If you ever have built a simple cabin or worked in construction, you probably learned the term “punch list.” That’s the term contractors use for the tally of all the little tasks remaining to be done on a project — you know, like “fill in nail holes on trim” or even “install trim.” Yes, Betsteroids, houses exists in Homer with trim and even mudded and taped drywall. Apparently in olden days builders and architects actually punched holes in lists to show things had been done
Holy Tyvek! Serving as it does between the transition from spring to summer, May could also be called the Punch List Month. Consider what we have accomplished so far:
• Swapped out studded tires for snow tires
• Hauled barbecue grill and deck chairs out of storage
• Hauled lawn mower out of storage
• Put away snow shovels
• Fired up the camper van or RV and taken a road trip
• Planted garden
• Cleaned tackle box and fishing gear
• Organized schedule for kids now out of school so they don’t bother us while we enjoy summer
• Bought flowers and silly gifts for graduates
• Cried at graduation, and
• Moved graduate into old cabin out back in preparation for their eventual move to college, trade school, military or any old job so they just get out of the house finally.
You see how productive you can be when you put your mind to it?
Not that there still isn’t anything to do. June — that would be Saturday — should be pretty darn crazy, especially if there is an impending invasion of Visiting Friends or Relatives, or VFRs as they said in the hospitality industry. VFRs are a bit like UAPs, or unidentified aerial phenomena, the current term for unidentified flying objects, those mysterious things that pop out of nowhere, are unexplainable so far and might be alien in origin.
June should be pretty darn crazy. Commercial fishing season starts soon. Those summer projects will be calling your name. The lawn won’t stop growing until September. We have the Kachemak Bay Writers Conference in June, Mary Epperson Day next Friday and probably a wedding or two to attend. Heck, some of you might even be getting married.
So buck up, Betsteroids. Life isn’t going to get really intense soon, if not already. There’s more to do than you can imagine, which is why you have to set aside some time for the really fun stuff, like these Best Bets:
BEST BOB BET: Need to stock up on some summer reading? BOB the Bookmobile will be at Karen Hornaday Park on Mondays and Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m. through June. BOB the Bookmobile is operated as a book exchange. Bring a book and take a book — or just take a book, and catch up with BOB next time. On Thursdays, in collaboration with the Homer Food Pantry, food bags are available for hungry and/or homeless youth and teens.
BEST FARM AWAY BET: Thinking about growing your own food or want to get some ideas from the pros? From 6-8 p.m. tonight, Matt and Mary Applehanz of Applehanz Farm speak at SVT Health and Wellness for Thriving Thursday about developing systems that create efficiency, higher crop production and use organic methods for building soil and maintaining healthy crops.
BEST GOLDEN LIGHT BET: The late Kim Cornwall was the first poet to have her work installed as part of the state Poetry in Place project, a poem about belugas at — where else? — Beluga Point. The former Homer resident’s friend and editor, Wendy Erd, reads poems from Cornwall’s recently released collection, “Of Darkness and Light.” The reading is at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Homer Public Library.
BEST TAKE IT OUTSIDE BET: With all the shops and restaurants opening up on the Spit, it’s worth the drive to go out there and see what’s new. Here’s another good reason: live music by String Along at 5 p.m. Friday at La Baleine Cafe.
BEST STEP RIGHT UP BET: Who’s going to win the 100 Million Steps in May challenge this year? Will the City of Homer defend its crown or will some other organization or business triumph? Find out at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Homer Farmers Market for the End-of-Challenge Party and awards ceremony. The High Steppers will be announced and trophies and prizes awarded. While there, check out the healthy, fresh food from our local farmers and growers.
BEST Y’ALL COME BET: If you like music that can’t be boxed and enjoy everything from blues to surf rock, the Hussy Hicks are for you. They return to the Kenai Peninsula at 9 p.m. Saturday at Alice’s Champagne Palace, part of the Salmonfest Music Series. They made a splash last year at Salmonfest, sitting in on a few songs with Michael Franti and Spearhead and Kristy Lee. Admission is $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
