As I drove up the winding road to Dinosaur Point, I idly mused upon the morality of the human spirit as I contemplated the El Nino weather patterns. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 2 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 22. It somewhat resembled a hamburger. (Hmm, it had been a while since dinner). With that checked off my list, I observed IC 2149. It looked uncannily like Alan Rickman. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I sought M 41. It looked like a far-away cloud. Then, I sketched Abell 16 in Corvus. It looked uncannily like desert sand.
After a short break to gulp down my remaining canned margaritas, I sketched Abell 31. It seemed fainter than a UFO. After that, I logged M 59. It seemed fainter than nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, I slewed to Abell 63. It was a blurry likeness of the eye of God. Next, I tried Abell 3. It looked like Dubya. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I sketched IC 1703 in Ophiuchus. It was not quite as bright as a waterfall.
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 poke in the eye with a frozen dishrag.