Between a rock and a hard place!

[DaveO]

Can you believe this!

After years of drooling over larger scopes, I finally have my 10" newt (not that I have been able to use it due to weather and holidays).

I was able to justify the purchase with the "Minister for Finance", as I had accrued substantial brownie points from being the supportive husband while she stopped work for 18 months to finish off a dissertation for her Masters in Public Health. No income, high stress, potential divorce! Note she was doing the dissertation when we first got married 10 years ago!!!

So anyway, she finishes the dissertation and I buy the scope, in time for Qld Astrofest. I have hired a campervan to attend and all is set to go...

Yesterday a letter arrives from uni advising her graduation ceremony is 2pm, Friday 21 July!!!

Decisions, decisions! Do I leave Astrofest to attend a boring graduation (her description), or do I risk life and limb and stay a Astrofest? All comments welcome!

[ballaratdragons]

David,

Ever heard of time travel!!! It's about the only thing that will save your butt!

Good luck. See you again after the divorce.

[[1ponders]]

I can't believe you are even asking :lol: You know what to do. :lol: So there is no point me telling you :D

[asimov]

Your choices are extremely limited I'd say. :lol:

[xelasnave]

How long can it all take? Dont stress and fit the two in somehow.
Clearly the graduation has priority dont write yourself off at the celebration get plenty of sleep in the days before and go for it.
alex

[CoombellKid]

I guess the campervan got a flatty or two aint going to cut it.

good luck!

Rob

[jjjnettie]

Don't forget to turn your car lights off as you turn in at Duckadang.

[avandonk]

I did something like that to my last two wives. So take heed.

Bert

[Calin]

Sounds more like a "rock and a hard place" is actually, a larger than normal smudge and the cold dark recesses of the lounge suite ..... she will only graduate once and star parties are on somewhere all the time, plus the backyard beckons every clear night ... so I'd say after 10 years of marriage your due for a change ... but her life long dream vs your life long 'night under the stars' vs 'You will never hear the end of it' story

.... mmmmmm .... ditch the chick and 'go the scope !' :D:D

[janoskiss]

Bugger that! I hate graduations. They are just a phoney farce of an excuse for universities to squeeze a last few dollars out of their students. Tell her she can graduate in absentia - for free!! - and you will buy her a nice frame for her degree when you get back from :astron:

[toetoe]

You should be there For her David, there's more viewing nights around as compared to graduation nights for your better half. More brownie points for you.

[ving]

astrofest happens every year, she graduates once...i think its an easy decision. :)

[Miaplacidus]

I don't know how to advise you, but surely you know that as soon as you DON'T go to the graduation ceremony it will rain and hail all weekend long. So for the sake of all your observing buddies perhaps it would be best if you skipped the Astrofest.

:D

[h0ughy]

go to the graduation and the n leave after the ceremony, let her celebrate wit the other grads, give her $100 and say have a great night.

[mickoking]

Go to the graduation. There is plenty of time to stargaze :)

[Argonavis]

Agreed. I didn't even attend my own graduation. Pointless ritual, in my opinion. I had better things to do...like observing.

So it really depends on how important it is to her for you to go, and how honest she is about it. Relationship testing time! Otherwise looking at the photos will be fine.

[leon]

the stars will always be there, you know what you have to do, you will be well rewarded.

[ving]

umm... youhave of course told her that you have the astrofest booked and asked if she does want you along... she may very well say "no sense in both of us being bored, you go to astofest" or something along those lines. I mean really, any good relationship needs good communication. if she wants you to go then i guess you have to tho (or cop an earful about it).

[wavelandscott]

No choice really...drive safely!

[AstroJunk]

it's ok Dave, we'll look after your scope :whistle:

[Starkler]

The graduation night is a celebration shared with her study peers and you will likely feel as much at home as the proverbial .......ummm whatever.:rolleyes:
In your position its worth asking her feelings about it, and if she insists, you just have to suck it up and put on your best fake smile :D

Its times like these you hope that your spouse isn't jealous of your astronomy interest.

[ballaratdragons]

A suggestion: Go to the Graduation even if she says you don't have to. It shows that you REALLY do care! And look like you are enjoying it!!!

Then straight after she gets her certificate, chuck her in the camper and fly like the wind!!! Take her with you to astrofest and say it's a holiday to celebrate her Graduation.

Best of both worlds!

[acropolite]

Go back to Brisbane, no matter how she takes it or how much she says she won't mind, your non attendance will be added to the demerit list, possibly to be used at a later date, years in to the future... :P

[venus]

Better late than sorry........

[xstream]

Dave! You don't need us to tell you what you have to do. :D

[DaveO]

Ok, ok, ok! I get the message! :rofl::rofl: :rofl:

The good news for all those of you who were concerned is that I have every intention of going to the graduation. There are several good reasons for this:

There aren't any "study peers" with whom she can celebrate, as this was research performed outside the academic environment. Therefore afterwards there won't be a party.
My parents-in-law and sister-in-law will be attending, which would put me in a very poor light if I didn't attend!
I do want those brownie points - after all there is a DSLR on my wishlist, and I'll need all the points I can get!Mind you, the most telling and perhaps convincing argument was put by Miaplacidus:



So for the sake of my fellow astronomers, will will forsake the activities planned for Friday and sourjon back to the big smoke for a few hours. And AstroJunk has been told I am taking him up on his offer! :P

And just to reassure those of you with a caring anture that we do in fact have an excellent level of communication, I showed this thread to my wife who thought it was hysterical, but commented that we all needed to get a life!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

See you all at Astrofest.

[AstroJunk]

FOR AUCTION: 10" F5 Newt on EQ6

Nearly new, one careless owner.

Winner to be announced at Astrofest on Saturday Arvo...

:whistle:

[GrahamL]

I was thinking things were pretty even ...but ... your mother in laws comeing down from her planet ?:screwy:...to visit our world ?..NO.. you really have to be there.:P

[ballaratdragons]

We got sprung :P

P.S. We've got a life!!!! an astronomical life :lol: