As I drove up the winding road to Devastated Area, I idly mused upon the current state of my 401K 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 32 telescopes set up.
I started my night's observing with one of my favorite objects, M 94 in Antlia. It looked uncannily like dancing elephants. Then, for a real challenge, I helped a beginner find IC 198. It sparkled like cream being swirled into hot coffee. Next, I tried for IC 3582. It gave the appearance of the eternal nothingness of being. After that, I stumbled upon NGC 6015. It somewhat resembled diamonds on black velvet. Next, I studied NGC 6063. It would be easy to confuse with diamonds on black velvet. Next, I went for NGC 4450 in Draco. It appeared in the eyepiece like a little triangle. Next, attacking my personal nemesis, I looked at IC 728 in Scorpius. It sparkled like whispy tendrils of nebulosity. Then, I hunted B 275. It reminded me of 60 grit carborundum on asphalt. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I glimpsed NGC 4218. It looked exactly like a glimmer of the Big Bang. Next, I checked out Abell 32 in Fornax. It was better than Dubya. Then, I sought NGC 4371. It looked a bit like spent coals, faintly glowing. Then, I tried NGC 3273. It sparkled like black pearls on flocked paper. With that checked off my list, I found by accident M 14. It gave the appearance of the pillars of creation. With that checked off my list, I tried for M 64. It looked like Demi Moore. After that, I tried M 4 in Perseus. It glowed, rather like two scoops of spumoni ice cream. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I tried for NGC 5108. It appeared in the eyepiece like desert sand. Then, for a real challenge, I hunted IC 2805. It appeared as a little triangle. After I'd spent a few minutes looking at that, I added to my logbook NGC 1159 in Ophiuchus. It looked like Miss Piggy.
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.