Back in February aught seven, I was in the fiction stacks at Capitol Hill Books, knee-deep in Dickens.  My co-worker Kyle and I had been shelving away for the better part of the day, talking about various matters, bookstore or otherwise.  We made our way through various topics:  the latest extreme bookclub book Battle Royale, the unshelvability of Maeve Binchy, bookstore owner Jim’s latest rantings (he hated the words “sweet” but loved “awesome” (“OMG” had yet to elbow its way onto the scene)).  

Edwin Drood in hand, I wondered, “Damn, man, we need some more tshirt ideas.  How about something odd, but dope?”

Kyle seemed to know just what we needed, “How about a shirt that just says ‘Wintry Mix’, and then it’ll have a wintry mix on it?”

“Hmm, I don’t get it. (thinking some more and picturing it)  It’s perfect.” 

“Alright, let’s do it.” 

A mere one year later, “Wintry Mix” is here, and it is undeniably odd and dope.