I’m All Lost In, #107: Katie Wilson for mayor; Out of the Closet for men’s shirts; “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 thrift shop 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 along 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 soon enough. 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 composer caught in a third-culture economy gamble while 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 some 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.