It's been a while since we last watched the X-Files.

Originally, we watched the series live, as it was broadcasts, beginning in 1993.  Episodes were broadcast on Fridays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time for the series' first three seasons; the following six seasons aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time.  

This was must-see TV for us during these nine-years.

When JC was old enough, we revisited the series, watching on dvd. This would have begun somewhere about 2005, or slightly later by a year or two (at the most).

Since we completed that second run of viewing, X-Files has only really existed in our memories, with the exception of the two later seasons running January 24, 2016 to February 22, 2016 and January 3, 2018 to March 21, 2018.  These were Season's 10 and 11.

So, with some TV-Time available for the upcoming months, and nothing new really drawing us in, what better opportunity than revisiting old friends Scully, Mulder, Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, the Lone Gunman "Byers, Frohike, and Langly", Doggett and Reyes.

I will keep a log of episodes watched and progress, as we journey through over 200 episodes!  

October 17th thru October 25th:

Overall / Season                    Title                                     Original Release Date            

• Episode 4.22 (95)            Elegy                                            May 4, 1997
• Episode 4.23 (96)            Demons                                        May 11, 1997
• Episode 4.24 (97)            Gethsemane                                 May 18, 1997
• Episode 5.01 (98)            Redux                                           November 2, 1997
• Episode 5.02 (99)            Redux II                                        November 9, 1997
• Episode 5.03 (100)          Unusual Suspects                         November16, 1997
• Episode 5.04 (101)          Detour                                           November 23, 1997

Walking / Hiking Plan:

                                        5.1-Miles at Granville NEFF / Phelon Forest w/997' climb.

Future Farmers of America invade the Berkshires today, to help my Pop out....

And from the Marathon Archives... 

Mt Washington State Forest Marathon - October 2003

 Riga Plateau, South Taconic & Appalachian Trails, MA, NY & CT

Sometime in October of 2002 - 2003, Tippi completed her first "Marathon" along the Mt Riga Plateau; it would also be my 26th.  We had the "Bandit" along for the adventure. 

Our time was recorded as 5:38:00 over 24.7-miles.  I recall the end of the run taking forever once we descended Frissell and headed back to Mt. Washington State Forest Headquarters, as we might have diverted from the most direct track.

Maybe on top of Alander?

Intersection prior to Brace.

   
I believe this is the top of Brace Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Round Mountain.

The Bandit at the peak of Round Mountain.

The Bandit climbing Mt Frissell.

The Bandit climbing Frissell.

At the Tri-State Marker (NY, MA, CT).

Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #26 for 2026...

"Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death"

Written by Kurt Vonnegut, Published 1969.

Slaughterhouse-Five, or, The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death is a 1969 semi-autobiographic science fiction–infused anti-war novel by Kurt Vonnegut. 

It follows the life experiences of Billy Pilgrim, from his early years, to his time as an American soldier and chaplain's assistant during World War II, to the post-war years. 

Throughout the novel, Billy frequently travels back and forth through time. 

The protagonist deals with a temporal crisis as a result of his post-war psychological trauma. 

The text centers on Billy's capture by the German Army and his survival of the Allied firebombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war, an experience that Vonnegut endured as an American serviceman. 

The work has been called an example of "unmatched moral clarity" and "one of the most enduring anti-war novels of all time".

6 Week Check-Up with Surgeon for Hip.  Excellent Feedback today.

Haircut at the end of day.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Top Albums released in 1969, #131 through #140" 

... from that incredible Year in Music 1969!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

121. The Electric Prunes Just Good Old Rock and Roll

131. Graham Bond -         Mighty Graham Bond

132. Rod Stewart         The Rod Stewart Album

133. Scott Walker         Scott 4

134. Scott Walker         Scott 3

135. Tim Hardin         4

136. Amon Düül II Phallus Dei

137. Bill Justice         Raunchy and Other Guitar Instrumentals

138. The Box Tops -         Dimensions

139. George Harrison         Electronic Sound

140. John Lennon & Yoko Ono Unfinished Music No. 2: Life with the Lions

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PT @ YMCA w/LED.

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 1.0-Miles.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period September 1 through September 30, 2026:

Walking Plan:

                            Hiking Granville NEFF/Phelon Forest, 3.6-Miles.

ArchaeoEd Podcast

Get ready to embark on a time-traveling adventure with legendary archaeologist, Dr. Ed Barnhart!

Let's unearth the stories of the awe-inspiring civilizations of the Americas. 

These are the tales that only get a fleeting mention in western history books.

ArchaeoEd, S5E7 "Ancient American Weapons"

Episode 5.7 - "Ancient American Weapons S5 E7" - ArchaeoEd

There were multiple militaristic civilizations in the ancient Americas.  In this episode, Ed talks about their rise to power and weapons of choice.

Walking Plan:

                        2.80-Miles in McLean Reservation after PT @ LED.

                        1.50-Miles around Town later.

                        Total Daily Distance = 4.30-Miles.

Pop hits #87 today!!  Happy Birthday!

Walking Plan:

                        Hiking Poles today, 3.60-miles in Granville at Reservoir.

Visit with Pop, an early celebration of his birthday tomorrow.

Stopped off at the Cemetery to pick up plants, managed a quick look at Belleview Falls.

And From the Marathon Archives...

Bay State Marathon
October 18, 1992 - Lowell, Massachusetts

I completed my first marathon at Baystate in Lowell, Massachusetts, this day 1992.

I ran 3:35:00 for the 26.2-miles (two loops).  

My folks drove out to see me finish, which was really cool.

