Wild Release #445

If you happen to be at the Mountain View Inn in Greensburg today, you may find "The Mystery at Lilac Inn," by Carolyn Keene, on a white bench under the pergola outside the front door. Happy hunting!

Wild Releases #442 - #444

Halloween is all about giving treats to strangers, so I released a few themed books today. The first was R.L. Stine's "The Haunted Mask II," which I left in the mask aisle at Fun Party Stores in the Eastgate Plaza. I placed it next to the scariest, creepiest mask ever—Michael Myers from "Halloween." That mask, and movie, still scare the socks off of me. *shudder* The second treat was Edgar Allan Poe's "Eight Tales of Terror," which I left on a picnic table outside of the office building at 40 North Pennsylvania Avenue in Greensburg. Edgar can be pretty frightening, too. The third, and final release of this scary day was another Goosebumps book by R.L. Stine. "How I Got My Shrunken Head" is waiting on the abandoned drive-thru window of Burger King on Route 119. Happy Halloween!

Wild Release #441

If you visit the Wendy's at Hempfield Pointe (in the Home Depot plaza) you may find "Judy Moody Gets Famous!" by Megan McDonald, on the ledge outside the side door.

Wild Release #440

Greensburg is having its first snowfall of the season today. It's cold, and wet, and white, and it's much too early in my opinion! In my quest for a hot lunch, I tried a new restaurant, which also became a new release zone. I left James Patterson's "London Bridges" in a BookCrossing release bag on the brick ledge outside the main door of the Coffee Bean Café & Roastery on Route 30 West. Save it from the snow!

Catch #57!

"Bleachers" has resurfaced in the possession of a new member, waldocruise, more than three months after I left it in a Quizno's in Breezewood, Pa. It already has further travel plans: waldocruise says, "I plan to leave this book at Rutter's in Waynesboro, PA." Thanks and welcome to BookCrossing!

Wild Release #439

It is a blustery day today, so I left "Tuck Everlasting," by Natalie Babbitt, on the ledge *inside* Arby's side door so it won't blow away. There was a whole busload of kids there when I left, so perhaps one of them will pick it up and log it in!

Catch #56!

An AnonymousFinder has checked in with "A Dog Walks into a Bar...: Dog Jokes So Funny You'll Beg for More" just a day after releasing it at the Whisker Walk. "We were at the whisker walk for the humane socitey [sic] and we found it next to a tree," they report. Thanks for finding and journalling, AF. Enjoy!

Wild Releases #432 - #438

The Humane Society of Westmoreland County hosted its annual Whisker Walk today at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg. Sister No. 6, Niece No. 2, Dog No. 1, Cat No. 1, and I all enjoyed the absolutely gorgeous day in the outdoors. While there, I took the opportunity to release a few themed books along the walking path: "The Headless Ghost," by R.L. Stine; "I Spy Spooky Night," by Jean Marzollo; "Poppy," by Avi; "Mallory Vs. Max," by Laurie B. Friedman; "Spooky Rhymes and Riddles," by Lilian Moore; "Bridge to Terabithia," by Katherine Paterson; and "A Dog Walks into a Bar...: Dog Jokes So Funny You'll Beg for More," by Tim McGee.

Wild Release #431

The call of IKEA was strong today—strong enough that I couldn't resist, so Sister No. 6 and I heeded the call. I left "Lunch Walks Among Us," by Jim Benton, on a well-placed pole outside the front door, and it was gone by the time we came out of the store, laden down with SPONTAN, GRUNDTAL, HEAT, and BLANKEN.

Wild Release #430

I took a walk in downtown Greensburg today and slipped into the Pennsylvania Avenue parklet—a little green space tucked between the brick buildings—to leave "The Secret Garden," by Kathryn Cristaldi, propped up against a tree, just waiting for a new home.

Wild Releases #427 - #429

Today saw three releases at three different locations for me. The first was John Grisham's "The Innocent Man," which I left on the window ledge of the Westmoreland Bar Association's North Pennsylvania Avenue entrance. The second was "The Swan Princess," by Francine Hughes, which I left on the rock wall of the main playground at the upper lake of Twin Lakes Park. I capped off the day with a release at Cracker Barrel in New Stanton: I left Disney's "The Rescuers Down Under" on a bench outside the front door.

Wild Release #426

I loved Robert Harris's "Enigma," a good old-fashioned spy story that takes place during World War II. You can, too, if you go to DeGennaro's Car Wash on Route 119 in South Greensburg, where I left it propped up against one of the giant silver vacuum units outside of the car wash.

Wild Release #425

I was browsing in my local Blockbuster and just happened to have the novelization of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," by William Kotzwinkle, in my hand, so I slipped it on the shelf under the movie, which can be found in the Family section. Phone home soon, little book.

Wild Release #424

Mom had a craving for Pumpkin Spice Cappuccino from Sunoco's A Plus Mini Market, so being the good daughter that I am, I fetched some for her from the store on Mount Pleasant Road and Urania Avenue in Greensburg. Being the good BookCrosser that I am, I released a book while I was there. I left "My Favorite Book," by John Sydney Tighe and Christopher Pelicano, on top of a blue container on the sidewalk outside the store.

Wild Release #423

I was rather proud of myself for this themed release. I left "Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers," by Mary Ann Hoberman, outside the Family Video on South Main Street in Greensburg. It was only after I left it leaning against the tall, glass-block Washington-Monument-type column, that I realized that plaza also has a Family Dollar and a Papa John's. Very family-friendly, indeed.

Wild Release #422

If you visit the Chick-fil-A in Eastgate Plaza soon, you may find " Curious George and the Dumptruck," by Margret & H.A. Rey, on the ledge outside the side door. Enjoy!

Wild Release #421

It has been awhile since I have had Chinese for lunch, so I sought to amend that today. I picked up some Sweet and Sour Chicken at Szechuan Garden and left Amy Tan's "The Joy Luck Club" behind on the window ledge outside the front door.

Wild Releases #419 & #420

Happy Columbus Day to all! I celebrated having the day off work by visiting Twin Lakes in Greensburg and leaving "Bambi: A Read-Aloud Storybook" on the wishing well in the parking lot on the upper lake. Then, on my way home from spending far too long in a car dealership, I left Michael Ondaatje's "The English Patient" on top of a gas pump at the Sheetz in Irwin.

Wild Releases #414 - #418

In the days before political correctness, one could say that today was a perfect Indian summer day. And that would have coincided nicely with our trip to Ligonier, Pa., for 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.

Today we can only say that it was a very warm, summer-like day, the likes of which we don't see too often in October in this part of the world. Sister No. 3, Nephew No. 1, Mom, and I enjoyed this last bit of summer by partaking in Boy Scout Nachos, Pulled Pork Potatoes, Pumpkin Gobs, and Holy Hotdogs. We also looked at all the craft booths we could find while I left a few books around town: "The Barking Ghost," by R.L. Stine; "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee; "The Hunt Club," by John Lescroart; "Things Not Seen," by Andrew Clements; and "The Horribly Haunted School," by Margaret Mahy.

Wild Release #413

My lunchtime travels took me to The Boulevard in Greensburg today, where I left Daphne du Maurier's classic, "Rebecca," on a bench outside the front door. Hopefully, the second Mrs. deWinter won't be lonely for long.