October Stats

Wild Releases: 34

Catches: 4
Bookrays: 1

Year-to-date:

Wild Releases: 206

RABCKs: 43

Catches: 34

Wild Finds: 2

Bookrays: 3

Wild Releases #1035 – #1043

The Humane Society of Westmoreland County hosted its annual Whisker Walk today at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg. Sister No. 6, Cat No. 1, and I enjoyed a brisk walk around the upper lake before the festivities officially started so I could release a few themed books along the walking path. I hung a few from branches (my first attempt at this, definitely not my last), left some on benches, water fountains, and in the split of a tree, including: "The Fashion Hound Murders," by Elaine Viets; "The Berenstain Bear Scouts in Giant Bat Cave," by Stan Berenstain; "Skeleton Man," by Joseph Bruchac; "The Man In The Woods," by Rosemary Wells; "The Dead Girlfriend," by R.L. Stine; "A Pedigree to Die For," by Laurien Berenson; "Sick Puppy," by Carl Hiaasen; "Orange As Marmalade," by Fran Stewart; and "Cat Crimes II," by Martin Harry Greenberg.

Wild Release #1034

I met Sister No. 6 and a friend for drinks and dinner at The Sunset Cafe in Greensburg, and left "The Soul Hunter," by Melanie Wells, behind on a ledge outside their main door. Find "The Soul Hunter" before it finds you.

Wild Release #1033

I figured it was time to buy some Halloween candy just in case we get little costumed creatures at our door tomorrow night, so I headed to the Hempfield Giant Eagle to lay in some supplies. While there, I left John Updike's "The Witches of Eastwick" in a free information rack hanging on the bulletin board in the vestibule. Trick or treat!

Wild Release #1032

Halloween will soon be here, so I'm releasing scary books to get people in a ghoulish mood. Today's release was "The Third Horror," by R.L. Stine, which I left on the windowsill of Stage Right! School for the Performing Arts in downtown Greensburg. Haunted hunting!

Wild Release #1031

Sister No. 6 and I met a friend and her sons for lunch today at McDonald's on Route 119 in South Greensburg. When we meet for lunch, we try to pick a place with a playground so the boys can burn off some energy and the grownups can chat. I managed to leave "The Dark Secret," by R.L. Stine, on top of the straw dispenser on the counter behind our booth. Within minutes, it was gone, though I didn't see who took it. I hope that doesn't remain a secret for long.

Catch #150!

Two years, seven months, and 21 days later, "The Kill" has been caught, shattering my old record of length between a wild release and a catch! An AnonymousFinder from New York reports: "I was given book to read by a family member. Now everyone in the house has read and it is time to release it again. We enjoyed reading this book."

Wild Release #1030

I took a roundabout way home from work today via Hempfield Park off Route 66 and left "The Starfollowers of Coramonde," by Brian Daley, on a bench outside the athletic center around 4:40 p.m.

Bookray #4

I was the last reader on teggers' bookray for "Marrying Mozart," by Stephanie Cowell, so I decided to continue its travels with a bookray of my own. The Weber sisters are on their way to visit megami-no-ushi in Canada. Enjoy your stay!

Wild Release #1029

There is an evil moon hanging over Shop 'n Save on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg this evening. Well, truthfully, "The Evil Moon," by R.L. Stine, is hanging over a bench in Shop 'n Save's vestibule. Are you brave enough to harvest it?

Wild Release #1028

Since we don't have an ark in Greensburg (that I know of, anyway), I released "The Noah Confessions," by Barbara Hall, at the next best place: Red Lobster. You'll find it on one of the adirondack chairs on the sidewalk, unless someone in the parade of people walking two by two through the front doors finds it first.

Wild Release #1027

Even though I released Harlan Coben's "Gone for Good" at the Hempfield Giant Eagle's GetGo gas station today, I truly hope it is not gone for good. I'd really like to hear from it again. Write home soon!

WIld Release #1026

I was really pleased with this themed release today. I left "Comfort Me with Apples," by Ruth Reichl, amongst the lovely baskets of apples outside the Oakford Park Fruit Market in Jeannette on this beautiful autumn day!

Wild Release #1025

My last release on a brick column of the Palace Theatre's courtyard fence was successful, so I thought I'd try again today with Mel Odom's "Omega Blue." Here's hoping my luck holds!

