I’m new here at Angie’s List as the new podcast producer. I’ve got lots of things to sort out, and getting used to a drastic weather change is one. I’m from the Deep South and the balmy winters of Mississippi have not prepared me for big city cold weather. My jackets are wimpy; my amount of sweaters equals almost zero and gloves? Pshaw! This is not apparel for sitting on the veranda sipping ice tea! I scoff at such apparel — well I did until now.
This brings me to the point where, as a 30s-something adult, I had to turn on a furnace for the first time. I rented an older home in a historic district of Indy and I love it, but this heating system is enormous, and dealing with natural gas has always freaked me out. It should be easy right? WHATEVER! With years of Southern fear and guilt bred into me, the dramatic “Lighting of the Pilot Light” was a big deal. A ritual, if you will, leaning over a prehistoric space heater, letting the gas run through the line and waiting to spontaneously combust. I can hear my mammaw saying right now, “ You’re gonna burn yoursef’.” or “Oh, lawsee, you’re all gonna die of carbon monoxide poisoning!”
The thing is, I was terrified of this monstrous furnace and lighting the pilot until a little research working on one of the November Angie’s List podcasts featuring heating and cooling service providers. We interviewed a local HVAC guy about furnace maintenance and his info on yearly check-up tips eased my mind about fiddling with the flame on my furnace. After a cold night, I got over that fear quick, successfully getting my new found giant warm fuzzy friend lit with a little help from the List.
Twinkle VanWinkle is a Southern punk-rock belle transplanted to Indianapolis, and is
List-en up! producer for
Angie's List. She enjoys thrift store treasure hunting, dusty old records and is a connoisseur of hot sauces.
Giant hairballs are taking over my house. In the eight years I’ve had my dog, Buddy, I’ve never seen him shed as much as he has this year. We bought a shearing tool to combat the furry problem, but nothing seems to work. Buddy doesn’t think it’s a problem — he truly enjoys all the attention he gets while we brush him. I, however, am fed up.
Although I’ve considered it in the past, I’ve never taken him to a dog groomer. He is a very high-strung Border Collie and Dalmatian mix, so I worry about the stress of taking him to a stranger to be shaved. Continue reading ‘Shedding dog creates hairy situation in home’
Brittany is senior editor of national affairs for
Angie's List magazine. When she's not busy reporting for the magazine, she enjoys relaxing, bowling and watching movies.
My eyes are itchy, my throat is scratchy and I can’t stop sneezing. I thought my allergies were worse than usual this year, and I’m not the only one in my household suffering. Gus, my youngest Great Dane, is having a terrible time as well. We’ve spent nearly a billion dollars (maybe that’s an exaggeration) in vet bills trying to find out what’s causing his discomfort.
Gus’s incessant scratching has caused us many sleepless nights, and it seems that every day he looks more and more like a Chupacabra (another reason not to sleep at night). Continue reading ‘Aller-gee wiz’
Jackie is editor of
Quality + Design, the
Angie's List newsletter.
She's currently owned by three Great Danes named Silas, Eppie and Augustus Merriweather as well as two angry tabby cats, Bob and Polly. Her favorite album is anything by Radiohead.
