Being curious about the moose population in Connecticut, tonight I tuned into a virtual presentation with Andrew M. LaBonte, deer and moose biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division, being offered by the Granby Public Library and Granby Land Trust.

LaBonte’s talk covered the history, current status and expectations for the future of Alces alces, the largest mammal in our state. The goal was for us to learn about the biology of the animal, its presence in Connecticut and throughout New England, and its potential for population growth relative to its habitat.

About the presenter:  Andrew M. LaBonte received a B.S. in wildlife biology from Unity College, Unity, Maine and his M.S. degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Connecticut. Andrew received certification as a wildlife biologist through the Wildlife Society. His research activities have focused on the population dynamics of deer and moose and human dimensions of wildlife management. He is employed by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Wildlife Division.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #02 for 2022...

"Dig My Grave Deep", by Peter Rabe, published in 1956.

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Music 2022...

Effort #01,  "RR_One”.  Unreleased Dark Heart Duo Recording from the Crown Street Mansion.

This is part of a three song set titled "Better Late Than Never".

Still a bit more exploring, this time to a spot I've never been to.  Fuller and Welsh Roads in Hartland, supposedly around a gravel pit and nearby to Lost Acre Falls (which I didn't try to find).

Unplowed forest roads within a portion of Tunxis State Forest, as well as some old woods roads.

Found my way through on the connections, left a few for "next time", and completed 5-miles.

Keeping up the momentum, I re-visited Granby Land-Trust Properties again, despite temperatures in the single digits.  At least it was sunny once again.

Worked my way through Holcombe Preserve back to the re-connection with Dismal, and then continued over Crag Mountain.  Finished with the same 4.6-miles as yesterday's run!

Despite the ankle and tendon issues, I feel it's been long enough with rest.  I drove out to Granby's "Dismal Brook Preserve" to work out the connection to the Holcombe Preserve during winter and frozen ground.

Forty Degrees, beautiful sunny day for adventure.  Found a bushwhack route along the brook (followed deer tracks) to the connection with trails to Holcombe.   A success, and 4.6-miles of "running" on my legs.

We began the remodel of our two bathrooms the Monday after Thanksgiving (November 29th), and today everything was  finally completed.  Looks fantastic!

Annual Physical with my Doctor. 

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #01 for 2022...

"Dead Calm", by Charles Williams, published in 1963.

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What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period  December 1st through  December 31st, 2022:

3-Miles on Main Street as the freezing rain began. 

Stony Brook Park along the perimeter.  Completed 1.6-miles in a few inches of snow.  

28-degrees and a setting sun. 

1.5-mile walk around town in the dark, after the snow had fallen.

Marathoning on this day...  1996, I participated in the annual "Fat Ass 50" in North Adams, Massachusetts.  

This event consisted of many loops on the road, on a cold, gray day, and I believe there was a pretty bad snowstorm on the drive home.  

I have a time listed of  5:32:35, and I think that was for 26.2 miles - not 50k.  

This was my 8th marathon completed.

"High Points" along trails during December, 2021... 

• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, Connecticut
• Stony Hill, McLean Game Refuge, Granby, CT

Day 3 of an Automation Training "SLC 500 - Introduction" course.

Roughly 24 - 27 hours of remote learning non-stop.  I've learned much new material, but I have also learned that I would be better served by half-day training sessions rather than full-day.  The last couple hours each day had me on overload...