Hello ,

When I was about 12 years old one of my uncles invited me over to his house for what he claimed would be a nighttime viewing of Saturn. Upon arriving at his house, we went to his backyard. There, in the middle of the yard was a Celestron refractor telescope sitting on an extraordinarily large tripod. He spent about an hour aligning it with Polaris, the North Star. Then he spent another hour determining the precise location of our target, Saturn. It took one more hour to put Saturn in the center of the eyepiece of the telescope. By that time, I had fallen asleep in one of the patio chairs.

Excitedly, he woke me up to show me what he had promised. Finding Saturn in the eyepiece was difficult for me and when I finally found it, it was blurry. But, I could make out the colors and the rings of the planet. We spent the rest of the night and into the early morning using the control arms to keep up with the ever-moving planet.

Fast forward to several years later. By now, I'm a Freshman in college. In my second semester, I decided to take Astronomy as an elective. After two weeks of class and homework, we met one night at the UNM observatory on campus. The large telescope had been aimed at our neighbor galaxy, Andromeda, about 2.5 million light years away from us.

The Student Aide told us that we would each be given 60 seconds to look through the eyepiece and our homework was to sketch what we saw. I saw a cotton ball. When the sketch was returned the professor had written "Don't plan on a career in Astronomy. Have you ever had your eyes checked?"

I took him at his word, but did nothing about having my eyes checked - until I was in the Army. Drill Sargent Borinki dressed me down for how poorly I was shooting at the range and ordered me directly to the optometry office on base. I was told I was shortsighted and had astigmatism - a common eye condition that affects how light is focused by the eye's lens onto the retina. A pair of horn-rimmed glasses corrected it.

Over the 50+ years since, I have experimented with astronomy and astrophotography with much frustration and very little success. With the advent of the Hubble and Webb space telescopes and the photos they produced, it seemed like a waste of time to pursue an interest in astronomy - although my library contains several books on the subject.

About four years ago, I noticed there were companies advertising what are now referred to as AAT's - Automatic Astronomical Telescopes. I wanted one, but their cost was prohibitive. Recently, though, a company called Vaonis produced one that I could afford. I bought one off the company's Kickstarter campaign. It's called Vespera. It was finally delivered this week.

It doesn't have an eyepiece.

Not only is it fully automatic, but it communicates with me via my smartphone.

The day it arrived I took it out to my patio and followed the directions to take a photo of the sun (it came with a solar filter). Five minutes later, I was looking at the filtered sun on my smartphone.

That night, I told Vespera I wanted to see Andromeda. Thirty minutes later I had this photo on my smartphone:

On the morning of October 14, 2023, our Moon and Sun are going to dance into an annular solar eclipse. The path of the eclipse passes over the Albuquerque metro area. If the weather cooperates, Vespera and I are going to photograph it.

In an ever-changing world, dreams provide motivation and purpose. Not giving up inspires you and others, leading to the satisfaction of achieving the once-thought impossible. Holding onto your dreams, even in adversity, can lead to a future of accomplishment and joy.

Toby

Exploring Compassion, Empathy, and Unexpected Connections in Chapter 16 of A Gypsy's Kiss

by Shelley Carney

Welcome to another exciting episode of “Our Story Your Story” based on "A Gypsy’s Kiss” where we explore the heartwarming themes of compassion, empathy, and the magic of unexpected connections as portrayed in Chapter 16 of the enthralling novel. 

Watch the video or download the podcast episode.

Join us as we navigate through the pages of this captivating story, penned by the talented authors Shelley Carney and Toby Younis.

Reflecting on Receiving Compassion and Empathy

Have you ever found yourself on the receiving end of boundless compassion and empathy? Those moments when someone extends a helping hand without expecting anything in return can be genuinely overwhelming. 

Receiving compassion and empathy is a reminder of the innate goodness that exists within humanity. It's an experience that touches the depths of our souls, leaving us feeling seen, understood, and profoundly valued. 

