As I drove up the winding road to my home observatory, I idly mused upon the socioeconomic impact of Plato's Republic as I contemplated the La Nina conditions. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 31 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 95. It seemed fainter than dancing elephants. Next, I looked at B 597 in the western sky. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton candy. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to NGC 2154. It was as bright as nothing I'd ever seen before. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I jumped to B 11. It was even more difficult than a spider. Then, for a real challenge, I observed Abell 65 in Cygnus. It took me back to the first time I saw that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, I located M 41. It appeared in the eyepiece like cotton on velvet.
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 hunting with the Vice President.