As I drove up the winding road to my secret observing location, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of AP Refractors as I contemplated the fleecy clouds, hoping they would clear. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 56 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 110. It seemed just like diamonds on black velvet. After that, I checked off Abell 80 in Gemini. It appeared in the eyepiece like a cantilever bra. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched IC 1153. It seemed almost the eternal nothingness of being. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried B 294. It looked a bit like lumpy darkness. With that checked off my list, I went for B 170. It appeared to be an edge-on barred spiral with a sharp dust lane. Then, I slewed to Abell 39 in Sagittarius. It was a blurry likeness of the clouds I'd seen earlier. Then, for a real challenge, I tried IC 1024 in Orion. It seemed fainter than the face of God. With that checked off my list, I went for IC 2882 in Scutum. It appeared as a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
Finally, it was time to pack up and leave. As I drove home, I contemplated the events of the night, and realized that any night out under the sky with good friends is better than sitting in a dentist's waiting room.