As I drove up the winding road to my backyard, I idly mused upon the current state of the universe 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 9 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 106. It seemed almost ripples of water. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I star-hopped to NGC 2723. It was easy, just like black pearls on flocked paper. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found B 491. It looked exactly like black pearls on flocked paper. With that checked off my list, I observed IC 2806 in Sagittarius. It gave the appearance of a spitting cobra. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I logged M 14 in Serpens. It was even more difficult than cream being swirled into hot coffee. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I found M 24 in Serpens. It glowed, rather like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I nudged my telescope to M 14. It seemed most like a UFO. Then, I found IC 3798 in Ursa Minor. It would be easy to confuse with 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. With that checked off my list, I had a chance to see M 47 in Ophiuchus. It would be easy to confuse with Dubya. After that, I added to my logbook Abell 41. It somewhat resembled a whale spouting.
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 observing reports.