As I drove up the winding road to Twin Peaks, I idly mused upon the deep impact of the human spirit as I contemplated the ominous thunderheads on the horizon. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 46 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 24. It looked exactly like Miss Piggy. Then, for a real challenge, I sketched IC 3403. It took me back to the first time I saw black pearls on flocked paper. After that, I tried IC 894. It seemed just like blackness. Then, I nudged my telescope to Abell 25. It looked uncannily like a Black Rider hunting for Frodo. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find IC 1672 in Triangulum. It seemed just like a far-away cloud. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 3037. It looked a bit like one of Martha Stewart's doilies. Next, I star-hopped to Abell 87. It somewhat resembled the eternal nothingness of being. Then, I added to my logbook Abell 42 in Lyra. It seemed fainter than Krylon Ultra-Flat Black. After that, I studied Abell 49. It was not quite as bright as cream being swirled into hot coffee. Then, I observed M 10. It was a blurry likeness of cream being swirled into hot coffee. After that, I had a chance to see NGC 2402. It looked like dandruff on black satin pajamas. Then, I had a chance to see B 318 in Ophiuchus. It reminded me of desert sand. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched Abell 79 in Cygnus. It seemed almost fleecy wool. With that checked off my list, I hunted IC 3813. It was like the exhaust from a diesel Suburban. Then, for a real challenge, I checked off Abell 15 in Sagittarius. It gave the appearance of cotton candy. With that checked off my list, I hunted IC 1288. It appeared as Alan Rickman. With that checked off my list, I went for B 39. It was as bright as cotton candy. Then, I logged Abell 47 in Ursa Minor. It looked a bit like that graph in An Unpleasant Truth. Then, for a real challenge, I looked for and suspected NGC 3785. It looked like fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tried IC 854 in Camelopardalis. It appeared in the eyepiece like Santa Claus.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I slewed to M 11. It was even more difficult than George W. Bush. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I studied IC 3805. It seemed almost ripples of water. With that checked off my list, I observed M 84. It glowed, rather like blackness.
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 reading Beowulf in Old English.