President Obama may be addressing US Congress, and really the world, tonight on the State of the Union, but I am currently concerned with the state of my dining room. Or should I say, the kitchen table (since there isn't one), the office, the recycling centre, extra fabric/batting storage, obstacle course for the Smilosaurus, and landing zone for nearly everything that comes in to this house. I love it and hate it.

While the basement is under reno, or as I like to call it, under the idea of renovation, I am stuck quilting on the dining room table. That means I have to clean up before every meal and if Hubby needs it to look at plans. Hence the bin of blueprints, a shredder, a sewing machine, ironing board, box of current projects, and cutting mat in the corner. I want one of those pretty studios filled with organized thread, pretty little boxes of scraps, and an inspiration board. Damn you who have them!

Am I a little bitter? Hell yeah. I am so tired of the clutter, of watching that the girls don't play with my thread, and of constantly cleaning up my creativity. Now I know why kids hate when we constantly tidy their toys and art stuff. I'm not a messy person (seriously, can't you tell?) but I would love to keep some in progress works spread around. Oh well, one day.

But I am not telling you the highlight of my day. I spent almost a half hour on the phone with Mark Lipinski! We bonded (at least I think so) over discussions about cabbage rolls and the Polish/Ukrainian border. And I got his commitment for Quilt Canada next year. He will be the keynote for our Professional Development conference, so mark your calendars for April 26-27, 2010.