Meanmom, did you get the self healing green/black mat? If so have you ever used the other side to cut on as it states it has the grid on both sides.
I also tend to use my cutting table as a catch-all. When working on a project, after cutting the fabrics I need, I put the remainder of the fabric in a pile to one side in case I need more. Sometimes I'll have a couple projects sitting on the side lines on the cutting table so that's another reason why such a large table. I'm organized in a cluttered way....LOL