In moments when someone extends their empathy, without any expectation of reciprocation, a powerful connection is forged, transcending barriers of circumstance and difference. 

“The undertone is trust. I was placed in a position where I didn't have the opportunity to repay the compassion and empathy that she showed in this initial interaction.”

— Toby Younis

Such acts of kindness provide solace during challenging times, instilling a sense of hope and renewal. Receiving compassion and empathy is a testament to the beauty of human connection, reminding us that even in our vulnerability, we are never truly alone.

“It was interesting to me that she had whatever courage it would take to offer a place to sleep to a complete stranger and that place to sleep happened to be in her house.”

— Toby Younis

The feeling of being embraced by kindness is both humbling and heartwarming. Chapter 16 of "A Gypsy's Kiss" captures this sentiment beautifully, underscoring the profound trust that underlies the themes of compassion and empathy.

Click here to read the rest of Shelley's informative article on our blog.

Here's our next week in content:

7 pm MDT, Wednesday, August 16, 2023. Garage Prospecting with Shelley Carney and Toby Younis. Livestream. youtube.com/@garageprospecting

Paydirt Giveaway Livestream

A Humpday Hoedown Livestream Giveaway! Expect us to show up Wednesday nights at 7 pm MDT to chat about paydirt processing, and finding more gold. We'll give away bags of paydirt and other fun items to those who show up in the chat room.

Winning paydirt with gold in it can be an absolute blast! Imagine the satisfaction of discovering glimmers of gold hidden within the dirt. It's like uncovering a real-life treasure that you can hold in your hands.

Never panned for gold before? Watch our process demonstration videos to learn how it is done and then try it yourself. Be sure to share your experience in the live chat with us.

7 pm MDT, Thursday, August 17, 2023. Our Story Your Story with Shelley Carney and Toby Younis. Premier. youtube.com/@ourstoryyourstory

Reflections on Family Bonds & Choices | A Gypsy's Kiss - Chapter 17 | Our Story Your Story

In this captivating episode of "Our Story Your Story," join us as we read and review Chapter 17 of 'A Gypsy's Kiss: A Treasure Hunt Adventure' by Shelley Carney and Toby Younis. In "Lysette," teenage traveler Miguel's journey takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with Lysette, the owner of Billy Bob's Burgers. As Miguel connects with Lysette's poignant story of sacrifice, loss, and unfulfilled dreams, he gains a deeper insight into the profound impact of choices on family dynamics.

Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion as we analyze Miguel's heightened awareness of the ripple effects of his decisions and how his encounter with Lysette's story shapes his perspective. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the intricate web of emotions that bind generations and the enduring power of connection.

7 pm MDT, Friday, August 18, 2023. Garage Prospecting with Shelley Carney and Toby Younis. Premier. youtube.com/@garageprospecting

How Much Gold? Garage Prospecting's Portasluice and New Mexico Blend Paydirt

As we explore the beautiful Cibola National Forest near Albuquerque, New Mexico, we're curious about Las Huertas Creek and the chance to find placer gold there. People have looked for gold this way for a long time, just like during the old gold rushes in the West. With basic pans in hand, we gently search through the creek's sand and gravel, hoping to find specks of gold that connect us to the past and the search for treasure. These moments make us feel like we're part of history, sharing the same dreams as those before us who were also eager to strike it rich.

Be sure to leave a comment on the Garage Prospecting "How Much Gold?" videos each week to participate in the next Wednesday's drawing to win a bag of paydirt --guaranteed to contain gold--because we add gold to every bag!

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Want to Have It All?

Find our New Mexico Day Trips website to see all our photos and blog posts for NM Day Trips, Garage Prospecting, and Our Story Your Story at nmdaytrips.com

Learn more about AGK Media Studio products and services on our website: agkmedia.studio

You can still find all our past content to improve your content marketing for your small business at messagesandmethods.com

Thank you for spending time with us in the AGK Media community. Scroll down for more information.

Sincerely,

Shelley and Toby

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