THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507120117
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Jeanne Marie Ianni was well on her way to a nursing career - until she went to work in a hospital as part of her training.
Too much blood and other unpleasant things made her change her mind.
``After two weeks, I realized it wasn't for me,'' said Ianni. ``My stomach couldn't take it. I switched over and went into management and marketing.''
Now she's in a position that's also got long, late hours and demanding people, but no blood. She's the bar manager in a restaurant.
She does work into the wee hours, she said, but she has her days free to do some of the things she loves, especially jet skiing and horseback riding.
Full name: Jeanne Marie Ianni.
Hometown: As the Army brat of a major general, I have lived in several locations. Kansas and Washington, D.C., were some of the best.
What brought you to the Beach? Attended Old Dominion University for nursing. My second year I realized I had too weak a stomach and switched my studies to management and marketing.
Birthdate: Sept. 5, 1961.
Occupation: Bar manager Hot Tuna Grill.
Nickname: My friends ``King,'' ``Mystery,'' ``Loser,'' ``Waynesworld,'' ``WuWu,'' ``Crazy Shari,'' ``McDaddy'' and ``Fat Matt the Sewer Rat,'' call me ``Mean Jean.''
Marital status: Single.
What is your idea of a perfect day off? Spending the day at the beach riding the SeaDoo with Rocky and my dog.
Last smart thing you did: Bought a great piece of North End property and am currently fixing and restoring the beach cottage on it.
Last dumb thing you did: Took awhile to realize that ``gut feelings'' are your best intuition.
Favorite meal: Fresh seafood cooked on the grill or my homemade lasagna.
Favorite movies: ``Dances with Wolves,'' ``48 Hours.''
Favorite song: Anything from Hootie and the Blowfish to Elvis to Motown to John Michael Montgomery.
Last book read: ``World War I Remembered.'' (My father Francis A. Ianni wrote it.) ``Wines of the World'' by Caroline Cammera and Robert Mondavi.
Hobbies: Anything outdoors - horseback riding, skiing, swimming, biking, traveling.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I work late hours and get up too early. I would change the fact that I don't get enough sleep.
Secret vice: Sweets, but that's no secret. Probably that I love to do crossword puzzles or that I'm an Elvis and Marilyn fan.
Favorite restaurant: Other than Hot Tuna of course . . . Chick's Marina, Dockside Inn, Blue Point in Duck, N.C. Any restaurant with a good wine list like Aldo's, Five 01, Mahi Mai.
Your favorite night on the town: Dinner and dancing with a group of friends.
Favorite TV shows: ``Talk Soup.''
Favorite sport: I love to watch grand prix horse jumping or racing, gymnastics and football when the Kansas City Chiefs are playing.
Last vacation: The coast of California ending up in Napa and Sonoma valley.
Pets: Yellow Lab, Jellybean, 10.
Worst job: Telemarketer in college.
Of what achievements are you most proud? Resuming horseback riding after a two-year
absence due to injuries from a car accident, being chosen Hampton Roads' best bartender and combining work and a personal interest by holding fund-raisers for the Chesapeake Bay/ Save the Bay and the Surfrider foundations.
What would you like as your epitaph? Probably what I hear every night - ``Hey, no one told me it was last call. . . . Can I have another round?'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by Charlie Meads
by CNB