Anthony's Fish Grotto

Restaurant:	Anthony's Fish Grotto
Cuisine:	Seafood
Rating:	Great Fish and Chips, San Diego Favorite
Price:	Kids: $4.99-$5.99, Adults: $6.50+ for Lunch, $9.50+ for dinner
Location:	Various Locations in San Diego

Jen's family has been going to Anthony's her entire life--which makes sense since Anthony's has been around for 60 years. Jen loves this place and as a result we end up eating at Anthony's every time we are in San Diego, usually multiple times. The Anthony's on Harbor Drive is the oldest and probably the best known, and is built out on piers into the San Diego Harbor. It is a really fun location, particularly when we sit right next to the floor to ceiling windows, thus allowing for an unencumbered view of the bay and Coronado Island.

Appetizer: Jen and I always start out with their Fisherman Style Clam Chowder. Jen still teases me to this day that I ordered the normal White Clam Chowder the first time we went (not that it isn't good, for it is, but because it isn't the Rozsa family norm), but I quickly changed to the "red" Clam Chowder. It is a tomato based chowder that is, well, great. Nice chunks of potato, clam, and celery, that hit the spot every time.

Main Course:Jen occasionally varies from our standard fare of Fish and Chips, but for me that is what I go for. I, in the beginning, would get their steak as I wasn't a fan of fish, but quickly realized that steak is not what you order at a seafood place (so don't order the steak here). Their Fish and Chips are very moist, and not too greasy. It's what keeps me coming back.

Atmosphere:The restaurant on the bay is a little more formal, so if your children aren't well behaved, check out their Fishettes. Our kids are very well behaved when we go out, so we have no problems taking them. In fact each time we go it never fails that those dining near us comment on how well behaved our kids are (very satisfying, every time).

Overall: Great fish and chips. Good atmosphere and if you go to the one on the bay, try to get near the windows (though every other table also has a great view of the bay).

The only negative thing I can say about Anthony's is that their bread is not great. They used to offer rolls, but over the past several years moved to bread ball, which is rather bland and tasteless. The only thing that saves the bread is their sun-dried butter spread. It makes it relatively tolerable.

13...Such a Lucky Number

Well, well, well. Our next child (due Nov/Dec) will be my parent's 13th grandchild. All the more interesting is that it will also be Jen's parent's 13th grandchild.

To me this is pretty cool--I like the number 13. When we were given the option of having Heather on the 12th or 13th, I immediately said the 13th, and somewhat surprisingly Jen agreed especially considering it was also a Friday.

So I am pretty happy that our next will also be associated with the number 13.

//edited 04/26/06 for clarity and grammar.//

San Diego

Despite expectations, we did end up taking a trip last week to San Diego. It was a quick one--really only spent one full day there, but it was enjoyable. Why you say did we go down?

On Tuesday (April 18) as Jen and I were watching House, Jen received a call from her Aunt. It has been a call that I had been expecting for numerous months--that her Grandma had passed away. But that is not what the call was about. The call was to inform Jen (and to have Jen inform her siblings) that Grandma's health was failing, and that if they wanted to see her prior to her passing, they should do so in the next couple days. The reason being is that Grandma had not eaten or drunken anything for several days, and had been lying listless in bed for the past 3 days.

After Jen talked with her Aunt, and then with her siblings, she concluded that her last visit with Grandma was a good one, and was how she wanted to remember her. The next morning that sentiment changed--Jen did indeed want to see her Grandma one last time, but didn't know how to do it. Flying would cost too much, and I needed to be at work (being that I just started back again).

Didn't think much of it, but in a casual conversation with the local HR rep about it, she told me to take the time off, there wasn't a problem. Okay then. Couple requests later, and I was home packing the car on Wednesday. We stayed over night in Vegas, arrived in San Diego on Thursday and stopped to see Grandma on the way in. Spent a relaxing day on Friday, and then began driving back on Saturday. Stayed Saturday night in St. George, and dined at, where else, Ruby River, and then got home Sunday afternoon.

