I just got a letter from Alaskan Airlines. They apologized for the "loss", but since they specifically exclude video cameras, they won't proceed any further with thier investigation, or refund me even part of the cost of the camcorder. In other words, Alaskan Airlines is perfectly happy to have thieves working for them.

Well, they did give me a code for $50 off my next flight with them. As if I'll ever fly Alaskan Airlines again.

Alaskan Airlines and American Eagle found and delivered my bag, only about twelve hours after I got home.

Of course, they didn't bother to include our video camera in the bag. Someone decided to help themselves to a top-of-the-line camera, battery, and charger. Oh, and some crappy vacation footage.

For all of this, they won't refund the $15 fee, or apologize; all they'll do is mail me a claim form, sometime within a few weeks.

I'm home again, and only a couple of hours after I should be home.

Sadly, my luggage is somewhere between here and San Diego (or anywhere else American or Alaskan Airlines fly, I suppose). Maybe one day I'll get to see all the stuff I thoughtfully packed that I wanted. That'll teach me to take stuff places, and pay people $15 for the privilege of losing it for me.

I had this lovely exchange at the San Diego Airport:

"You need to take 'The Red Bus' to the commuter terminal, sir"
"A bus that says 'Red Bus'?"
"No, it's the bus that pulls up over there that's red. You can't miss it."

I think I just walked into the Twilight Zone for colorblind people.

I go to California, and I get to experience an earthquake. What fun. It was a very minor affair, though it may have been a bigger deal closer to the epicenter. It looks like it was near LA, perhaps a 5.8 earthquake.

I'm fine, it barely even caused the presenter to pause (he just had to wait for the chandelier to quiet down)