Delayed gratification?

[jay]

For the sixth year in a row, I will have my birthday (7/22) while I'm up in the Arctic. In some ways, that's one of the best possible places -- in a wilderness, freezing in a tent with a good bottle of Scotch -- but patgreene and the kids usually want to have a cake and a couple of small gifts for me here. But timing is unclear... better to celebrate it early, ignore it, or after I return (two weeks belatedly)? My son Kevin turns seven a few days after I'm scheduled to return, which complicates that option. But I leave in only a few days. What's your opinion?

[Poll #157279]

Comments

tough question

[shadopanther.livejournal.com]

What's Kevin's opinion?

-- Shadopanther

[boubabe.livejournal.com]

My first instinct is to celebrate it afterwards. I would ask Kevin, though, if that was okay with him. He's got to deal with "sharing" his birthday time and if he doesn't want to, then it could ruin the whole thing.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

If we did it immediately afterwards, there would be a week's spacing before Kevin's party... and Kevin doesn't mind.

Re: tough question

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

I too, think this is what is most important to making the decision.

Re: tough question

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

That's exactly the first thing I wondered. Would Kevin like a combined party? If not, celebrate before. If so, celebrate afterwards with Kevin.

Re: tough question

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Good option. Ask Kevin.

And either way--embrace the power of AND: drink quietly in your tent, AND have a b-day cake before or after the trip!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Hey - I couldn't select 'celebrate it before' and 'celebrate it afterwards' (without the passe comment). Something quiet before, and something bigger afterwards :-)

[archway.livejournal.com]

I personally think the "celebrate it before" is a good plan, but that is no reason why you can't have the whole tent/scotch experience too.~S~

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Celebrate before and after. Just because you can.

BTW, if you want to go scotch shopping, I'd be happy to provide suggestions, or just tag along.

[phoenixrisen.livejournal.com]

Do it all! Party before, bigger party after, and something decidedly indulgent to drink in your tent - no skimping, it's your birthday and you deserve the best.

That would be my vote, anyway.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Hmm... a bigger party would require organization, and patgreene lives in fear of large social events ;-). I've actually never had an invite-friends kind of birthday party, just cake and ice cream with Pat and the kids. Thanks for the ideas...

[geekchick]

The question is when on earth would you possibly have time to celebrate before leaving on Friday? I'm kind of tickled by the idea of you having your birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese too, I'll admit. ;)

i don't know, but

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

Some days I think I should go into the cake decorating business. I'd just have to be careful not to breathe any wheat flour. It would probably freak out all the customers if I were wearing a wacky mask/ventilator...

I'll make you a cake if you take me with you to Antartica. Sounds like you could get some really bitchin photos there. I want your job. How do I get it? What /is/ your job?

Re: i don't know, but

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're allergic to wheat flour?

I'm headed to the Arctic tomorrow (currently in Edmonton)... the early morning (1-2am) daylight is excellent for photography, with warm tones and high contrast.

My job? I'm a scientist with NASA, at Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California. My backgrounds are in engineering, controls, AI, computer science, geophysics and aviation. I've got three graduate degrees and 15 years of experience :-). On this trip, I'll be evaluating the productivity of human geologists in spacesuits, compared to rovers; doing a gravity survey of an impact crater; and getting temperature profiles from some 5-year-old boreholes.