Fill In The Blank Night (Redux Redux) OG Post a Long Time Ago!

So what did you call it when you were a kid? The night before Halloween I mean...

In my neck of the woods, we called it GATE NIGHT - and people give me a quizzical look when I say that name. And apparently, the yuppies and new citizens of my little slice 'o' heaven in North Jersey have won out because the kids call it GOOSEY NIGHT, which I always found a little fem. But c'est la vie, right?

So I started asking people at work, around town at the Shop-Rite, wherever - "what did you call it oh so long ago?" So here is a list:

GATE NIGHT

GOOSEY NIGHT

MISCHIEF NIGHT

EVILS NIGHT

CABBAGE NIGHT

HELL NIGHT

Let me know if you have a good one. Funny, I had a friend named Flanagan and he called it 'same as every other night - and I still have to get me Da' at the precinct house!'. Poor Flanagan.

And a word to the wise... even though I've grown up, I still play the game tonight. On defense. Like a Jack Lambert, but better looking.

The Way Things Change

It's might sound apocalyptic or cryptic or some other ic...but what SoulSlam is talking about is pretty important. Coffee.

Now, SoulSlam used to drink a boatload of coffee. Regular like we order here in the North J. That means milk (or cream) and sugar. Bordering in light and sweet I'd venture. Then I realized how many calories this milkshake was causing. It was eye-opening. So SoulSlam took a "coffee-sabbatical"...for about 18 months. I'd have a cup every now and then (black).

So a year or so ago, I started drinking black coffee - BWSS bought a really nice coffee-maker I use on occasion. The coffee at J-O-B is pretty rank so I would pick up some at corner deli in AM. Then it happened...

SoulSlam tried the "flavored" coffee. They have one a day. Now I was always adverse to this type of brew, but now, since I drink it black as night, it's become my go to (as long as it's not hazelnut). Strange.

Autumnal Heat

We've been having some ~90 degree days here in the North J, which is fine when the calendar says July and August, not so much when it's almost Rocktober.

Add to this the fact that SoulSlam can't remember the last time we had any rain of any measure and its a dry, hot one here. Pool is still open (closing next weekend I think).

I Was on Vacation

16 years ago today when the Towers were hit. Boys were wee-men so we could go on that after labor Day vacation to the Jersey Shore to save dollars. Plus it was still summer weather without the crowds. We rented a condo in Wildwood and I remember having the TV on and...

I wrote a lot more for this post, but I just hit my back button and deleted it all.

God Bless. Never forget.

"Harvey"

I don't want to sound like a know-it-all, been there, type of typist...but where I come from we have our fair share of flooding. In 2011 we had Irene, that basically brought water, water everywhere near my home. And we were not displaced, like these poor folks in TX and LA. But I can empathize with the despair and hopelessness they feel, from just the way it affected me. Help if you can.

DONATE to RED CROSS

Sometimes "Bittersweet" is Best It Can Be

So vacation over. During vacation, OSSS had a freak accident that resulted in a bad injury to forehead and eye area. But after some time, he will be ok with no permanent injury to his eyesight. So we get that miracle somehow.

Small things matter, big things too.

Countdown

To vacation. T minus 3 days.