You Want a Telescope With That?

I spent the day today at a workshop on antique telescopes where I watched presentations on the restoration of old telescopes and other astronomical instruments. Some of the members had brought antique telescopes and set them up around the room. One friend put this telescope on one of the tables in the room. When it was time for lunch, I laughed out loud when I saw that everyone just sat down, food and all, and ate with the telescope still lying on the table. It reminded me of the fast food places when they inquire: "You want fries with that."