I hold an Angie’s List record. No, I haven’t done any research to prove it. You’ll have to trust me (as I unsuccessfully told Guinness World Records officials). To my knowledge, I’m the longest-running intern in the Angie’s List Publication Department, and probably in the entire world.
Being an intern isn’t the most prestigious job. I really resent how I spend half of each workday pushing cars out of the mud and doing frivolous, humiliating parlor tricks to amuse staff members. Of course, I look at the glass as half full: All those ruthless insults were actually “constructive criticisms.”
I’ve been at the List almost two years. As my desk neighbor Matthew likes to joke, that makes me a “senior intern.” Well, I’m sad to say I’m retiring that esteemed, albeit paradoxical, title. It’s time to move on.
In a few weeks, I’m graduating college and beginning a new epoch. I’ve been told the world looks much different to college graduates. Doors open. Gaps close. Wages increase. Mountains crumble.
I’m excited to experience all of that. Yet I won’t encounter this new world without feelings of gratitude and heartache. The truth is, I’ve really loved my internship at Angie’s List. I learned a lot, grew a lot, and never stopped having fun. By title, I was an intern, but not once did anyone treat me as anything but an equal.
So, I’ll miss it. My family lives in Georgia, and that’s where I belong. My second family, though, lives in the Blue House. And how do you say goodbye to such wonderful people? You don’t. You say, “Thanks.”
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I’ve always thought the List should expand its number of rated service categories. But apparently, our IT Department has been doing that for years now (I guess I need to pay more attention.) Still, though, I fear some service companies will never have a chance to receive an “A” rating.
That’s why I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for one of the most underappreciated services: movie theaters. Continue reading ‘Movie theaters are service companies, too’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
As a native Atlantan, I don’t mind Indianapolis. There are a lot of great things about it. For one, it’s the headquarters of Angie’s List. For two, Indianapolians live here. They’re friendly for the most part. Little-known fact: “Indianapolians” is the official nomenclature for Indianapolis residents. Please spread the word.
There’s one thing, however, I can’t praise this city for: public transportation — err, the lack thereof. In the Circle City, you have one option for public transit. Continue reading ‘My transportation challenge’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I’m not the biggest fan of using service companies. That might sound weird coming from an Angie’s List employee, but I prefer to do things myself.
I’d rather be covered in motor oil or paint or bruises than hire someone to do the work for me. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’ll do it well. My fixes might be farces, but at least they’re my farces.
My desire to do things myself can be attributed to a few reasons. Continue reading ‘My service company sensitivity’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I’m by no means rich, which means sometimes I have to settle for less. Like, I’m not really thinking about such grand luxuries as remarriages at this stage in my life. I’m more concerned with convincing the right girl I’m not some sort of waif.
But, alas, that’s the life of an impecunious intern and college student. Once I amass enough wealth, my first goal is to move out of my apartment building, buy it and level it (my second goal is to buy the choice items pictured at right). That purchase might take time, of course, but I’m convinced it would be the best fate for my apartment complex, an edifice of ugly.
I’ve lived in a horde of rentals. I’ve had noisy neighbors and have been the noisy neighbor, both of which are equally stressful. That’s why I’d like to one day become a homeowner. Continue reading ‘Life is rich’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
Angie’s List employees refer to the workplace as the company “campus.” That always seemed a bit weird to me. When I think of a “campus,” I imagine Victorian homes turned fraternity flophouses and fountains and bearded professors. I think University of Georgia. Or perhaps Auburn.
Our campus doesn’t look quite like a university. And if there are any classes taught around here, it’s probably woodworking at the county jail downtown. Continue reading ‘It’s true: now we’re official.’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I’m putting a lot of thought into getting a dog, but I don’t want just any puppy. It’s got to be a companion, a real man’s best friend. That means poodles, the most selfish of all dogs, are out. I thought about a Weimaraner, except people might mistake me as being artsy, which would mean I’d have to start wearing berets. No thanks. Continue reading ‘My dog dilemma’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I’ve been taking a lot of baths lately. Now, I can already guess what you’re thinking: “I thought ‘Mike’ was a guy’s name?” Continue reading ‘My bathroom is doomed.’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
Almost everyone I knew in high school had moved two or three times. Sometimes it even made me jealous. It sounded adventurous. And I always hated explaining to my nomadic peers why I had a child’s foot prints on my bedroom ceiling. “I slept in a bunk bed, man! I was pretending to be Spider-Man. Duh!” That never gained me a lot of street cred. Or girlfriends. Continue reading ‘Moving on’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
I came home from work last Tuesday to find someone had broken into my apartment. The place was in disarray. The burglar(s) emptied my drawers, tossed my belongings around (for fun, I assume) and made off with some of my most expensive and personal possessions.
From what the police told me, I imagine the whole scene took less than five minutes. They knocked first, kicked the deadbolt second and split the wooden door jam in two. Then they ran – or skipped, because they were having so much fun – through my apartment, filling their bags with goodies. All of this, by the way, happened in broad daylight. Continue reading ‘Apartment break-in’
As editorial intern, Mike writes the monthly employee page, edits content and talks to service providers for the Comparative Shopper column in
Angie's List magazine. His favorite place is the Appalachian Trail (except for the areas that have bears, snakes or birds). His favorite album is "London Calling" by the Clash.
