Well, except that this year, the Red Sox reversed the curse.

Whoa? What happened? Hey, Betsteroids, maybe it's just American politics for the new millennium. You think? Or maybe this is what happens when politics excites us, and we realize that in the grander cosmic scheme of things, if a president burps in D.C., a sloppy-wet snowstorm shuts down the power in Halibut Cove yet again. Welcome to Chaos Theory, Alaska style.

Hey, let's hope that once the campaign signs come down and once the last absentee ballot is counted that our town, our state and our nation can come together and it won't take jet airplanes crashing into skyscrapers to make it happen. Who knows? After 86 years, the Red Sox won the World Series. Anything can happen.

Need a good way to set aside hard feelings and revel in what makes Homer such a cool place to live? Hey, it's Artrageous Weekend, with all sorts of fun things to do, like some of these Best Bets:

BEST ARTS, ARTS, ARTS BET: This weekend abounds with arts opportunities. First Friday openings are all over town, including fiber arts shows at the Bunnell Street Gallery and the Homer Council on the Arts. There's a fashion show from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday with fiber artist K.C. Lowe Saturday at the Bunnell Street Gallery. Admission is $45 including lunch.

BEST Second Sunday, first Sunday, what's the diff BET? The Homer Council on the Arts is holding not one but two events Sunday as part of the "Artrageous" weekend theme (see the arts pages for more details) and its Second Sunday Seminar series. From 2 to 4 p.m., Therese Lewandowski will offer a spinning demonstration at the council. From 5 to 6 p.m. Sharon and Johnny Bushell will hold a reading and book signing from "The Trouble With Bernie," a newly released book of Sharon Bushell's audio series.

BEST BLACK AND WHITE AND READ ALL OVER BET: Sequins, tuxes, hors d'oeuvres and heels can this really be Homer? But yes, it is, thanks to the Ritz 2004, Simply Black and White, a fund-raiser for the Pratt Museum. There's a silent and live art auction as well as an auction for everything from Salty Dawg shot glasses to an all-expense paid trip for six to Halibut Cove. The gala starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the museum and tickets are $100.

BEST IT'S ALL A DREAM BET: Nikolaevsk got tons of snow yesterday, just in time for the Nikolaevsk School "Dreamland Carnival" from 6-8 p.m. tonight in the school gym. Sponsored by the Nikolaevsk Student Council, the event includes games, prizes and fun for children and adults. Tickets are 25 cents, with most games costing two tickets.

BEST GOT YOUR BACK BET: Worried about fire? Falling down the stairs at 2 a.m.? They've got your back, those hard-working volunteer firefighters and medics at the Homer Volunteer Fire Department. You can support the members Friday by attending the 8:15 p.m. showing of "Ladder 49" at the Homer Theatre. Funds from ticket sales benefit the HVFD volunteers.

BEST SALLY FORTH BET: That's "sally" as in Sally Kabisch Kizzia, a well-loved Homer fiddler and dancer who died last summer. Her dancin' and fiddlin' friends celebrate her love for music at this month's Square and Contra dance, starting at 7:30 pm. Saturday at McNeil Canyon Elementary School. Laura Patty and Rich Kleinleder call to music by the Spit City Slickers and other guests. Musicians are welcome to bring their instruments and sit in with the bands. The dance is free.