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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Monday Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, Feb. 23 Car crashes into new south Medford home Medford neighbors take up arms against a sea of graffiti Missing teen possibly seen in Florida Emergency services, Feb. 22 Politics and Elections Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Education Grace to assume school governance AHS principal up for national award Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Environment Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade Controlled burn planned for Ashland watershed on Friday Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow State News Brown says she'll preserve Oregon death penalty moratorium Tentative deal reached in West Coast port labor dispute State Senate votes to dissolve Cover Oregon Psychic gets 8 years for con of timber heir Economists project 'kicker' rebates Nation - World Obituaries Lois Gunsolus Wilson Donald Max Long Betty E. Schmidt Anne Brown Stewart Richard Nudelman, 70 years Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Challengers, Crusaders rake in SCL awards Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Bubble Breaker? Wood sets franchise points record in win Varsity 541 College Sports Bubble Breaker? Beavers Pac-12 champs with win LOCAL REPORT Beavers wrap up road trip with win SOU lays claim to another regional title Pro Sports Grizzlies overcome deficit to beat Blazers Hahn wins Riviera after playoff Wood sets franchise points record in win Gordon, Pelicans down Heat Singler starts in debut with Thunder Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Learn about Oregon's local crowdfunding options Blog: Random Acts of Kindness Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul People In Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Mark L. Hopkins: History speaks to us on our present economic situation Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Editorials Our View: Smell of trouble may spark marijuana limits Voter bill secures a fundamental right Our view: Will Brown reach out to rural Oregon? Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Letters to the Editor Feb. 23: Letters to the editor Feb. 22: Letters to the editor Feb. 20: Letters to the editor Feb. 19: Letters to the editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Columns Parker: Cable news twists the 'war on Islam' Independent Party focuses on the public interest Milbank: Walker's cowardice on view in NY Will: Tweet this: Digital dialogue won't work 'Big' government is not so big after all Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Ride & Drive: 2015 VW Golf R Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining It Is What It Is: Girls just wanna have fu-un Silvio Calabi: Kia Soul mixes practicality with personality Food Kitchen Call: Baseball, beans and Bob Motley Gail Ciampa: Scrod Francaise fits the bill for Lenten dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Fire and Smoke Tammy Kelly: Comfort food makes cold weather better Home and Garden Home Help: Low-maintenance landscaping ideas Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Health Community blog: And if I Die Before I Wake Dr. Murray Feingold: Does a sedentary lifestyle make you prone to disease? Dr. Jeff Hersh: Breathe easy - all about lung function Health Watch: Health improvements you can make today that will pay off for a lifetime Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' Live Music in Local Clubs OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Third Fridays showcases local artists Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'The Glass Menagerie' is polished and professional OSF kicks off its 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' Music Professor Gall plays Oberon's Tavern Live Music in Local Clubs The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Car crashes into new south Medford home ... Gold Hill police levy discussions criticized ... Get Up & Go: Monday, Feb. 23 ... Car crashes into new south Medford home ... SOUTHERN OREGON JOURNAL Organizing can wait for winter By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 22, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 22, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> I’d just gotten a game start at organizing my life and all the accompanying stuff that so easily entangles, now six or seven weeks into the new-ish year, when it suddenly dawned that I hadn’t been to Ashland in a while. Plus, the sun shone bright, it was 60-some degrees in February, and my friend had an appointment to paint some trees’ portraits in Lithia Park. Did I mention it was Tuesday? Half of every Tuesday flits past by the time I’ve visited Uncle Dick and read with my two SMART niblets out at Lake Creek Learning Center. After my weekly bowl of chili with onions, cheese and jalapenos at Lake Creek Store, an organizational mood is beyond the pale. Reading books such as "Charles the Ranch Dog" and "The Class from the Black Lagoon" pulls what scant left-brained energy I had when I started the day right out into the fresh air, where it floats off on a false spring breeze. To illustrate that I’m not a completely disorganized boob, I did begin the day full of pragmatic gusto and composed an extensive TO DO list. Wisdom roared to the fore as I broke overwhelming tasks into baby bites, allocating them to specific months. It may be time to start again by the time they’re completed, but with the practiced resistance that accrues with age, hopefully I’ll have packed in less ballast. I no longer save twist ties, for example. Nothing on the list was possible to achieve in a mere half day, but I compromised by weeding my scarf rack, which now hangs leaner and unencumbered. I made purposeful movement toward burrowing out of a 27-year accumulation in this house alone. There have been others. The stack of unsold clothing I retrieved a year ago from the consignment shop (two steps forward, one step back) I placed very definitely into a box destined for a clothing exchange with no plans to replace, unless there’s a cool scarf there. I have room now. Then I tackled a dusty pile on my dresser containing two safety pins, two bobby pins, one large paper clip, two packs of replacement buttons that accompanied garments purchased four years ago, and a checking deposit slip. I’m smiling because I can hear you wondering if I made this up. Right-brainers are not known for being overt neatniks, OK? However, chaos tends to clog the creative flow. When that happens, with half a day left, I convene elsewhere. Frankly, I’d rather spend every day with my head in a story — mine or someone else’s. Discipline is paramount for a writer. I could procrastinate myself out of a career for the sake of clearing a drawer of loose beads, singular earrings, old greeting cards and monkey socks. You heard me. Monkey socks will soon pop up on a Goodwill rack nearby and get snapped up by the first shopper with a yen to play at “sock puppets in the jungle.” Meanwhile, there’s Lithia Creek chortling over my shoulder. My friend, in the time it takes for me to recite from "As You Like It" — “Now we go in content to liberty, and not to banishment” — has created a fabulous landscape appetizer of Lithia Park, long a favorite haven, especially in the good old days when I could play my tambourine for the swans. And this week opens the 2015 Oregon Shakespeare Festival! Soon, when winter emerges from its hiding place (Massachusetts, I suspect), I’ll tackle the designated clean-out region for February from that most excellent list. There’s a satisfaction that comes with making headway when you’ve been looking at a closet or shelf ruefully, shaking your head and murmuring you must get at that sometime. Fortunately, my column isn’t about organization, it’s about the wonderful and diverse people and places of Southern Oregon, and when stories call, I must follow the lead and leave paperclips and dust bunnies to find their own way home. Peggy Dover is a freelance writer. Visit her Facebook page at Peggy Dover-writer and contact her at [email protected]     By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Peggy Dover for the Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 22, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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