Spent a couple of weeks with our clothes dryer on the fritz. Finding an Indianapolis appliance repair service was not as easy as one would think. Let me rephrase that. Finding the right appliance repair service was not that easy.

I Googled, Tweeted, and Facebooked to no avail, though my dad suggested I might make the repair on my own. Not a chance! (turns out I had no chance of succeeding)

Finally, I got a good ‘ol fashioned referral via my friend, Mike Spencer. Just what I was looking for. He suggested Jon Mathew of Mathew Appliance Repair. I made contact with Jon. He was able to get to me sooner than expected, though the youngest daughter had to head off to school before the fix.

Jon was on-time, clean, and very thorough. He was obviously committed to making sure the appliance was working properly. He took the time to explain to me what was going on and how he was fixing the problem. The price was quite fair.

I highly recommend Mathew Appliance Repair. I’ll be calling Jon next time any of my appliances need fixing.

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Posted on Monday, 12th July 2010 by Bill Bean

Reading Wangerin’s As For Me And My House again. (You do read to improve your marriage, don’t you?) The book is overwhelmingly good. Highlighting the passages that stand-out will require more than one highlighter.

Forgiveness is, according to Wangerin, the most practical tool for keeping a marriage working well.

“There is no tool more practical to marriage maintenance nor more important than that both husband and wife are capable of the reparation of forgiveness. But, despite our self-confidence, it is not a tool any of us knows by nature or uses by instinct. Oh, we know the term forgiveness well enough; but we confuse its meaning, and we must acquire the skill of using it.”

Somehow, it gets easier and more difficult.

Tags: marriage
Posted in Books, Quotes | Comments (0)

Posted on Sunday, 11th July 2010 by Bill Bean

Emily will soon be leaving for a big, new adventure. I came across this quote and thought it appropriate for her.

“You can kiss your family and friends goodbye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.” ~ Frederick Buechner

She’s leaving but we’re going with her.

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Posted on Saturday, 3rd July 2010 by Bill Bean

Have you heard? Starbucks is going to start offering free wi-fi on July 1. Glad to see it but sheesh!, they’re a bit late to the game. Better late than never?

I spent a couple of years working for Starbucks when they first came to town. 10 years ago or so. Before that I was a regular customer at the location in my neighborhood (Disclaimer: i might still be the Mayor http://foursquare.com/venue/564244).

I remember hearing all the arguments about why they weren’t going to offer free internet access. Because of that, I spent a lot more time at the Panera at the other end of the strip mail. At that point they didn’t even have wi-fi. I was plugging in. How quaint!

Not everyone likes the taste of Starbucks coffee. I realize that. Though I’m not a rabid fan, I do prefer it to Panera’s coffee. Had the ‘Bucks provided a free connection I would have spent a lot more money (emphasis on “more”) and time with them. They would have had a greater opportunity to sell me more music and pastries (the big money maker). They would have truly been my third place (blogged about this on Smaller Indiana.)

Two questions.

Do you think Starbucks would have been much better off going this direction years ago?

Why doesn’t Einstein’s have wi-fi? (just curious, as I do like their coffee)

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Posted on Saturday, 26th June 2010 by Bill Bean

Father’s Day is, on one hand, another of those bogus Hallmark holidays (no offense, Hallmark). On the other hand, it is a tradition that encourages at least one day of reflection on fatherhood and what it means to be a dad.

(my dad with my brothers, not sure why Jason is muggin')

For many people, it is a painful reminder of their own experience of fatherhood. Perhaps a good dad was taken too soon; perhaps a horrible father wasn’t taken soon enough; perhaps there was not one at all beyond the initial biological instigation.

Remarkably enough, the U.S. Congress delayed any sort of official recognition of Father’s Day out of a concern that it would become commercialized (we need that Congress now!). The cynic in me agrees with that sentiment. However, as someone who has begun to appreciate the role of tradition (i.e. holidays) in human life and culture, I’m grateful for the opportunity to say THANKS! to my dad and for the reminder to give due consideration to my own efforts to be a good father.

As a father to two incredibly, amazing, marvelous daughters, I am humbled by the enormity of the responsibility, intimidated by the scope of the task, and thankful for the grace given by The Father that has, so far, enabled me not to completely botch the assignment. Though they are now adults, I will continue to work at being the father they need and a dad who’s easy to love. (or, as the Scriptures command, one who doesn’t exasperate his children)

To all those dad’s doing their best – keep up the good work! Nothing else matters as much. To all those fathers hurting their children – may God have mercy on you because the rest of us won’t. To all those young men who might risk giving me a grandson – you’d better think twice. (I’m not afraid to go back to prison.)

my two beauties

A Few Fast Facts on Father’s Day (from the great Wiki):

• Holiday (or version of) observed in 55 countries
• Idea originated with a Presbyterian woman
• First observance in 1910 in Spokane, WA
• Became a national holiday in 1972

More interesting stats on fathers and Father’s Day from the Census Bureau.

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Posted on Sunday, 20th June 2010 by Bill Bean