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Tippi (August 2000 - October 17, 2016)

Nine years ago today we said goodbye to Tippi.  She was a rescue we were blessed with for well over 16-years. She was my trail partner for somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 miles (we didn't keep track), traveling together in the car all over Connecticut, New York, Vermont and Western Massachusetts to run in the woods we both loved so much.  Together we finished 17 marathons.  She could run all day, season didn't really matter.

Often, as DL and I drive home from Adams back to Connecticut, she will ask as we pass large forested areas "... did you and Tippi ever run through there?"  The answer is almost always "Yes".  We connected huge tracts of land in northwestern Massachusetts, the Valley, and much of north-central and western Connecticut.

I continue to think about Tippi everyday. Often on a hike or run, I come to a spot in the forest that helps me feel her presence.  The recent photograph below is one of those spots/times, along the Spruce Mountain Trail in Monroe, where my old dog's spirit overwhelmed me.

We love you Tips, rest easy girl.

Tippi, August 2000 - October 17th, 2016.

Walking Plan:

                       1 x 2.60-Miles @ Granville & 1 x 1.00-Miles around Town; Total 3.60-Miles.

It's been a while since we last watched the X-Files.

Originally, we watched the series live, as it was broadcasts, beginning in 1993.  Episodes were broadcast on Fridays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time for the series' first three seasons; the following six seasons aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time.  

This was must-see TV for us during these nine-years.

When JC was old enough, we revisited the series, watching on dvd. This would have begun somewhere about 2005, or slightly later by a year or two (at the most).

Since we completed that second run of viewing, X-Files has only really existed in our memories, with the exception of the two later seasons running January 24, 2016 to February 22, 2016 and January 3, 2018 to March 21, 2018.  These were Season's 10 and 11.

So, with some TV-Time available for the upcoming months, and nothing new really drawing us in, what better opportunity than revisiting old friends Scully, Mulder, Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, the Lone Gunman "Byers, Frohike, and Langly", Doggett and Reyes.

I will keep a log of episodes watched and progress, as we journey through over 200 episodes!  

October 12th thru October 16th:

Overall / Season                     Title                                     Original Release Date       

• Episode 4.17 (90)            Tempus Fugit                                       March 16, 1997
• Episode 4.18 (91)            Max                                                      March 23, 1997
• Episode 4.19 (92)          Synchrony                                           April 13, 1997
• Episode 4.20 (93)          Small Potatoes                                    Aril 20, 1997
• Episode 4.21 (94)            Zero Sum                                            April 27, 1997

Walking Plan:

                                1 x 1.00-Miles, 1 x 2.40-Miles @ Cowles w/ K2 & MB, Total 3.40-Miles.

On a sad note, my sister had to say goodbye to her dog Dixie today as well.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Top Albums released in 1969, #121 through #130" 

... from that incredible Year in Music 1969!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

121. The Electric Prunes Just Good Old Rock and Roll

122. Jefferson Airplane         Bless Its Pointed Little Head

123. John Mayall         The Turning Point

124. Bob Dylan         Nashville Skyline

125. Bert Jansch         Birthday Blues

126. Davy Graham -         Hat

127. Deep Purple         Deep Purple

128. The Youngbloods         Elephant Mountain

129. Flamin' Groovies -         Supersnazz

130. Gene Clark -         Through the Morning, Through the Night

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit for DL and I at YMCA for PT.

Drive to Granville to Gran-Val Scoop and Nestrovich Orchard.

Walking Plan:

                                1 x 3.00-Miles, 1 x 1.00-Miles, Total 4.00-Miles.

Old News...  From the Archives, this day in my Marathon History...

On this day in 1995 I completed the 2nd Hartford Marathon in 3:42:02.  

This was my 7th completed marathon.

Walking Plan:

                                    2 x 1.25-Miles, Total 2.50-Miles.

In Memory...  

Today we said goodbye to another cherished pet...  

Rest in Peace, Otis.

Otis was my Parents Dog for the past 16-years, a great companion who happily traveled everywhere they did.  It was hard to tell who was watching who, between Otis and my Mother.

The last few years its been my Father who Otis looked after, sleeping at his feet on their recliner.

As is the case, goodbye does not mean forgotten.

And From the Archives - Old Marathon News...

Conway Covered Bridge Marathon - October 13th, 2012

Conway & Goshen, Massachusetts

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I ran the Conway Covered Bridge Marathon.  We had Ned and his daughter's dog with us for the first 10-miles or so, and they were good company.

The idea for the run had been with me for a while, but what sealed it was Farmer Tom was doing a group trail ride through the woods from either Berkshire East or South Face, to the Covered Bridge in Conway.

We would start running in the opposite direction of the bikes, beginning at the St. Mark's Church parking area (we hoped to start running on an hour but we found out the church bells haven't been active for many years).  We immediately crossed the Burkeville Covered Bridge and we were soon into Conway State Forest.

Highlights of the run included:

• Cricket Hill
• Joe Herrick Gulf
• Smith Hill
• Bullitt Reservation
• Chapel Falls & Ledge/Pony Cliffs
• Moore Hill and the Firetower

We finished really strong, final time of 6:33:15.  This was my 50th completed marathon.

On the drive out to retrieve our two aid station drops, we ran into the mountain bike group crossing West Road exiting the DAR State Forest onto the Chapel Falls Trail toward Conway State Forest.

An excellent day!

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.60 @ Cowles & 1 x 1.00;  Total 3.60-Miles.

Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #25 for 2026...

"Post Office"

Written by Charles Bukowski, Published 1971.

Post Office is the first novel written by American writer Charles Bukowski, published in 1971. 

The book is an autobiographical memoir of Bukowski's years working at the United States Postal Service. 

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 3.00 & 1 x 1.00;  Total 4.00-Miles.