Skip's Letterhead

I have to admit to extreme envy whenever I receive a thank you note expertly written on personalized stationary. How positively proper not only to write a thank you note to begin with, but also to send it along on delightful printed paper. It's so utterly WASP-y and plays perfectly into my stationery obsession. I want my own.

While I do not plan on changing my name once wed (I happen to have an attachment to my current last name and RTT seems content to let me marry him and be done with it), as a married woman I think it is even more imperative that I have signature stationery with which to write all my correspondence (pen pals, Quaker Oats, Jell-O, hostesses, etc.).

In typical Skip fashion, however, I'm struggling to decide on my consummate stationery statement. I've narrowed my choices down to the regal and snobbish purple silhouette from heaven (aka Neiman Marcus), a whimisical (if slightly crazy and junior) French Bulldog and the classic, Connecticut wreath monogram both from iomoi.

Decisions are the worst.

The Extraordinary Adventure of Edward's Outerwear

Sit back and relax, dear readers, while I tell you the very true story about my bestest pal Edward and the misadventures of his North Face jacket...

It all started in October 2005, when my oldest friend visited yours truly in San Francisco (along with my l'il sis, Fabs) for a wondrous week of gluttony that included lobster, hot dogs, wine tasting, quiz night and Alcatraz and that culminated in the greatest Halloween costume ever (I speak of the infamous Pilot & Stewardesses).

During said week, Edward decided to purchase a long coveted North Face ski shell thingy. It required endless pacing but he finally settled on a chic black version (oft sported by the sorority bunch at Big Ten schools and, of course, Washington and Lee). Edward was over-joyed and left San Francisco for his home-town of Windsor, England elated with his precious parka purchase and about 10lbs. heavier.

Anyhoo...fast forward to Spring 2006 when the well-known coat failed Edward most atrociously by opting rather suddenly to absorb water rather than repel it (which is a bit of a problem rainy England). Seeing as San Francisco conceals North Face's corporate headquarters, I offered to take the offender back (personally picked up on a trip to London) and inquire with the engineers at North Face (I simply adore writing obnoxious letters to companies when their product fails...no, really).

It was some months later, but the now notorious jacket was returned to my Gap offices with a bottle of water-proofing potion and some confusing instructions on how one could return the outerwear to its former glory. Well satisfied (I mean, did we have a choice?) with the results, I visited the Rincon post office and shipped back the coat to my dear boy for about $30.

When I hounded Edward in the Winter of 2006 about his North Face re-gift, he had no idea what I was talking about. He never received the package! And, to compound the problem, he had moved flats in the interim. Foiled! But then, around February of 2007, Edward received some forwarded mail from his former flatmate and discovered a notice from the British postman explaining that he had a package to pick up that required him to pay a duty tax (hence the non-delivery). When Edward went to retrieve (and pay) for the package he was informed that it had already been returned to the sender (moi). Meanwhile, RTT and I had skipped town for Boston unbeknown to us and Edward that the notable North Face was on a boat (as if the Brits would pay to fly Edward's jacket to San Francisco) back to the U.S.

Quel horreur!

But, fret not, my pets! In late Summer 2007, a mysterious and well-worn box appeared at my front door in the Cambridge, Massachusetts apartment RTT and I were temporarily occupying. Would you believe it was Edward's North Face?!?! No, of course you wouldn't expect such a delivery! Amazing.

Edward and his coat were reunited just a few weeks ago when I jaunted off to Europe on a work trip.

And, they continue to live happily ever after...