I think I was able to bring the ‘at’ closer to the time, but I’m not sure it’s correct:

‘This can’t possibly be the same 9pm I used to start getting ready at for a night out’

I’m tempted to remove the ‘used to’ and just put it in simple past for brevity, but that would hold back half the punch.

This is one of my favorite types of discourse. Polishing jokes and grammar in the gravitas it deserves.

I’ve heard that the high tide was end of WW II. Sloping exponentially downwards, with the occasional oil boom or bust.