Should a 22.3-foot tide fall at the same time as a southwesterly, people are like, OMG, look at that, waves be crashing on the Spit. They seem surprised that rocks as big as basketballs get thrown up on the road, turning the asphalt into Tranquility Base after Neil and Buzz blasted off to Apollo 11.

Oh, and then when a cold front out of the west slams into a warm front from the east, the dudes go, Whoa! Snow! Yeah, that’s right. Snow, in Alaska, in September. What did you think this was, Maui?

Sure, who among us has changed out our snow tires? Seasoned Alaskans get that whole being-prepared thing. We just don’t like to wear out the studs on our tires before their time. If you have to choose between thrift and preparedness in an Alaskan, bet on thrift.

Tuesday sure gave us a double-whammy, eh? If you were looking for signs of rowdy nature for photos to send to family back east, you had your pick. Waves hitting the Spit rock wall and hurling bowling ball boulders at Subarus? Whitecaps so rowdy at Bishop’s Beach even Homer surfers didn’t dare go out? Sloppy wet snow bending alder bushes to their knees?

We’ll be cleaning up the mess the rest of the week. Fortunately, the clouds cleared and the sun came out. But once the pebbles have been pushed away, the sticks and stones picked up, and the snow shaken from trees, take a deep breath, relax, and get ready for a fun weekend, perhaps with these Best Bets:

 

BEST LAST CHANCE BET: The Homer Documentary Film Festival ends today, with films at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. at the Homer Theatre. See the Calendar, page 18, for titles. Don’t forget to vote in the DocFest awards, too.

 

BEST GIVE EARLY, GIVE OFTEN BET: KBBI Public Radio 890 AM holds its fall membership drive all-day Friday and Saturday. The deal is KBBI volunteers won’t pitch all week and in return everyone should swamp them on Friday and Saturday with pledges. Call 235-7721 to support or stop by the station on Kachemak Way.

 

BEST LOTSA ART BET: It’s First Friday, with art openings all over town, including Michael Murray’s show of sketches he did of musicians performing at Alice’s Champagne Palace — at Alice’s, of course. See the list on page 12 for all the openings.

 

BEST ROCKY ROAD BET: You know Homer hockey players are tough when they’ll dodge waves slamming against the Spit to get to the Kevin Bell Ice Arena. But hey, the rink is open, with lots of events, including a spaghetti dinner and dessert auction fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Saturday at the rink. Public skating is 3:15-5:15 p.m. Sunday.

 

BEST BIG SLATE BET: Homer has a lot of fine choices on the Homer City Council ballot, but you can only vote for two candidates in Tuesday’s election. In Kenai Peninsula Borough elections, District 9 residents — that’s the big doughnut that surrounds Homer — vote for a new assembly member, and all of us vote for school board and service area boards. Polls are open 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, or vote early with absentee in person voting from 8 a.m-5 p.m. at Homer City Hall or 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the borough annex.