Wild Releases #1145 – #1148

The evening festivities are far from over, but I am done for. On my way into dinner, I added four more books to the book buffet: "Lost: Signs of Life," by Frank Thompson; "Unpleasant Ways to Die," by Elan Fleisher; "In the Company of the Courtesan," by Sarah Dunant; and "Getting Rid of Bradley," by Jennifer Crusie. There's no such thing as too many books, right?

Wild Releases #1141 – #1144

The theme of this year's convention was "Choose Your Own Adventure," so I picked up some books from the Local Interest book buffet, grabbed my umbrella for the delightful rainy weather, jumped on the Metro, and jumped off in D.C. 

My first stop was Ford's Theatre. Ford's Theatre and I have a love-hate relationship. I have tried to go there several times on my previous trips to D.C., but it has been closed for renovations of some sort or another every time. I did manage to get inside once, but it was literally seven minutes before it closed for the day, so I still longed to take a proper tour. Once again, I was denied. This time, Ford's Theatre was closed for a performance, and when it would be open for tours again, I'd be about the 2000th person in line behind busloads of teenagers who were already queued. *sigh* Maybe next time.

Disappointed once again, I headed back to the Metro station, dropping off David Baldacci's "The Camel Club" on a window ledge outside the main door of Madame Tussaud's, which was on the way. Next on my agenda was lunch at the National Museum of the American Indian, where a plethora of BookCrossers were scheduled to meet. On my way there, I passed the Library of Congress Madison Building, where I left "Murder at the Library of Congress," by Margaret Truman, in the catalog of events box shortly before Noon. When I arrived at the museum, I was lucky to meet Ri, azuki, and Ixion outside so we found our way to the café and enjoyed a delicious meal.

After lunch, I headed to the Library of Congress Jefferson Building. I passed the U.S. Botanic Garden on my way there, and managed to leave "Forty Signs of Rain," by Kim Stanley Robinson, on one of its outside benches. I wasn't the only BookCrosser who made use of D.C.'s benches: As I made my way to the Library of Congress, I passed a number of benches that were adorned with books in Ballycumber release bags. Not to be outdone, I left Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol" on a lamp post outside the Jefferson Building before heading inside. And what an inside! It is breathtaking with all its marble and mosaics and stained glass and air and light, even on a dreary rainy day. I wandered around a bit and then sat on one of the benches lining the walls just taking it all in.

My last stop of the day was the U.S. Capitol Building—a new adventure for me—which is directly across the street from the Library of Congress. There is an underground tunnel connecting the buildings so the members of Congress don't have to expose themselves to D.C.'s weather or traffic, but I decided to take the long way around. The Capitol Building tour was fascinating and so well organized and orchestrated. I wish we had been allowed to linger as long as we liked in the rotunda. There is so much to see and so much history to absorb, I could have spent hours there.

Catches #158 & #159!

My first convention catches! "The Princess Bride" was picked up from the Wrap-It-Up book buffet (books were gift-wrapped with just the first line written or typed on the outside; I wrapped this one in wedding paper) by mdm139, and "The Swallows of Kabul" was chosen from the BookCrossers Only buffet (for books that should be read and enjoyed by another BookCrosser before being launched into the wild) by MaryZee. Time for bed!

Wild Releases #1108 – #1140

I'm at my first BookCrossing Anniversary Convention! I drove down to Arlington, Va. (lovely traffic, by the way), stopping at Sheetz in Breezewood, Pa., to fill up on gas and release "Midnight for Charlie Bone," by Jenny Nimmo, on top of the gas pump. When I arrived at the hotel, I checked into my room, grabbed a big box of books to add to the plethora of book buffets, and headed down to join the fun.

The welcome reception was already in full swing. There were people everywhere playing games, browsing the buffets, shopping in the convention "store," and having a great time. The very first BookCrosser I met in real life was discoverylover from New Zealand, who helped me find the right buffets for my themed books. Of course, I couldn't help but browse the buffets while I was adding more to them—I had to make room for my books by taking some off the buffet for myself, after all! In total, I added 32 books to the buffet.

Wild Release #1107

Niece No. 1's childhood has slipped away. She turns 22 today and I remember her baby- and toddlerhood so vividly, it seems impossible that that much time has passed. That probably says more about how old *I* am than how old she is. ;) To commemorate her birthday, I left Annie Dillard's "An American Childhood" on a bench outside the Walgreens in Greensburg.

