About this time of year, Homerites fall into outerwear confusion. One day it can be sunny and warm, with just a light jacket or sweater needed to brave the fall air. Another day it can be blowing rain sideways followed by blowing leaves sideways, but with sunny skies. Rain gear? Wool jacket? Gloves and hat? You just never know what to throw in your car to face the day.
The Betster likes to be prepared. In the Betstermobile right now yours truly has stashed a soggy pair of rain pants, a rain jacket, a pile jacket, a battered pair of American-made XtraTufs and, just for fun, a pair of old winter boots. Actually, the B. put the winter boots in there because I was cleaning out the closet and had no place else to store them.
Factor in the varying tolerance for cold and you can see people wearing everything from shorts to down jackets. Some Alaskans haven’t quite shed their tropical bones from previous homes in the Sun Belt. Some lack a bit of body fat while others have natural insulation. Do you adapt like a sea otter with a nice coat or like a whale with blubber? Your BTU system may vary.
Come November or the first s— fall and all this will be academic. Alaska has its way of ending denial. You can only endure or tough out cold so long before your body tells ya, “Get with it, man. Bundle up.”
Not that you have to do so immediately, but we have to face it. Sooner or later the leaves will be blown away and you’ll have to fully embrace the change of season. That won’t happen for at least a week, though, so get out and enjoy the world, perhaps with some of these Best Bets:
BEST GIRLS ROCK BET: What’s not to like about an organization that teaches girls confidence, outdoors and life skills? Yup, we’re talking the Girls Scouts. You can help support them from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday with their big rummage sale at the Homer United Methodist Church.
BEST AROUND TOWN BET: With the change in the weather, that’s all the more reason to stay inside on rainy days. Homer’s awesome and dedicated musicians perform weekly at area venues. Check out Lindianne at 6 p.m. Friday at AJ’s Old Town Steakhouse, the Pillage People at 9 p.m. Friday at the Down East, Blues Troller at 9 p.m. Friday at Alice’s Champagne Palace, Hillary Arwen at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Alice’s, English John at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at AJ’s and the Open Mic with Mikey’s Chair at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Down East. Oh, and don’t miss Wild Wednesday Karaoke with the every wacky Dax at 10 p.m. at the Alibi.
BEST YOU CAN FLY BET: Well, maybe not fly, but you can dangle and twirl from aerial silks in workshops by Quixotic performers at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday for beginners or 7:15 p.m. for intermediate students. Or, learn intermediate contemporary dance at 6 p.m. and intermediate ballet at 7:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. All classes are at Homer High School and are $30, space available. Call the Homer Council on the Arts at 235-4128 to register or visit homerart.org. Quixotic performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 18 at the Mariner Theatre, so get your tickets now.
BEST DEMOCRACY IN ACTION BET: Now that the Homer city election is over, it’s back to business as usual for the Homer City Council. The council certifies the election at its 6 p.m. regular meeting on Monday in the Cowles Council Chambers, Homer City Hall, but just as important, it starts looking at the budget. Attend in person or listen in on the radio at KBBI Public Radio, 890 AM.
BEST ’OWLING GOOD TIME: Grab a flashlight and do some birding at night when the owls are out and about. Whoooo knows what you’ll see — or hear — at the Kachemak Bay Birders Owling Expedition. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Carl Wynn Nature Center parking lot, Mile 1.5 Skyline Drive. In the event of rain or wind the event is postponed to Oct. 19. Gary Lyon leads the expedition. Sponsored by Kachemak Bay Birders and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, the event is free. A donation is optional for the Wynn Nature Center.
