Egads. Yet again we have a Friday the 13th this month -- the second month in a row that's happened. Holy Paraskavedekatriaphobia! If you fear Friday the 13th, you're on double super overtime again. Not that there's anything to worry about.

This week the Alaska Volcano Observatory lowered the activity level for Mount Redoubt to advisory and aviation code level. Our property assessments came out, and you're all probably breathing a sigh of relief that your real estate didn't tank.

See? Things are looking fine.

Yah, sure, layoffs keep happening. Businesses with big inventories and bigger bills keep hoping that someone, anyone, will buy their stuff. We're all waiting with shovels sharpened for that economic stimulus money to start flowing our way. Sooner or later, like a big supertanker heading toward a well-marked reef, we hope our economy turns around before everything falls apart.

So what's to worry about with a silly superstition? We've got troubles enough. If only we could blame everything on Friday the 13th. "It's all part of Friday the 13th's plan," we could say, or "Who are we to question the wisdom of Friday the 13th?" Does the fault lie in the stars or in ourselves?

Stuff happens, and sometimes it happens on black Fridays -- or Good Friday, even, in the classic Alaska tradition of earthquakes and oil spills. The ways of the universe are beyond our comprehension, grasshopper, and you are but a twig of grass in a field of elephants.

So roll with the punches. Expect nothing and prepare for anything. What will be will be, yadda yadda. The Betster hopes for the best and expects the worst, but one thing you can rely on is always something cool and fun to do, like these Best Bets:

BEST WAYFARING STRANGERS BET: Here at the end of the road, we welcome visitors, and count ourselves lucky when world class talent comes to town. In the folk-rock-acoustic genre -- heck, just call it good music -- Kris Delmhorst and Jeffrey Foucault stand out. Listen to them starting at 8 p.m. Friday at the Down East Saloon. Local favorite Three Legged Mule closes out the night.

BEST BEG AND BORROW BET: Hide those pink flamingoes this weekend -- or heck, just loan them out to your favorite Scavenger Hunt team. The Betster doesn't have the supersecret list of 40 items teams will search for, but odds are the goods will be odd. Sign up at 11 a.m. Sunday at The Alibi with a $25 entry fee, then check in at Duggan's to see who wins. The event benefits local charities.

BEST BOAT HOUSE BET: The Pratt Museum has a few boats that need a permanent home. The Kachemak Bay Wooden Boat Society needs a place to do boat building demonstrations. Hey! How about putting them together in a boat house? That's the plan. Come learn how other port towns have built community boat shops, and how the Pratt could build a boat house, when Dave Seaman does a talk at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the museum.

BEST MOSTLY DOWNHILL BET: From Lookout Mountain to the Baycrest trail head, it's downhill all the way -- except for those climbs up and over Crossman and Diamond ridges. Ski the Kachemak Marathon Ski starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, or just come and cheer on the racers at the start. Stick around for the dedication of the Doug Schwiesow Stadium, when the stadium gets named in honor of Kachemak Nordic Ski Club's longtime volunteer.

BEST KEEP IT GREEN BET: Everyone's Irish come next Tuesday for St. Patrick's Day. We don't dye the bay green or have a big parade, but that doesn't stop us from celebrating He Who Kept Snakes Out of Ireland. Hey, St. Paddy might have even done his magic here in Alaska. Check out the calendar for all the events at local pubs. If you have wee bit too much Bushmill's, call a cab or get your designated driver to take ya home.

BEST ROCK FOR RUFFLES BET: There's nothing classier than a teenage dude all decked out in a Guy Lombardo tux with a ruffled shirt. Help Homer High put on a really cool prom this spring with a Rock Concert Fundraiser at 8 p.m. Friday at the Homer Theatre. Three Legged Mule, Found Among Stones and DOJ perform. Tickets are $10.

BEST WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK BET: It's hard enough running a business in these challenging times, but when you have a fire on top of that -- well, talk about bad luck. That's what happened to the Cortez family at their Ramiro's Restaurant. Fortunately, Anchor Point takes care of its neighbors. Support the Cortez family with a spaghetti feed and fundraiser from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at Chapman School. Admission is $5, but don't be shy with donations.