Wild Release #1106

I got roped into watching Nephews No. 2 & 3 while their parents were otherwise occupied. After a marathon session of Monopoly, we headed to Eat 'n Park in Bridgeville, Pa., to recharge our batteries. I left "A Smart Girl's Guide to Sticky Situations: How to Tackle Tricky, Icky Problems and Tough Times," by the American Girl Library, on a brick wall by the door. Luckily, I didn't encounter any tricky, icky problems or tough times with the boys. I might even consider entertaining them again.

Wild Release #1105

My first release of the month is Robert Daley's "The Innocents Within," which I left on top of the USA Today newspaper box on the sidewalk at King's Restaurant on Route 119 South in Greensburg. Will I get a first catch?

March Stats

Wild Releases: 12
Catches: 3

Year-to-date 

Wild Releases: 41

Catches: 5

RABCKs: 1

Wild Release #1104

"Olivia," by V.C. Andrews, is looking for a new home, so I released it in the Homes magazine rack in the lobby of First Commonwealth Bank on East Pittsburgh Street in Greensburg.

Catch #157!

"The Eternal Enemy" has found a new friend in new member raveanly, who says it is "next on my list to read :)". Enjoy!

Wild Release #1103

It seems we have been waiting for spring for a really long time! The prognosticating groundhog in Punxsutawney said we were in for an early spring, but he was wrong. While we wait, why not head to the bandstand on the Diamond in Ligonier, Pa., where "Waiting for Spring Stories," by Bethany Roberts, is waiting for you?

Wild Release #1102

Another St. Patrick's Day called for another release of Frank McCourt's "'Tis." After spending the day in Ligonier, Pa., selling daffodils for the American Cancer Society, I stopped by Celtic Culture on East Main Street and left this Irishman's memoir on the stoop outside the front window. Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Catch #156!

"Weddings Are Murder" has found a new reader six weeks after being released at IKEA in Pittsburgh. "I didn't love the book," writes the AnonymousFinder, "but I do love this concept!"

Wild Release #1101

After lunching at Arby's earlier today, Mom and I had dinner with the boy next door, Bob Evans. I left Meg Cabot's "The Boy Next Door" on the bench outside the front door around 6:30 p.m.

Wild Release #1100

Just to be clear, leaving Christopher Pike's "The Eternal Enemy" at Arby's in Greensburg was not meant to be a themed release! I left it on the brick ledge outside the door around 1:30 p.m.

Catch #155!

I got a great journal entry from new member Sparklepooh12, who found "Watership Down" in Indiana, Pa., shortly after I released it back in September 2009: "My friend Shannon and I found this book while in Greensburg, PA for a weekend when our best friend got married. We took the travel opportunity to explore the local sights and after discovering that we were lucky enough to find ourselves in Jimmy Stewart's hometown and before leaving on Sunday, September 20th 2009, we visited the Jimmy Stewart museum. Upon viewing the Harvey statue outside the museum, we were very surprised to find this book. When we read the inside cover and learned about bookcrossing.com, it was very exciting and we considered it a small adventure. What a neat chance to share a reading experience together and with others while including the book in our own travels back to Kentucky." Sparklepooh12 had much more to say, so be sure to click the book image to read it all.

Wild Releases #1096 - #1099

Sisters No. 1, 3, and 6, and Niece No. 2 and I visited the Philadelphia Flower Show today. The theme of the show was "Springtime in Paris," so I brought some themed books along to release: "Sensational Bouquets by Christian Tortu," by Cornie Delahay; "Capturing Paris," by Katharine Davis; "Tangled Vines," by Janet Dailey, and; "Paradise," by Elena Castedo.

Wild Release #1095

I wonder if Kahless were here, would he help deliver us from the tyranny of high gas prices as he freed Klingon from the tyrant Molor with a bat’leth? In the hopes that he would be reincarnated, I left "Kahless," by Michael Jan Friedman, on top of one of the gas pumps at Sheetz in Greensburg. $3.49 a gallon!!! I remember my father being upset about the price going up to 60¢ a gallon. Who knew those would be the days?

Wild Release #1094

If your migration pattern passes by Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, be sure to look for William Lishman's "Father Goose," which I set free around 2:40 p.m., on the ledge of the information board in the parking lot at the upper lake.

Wild Release #1093

Another day, another dinner out, another book release. I left "Seabiscuit," by Laura Hillenbrand, on one of the Adirondack chairs on the sidewalk of Red Lobster in Greensburg, before heading inside to indulge on a different kind of biscuit—those of the yummy Cheddar Bay variety.