Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/497293
Gettingorganizedis like dieting. Everyone knows how to do it. The problem is getting around to it and then maintain- ing the re- sults. A few years ago, when we remodeled our kitchen, I emptied ev- ery cupboard and drawer. When it was time to put everything back, I de- cided to put things away as I used them. I quickly realized why it was such a problem to keep the kitchen neat and tidy. We had too much stuff we never used. Getting rid of the unused left so much space to organize the es- sentials. Face it. If you don't have enough closet, drawer and storage space to comfortably handle your possessions, you probably own too many things. Give away, pare down, let your rooms closets and drawers ap- pear serene and con- trolled-kept. There's no single "right" way to organize your possessions and home. Organization must fit your style, your energy and your schedule. Find a system that functions best for you and your family. No matter the way you do it, let this be your mantra: Eliminate and concentrate. Getting rid of the clut- ter is a good place to start. Personally I'm fond of the Paper Bag Method for instant results — something that works wonders, especially when you are at your wit's end over clutter and chaos. Take one (more as nec- essary) large brown pa- per grocery bag, bin or box and fill it with all of the stacks of extraneous papers, magazines, mail — your basic clutter. The purpose here is not to throw anything away, just to get it out of vi- sual range until you have time to go through and separate, sort and file. At least that's what you tell yourself. Stand back and en- joy that completely clear counter, desktop, table or other flat surface. Amaz- ing, isn't it? If within 48 hours or so, no one in the fam- ily has mentioned miss- ing something of im- portance, it is proba- bly safe to throw the whole thing out. While this may be a method of last resort, I guarantee it works. A more preferred way to get organized may be the Salami Method. You wouldn't think of eat- ing an entire salami at one sitting. You'd eat it in slices over a period of time. Think of your proj- ect as one big salami. Start with one thing, one room, one closet. Tomor- row is another day, an- other drawer, another at- tic. Soon, you'll be in con- trol. I've learned that gain- ing control over the stuff in my life has an effect on my attitude. When every- thing is in its place, I'm less stressed, more able to think clearly and, ba- sically, a happier person. Order brings calm; clut- ter results in chaos. I have found some kind of comfort in knowing that I'm not the only or- ganizationally challenged person out there. Why just the other day, I was reading that the ratio of naturally born neatniks to messies is about 1 in 1 million. Not everyone has a se- vere case of the mes- sies, but if you think you might, take a look at "Sink Reflections," a book by Marla Cil- ley (Bantam Double Day, 2002, $12.88). Cil- ley, aka the "FlyLady" to the thousands who log onto her website, www. flylady.net, reaches into the every person's home to help make house- cleaning more fun and life more organized. Be- ginning with "Shiny Sink 101," Cilley explains how a spotless kitchen sink can direct even the most discouraged house- keeper onto the path of well-ordered domestic- ity. And who couldn't love that? Wouldyouliketosend a tip to Mary? You can email her at mary@ everydaycheapskate. com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Ste. B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. EVERYDAYCHEAPSKATE Beat the clutter, improve your life Mary Hunt SUSANVILLE The Lassen National Forest will soon open select campgrounds near prime fishing waters as the 2015 fishing sea- son gets underway. Other campgrounds on the For- est's three districts are scheduled to open in time for Memorial Day weekend. Almanor Ranger Dis- trict campgrounds, includ- ing Butte Meadows, Cherry Hill, Alder, Elam and Po- tato Patch, are set to open on April 24, weather per- mitting. Visitors planning to camp at these locations should be prepared for low nighttime temperatures in the high 20s to low 30s. Gurnsey Creek, Battle Creek, Almanor North, Al- manor South, and Almanor Legacy