Homer's Best Bets </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 8:21 PM on Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Homer's Best Bets

Well it's about gosh-darn time. After a seemingly interminable summer of ceaseless, uninterrupted sunshine, the weather gods finally saw fit earlier this week to bestow unto Homer our first multi-day stretch of rain -- or "liquid sunshine," as it's known to interminable, ceaseless and uninterrupted optimists.

And the Betster says bring it on.

If you're scratching the hood of your rain poncho right now and wondering how your hyperactively active Betster could possibly be praying for more rain, especially with this summer's endless string of sunny weekends coming on the heels of "The Garden-Killing, Camping Trip-Spoiling, North Fork Road Liquifying Summer of 2008," well I'll tell ya.

Photo by McKibben Jackinsky

A six-foot "cake" celebrating Alaska's 50 years of statehood is in full bloom at the Ninilchik fairgrounds. The three-tiered planter has an eight-foot base and is filled with blue and gold blossoms, the colors of the state flag. Each plant was carefully placed by Cindy Schnabl of Ninilchik. The "cake" is on display at the fairgrounds.

The Betster feels guilty.

That's right -- guilty. Guilty for wanting to sleep in an extra hour or two on a sun-drenched Saturday morning. Guilty for collapsing in a heap on the couch after a hard day's work coming up with the week's witticism-laden Best Bets when there's hiking and fishing and beachwalking and barbecuing to be done out there in the sun.

Guilty for not milking every last possible fleeting second of glorious, glorious sunshine to the point of mental and physical exhaustion, serotonin-induced hallucinations and third-degree farmer's tan.

Is it a crime to want to curl up with a nice blankie and a good book in the middle of a preposterously sunny Alaskan summer? Does one need rainy weather as an excuse to hide out in the cabin with the wood stove going and the phone unplugged?

Maybe yes and maybe no, but your dear, tired and deflated Betster is going to crawl into a pair of jammies this weekend and do just that, regardless of whether the National Weather Service's forecast of another week's worth of the wet stuff comes true or not.

For the rest of you, these Best Bets ought to keep you thoroughly entertained, rain or shine:

BEST YOU AND 1,000 CLOSE FRIENDS BET: Has it been 30 years already? My, how time flies when you're shakin' your booty to the two-day long groove of Concert on the Lawn, first brought to you by the fine folks at KBBI in 1979, when the Village People were topping the charts and the first Sony Walkman sold for $200. The gates at Karen Hornaday Park open at high noon on Saturday and the fun rolls on through 9 p.m. Sunday, when local heavyweight bootstompers Three Legged Mule close this year's show. Cost is $20 per person per day and $10 for unaccompanied youth under 18. Check www.kbbi.org for a complete list of performers.

BEST MELE KALIKIMAKA BET: If ginormous throngs of sweaty dancers aren't your thing, head down east to the Down East Saloon Friday and Saturday nights for a more modestly sized throng of sweaty dancers when two of Anchorage's oldest, biggest and bestest dance bands come to town. Hawaiian-slash-reggae-themed H3 plays Friday night at 10 p.m. while ska-slash-reggae-themed Nervis Rex takes the stage Saturday at 10 p.m.

BEST EARLY PIGSKIN FIX BET: For football fans who are normally going through their eighth or ninth stage of withdrawal right about now, hope may lie in the form of teaching the game to the next generation of gridiron greats. You'd better hurry, though, as your beloved Homer Raiders Pop Warner team is about to get goin' on their 2009 campaign, with practice scheduled for Monday at 5:30 p.m. at Homer Middle School. Volunteers for both the football team and the cheerleading squad are still needed. Call 399-1749 or 299-3942 for more information.