You know that metaphor about trying to nail Jell-O to a table? The Betster has had a week like that. That’s situation normal here in the news business, where every week some story comes up that wants to be slippery. Some weeks, though, the gelatin dessert fights back and your hammer turns to rust. It’s enough sometimes to make you want to go all TV reporter on the job, like the woman who delivered her resignation live, on camera and with an f-bomb tossed in to make sure she’d never work in broadcast journalism again.
Holy Johnny Paycheck! Kids, don’t try this at your entry-level minimum wage job. If you get frustrated at work, muscle through. Tough it out. Take a deep breath. Walk it off on your break. (The Betster advises a Kachemak Bay beach.) Hug your pet. Hug your honey. If the job gets to you, examine your career options and if necessary, gracefully leave. The accepted explanation seems to be “I need to spend more time with my family.”
Here in Homer, though, we already have one of the best job benefits around: We live in this amazing, awesome and beautiful place. We’re surrounded by cool people who love and support us. If your life can’t be fixed, or at least made a little bit better, by looking at those magnificent mountains and the bay, then may the deity of your choice bless you.
We’ll always have rough weeks. Your momma told you that, right? Oh, and there’s another cure if you’re lucky enough to still have a parent in your life — call your mom or dad. Your family knows and loves you and can say the right things to cheer you up.
Whew. Don’t you feel better? And look at this awesome fall sunshine, with birch leaves turning golden and that glorious equinox light. We can see Orion and the Big Dipper and the northern lights without freezing. So get out and have fun, perhaps with these Best Bets:

BEST ROLL ’EM BET: Yep, it’s time for the 11th annual Homer Theatre Documentary Film Festival, our answer to HotDocs and other big-city festivals. Hit the gala opening at 6:15 p.m. today with reindeer hot dogs, chili, music and a showing at 7:15 p.m. of “DeepSea Challenge” in 3-D. Films show at 2, 4, 6, and 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. See pages 14-15 for details and film times.

BEST SHORTER THAN FIREWEED BET: How tall is a knee-high naturalist? Well, it depends on the knees, but we’re saying someone ages 2-4. If that fits your kid, enjoy a bit of nature, a story, a hike and a craft activity from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday at the Carl Wynn Nature Center on Skyline Drive. The program ends Friday.

BEST RITZMANIA BET: Preview the annual Ritz gala art show at a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Pratt Museum. See some of the art to be auctioned off for La Fiesta Ritzicana at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Wasabi’s.

BEST AH, ICE BET: You won’t have to wait for Beluga Lake to freeze. Out at the Kevin Bell Ice Arena, the ice is in. Yahoo! Check it out with Night Skating from 8-10 p.m. Friday or Public Skating from 3:15-5:15 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 and skate rentals are $3.