As I drove up the winding road to Pacheco, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Doonsbury as I contemplated the threat posed by global warming. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 0 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 18. It was even more difficult than two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Next, I tracked down B 141. It seemed most like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I helped a beginner find M 102 in Lynx. It looked exactly like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. Then, for a real challenge, I observed IC 3729 in Corvus. It was like a waterfall. Then, I hunted for NGC 6909 in Cygnus. It gave the appearance of cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, I logged Abell 17. It was even more difficult than one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found by accident M 24. It appeared at low power like diamonds on black velvet. Then, for a real challenge, I tried M 14 in Lynx. It glowed, rather like a little triangle.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I logged B 575. It sparkled like dancing elephants. Then, I hunted M 6. It appeared to be a waterfall. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook NGC 3052 in Sagittarius. It looked exactly like all the other smudges I've ever looked at. After that, I found M 26. It looked exactly like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I added to my logbook M 49. It took me back to the first time I saw Gollum. With that checked off my list, I logged IC 3877 in Ursa Minor. It was a blurry likeness of the face of God. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I star-hopped to IC 333. It was easy, just like cotton candy.
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 a kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.