As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the impact upon modern astronomy of the internet as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 13 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 16. It looked exactly like a spider. Then, I logged B 20. It was a blurry likeness of whipped cream. After that, I found by accident Abell 77. It looked a bit like a nebula. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed IC 1268 in Lyra. It appeared in the eyepiece like a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I had a chance to see IC 1218. It looked uncannily like black pearls on flocked paper. Then, I sketched NGC 4805. It was easy, just like the clouds I'd seen earlier.
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 cleaning the bathroom.