I made my second trip to The Book Thing of Baltimore recently and this one of the books I brought back. I was looking for a book with "Go" in the title for the Book Crossing Monopoly game (Team Top Hat gets to make another release for passing go). This looked perfect. When I got home I saw that it was by Tom Bodett (whom I know mostly from the Motel 6 radio commercials -- "we'll leave the light on for ya") and I have always enjoyed listening to him. It was a short book and a quick read -- a lot of fun -- selections of pieces he did on All Things Considered on NPR regarding his life in Homer, Alaska, which is literally the end of the road.

Now I will look for the perfect release spot.

Given the title of this book, it would be an ideal release for an airport, just prior to passport control, or a national border. Besides the fact that I am not able to journey that far to make such a release at the moment, there is the concern about causing a security issue. So I chose the best place I could think of -- the ornamental gate in China Town, Washington DC -- which is not far from my office. Hopefully it has not caused any security problems there; it was gone when I came back past the gate.

This is the release for Team Top Hat in the Book Crossing Monopoly game, Turn 15, Release for Passing Go.

Welcome to Book Crossing -- this book is now yours to read, retain, release, or any combination thereof which suits your fancy. Books registered with Book Crossing are tracked by those who have read them before to see where they will go and who they will meet on their journeys. People who participate in the Book Crossing community often establish friendships and trade books or comments on books and just relish a relationship with other readers across the globe.

You are welcome (and encouraged) to create a journal entry on the book, particularly when passing it on to a specific someone or releasing in the wild. You don't have to read the book to create a journal entry nor do you have to feel obligated to write only positive things. All those who have had their hands on the book before you would be excited to read any journal entry you choose to make.

You can remain anonymous or join Book Crossing, where you are known to others by the screen name of your choice and no personal information is revealed. If you join, you can receive e-mail updates about all the places this book travels to in the future. (I would love it if you listed me, 6of8, as your referring member).

Sharing books in this fashion is just another way of spreading good karma across the world. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the book!