Hello Again from DisneyDaniel
 

Since it's been about a year since I've posted on any Disney-related board, including my favorite one of all--Lounge of Tomorrow--I want to say "hello" to everyone again. I've missed you all so dearly in person and online.

I've basically vanished online for many months while partnering with a friend to open a new restaurant, continuing my regular job as journalist/photographer, working on special writing/photography projects, and traveling a LoT for work--and making partial vacation trips out of them, too.

After helping my friend start up his Asian restaurant called Bamboo Fusion in Escondido, California (Northern San Diego County) for the first year only, I finally have my life back--which also means catching up on my Disney life, too! I basically consulted my friend (first-time restaurant owner) on almost every aspect of starting and running a restaurant, wrote the menu, trained the staff, and managed several aspects of it when I was not traveling or working on other things.

In between all the various work-related projects, I traveled just about all four corners of the United States and parts in between. And if I was anywhere remotely close to Florida, I made an excuse to visit Walt Disney World, which happened three times within 14 months! WDW has grown on me, and I love that place, too--so I have a WDW Annual Pass now, and I will be there again in August 2007 for 10 days. Despite living in Southern California my whole life, and taking for granted that Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure is close by, trips to WDW--and other parts of the United States--are a wonderful treat to explore and experience new places.

In the future, I will most likely add some travel/destination related posts to the "Out on the Town" and "Jet Set" sections of LoT, but for now, here are a few random photos that happen to be on my computer at the moment. I hope to see you all real soon online and in person. Now, I'm heading off to Disneyland for its 52nd birthday!

Take care,
Daniel

This is one of the panoramic views from the Acoma Pueblo "Sky City" near Albuquerque, New Mexico. Indians have been living atop this 367-foot-high sandstone mesa (where I'm standing to take this photo) since the early ninth century, A.D. Built here for its strategic position, Acoma Pueblo may be the oldest continuously-inhabited village in the United States.


An ominous view at sunset of Catalina Island, located 22 miles off the coast of Long Beach in Southern California.


Upon seeing the Pavilion Lodge's retro-design on Catalina Island, I immediately thought of Lounge of Tomorrow!


There are plenty of horses and open fields of "blue grass" in Lexington, Kentucky.


Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This is Lincoln's view looking toward the Washington Monument.


Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Caesars Palace Las Vegas offers wonderful decor and fantastic food. Here are pictures of the colorful bar and dining room--with the open grill as the centerpiece of the restaurant's design. Food Network Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay visits this location every few months to check up on things.



Same "Partners" statue, but a different castle at the end of Main Street at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. The Hub perimeter, along with many other matters of space, is much bigger in Orlando than Anaheim.


Since I'm also a "space nut," visiting Cape Canaveral in Central Florida was a dream come true. Here I am outside the Vehicle Assembly Building. Also, for this trip, I was geeky enough to wear my baseball cap and T-shirt from the NASA-based TV drama "The Cape."


The beautiful, waterfront skyline in Seattle, Washington.


Going on a trail ride in gorgeous Sundance, Utah.


Meeting Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter during the weekend leading up to the official opening of Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.

Welcome back. I love your photos.

Welcome back!! I was just wondering where you were.

Same here - I was wondering what ever happened to you!

Congrats on all the exciting news!

What a great first post back! Welcome!

Yay!!! Great to see you again! :D

Welcome back, DisneyDaniel! :cheers:

So good to see you again. I hope to see you IRL very soon

Wonderful to see you.
I'll have to check out the restaurant!

Welcome to Florida.

We're glad you were here.

Wow! You are leading quite the life! That's an awesome post. Wish I'd have known you were in town, I'd have bought you a kaki gori.

Don't be a stranger.

Welcome back!! Love the pics!!

Welcome back, DD! I've really missed seeing you around here, and am so glad all is well and you've just been running about the world......:cheers:

YAY... Now I know where you've been, at least.

Welcome back!!

Welcome back and fantastic photos! :snap:

hi you so great to see you hugs

It was great seeing you last night. You're the best documentarian we have! :)

Great to see you again, Daniel.

I only now read your O.P., and am so happy for the adventures and experiences you've had.

Please post more whenever you feel like. That's quite the life you've been having, and I hope you continue to have great times and interesting stuff.

Ah, amongst all the talk and wishful thinking of the LoT regulars, we finally have the true jet setter in our midst!

Welcome back, hope you enjoy your respite from your adventures, only long enough to refuel yourself for more!

Welcome back! It was wonderful to see and talk to you yesterday. I love the pics, too. Such adventures.

Welcome back Daniel!

My vision is back to normal, too :D

Hello Again from DisneyDaniel
 

Welcome back Daniel. Great to see you again yesterday. Great documentation too. Love the pics of your travels.

Welcome Back!

Great pictures.

It was nice to meet you.

Ooh, nice website & menu for the restaurant. I'm hungry now, would they deliver (to San Francisco)?

HAHAHAH! I forgot about that!

Welcome back! Great to hear from you!

Thank you, everyone, for your greetings. The next round here is on me. :cheers:

CoasterMatt, I am sorry for blinding you yesterday when my camera flash went off accidently with you right beside me. And, thanks for the Universal Studios updates.
:blush:

Sure, I can arrange a special delivery of Asian/Chinese food to you from Northern San Diego County to San Francisco, but you may not want to eat it or open the box when it arrives... ;) So, why not treat yourself to one of the many authentic restaurants in Chinatown San Francisco?! There are so many good choices there.

Good to see you (and you pictures) again