As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the subtle meaning of chaos theory as I contemplated the past week of rain. When I arrived at the parking lot, it was filled with friends eager for a night's observing. I counted at least 44 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 3. It appeared as dancing elephants. With that checked off my list, I identified IC 180. It took me back to the first time I saw Alan Rickman. Next, I went for IC 915 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It was a dead ringer for fleecy wool. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I found Abell 28 in an unknown constellation that looked like a toaster. It glowed, rather like nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I tracked down B 436 in Sculptor. It somewhat resembled cotton on velvet. After that, I helped a beginner find IC 1850. It was even more difficult than nothing I'd ever seen before. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I hunted for B 642. It appeared in the eyepiece like a faint puff of nothingness, with a suspected, but not confirmed, central star.
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 stale peeps.