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.
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.
I’ll let you in on a secret: I’m a hero.
A few weeks ago I was walking my dog. It was a nice warm day and my neighbors were all outside doing yard work. Another young man was walking down the street. I waved to him, and kept walking.
All of a sudden, there are fifty cop cars screaming around my neighborhood. One pulls up to me: Continue reading ‘It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s just me.’
Conor is an associate editor for
Angie's List magazine. He has a cat named Kanye and a puppy named Sherman, his favorite movie is
Back to the Future, he loves playing basketball and his favorite place is his couch.
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.
