves to have visitors. I arrived in time to pick her up from work, but not before I left my special BookCrossing calling card—Sue Grafton's "I Is For Innocent"—by the lovely fountain in the courtyard outside her building. I had a nice tour of her office and got to meet the people she works with. I even helped decorate a cubicle for someone's birthday the next day! We had dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant and after I dropped her off at her place, I was ready for my hotel bed. On my way to my room, I left another special BookCrossing calling card—Jennifer Weiner's "Little Earthquakes"—in an elevator of the Courtyard Philadelphia Devon Hotel in Wayne, Pa.

Catch #138!

My staycation is looking up! "The Frog Princess" had been found and journalled by new member mdunn110, who says: "Found book on coin-operated machine outside K-mart. Waiting for my daughter to read it." I hope your daughter enjoys it!

Wild Release #964

I'm on vacation this week (more of a "staycation," unfortunately) so I had the luxury of meeting a friend for lunch and not having to worry about getting back to work on time. We met at Szechuan Garden on East Pittsburgh Street—home of Greensburg's best Chinese food. While I was waiting for her to arrive, I left "The Advocate," by Larry Axelrood, inside the apartment rental guide box on the sidewalk outside Vocelli Pizza.

WIld Release #963

It was a lovely day for a drive, and seeing as I needed to go to Kmart, I headed for Latrobe, Pa. After finding what I needed inside, I left "The Frog Princess," by E.D. Baker, in the seat of the coin-operated speedboat on the sidewalk outside.

Bookray #3

Jackie700 was kind enough to RABCK this book to me earlier this year and since I promised to share it when I was done, Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent" is my third bookray. Its first stop is with imawinn2 in Wisconsin. Happy travels!

Catch #137!

If only all catches were such a piece of cake! A CAKE-loving AnonymousFinder says: "I found it on the thing and im gonna read it. I am also going to the CAKE concert yeeaah." Enjoy the book—and the concert!

Wild Release #962

CAKE is playing at The Palace Theatre tonight and I have tickets (w00t!), so I thought it would be the perfect time and place to release this book: "Piece of Cake," by Derek Robinson. I left it on the fence surrounding the courtyard around 1 p.m.

Wild Release #961

I met some book-loving friends for breakfast in Delmont this morning and once my belly was full, my gas tank demanded the same. I left "What You Leave Behind," by Diane Carey, behind on top of a gas pump at GetGo.

Wild Release #960

I tried a new release spot today because I had the perfect book to leave there. I left Danielle Steel's "Granny Dan," a story about a prima ballerina, on the windowsill outside the front door of The Dancer's Closet on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg. Though I didn't care for the story much myself, it didn't prejudice me against sharing it with the world.

Catch #136!

Another WA&HF release checks in and we have another new member! MollyJane2007 reports: "I found this book at the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival last week and plan to release it tomorrow! I hadn't read Calvin & Hobbes in years and forgot how much fun they are. This is my first Book Crossing book and I love the idea of catching & releasing books." I agree: it *is* a great idea.

Wild Release #959

Sister No. 6, a friend, and I are having drinks and dinner at The Pepperwood Grille at Westmoreland Mall in Greensburg this evening, so I think I'll leave this semi-themed book on a windowsill or bench outside the restaurant. Bon appetit!

Catch #135!

I got a relatively quick catch from my Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival releases a couple of days ago. "Death on the Nile" was found by go_pirates612, who says: "I am new to BookCrossing. I found the book at the Arts and Heritage festival at Twin Lakes Park where I am working until college starts in the fall. I'm excited to get started..." I'm excited for you, go_pirates612! (And for me, too!) Enjoy!

Wild Releases #954 - #958

It's the Fourth of July weekend so that means it's time for the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival at Twin Lakes in Greensburg.  Once again, Mom and I volunteered to take a shift in the welcome booth while representing Excela Health Home Care and Hospice (she's the volunteer; I'm just the company). And once again, after our shift ended, we walked through the park, leaving a few books behind:

1. "Superfudge," by Judy Blume (left at the fudge stand, of course!);
2. "Obsidian Butterfly," by Laurell K. Hamilton;
3. "Jane Eyre," by Charlotte Brontë;
4. "Something Under the Bed Is Drooling," by Bill Watterson; and
5. "Death on the Nile," by Agatha Christie

Let the fireworks and celebrations begin!

Wild Release #953

I stopped by the Subway on Towne Square Drive in Greensburg to pick up dinner on my way home from work and left "Rebecca," by Daphne du Maurier, sitting on the bench outside the door.

Catch #134!

I was thrilled to find this journal alert for "Clifford's Kitten" in my e-mail this morning. New member Rutledge writes: "I liked it when the big dog came. When the dog was frightened of Clifford and ran away. Then the cat was safe." I'm glad you liked the book, Rutledge. I really like it when a month starts off with a catch!