As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the study of Doonsbury 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 27 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 28. It seemed almost a whale spouting. Then, I tried M 99 in Canes Venatici. It seemed fainter than cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I observed M 85 in Scorpius. It appeared at low power like a whale spouting. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook NGC 2749. It sparkled like a smoke ring. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I checked out B 450 in Sculptor. It compared favorably with 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 a kick in the pants with a copper toed boot.