Homer's Best Bets: March 17, 2010 03/10/10

Story last updated at 9:11 PM on Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Homer's Best Bets: March 17, 2010

Holy cotton candy, Betsteroids! We've just experienced the Opera Theory of Weather. Remember that gorgeous weekend last month where it looked like breakup? You thought spring had come, eh? As the Texas Tech sportscaster Ralph Carpenter said, "The opera ain't over until the fat lady sings."

Photo by Michael Armstrong

Bob Brant plows a neighbor's driveway on Diamond Ridge last Saturday evening.

Brunnhilde has to put on her valkyrie duds and sing one last 10-minute aria in Wagner's opera, "Gtterdmmerung." It sure felt like the twilight of the gods, as the German phrase is translated.

Tuesday morning, the Betster tried to get to work, only to find a friendly cop closing the road at Beluga Slough. What's an intrepid reporter to do? You park your car, get out, button up your parky and slog ahead.

That's all any of us can do. Button up and slog ahead. It's why we live here. Storms like this make us Alaskans. You cheechakos who have survived this? Pat yourselves on the back, because if you came through this blizzard, you're now a sourdough.

Let's hope Brunnhilde has run out of steam. Let's hope that on Friday anyone trying to get out of town has clear roads and skies. For those of us sticking around, finish up that shoveling, and when you're done, celebrate with some of these Best Bets:

BEST HOT TIPS BET: When the weather's lousy, there's nothing better than curling up with a good book — or writing one. Get some tips on the role of research in fiction from authors Ann Keffer and Joyce Baker Porte starting at 6 p.m. tonight at the Homer Public Library. Porte also signs her new book, "Stormbird of the Serengeti," from 1–4 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Bookstore. Marianne Schlegelmich also signs her first novel, "Feather from a Stranger."

BEST IT'S ALL DOWNHILL BET: All this fresh powder has skiers excited about doing the big Kachemak Nordic Ski Marathon. It's all downhill from Lookout Mountain to the Baycrest Ski Trails — but first you have to climb Crossman Ridge and Diamond Ridge. Take the challenge or cheer on the skiers. Pick up bibs at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at the Schwiesow Stadium on Ohlson Mountain Road. The race starts at 10:30 a.m. Register at kachemaknordicskiclub.org.

BEST FISH TO FRY BET: It might take some digging to get to the lake, not to mention slogging through the snow, but that's not going to stop the Snomads from holding their annual ice fishing tournament on Caribou Lake. Join the fun from 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturday.

BEST PERFECT TITLE BET: With this blizzard, how can you resist a graphic novel called "Weathercraft?" Visiting artist Jim Woodring releases his graphic novel at a signing and talk from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Bunnell Street Gallery.

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