From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2005 11:36 PM
Subject: Busted flat in Emma
Well folks,
I know y'all been waiting with baited breath about what happened out at Emma Saturday night the 8th. Just stay calm and I'll tell ya.
It's a good thing nobody else tried to make it to the Emma Cemetery Saturday night. Tom drove out there but had enough sense not to try heading north the last ¼ mile to the Cemetery.  Don and I were less wise. We slipped and slid in the mud. I got STUCK! In fact, I grinded myself out in 2nd gear and got mud ALL under my car (and even all over the hood). Dug out a nice trench alongside the road, too. But luckily we lived to tell, and didn't end up out there with the permanent residents.
As for astronomy, well, we saw M42, Machholz, the Pleiades, M35/NGC2158, a bit of Saturn (nothing like Friday night) and then a whole lot of clouds! Got clouded out by 8:30 and left. So Emma was a bust Saturday night.
Now, what have we learned from this, boys and girls? Emma is not to be visited in the Winter for at least one week after a rain. That place is just too muddy, and in the future, I'll wait a week after a rain before going, at least when the weather's too cool to dry the ground quickly. I hosed down my car but am still getting dirt clods falling out of it. Oh well. Sometimes you win (Friday night) and sometimes you lose (Saturday night).
Have a good January, friends, and hopefully we'll get more clear skies like December!
Ciao amigos,
CDS

-----Original Message-----
From: Collin Smith [mailto:CollinofAlabama@cox.net]
Sent: Friday, January 07, 2005 12:17 PM
Subject: 2 for 1 deal!
Ladies and Gentlemen:
With the moon going new on early Monday morning, that can only mean one thing - fantastic bargains on night sky objects! with the permission of local cumulous clouds. But the forecasts for both Friday and Saturday nights are pretty good. Soooooo, SPAC et amici are going to have not one, but two nights of star madness. That's right, get one, or get two for the SAME PRICE!
Deals like this don't come every day, so get in gear to be under the dark West Texas skies.
Where are these night treasures found at such a bargain price, you ask? Friday night catch us at SkyViews, north of town. Due to the rains, the concrete pads will likely come in handy. Though the roads are bound to be a bit muddy, at least there's not too much dirt-road distance to cover. Some are planning to get there at 7:30. I will arrive around 8 PM.
On Saturday night, the Dark Sky Extravaganza continues at Emma! Planning to get there around 7:30, too.
Comet Machholz is thrown in for free! On top of this, Saturn goes into opposition on Thursday, so it'll be nice and close. Tonight, Machholz pays a call to the Seven Sisters. Don't miss this encounter! And all the usual crowd pleasers, like Orion, his dogs, and Pegasus, will be on hand checking it all out!
Email me if you need any additional information. Excludes taxes, title and license.
Hope to see you there,
CDS