I’m All Lost In, #107: Katie Wilson for mayor; Out of the Closet for men’s button-downs; “mood” for “vibe.”
I’m All Lost In…
The 3 things I’m obsessing about THIS week…
#107:
1) Men’s Shirts at Out of the Closet Thrift Store
“How much?” my friend asked.
“$9,” I said.
“Big spender!”
At this point I’m convinced it’s because I walk into the store knowing I’m going to find a great shirt that the shopping karma manifests.
Every time I’ve gone to Out of the Closet this year, including this past Monday, I score. (I also like shopping to their Depeche Mode circa 1986, Sneaker Pimps circa 1997 playlists.)
I’ve walked out with a comfy, quality, and thrifty button-down men’s shirt on each of my last three visits, including this week when I got one with soft-focus white Cheerio-like circles set on a background of blue and black squares. The best thing about this fashionable shirt (in addition to the bargain $9 price tag) is the soft, stretchy material.
This lightweight and warm Bugatchi “Ooocotton Tech© 8-way stretch” fit is now my No. 1 go-to work and dress shirt, with my two other Out-of-the-Closet finds, a good looking dark blue button-down and a stately yet groovy patterned blue and white one. All three are now hanging front and center in my closet.
Grand total on these three new favorite items: $21.
2) I Want the Dork to Win
Mayor Harrell’s last minute attack ads—ugly, nativist dog whistles about his opponent Katie Wilson’s college professor parents—confirmed everything about Harrell’s chesty governance-by-sports-metaphor first term that already had me voting thumbs down on his reelection bid.
Meanwhile, Wilson’s signature low-blood-pressure response (starring her mom!)—”So, is this about my granddaughter’s childcare? Doesn’t he know that childcare is really expensive in Seattle?”—confirmed everything about Wilson’s measured, kitchen-table challenge that has me voting for the college-prof’s kid. Science profs!
After Wilson surprised status quo liberal Seattle with her big primary win [I’m All Lost In, #95, 8/9/25], I upgraded her status from policy nerd to downright policy dork. It’s Harrell’s worst nightmare. That and the fact that she’s a she.
Tuesday night cannot come sooner. Fingers crossed. Go Katie!
3) Mood > Vibe
Commiserating with a friend about our ennui this week, I texted: Just want my life to be a cyberpunk novel where I’m an avant-garde tape loop piano trio composer caught in a third-culture economy gamble navigating pirated apps and laser guns.
She responded: As the kids would say, “mooooooooood.”
I’ve been avoiding the omnipresent word “vibe” this year, going with more literal descriptions and specifics to capture a place’s amiable atmosphere or someone’s rancorous personality.
But I do like this alternative as evocative shorthand. As in: this Frankie Beverly & Maze playlist is a moooooood.