Here we slouch toward the Ides of March and National Dress in Green and Talk With a Fake Irish Accent Day, and Homerites actually think it's spring time? The Betster knows this is the Reality Challenged Capital of Alaska, but come on. We're talking snow, ice, blizzards and cold. Ignore that reality at your peril.

In March, a glorious sunny day should not be seen as a harbinger of better weather, but a gift of nature to better torture us for the next six weeks. Think of it as a sneak preview of that tropical vacation teachers, spouses of teachers, students or parents of students will start at the end of next week.

So don't take off those studded tires just yet. Snowplowers, keep the blade on for a few more weeks. Keep those skis waxed. Baby your stressed-out snow shovels through the rest of the winter. Keep watering those starter plants. Betsteroids, winter isn't over until it's over.

On the third hand, though, there sure is a lot to do these days, so you can't complain about not trying out some of these Best Bets:

BEST TO BE, BEING OR HAVE BEEN BET: That's right. We're either going to be teenagers, are teenagers, or have been teenagers, which means we all have some ideas about that state of being called adolescence. Wanna share 'em? Former teenager Deland Anderson and current teenager Hannah Harrison facilitate "Teens," a discussion on life as a teenager, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, this month's Community Conversation at the Pratt Museum.

BEST AT LEAST SOMEONE CARES BET: With three electoral votes and a handful of delegates at stake, like anyone cares about Alaska's influence on the presidential campaign. Well, at least someone cares, even if he is in a neck-to-neck race with Al Sharpton for second place. If you're hankering to shake hands with a genuine, honest-to-goodness presidential candidate and missed Steve Forbes back in 2000, here's your chance. Dudes, Democratic candidate for U.S. President Dennis Kucinich speaks from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Friday at the Kenai Visitor's Center, 11471 Spur Highway. Kucinich also speaks from 1-1:45 p.m. at the Kenai Senior Citizens Center, 361 Senior Court.

BEST YEE-HAW BET: That's right, it's time again for the annual Homer Senior Citizens Inc. Hoedown Dinner and Dance. The event is from 6-9 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Senior Center. The dinner features ribs or mesquite chicken with all the fixings. Butch Leman plays selections from his newly recorded Nashville CD.

BEST FAT CAT BET: Svelte-challenged comic strip characters have it right: lasagna is the food of the demi-gods. (Cassoulet is the food of the gods, of course.) Homer Boys and Girls Club holds a lasagna dinner fund-raiser and auction from 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Elks Lodge. Tickets are $7.50. Johnny B is the auctioneer. All tickets purchased in advance are entered in a drawing for a free night at the Bidarka Inn hot tub rooms.