Hello Again from DisneyDaniel

DisneyDaniel · 07-17-2007, 12:34 PM

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.

katiesue · 07-17-2007, 12:37 PM

Welcome back. I love your photos.

Mousey Girl · 07-17-2007, 01:08 PM

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

blueerica · 07-17-2007, 01:17 PM

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

Congrats on all the exciting news!

Morrigoon · 07-17-2007, 01:29 PM

What a great first post back! Welcome!

Disneyphile · 07-17-2007, 01:48 PM

Yay!!! Great to see you again!

Motorboat Cruiser · 07-17-2007, 01:52 PM

Welcome back, DisneyDaniel!

Kevy Baby · 07-17-2007, 02:07 PM

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

Ponine · 07-17-2007, 02:16 PM

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

Matterhorn Fan · 07-17-2007, 02:29 PM

Welcome to Florida.

We're glad you were here.

07-17-2007, 12:34 PM	#1
DisneyDaniel California Adventurer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 537	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. __________________ Yes, I do LOVE Disney California Adventure. Disneyland is not so bad either ;-)
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07-17-2007, 12:37 PM	#2
katiesue Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 4,678	Welcome back. I love your photos. __________________ My life is so exciting I can hardly stand it.
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07-17-2007, 01:08 PM	#3
Mousey Girl Just Me Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In The Flagon With The Dragon Posts: 2,437	Welcome back!! I was just wondering where you were.
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07-17-2007, 01:17 PM	#4
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	Same here - I was wondering what ever happened to you! Congrats on all the exciting news! __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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07-17-2007, 01:29 PM	#5
Morrigoon I throw stones at houses Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Location: Location Posts: 9,534	What a great first post back! Welcome! __________________ http://bash.org/?top "It is useless for sheep to pass a resolution in favor of vegetarianism while wolves remain of a different opinion." -- William Randolph Inge
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07-17-2007, 01:48 PM	#6
Disneyphile SQUIRREL! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: On the curbside. Posts: 5,098	Yay!!! Great to see you again!
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07-17-2007, 01:52 PM	#7
Motorboat Cruiser Cruiser of Motorboats Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: So Cal Posts: 3,665	Welcome back, DisneyDaniel!
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07-17-2007, 02:07 PM	#8
Kevy Baby Chowder Head Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Yes Posts: 18,500	So good to see you again. I hope to see you IRL very soon __________________ The thing about quotes on the internet is that you cannot verify their validity. - Abraham Lincoln
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07-17-2007, 02:16 PM	#9
Ponine Virgin Ears Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,075	Wonderful to see you. I'll have to check out the restaurant! __________________ There's something strange, There's something wrong. I see a change - It's like when love dies.
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07-17-2007, 02:29 PM	#10
Matterhorn Fan Double Agent Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Back East Posts: 2,071	Welcome to Florida. We're glad you were here.
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