Catch #149

An unexpected catch today: "The Soul of A New Machine," which I released at the Mensa convention in Pittsburgh one year, three months, and one day ago, was checked in by an AnonymousFinder in Switzerland! The AF writes: "I got this book at the Maycys store in Pittsburgh City, the USA. I till have to read it."

Wild Release #1024

Mom and I visited the Vatican Splendors exhibit at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh this afternoon. It was extremely crowded—too crowded, really, to fully appreciate what we were seeing. The number of people wasn't the only disappointing thing about the exhibit. I was also annoyed that a good number of the splendors were just replicas. Who wants to pay to see replicas? I wanted to see the real thing. The only piece in the exhibit that you were allowed to touch was a bronze cast of Pope John Paul II's right hand. You could put your own hand in the impression made by his hand, but I'm not sure what the purpose of that was. Just to compare your hand to his? It would have been far more personal, effective, and meaningful if they would have let you grasp the part of the cast that looked like his hand, so you could feel like you were holding his hand. By far, the best part of the exhibit came at the end where they were showing the splendors of several local churches, including a collection of reliquaries (pieces of saints' remains), vestments, crosiers, chalices, monstrances, statues, and paintings. It was an exhausting day. I barely had the energy to remember to release "Broken Angels," by Richard Morgan, on a windowsill outside the History Center on our way back to the car.

Catch #148!

My luck wasn't just good, it was great! "Good Luck" was found by new member litha_26, whos says, "Found at Peach plaza skate park at 4:30 read it by 7:15. Will be put back out into the wild tomorrow. This is such a great idea."

Wild Release #1023

On our way home from Fort Ligonier Days, Sister No. 6 forced me to stop at Pier 1 so she could covet all their merchandise. She could not, however, force me to go in with her. Instead, while I sat in the car waiting, I found a book to release on the windowsill of the store: "A Crown of Lights," by Phil Rickman.

Wild Releases #1013 - #1022

I have been to Fort Ligonier Days—a three-day festival commemorating the anniversary of the October 12, 1758, battle between British and French forces during the French and Indian War—many times over the years, but I had never been there for the Saturday morning parade before today. Sister No. 6 and I were up bright and early to beat the crowds and to catch the shuttle bus from the high school to the downtown area. There were plenty of people lining Main Street on each side, with all kinds of chairs set up, five and six deep in some places. Since everyone else had their attention focused on the parade route, it made it that much easier for me to pepper the area with BookCrossing books! In all, I released ten books: "Garfield Rolls On," by Jim Davis; "How Nancy Drew Saved My Life," by Lauren Baratz-Logsted; "Church Folk," by Michele Andrea Bowen; "Children of the Arbat," by Anatoli Rybakov; "Q-Squared," by Peter David; "The Berenstain Bear Scouts Meet Bigpaw," by Jan & Stan Berenstein; "Don't Stop," by Maureen Holohan; "Dipped, Stripped and Dead," by Elise Hyatt; "I, Freddy," by Dietlof Reiche; and "Mystery at Clareton Manor," by Kathleen Newberg.

Wild Release #1012

I wasn't really sure what I was going to do with "Good Luck," by E-jin Kang, when I bought it at the Carnegie Library Summer Reading Extravaganza kickoff party in Oakland earlier this year, but today, I had a brainstorm. I was headed to Twin Lakes to enjoy my lunch, but detoured to the new skate park off of Georges Station Road. The local skateboarding community raised thousands of dollars to build it and they did a great job. There are cool ramps and pipes and tubes and other skateboardy stuff, with plenty of parking, restrooms, a water fountain, and a great view. I ended up leaving the book on top of the water fountain, where I'm sure it will entice someone to take it home.

Catch #147!

An AnonymousFinder from Monroeville, Pa., was quick to find "Fast Women." Thanks for checking in, and enjoy the book!

Wild Release #1011

If you slow down a bit and look, you may find Jennifer Crusie's "Fast Women" on the bench outside Bella Luna Trattoria in Murrysville. Buon appetito!

Wild Release #1010

Happy October! I left my 1010th Wild Release, "October Sky," by Homer Hickam, on a bench at 101 North Main St., Greensburg, Pa., on this 10/1 of 10/10. How's that for themed numberplay?