Wednesday, September 29, 2010

65. Achieve

65. Achieve
Definition:
(v) accomplish or gain with effort
Location Placed: Sea Girt Lanes, Sea Girt, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/29/10 6:39pm



60. Playful

60. Playful
Definition:
(adj) full of fun and high spirits
Location Placed: West Long Branch Library, W. Long Branch, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/29/10 6:04pm





Crane number 60 got a bit misplaced earlier in the week. Apparently my cat and I were fighting (unbeknown to me), and she decided to defile my purse. My purse got a one way ticket to the trash can. I thought this crane had gone with it, but I came upon it yesterday in the cup holder in my car. So I decided to place it immediately to make up for the gap. Silly crane!

Friday, September 24, 2010

64. Score

64. Score
Definition:
(n) a number expressing the accomplishments of a team
Location Placed: Sea Watch Beach, Manasquan, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/24/10 6:27pm





I'm not sure I can relate the word back to the story that I want to tell about this location. But I worked at this beach for every summer for nearly 7 years. This past summer was actually the first I didn't work down there. What a great job it was: sitting in the sun (with 50spf, thank you fair skin!), reading books, all whilst getting paid. I met a number of wonderful regular patrons that treated me wonderfully. It doesn't get much better than that. Not to mention this was the beach of my childhood: making sand sea turtles & castles, watching the fireworks on the 4th of July (American Independence Day), playing video games in the arcade (which was much larger back in the day). It was the beach the my Granny took my Dad and his siblings to when they were little. So it's a beach with a lot of history and one I'd have to call my own.

63. Enchanting

63. Enchanting
Definition:
(v) to delight, to hold spell-bound
Location Placed: Sea Girt Beach,Sea Girt, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/24/10 6:15pm





Another of my favorite words, enchanting. It reminds me of fairy tales of princesses and their handsome princes racing off to their magical castles. But I find the beach to be pretty enchanting itself. Especially with how lovely the evening was, I probably could've sat there a while longer.

62. Win

62. Win
Definition:
(v) to succeed, to reach a desired goal
Location Placed: Maclearie Park, Belmar, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/24/10 6:01pm





This is our recently established barbecue park. Well, the park itself isn't new, it's just new to my group. My boyfriend, friends and I have ventured here a couple times to celebrate summer holidays and the warm weather in general. It's right on the Shark River, so the views are pretty nice around sunset. To be honest though, I didn't even know the name of the park until I went to put a "point" on my crane release map. Observation skills for the win?

61. Smile

61. Smile
Definition:
(n) a facial expression conveying pleasure or amusement
Location Placed: W. Stanley Conover Pavilion, Deal, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/24/10 5:35pm





When I was younger, my Grandparents used to pack me into their car and we'd go for drives. My favorite drive was always through Deal, on the ocean, to look at the big houses. Even back then, I loved to see all the different colored houses with their pretty landscaping. The streets leading from the beach all seemed to be tree-lined and as story-book wonderful as my little mind could imagine.

I was pleasantly surprised to find it still was the case. I've long since outgrown drives with my Grandparents, but the houses are just as majestic as I remember. The streets are still tree-lined in that old fashioned Southern looking way. Not a cookie cutter house in sight.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

59. Entrancing

59. Entrancing
Definition:
(adj) bewitching, enchanting, fascinating
Location Placed: Starbucks, Howell, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/19/10 6:07pm





One of my favorite seldom used words, at least in my opinion. For some reason it always reminds me of old times, where people said thou/thee and rode places by horse & buggie. Not sure why though. Definitely a good adjective to have on hand for any writer.

58. Easy

58. Easy
Definition:
(adj) free from worry or anxiety, comfortable
Location Placed: Barnes and Noble, Howell, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/19/10 6:02pm



57. Comfortable

57. Comfortable
Definition:
(adj) free from stress, prosperous
Location Placed: Wachovia Bank, Sea Girt, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/19/10 5:32pm



Friday, September 17, 2010

56. Ecstatic

56. Ecstatic
Definition:
(adj) a feeling of great delight
Location Placed: The Provident Bank NJ, Ocean Township, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/17/10 5:45pm





A coincidentally placed crane. I went into the bank feeling, well, ecstatic since I was cashing in my first certificate of deposit (CD). It wasn't so much the $20 that I had gained off of it in the nearly 2 years the money was sitting in there that made me ecstatic. It was the fact that this was my first "adult" investment; this CD was my first non-checking/saving account as a way to diversify my portfolio (baby steps.) I was proud of myself for having researched and signed up for one back when I got it, for taking a step in the right direction. So today I cashed in my CD. And that, my friends, makes me ecstatic.

Is there anything that makes you happy, even though it's not necessarily something another perhaps would be as excited about?

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

55. Wisdom

55. Wisdom
Definition:
(n) accumulated knowledge; being sensible
Location Placed: Starbucks, Oakhurst, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/15/10



54. Elated

54. Elated
Definition:
(adj) joyful, jubilant
Location Placed: Oakhurst Post Office, Oakhurst, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/15/10 5:40pm



Sunday, September 12, 2010

53. Generous

53. Generous
Definition:
(adj) willing to give and share lavishly
Location Placed: Wachovia Bank, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/12/10 5:58pm





Of course we all want the ATM to be a bit more generous with us than it is. I can't be the only one to harbor the dream that it will spit money at me like a slot machine when I put my debit card in, am I? To date it has not yet happened, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed in the future.

52. Awe

52. Awe
Definition:
(n) an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration
Location Placed: Borders Bookseller, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/12/10 5:47pm





This one found its way on to one of those middle of the floor tables next to a couple books I was looking at picking up. I thought it was a good place for it.

