My name is Angie, I am 36 years old and I live in San Francisco. I don’t wear flowers in my hair, but I do consider Rice-A-Roni to be a treat.
I was born and raised in Iowa, which means I often feel highly superior to Californians when it comes to manners, grammar, and driving on snow. I have to admit, though, that California does way better at food and wine, which are two of my favorite things in the whole wide world.
When I am not eating food and drinking wine, or planning which restaurants I want to visit for the purposes of eating food and drinking wine, I work in online marketing at OpenTable, a company that is all about…wait for it…helping people make restaurant reservations so they can eat food and drink wine! I also love cooking and I sometimes work at a winery. (They pay me in wine.)
Lest you think I am completely one-dimensional, I do have a few interests that don’t involve food and wine, like traveling the world, reading books, and doing challenging, physically active things with my body (the “challenging” bar is admittedly set pretty low for me). I also enjoy spending the odd winter weekend on the bunny slopes at Tahoe, gazing at the view and gliding cautiously along as 4 and 5 year old children whiz by me on their teeny tiny skis.
And last, but most definitely not least, I have been a proud volunteer with The Shanti Project since 2006, currently sitting on the board of directors. Shanti is an amazing non-profit organization that provides compassionate support to people with HIV/AIDS and breast cancer who are living below the poverty level, and often facing their life-threatening illness alone. For them, Shanti is the difference between 0 and 1.
As for my fears, there are some that I think are good to have, such as my paranoia about runaway MUNI buses, and my phobia of great white sharks. I’d like to sign a peace treaty with some of the more esoteric ones, like “everything good in my life is always on the verge of being taken away from me”. That one needs some work…
On that note, I am thrilled to be a part of COFFEE- what a great blog community/online magazine/support group! Thanks for having me, ladies (and John).
8 comments:
Angie! I'm so glad you're here! And that you like to eat food and drink wine. I think that is among the COFFEE staples.
I also didn't know that about your involvement with Shanti. You're in good company here with Holly and Becky (and me to a lesser degree).
I love the idea of signing peace treaties with esoteric fears. First of all, I never ever think to use the word "esoteric." You are going to be very good for my vocabulary.
WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME, Angie! SO glad you're here!
And only because it has to be said, POOR JOHN! It's going to be COFFEE Chicks (and John) forever now! :) Hope he's a tough'en, that John!
I, too, love food & wine & the bunny slopes & books & challenging physical activity... I also have to laugh because P took the words about vocab right outta my mouth! And I think most people could benefit from the signage of the peace treaty! Good stuff.
I'd love to hear more about your work with Shanti and the people the group serves. What a worthwhile, tremendously important effort!!! A lifeline for those who literally don't have one... yes. I think that is way beyond fantabulous!!! (Thanks, Tangy T, I love that word now!)
Again, glad you're on board, Angie, and I look forward to my vocab lessons and learning about you here in COFFEEdom.
Welcome, Angie! I would love to eat food and drink wine with you while we discuss Shanti, travel, and how to make peace with our fears. Hopefully someday. For now, I will just have to wait patiently for your next post. Glad you're here!!
Hi, Angie! Welcome! The Shanti Project sounds really incredible. I can't imagine facing illnesses like HIV/AIDS or breast cancer alone, with limited income. Good for you.
I'm a fellow food/wine person. Specifically, chocolate and wine, but really when push comes to shove I'm really not that choosy, unless it's snails or frog legs. I do have to draw the line somewhere.
In addition to loving food & wine, I also share your a phobia of great white sharks--which channel is that airs Shark Week? Discovery? TNT? I can't remember. Anyway, it's a morbidly fascinating and horrifyingly terror-filled week for me. I don't know what would possess people to swim with 10 foot creatures with 1,000's of sharp teeth that become manic at the first sign of blood.
And last, I also forgot about the fabulousness of the word "esoteric." And I occasionally walk that cliff ledge of "but what if this all goes away suddenly??" It is terrifying.
So glad you're here with us--looking forward to getting to know you (and your deepest, innermost fears ;-)!
Angie!!
I'm so excited to have you here!!
I think that'd be really fun to work at a winery and get paid in wine. I did a winery tour sometimes, they'd send me home with a bottle.
Good times.
Anyhoo.
I've never heard of the Shanti project, but that sounds like a really moving and impactful experience for you and for the people you help. So cool.
So excited that the rest of the world gets to know how hilarious, creative and awesome you are.
Welcome!!!! Lady after my own heart ~~ wine and food, yay!!!
I am also extremely impressed with your volunteerism. Kudos, seriously awesome.
Looking forward to hearing so so so much more!
Hi Angie!! Welcome, welcome!!! Personally, I'm totally excited that you live in San Francisco and that you can show the rest of us how to spell it correctly. Well, me, anyway. Everyone else probably already knows. My husband and I are flying into San Fran in June for our vacation and spending a night there so we can see Alcatraz. Since you're a foodie and wineie(what??) maybe you can recommend a great place I can crowbar my husband into taking me for dinner? Because although California has great...everything... the most excited I get is when we get to try someplace new for dinner! I. Love. Food. Unfortunately my husband is never happier than when he has a good rye bread sandwich with mustard, cabbage and ham. It's a burden, truly.
And the sharks thing? Like you spoke to my soul. It's really shameful, how I imagine a giant hammerhead or great white lurking beneath the surface in almost any body of water I find myself in, except for a pool when I can see the bottom. I'm always calculating how far out the other people are and whether the shark would take out the couple making out, or the two old ladies before it would get to me, and if I could toss small children at it to distract it from my meaty legs. I'm kidding. I only think that part of the time.
I'm impressed and excited about the Shanti Project. Just to know something like that is out there makes me humble and happy.
Excited to have you here Angie!!
Katie, I could give you a list of restaurant recommendations as long as your arm. But, here are some of my current top faves:
- Commonwealth (California cuisine)
- Range (California cuisine)
- Ragazza (awesome pizza)
- Marlowe (California cuisine)
- Baretta (Italian)
- Fat Angel (wine bar with awesome flatbreads and snacks)
- Betelnut (Asian fusion)
If you have any questions about SF or want more info, feel free to email me at angieryan06 (at) yahoo (dot) com
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