If you’re a working schmo on a regular 9-to-5 schedule, you may have noticed an odd phenomena. On either end of your commute, you’ll be driving into the sun. The present is so bright you have to wear shades.
Holy Equinox, Betsters! In a few weeks it will be spring, but already we’re blessed with longer daylight hours. It’s possible to acutally experience sunshine at either end of a working day. You don’t have to make a pilgrimage to the beach at lunch to get your daily ration of photons. Check out the sunrise-sunset calendar on page 2. By Sunday the sun will rise before 8 a.m. and set after 6:30 p.m. We’re up to an impressive 10 hours and 31 minutes of daylight.
It’s tough times for Arctic vampires. If you’re a creature of the dark who cringes at bright lights, not even Utqiagvik offers sanctuary. Better get out that coffin, Dracula. For we sun-starved souls, spring can’t come fast enough. Sure, some of you will go for the full throttle, tropical sun in Hawaii, but you don’t have to. We’re swimming in sunshine these days.
The other day the Betster noticed a friend’s healthy glow. How did that happen? The Betster knew for a fact he hadn’t gone south recently. And then it clicked: If you get out and ski every day, or talk long walks, a melanin-deprived person of European ancestry could get a nice little tan.
Of course, that snow won’t melt until April or so, which is good, because nothing beats spring skiing. We want the snow to hang around for the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club’s Marathon race, happening March 9. The Homer Rope Tow skiing also has been awesome, not to mention fat biking, dog mushing and snow machining in the Caribou Hills. Bring it on!
All of which is to say, if you love snow, if you embrace it, if you have decided the best way to deal with winter is to celebrate its virtues, this is your time. Get out and enjoy winter, because that’s just one of the awesome things you can do in this town, like some of these Best Bets:
BEST THRIVE AWAY BET: Join South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services and the Homer Opioid Task Force for “Half Nelson,” the latest film in its DeStig Film Series, showing at 6 p.m. tonight at the Homer Theatre. The free film stars Ryan Gosling as an inner city middle-school teacher who forms a friendship with one of his students after she discovers that he has a drug habit.
BEST WELCOME BACK BET: Rep. Sarah Vance, R-Homer, returns home after her first few months as our new representative in the Alaska House. What with the budget and other items, no doubt her constituents will want to share a few ideas with her — politely, of course. She’s ready to listen for Town Hall meetings at 5 p.m. Friday at the Ninilchik Tribal Community Center and then at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kachemak Bay Campus.
BEST WALK IT OFF BET: OK, suppose it rains on Saturday. You can still get some exercise for South Peninsula Hospital’s Walk with a Doc! from 9-10 a.m. Saturday at the SPARC: South Peninsula Athletic & Recreation Center. This week, Dr. Greg Hough talks about colon health and tips for preventing cancer. Listen to a short talk and spend the rest of the hour walking and asking questions.
BEST GET ROCKING BET: Cook Inletkeeper and Salmonfest present Todd Grebe and Cold Country at 8 p.m. Saturday at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Learn about Pebble Mine and some of its issues and then stick around for live music with the band.
BEST WORD POWER BET: Have something to say? Want to hang with other writers and poets? Don’t stay cooped up in your garret — get out and join other literary artists for Shut Up and Write at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Alice’s Champagne Palace. Join our community of writers with no critiquing, exercises or sharing, just a place to show up, shut and write. Everyone welcome.
Lynda Reed appears in the Homer Senior Citizens Inc. Annual Senior Fashion Show last Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the Homer Senior Center in Homer, Alaska. The theme of the show was “intergalactic.” This show was a part of the center’s Intergenerational program bringing all ages together to celebrate the senior population. (Photo provided)
Cathy Stingley as an alien appears in the Homer Senior Citizens Inc. Annual Senior Fashion Show last Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the Homer Senior Center in Homer, Alaska. The theme of the show was “intergalactic.” This show was a part of the center’s Intergenerational program bringing all ages together to celebrate the senior population. (Photo provided)
Michael Murray appears in the Homer Senior Citizens Inc. Annual Senior Fashion Show last Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at the Homer Senior Center in Homer, Alaska. The theme of the show was “intergalactic.” This show was a part of the center’s Intergenerational program bringing all ages together to celebrate the senior population. (Photo provided)