51. Excitable

51. Excitable
Definition:
(adj) easily energized
Location Placed: Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/12/10 5:35pm





Ah, the mall of my childhood. Growing up in New Jersey, it's a joke that no matter where you live you are no more than 20 miles from 3 malls. (Or something like that.) And it was true, I lived near 3 malls and a 4th was a stones throw further. But this was my "home mall" where I visited the Easter Bunny, or Santa (depending on the impending holiday.) The place I hung out in my teen years with friends. The mall I bought my first pair of work crease pants from. (I actually saw the guy who sold them to me not too long ago and he remembered.)

But now this mall isn't the closest one to me and I visit it far less frequently. Since I moved, they've completely revamped its look in a better way (except for the choices in the food court, which I am not pleased with.) Going there still feels like a little piece of my past though.

Do you have any place like that? A place where, no matter the amount of time that has past, you feel like you're "home?"

If you include your email address in the section for it, I'll respond back!

50. Giddy

50. Giddy
Definition:
(adj) silly
Location Placed: Wachovia Bank, Howell, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/12/10 5:06pm



Thursday, September 9, 2010

Crane Placement

If you had a crane to place, where would you place it?

I've been trying to think of places I could actively release cranes instead of just releasing them where I go. I've got a small list of places but I wanted to hear where you would place them (by you or in general.) Does a certain place hold significance for you in your area? Is there somewhere you'd want to place one but no longer can?

I know there is one place, for me, that I'd love to place a crane but it's no longer there. It was a childhood summer fixture, and I have a number of pleasant memories there. But sometime in the last couple of years it closed down due to owner deaths/dwindling membership. Even if I can't place a crane there

I'd love to hear your thoughts on placement! Hope you all have a great day.

Monday, September 6, 2010

49. Honor

49. Honor
Definition:
(n/v) award, accolade/respect
Location Placed: Barnes and Noble, Freehold, New Jesery
Date Placed: 8/6/10 8:26pm





I think we've all learned how much of a bookworm I am/how often I frequent establishments that house books. No surprise that I found myself in another one. With a bookstore in nearly every town, coupled with my weakness for bound books, you'd understand why the swipe part of my reward cards are a bit worn.

48. Respect

48. Respect
Definition:
(n) attitude of admiration or esteem
Location Placed: Starbucks, Freehold, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/6/10 8:23pm





The only thing I can say about this one is that I did my best respect all the people having their Monday night caffeine fixes. Starbucks is one of those seldom treats I give to myself since I am not a coffee drinker. And I certainly did appreciate my ice beverage.

47. Successful

47. Successful
Definition:
(adj) being marked by a favorable outcome
Location Placed: Michael's Craft Store, Manalapan, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/6/10 6:04pm





I figured it would only be fitting to leave a crane where I am purchasing all of my paper. So I placed this one on top of the pad of paper that I ended up buying. Now all I have to do is cut it to size (from the 12x12 sheets into 6x6 sheets) and include it into my paper rotation. Between this pad and the one I've currently been using, I should have more than enough bits of paper to carry my through to the end of my 1000 crane mission.

But speaking of success, I wanted to say how pleased I am with the way my project has been turning out. It has surpassed my expectations both in terms of followers and the positive responses I have been getting back about it. A blog is not a success (at least in the terms of my project) without followers. So thanks again for sticking with me on my journey.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

46. Serene

46. Serene
Definition:
(adj) calm, tranquil
Location Placed: Shark River Park, Wall, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/5/10 3:06pm





When I was younger, my family went to this park regularly. Lots of good memories here of panning for sharks teeth, paying on the swingset, drinking Dr. Pepper and feeding the ducks/geese (where they occasionally stole what we were feeding them.) I remember it being very serene back in the day. It's changed a fair amount since those days but it won't change the pleasant memories.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

45. Proud

45. Proud
Definition:
(adj) feeling self-respect, displaying dignity
Location Placed: Provident Bank NJ, Wall, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/4/10 12:06pm



44. Adore

44. Adore
Definition:
(adj) love intensely
Location Placed: Smith's Farmer Market, Wall, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/4/10 11:59am





I've always seen this Farmer's Market while heading to the library, but had never ventured in. But today I was finally in the area when the market was open. What a treat. I'm excited to go back again and pick up some of that Apple Pie jam when I have some sort of method of payment on me.

43. Content

43. Content
Definition:
(adj) satisfied with the way things are going
Location Placed: Allenwood Post Office, Allenwood, New Jersey
Date Placed: 8/4/10 11:31am



Friday, September 3, 2010

42. Jolly

42. Jolly
Definition:
(adj) full of high spirit and merriment
Location Placed: Monmouth Mall, Eatontown, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/3/10 ~6:30p.m.



41.Thankful

41. Thankful
Definition:
(adj) feeling or showing gratitude
Location Placed: Barnes and Noble, Eatontown, New Jersey
Date Placed: 9/3/10 ~6:00p.m.





If you notice, I chose a very special book to place this crane next to. I am extremely thankful for the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr for being the inspiration in my project. This book was a considerably newer version than the one I picked up from the library. (I think I was most pleased to see that it was on the required reading table -or whatever the proper name is- for elementary school children.) If you've not read it, I highly recommend you do. It's a short but inspiring read.

I was tempted to wait until Thanksgiving to do this one to talk mention all I am thankful for, but decided that I am not only thankful on Thanksgiving (celebrated in the United States on the 4th Thursday in November.) I am thankful every day, in the least corny way possible. I wanted to take a little time to thank you, my followers/readers/people stopping by. I appreciate all the kind words, help and suggestions you've given me. So thanks everyone!

I also wanted to thank my friend Julia of The "Thank You" Project. She gave me a fair amount of help when I was in the very beginning of my project. So much thanks to you as well!

So, readers, what are you thankful for?