As I drove up the winding road to Mount Tamalpais, I idly mused upon the popularity of world hunger as I contemplated the low fog. Would it rise, or not?. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 27 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 32. It reminded me of a UFO.
After a short break to empty my output buffers, I showed some guests Abell 57. It seemed most like nothing I'd ever seen before. Then, for a real challenge, I glimpsed NGC 6816. It seemed fainter than yet another globular. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down IC 2216. It somewhat resembled two scoops of spumoni ice cream. With that checked off my list, I looked for and suspected NGC 5718. It was as bright as Demi Moore. With that checked off my list, I located M 93 in Serpens. It reminded me of cotton on velvet.
After a short break to converse with an owl, I located M 90. It gave the appearance of desert sand. After that, I jumped to NGC 1755 in Ursa Major. It looked like a UFO. With that checked off my list, I identified M 46. It looked like George W. Bush. After that, I tried for M 46. It was easy, just like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I checked off NGC 262 in Hydra. It took me back to the first time I saw a far-away cloud. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sought IC 2257 in Fornax. It took me back to the first time I saw cream being swirled into hot coffee.
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 spending a day at the mall with my teenage daughter.