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?

September Stats

Wild Releases: 10

RABCKs: 4

Year-to-date:

Wild Releases: 172

RABCKs: 43

Catches: 30

Wild Finds: 2

Bookrays: 2

Wild Release #1009

There were still 90 minutes or so of daylight left when I left John Sandford's "Dark of the Moon" on top of a gas pump at GetGo in Greensburg. Don't wait for moonrise to go get it!

Wild Releases #1004 - #1008

Today is the last day of the annual used book sale at Westmoreland Mall that benefits the YWCA of Westmoreland County, so I was sure to get there and support the cause (and my book-buying habit). My motivation was not purely selfish—I donated five books (whose titles are too embarrassing to mention) to the sale. If you're truly curious, you can see them here, here, here, here, and here.

Wild Release #1003

"The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," by C.S. Lewis,  is my favorite Narnia book of the seven in the series. I probably have read this one 1003 times, so that makes this wild release a themed one, wouldn't you say? ;) If you are near the Eastgate Plaza Chick-fil-A sometime today, you just may find this on a ledge outside the front door.

Wild Release #1002

The trouble with some of my friends—and me, I admit—is that being on time for things is just not that vital. I don't really mind, mostly because I hope that gives me some allowance when I'm at fault (which I am, far too often). Today, I was meeting a friend at Bob Evans Restaurant in Irwin, and I didn't mind that she was a little time-challenged because that gave me the opportunity to leave "The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends," by Stan & Jan Berenstain, on a bench outside the front door.

Wild Release #1001 & RABCKs #292 - #295

I stopped by the post office today to ship out a few RABCKs and found it the perfect opportunity for a nice themed release, as well. I left "The Shipping News," by Annie Proulx, a "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die" book on top of the FedEx box on the sidewalk outside the post office to commemorate my 1001st wild release on BookCrossing.

As for the RABCKs themselves, Elizabeth Berg's "We Are All Welcome Here" is on its way to babydoll857 in the UK—the winner of my Inspire my 1000th Wild Release RABCK.

Three audiobooks—"As Time Goes By," by Bob Larbey, "Playing with Boys," by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, and "Shattered," by Dick Francis—are on their way to the winner of the July/August 2010 edition of the International AUDIOBOOK Sweepstakes RABCK. Enjoy!

Wild Release #1000

My 1000th Wild Release! I spent weeks wondering what it would be, what fabulous theme I could plan; I even asked other BookCrossers to inspire me with ideas. In the end, I chose Roald Dahl's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," which I left on a ledge outside The Chocolate Shoppe in Greensburg today, which just happens to be Roald Dahl Day. On to 2000!