Not much of a vacation, but the kids had fun, Jen enjoyed her visits with her Grandma (who seems to have made a recovery from the dire conditions described by Jen's Aunt), and I got to relax all while being paid by Verio. Not too bad; however I am now out of personal days, and will need to wait for vacation to accrue prior to any other fine days out. But oh well, Jen needed it.

//edited 04/26/06 for spelling.//

I'll learn myself

When I got home from work tonight, Ryan's "Tiger" bike was missing some very prominent side attachments--his training wheels. The following is the conversation that Ryan and Jen had, as recounted by Jen.

"Mom, take the training wheels off my tiger bike," asked Ryan. (Ryan seems to always phrase his questions as demands, despite our efforts to correct it.)

"If I do that I won't be able to help you learn to ride your two-wheeler until my hand gets better," said Jen.

"I can learn myself," stated Ryan.

With that Jen went into the garage, removed the training wheels, held the bike while Ryan got on the bike, and then off Ryan went riding around the neighborhood.

When I got home, Ryan demonstrated his sudden prowess of balancing on two wheels, complete with skids. I guess he can learn himself.

Verio...week 1

Well week 1 was rather uneventful, other than a gentle reminder that I don't remember as much as I anticipated. Fortunately it will come back, rather quickly I hope.

The funniest thing that happened was when a couple coworkers came over to ask when the real Mark is going to show up.

"The real Mark?", I inquired.

"Yeah, the obnoxious, loud, practical jokester.", they replied.

Hmmmm. Funny thing is I don't think that "Mark" will ever make a return, primarily because that "Mark" relied upon his position, seniority, and available time to plan, develop, and execute the masterpieces that he rained down upon the unsuspecting victims...not really, they weren't all that masterpiece-ful. But needless to say, my return to Verio brings nothing with it--not the title; not the seniority; and definitely not the time. Ah well. I guess I can always sneak up behind someone and bark, but then again the HR manager has told me that I can't do that to any of the admin staff--which removes all the best victims.

Ohhh, oh, Verio

I'm back. When I left Verio 17 months ago, I never figured I'd be back--but I am. It is somewhat odd that I would go back, only to managed by those whom I hired and promoted into their supervisory roles. Very odd experience indeed.

Most of the day technical support group is completely unknown to me. I quite regularly look up to see someone whose name is completely unknown to me. Here is a group that I spent 6+ years as a member/manager, and after only 17 months I recognize very few.

It was a good day, overall. It is nice to be back amongst what appears to be a good group of people.

It's Not That Bad

One of the girls in my class came in complaining. Turns out she was asked out by, as she put it, "WHOAA!!!" (I'll take that to mean a very good looking young man?!) but instead of being able to go out, she has to stay home and watch 7 kids while her parents go out. Got me laughing, which then resulted in her pulling me into the conversation.

Despite me trying to assuage her fears and disappointment she continued to complain that it "sucked" and how the house was going to burn down and she was going to starve. Now before you get the wrong impression of this girl, she is a very thoughtful, considerate girl--quite intelligent as well. So this whole conversation seemed somewhat out of place.

After about a minute, one of her friends (Sarah we'll call her) came into class and began to talk to this girl and the other girl who sat at her table. Hugs where shared, emotional sighs were heard. I knew what was up.

You see about 2 weeks ago Sarah was sitting in class and then suddenly announced, casually enough that it probably happened before, that she could no longer see out of her right eye. Okay. Despite trying to send her to the office so that she could call her mom and go to the hospital, she stayed in class stating that it has happened before and will go away shortly.

Two days later it still hadn't and she had to go to the optometrist who referred her to neurologist, and subsequently scheduled her for a cat scan.

So to make a long story short Sarah informed her two friends that she needed to have the tumor that was pressing on her optic nerve removed next week. After hearing this I walked to the front of the class, and as I passed by the first girl, she quite humbly stated "I guess babysitting her brothers and sisters wasn't that bad."

I guess not. Amazing how perceptions can quickly change.

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