Hey Promosinc, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You were right, that was the solution all along - I just had to choose a default notebook and it solved both issues. I'm now able to clip articles as well as create new notes! I was able to do it with both Evernote desktop and Evernote web, both allowed me to choose my default notebook. I need to remember that as a way to troubleshoot Evernote in general - just switch my default notebook on desktop, then sync, then close out and reopen and then go back and choose my original notebook. That has helped in the past but I completely forgot about doing it this time. Thanks again!!!!
