Howdy all; I am in New Mexico, about 30 miles north of Deming, visiting Tom and Jeannie Clark. Tom has received the 42 inch f/4 mirror from Mike Lockwood (a very pleasent fellow) and we have installed it in the telescope. There are two problems. Notice I did not say "challenges". First, the star images at high power (9mm eyepiece) are triangular. We are going to try and get a better collimation completed and see if that effects the problem. Second, the dome slot cover sticks. We have had to use a long pole to get it to move twice and the good news is that has worked. Tom has ordered some new wheels that Jack Newton used on his dome and he recommended them to Tom. They should arrive early next week and we can install them then. We have been having the same problems you folks have and that is WEATHER...so much of it. It has been windy and cloudy and I have gotten far too little observing done. But, that has been the truth for the past 18 months or so. I do have one other task to take on in Tom's shop and that is sand and paint the old eyepiece box. Many years ago when I had a Shopsmith we made several eyepiece boxes out of half inch plywood and they have lasted at least 20 years. It is time for some maintenence. As I told Joe Goss, a big thank you to all who sent me birthday greetings. Somehow, I made it to 64. I could have gotten you tall odds on that earlier in my life. Now, I am officially too old to die young;-) My plan is to stay here through New Moon in May and then make my way to Fredericksen's Meadow for June New Moon. I hope to see you there. Clear skies to us all; Steve Coe -- See message header for info on list archives or unsubscribing, and please send personal replies to the author, not the list.