The turnout was not as high as some years but the Halloween spirit was plentiful with an abundance of Halloween decorated desserts, music in the background featuring everything from Monster Mash to Meatloaf’s Time Warp.The party included guests from the USS Avenger and the USS Sovereign. Admiral Bob Vosseller (your’s truly) got into a situation as “The Situation” from Jersey Shore complete with foam 6 pack abs.

Challenger XO Jeff Victor traded in a SF uniform for a new Battlestar Galactica uniform. The only thing he was missing was the XO flask. Todd Brugmans was a silly superhero while Annie Slonski was a lady pirate.Challenger finance officer Julie Victor was appropriately garbed in a costume with paper money plastered to her and dollar sign frame glasses.

Challenger Pat Comune who heads the chapter’s Marine Strike Group donned a kilt for the occasion.Kevin Victor wore a bright green Frankenstein’s monster shirt with what appeared to be Dracula’s pajama bottoms. He looked comfortable.Conversations ranged from the status of sci fi shows like Fringe, V, and The Event to current horror films like “Paranormal Activity 2”

There were plenty of laughs to be heard and even a few comments on Election Day which was just days away.The party lasted from 7 pm to the witching hour of midnight. No one really wanted to leave but many of us had busy plans for Halloween day itself.

I was one of those people and hit Atomicon XXII a comic book show that featured Tom Palmer, long time Marvel Comics artist and colorist whose work is well known on The X-Men and Tomb of Dracula. Tom rarely makes comic book show appearances but he was very friendly. He said he enjoyed working most on Marvel’s Star Wars title for years. A group of people came in dressed as DC comics superheroes including the original Sandman with gas gun, The Question, Red Tornado and Zatanna.

I donned my Captain Corn Fusion costume fresh from my appearance at Zooloween, a collectible show that also held a costume contest earlier in the month. I knew there was no way I was going to get a prize this time but that was okay, it was just fun to be in costume for a short time at the show. I raided the organizer of the show’s 25 cent book box bringing home a horde of Aquaman, Sub-Mariner, Spider-man, Captain America, Morbius the Living Vampire, The Shadow, Superman, JLA and numerous other titles.

Visiting my long time friend and Challenger’s Chief Medical Officer David Singleton’s home, I even ended up tagging along for a few blocks trick or treating discovering that some folks were giving away healthy treats like cheese and crackers, juice drinks, Welch’s fruit snacks and Rick Krispies treats. A far cry from what I recall getting when I went out as a kid to trick or treat. All in all a pretty spooktacular time as the season of fright concluded.

Check out the photos!

We’ll be doing some dune grass planting soon and we can probably mix that with a social event like dinner and a movie. I’ll be checking out the supplies of dune grass from the Toms River Rec Dept. that supplies it for the dune program this weekend.

Beyond the club business we also got caught up with some of the new and returning TV shows that we are all fond of and in some cases, fear loosing.

I want to close this post by wishing a certain ship’s counselor a very happy birthday in advance. Emily Vosseller will observe a birthday on Thursday. A big happy birthday wish goes out to her a few days early.

Our next regular meeting will be held on November 7 at the Seaside Heights Community Center.

Take care all, have a great week.
Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger NCC-1676-D

Hi folks, sorry for the abrupt change of plan for our meeting today. Emily and I went to meet up with the members of the USS Avenger for the JDRF Walk this morning and while there, I had experienced a an unusual incident. I had a pain in the right side of my chest and then felt the need to sit down. As we attempted to do so (we were surrounded by the large turnout preparing for the 10 am stepoff of the walk) This was around 9:30, and I felt a bit light headed.

I got to one of the tables and put my head down on the table. A paramedic looked me over and took my BP which turned out to be okay. It did not appear to be heart related and it went away, that is until my BP was checked again and I felt light headed.

Emily and I went back to the bungalow with some good well wishes from the Avenger crew which was most appreciated.

Emily and Jeff felt that since the meeting was scheduled for the bungalow that the meeting should not be held today and I went off to my bedroom to Z out for most of the day.

I’m doing better now. Some have said i should have gone to the emergency room but I figured I would end up in a bed somewhere and I wanted the warmth of familiar surroundings.

I am sorry that the incident led to the cancellation of the meeting, that Emily and I could not take part in the walk and that the after meeting get together with Avenger for lunch therefore did not occur.

In the days to come we can discuss rescheduling the meeting. We had some  things to discuss and we would have had a good day even with some pretty lousy weather. All day its been windy, rainy, cold and raw out. The only solace I had was seeing the Morris the cat like feline and the blue mask Siamese cat outside on our cushions looking up at us. I wish we could find them a real home, it is getting cold out and Emily and I hate the idea of them living outside.

I want to thank everyone who expressed their concerns and helped out. I hope it was just an odd occurrence and certainly not the way I wanted today to go but as was pointed out to me by a few of you today, somethings are just wayyyyy out of your control.

Adm. Bob Vosseller
CO USS Challenger