Sometimes it feels like we live in a big snow globe. Just when you think things have settled down — even if situation normal is all fouled up — along comes history to shake things up. A big box store coming to town? Too expensive, thanks to a booming Chinese economy and the high price of copper.

The party in power running Congress like a frat house? The voters put new dorm moms in charge. Heck, even the Homer 3 dodged some serious community service time and got charges dismissed.

Holy Plus Ca Change! Things sure do seem to be changing a lot. What’s next? Howling winds and freezing cold in November? Oh, right, been there, done that, saw the power outage.

Of course, the flip side of “plus ca change” is “plus c’est la meme chose,” which all you French II students know means “the more things stay the same.”

That’s the way the universe works: sometimes the snow globe needs a good shaking. Eventually, things settle down. Whether the shaking up causes things to settle down or settling down causes things to get shaken up, wiser minds than the Betster know. Hey, after a few cycles, it’s all you can do to hang on tight and weather whatever change the universe throws at ya.

So zip up that down parka, put on an extra pair of socks, throw another comforter on the bed and snuggle up with your honey. Baby, it’s cold outside. Sooner or later — sooner would be really, really swell — this cold snap will blow itself out. In the meantime, yo, warm up your life with some of these Best Bets:

BEST LEAN AND MEAN BET: Don’t discount those small school teams. The Homer Mariner wrestlers might think it will be easy taking on Voznesenka and Seldovia, but our neighbors up the road and across the bay have other ideas. Check out some of the other lower peninsula teams at 7 p.m. today with a three-school rumble.

BEST CAN THEY DO THAT? BET: Apparently, the laws of gravity have been modified. How else to explain some of the hot-shot skiing in your typical Warren Miller ski film? The annual kick-off to winter — at least for ski buffs — plays at 7 p.m. today at the Homer Theatre with “Off the Grid.” Tickets are $20 and worth every thrilling second for the Kachemak Ski Club fund-raiser.

BEST QUEL BAZAAR BET: This weekend the bazaar season gets started with two local arts, craft and way-cool stuff sales. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday it’s the Homer Emblem Club’s annual sale at the Homer Elks Club. From 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday it’s the annual nonprofit organizations Christmas bazaar at the Homer Middle School. Still haven’t found the perfect gift? Don’t forget the St. John’s Catholic Church holiday bazaar from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Catholic Church.

BEST UNWRITTEN RULES BET: Do this, do that, don’t do this, if you do this you’ll get that. Huh? The Betster is baffled, too. What does “The Social Contract” mean? Get like all philosophical from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday with this month’s Community Conversation at the Homer Public Library. Deland Anderson, Homer’s own Dr. Philosophy, facilitates.

BEST A KID’S BEST FRIEND BET: A lot of kids are lucky enough to have a dog, but what kids really want is a pony. That relationship is re-examined in “Flicka,” playing this week at the Homer Theatre. Go to the 6 p.m. Friday showing, and you’ll also help raise money for the Kachemak Bay Equestrian Association, yet another movie fund-raiser.

BEST PEACE ON DUDES BET: They came up to testify at the Homer 3 trial, but with charges dismissed, Jim Massey and Fernando Suarez del Solar won’t have to take the stand. Massey is a former military recruiter and co-founder of Iraq Veterans Against the War, and Suarez del Solar, who lost a son in Iraq, is co-founder of Gold Star Families for Peace. At 6:30 p.m. today they speak at the Homer United Methodist Church.