campgrounds are scheduled to open the weekend of May 15, as staff- ing and conditions allow. The opening dates for all other campgrounds on the Almanor Ranger District will also depend on staff- ing and conditions. Up- dates will be posted on the Forest website. Butte Creek, Crater Lake, Goumaz and Roxie Peconom campgrounds, on Eagle Lake Ranger District, will be open by Memorial Day. The opening date for Bogard Campground is still to be determined. According to district staff, the low water boat ramp at Eagle Lake will be open for use in time for the opening weekend of fishing season. However, as of the end of March, water lev- els are very low — from 24" at the foot of the ramp to 36" at 100 feet out from the shore. Updated mea- surements will be avail- able weekly at the district office beginning in May and throughout the sum- mer at the Marina. Boaters will have to decide whether water depths are adequate for launching their boats. Concessionaire camp- grounds on the Eagle Lake Ranger District, which in- clude Aspen, Eagle, West Eagle, Merrill, and Chris- tie, are set to open May 15, according to conces- sionaire staff. The marina store will open with limited hours and supplies on May 16, with full operation and supplies by May 21, in time for Memorial Day weekend. An outdoor stand at the marina will offer hot food, such as hamburgers, hot dogs, and breakfast burri- tos, beginning May 22. In- formation on these facilities and services is available by calling 530-257-3067 until May 1; afterward, you may call 530-825-3454. Big Pine and Rocky Campgrounds along Hat Creek are scheduled to open by April 25. Hat Creek, Cave, Bridge, and Honn campgrounds are closed for repair due to a recent storm event. These campgrounds will be opened as repairs are completed. Please mon- itor the Forest website. Hat Creek Ranger Dis- trict's Old Station Visitor Center is set to open on April 25. The center will be staffed for weekend vis- itors, Saturday and Sun- day, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will begin a summer sched- ule in mid-June, open four days a week, Thursday-Sun- day, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Visitor Center is located at the junction of Highways 44 and 89. The staff there can provide information. For the most current recreation information, call the following Forest Service offices: Almanor Ranger District, 258-2141; Eagle Lake Ranger District, 257-4188; Hat Creek Ranger District, 336-5521. You may also visit www.fs.usda.gov/ lassen. LASSEN FOREST Ca mp gr ou nd s po is ed t o op en f or s ea so n RED BLUFF KIWANIS TIME FOR PANCAKES COURTESY TheRedBluffKiwanis will hold its annual Round-Up Pancake Breakfast 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday at the Red Bluff Elks Lodge, 355 Gilmore Road. Tickets are $5 each for a full breakfast of pancakes, ham, juice and coffee. Tickets can be purchased from any Kiwanian and at the door. Pictured are Kiwanis President Lisa Hansen and breakfast chairwoman Cheryl Weibling. TH 94 2015 Fri-Sat,April17 th -18 th ALSCO, INC. • Aluminum PVC Pipe, Hunter Toro and Nelson Sprinklers • Big Guns • Center Pivots • Wheellines • Test Pumping • Turbine, Submersible and Centrifugal Pumps • Kifco Arena Rain Gun • Apollo Gate Openers 535 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff Call Russ Harman, Clint Heiber or Mark Owens at (530) 527-4001 Fri,April17th 94th Annual ROUND-UP, FAMILY DAY 7pm Sat, April 18th Annual ROUND-UP PARADE 10 am Red Bluff Kiwanis PANCAKE BREAKFAST Fundraiser for Local Charity 7-10 am Elks Lodge - 355 Gilmore Road WelcomeRodeoFans! WalnutSt. Main St. Antelope Blvd. 914 Walnut St., Red Bluff, CA 528-9496 MEXICAN RESTAURANT Authentic Mexican Food Open 9am - 9pm 7daysaweek L a C o r o n a Voted Best Mexican Restaurant in Tehama County Togo orders available CANNED FOOD DRIVE *Validonly at H & R Block 1315 Solano St, Corning Call 530-824-7999 for a appointment Bring in 4 cans of food when you come in to get your taxes done, and get $15.00 off your tax preparation fees.* Allcannedfoodswillbedonatedto CorningChristianAssistanceFoodBank. LIFESTYLES » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, April 17, 2015 MORE ATFACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4