2003 Cal Star… good friends, good skies, good grub and good times… what
more can a body ask?
I always look forward to Cal Star. It may not be the biggest or the most
prestigious of star parties, but you couldn't ask for a greater group of
people. And for me, it's the people who count, special friends with whom
to share the night skies and the treasures we find there. My list of
treasures was long from this year, but this OR is about people so I'll save
my astro-report for a later post.
As a relative newbie to TAC, I still have lots of names which lack faces,
but this year I was able to whittle on the list a bit. I stumbled onto Jim
Blanchard quite by accident. Spying his 14.5" Starmaster, I wandered over
to take a look. And there he sat, million-dollar smile in tact and
friendly as could be. Of course, I recognized the name immediately. And
it was a great pleasure to finally meet Nilesh and Minal, sterling
individuals of whom I've heard so many glowing reports. I also checked off
Phil Chambers as he was setup near by, and neighbors always meet neighbors.
And Debbie from the southern parts of California, thanks for coming over to
introduce yourself. It's such a pleasure to meet another female astronomer
in the midst of this male-dominated hobby. However, I think the female
contingent is on the rise…Michelle, Mars, Stacy, Arkanna, JHJ, Debbie, and
so many others whom I've yet to meet… our numbers are growing!
I also had the pleasure of matching a voice to a name and face I already
knew. It was Saturday night late, the Dude and I had wandered down to pay
a social call on DDK and the BP. While we sat around, I listened to the
most interesting voice relate a story of a globular cluster discovery. It
was very dark and this man's hat was pulled low, obscuring his face. I'd
never heard the voice. Finally my curiosity got the best of me and I leaned
over to ask Jamie who it was. Turns out it was Jim Everitt… a face and
name I know well from SSP.
Of course, it's always a pleasure to have a chance to kibbutz with old
friends. Mark Wagner…couldn't help but notice the svelte new body he's
sportin' these days! Keep eating those "pig chips", Mark. And Evan Garber,
fellow Bailey's fan, always great fun. My shower buddy, Stacy. "Madame
Plettstone", the extraordinary Michelle Stone. Bob Jardine… thanks for the
calendar delivery! Steve Sargeant, the most beautiful hair on TAC. And
Turley, glad to finally be able to thank you in person for the beautiful
job you did on my astro print of Andromeda. Good to see fellow SSP
Committee members Jim B and Richard O. And Navarette… what a lovely man!
Fellow TAC-SACos Bill, Alvin, and Marc. The crazy-zaney, always
entertaining Bill Dean. Great also to hook up with Ed Smith who crossed
our path at OSP and found his way to CalStar. And Jamie Dillon, whose
capacity for warmth, wealth of information, and fabulous hugs always keep
me coming back for more. Finally, the special, one-of-a-kind Gary "the
Dude" Manning. And dear and absent friends, ZZ, Mars, Ster, and
Czerwinski, you were sorely missed.
What a way to end the year! It was a great star party… from towing the
trailer, to my trips to the toilet… 2003 CalStar was a winner. My special
thanks to Mike, Mark, and the many others who worked so hard to make it
happen.
Jane Smith