Daily Blog

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...now I'm found.

See my joy? Bohemian Rhapsody is home!

While the ordeal of not getting any effective assistance from the United Airlines call centers in India was frustrating and stressful, today has been quite the opposite because you made a difference. Whatever went out into the world wide web was recognized by a United Airline executive resulting in a series of phone calls today providing me with updates and reports as my bag made the journey home. I wish all representatives could have been like the one who took my case today.

If you blogged about the loss - please blog that the quilt has been returned.

Celebrate with me - let's all shout out a big Whoo-hoo!

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This particular photo always reminds me how much I like this quilt.

So, it's not over yet - but...

I received my third call from a United representative in Chicago. My bag has arrived in Colorado Springs and I have been contacted by the courier service. They should have my bag to me in two hours.

I have to thank everyone for spreading the word far and wide. I did not get any results from United Airlines until the word started getting out. 

I'll post a photo of me and Bohemian Rhapsody when we are reunited. I'm not resting until it's back in my hands. 

Message to the world: Don't mess with quilters! Right?

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I have still not managed to speak with human in the United States regarding my bag. All phone number are automated and even when I try to work around the automated system I get someone in a foreign country.

However, the baggage service agents indicated yesterday that there was a 94% chance (you have to wonder how they came up with that exact percentage) that my bag had been located. I was told that it would be expedited. Expedited - hmmmm? United Airline's definition of "expedited" is questionable. Three flights left Chicago for Colorado Springs last evening after I got the report of the match. This morning I was told (during my 11th phone call to India) that the bag was scheduled to go onto a flight today - a flight leaving later this morning - not the first flight of the day.

I'm told that once my bag arrives in Colorado Springs (reportedly before noon my time) that it will then be turned over to the "delivery service". It will be interesting if the bag is actually put on a plane this morning. It will be interesting to see how soon after it arrives that I get a call from the "delivery service."

I'm grateful for the many leads and suggestions that have poured in. I received a call from a TV station in Chicago pursuing the story - a result of a TQS member. Caryl Bryer Fallert was able to locate a colleague still working at United and he was going to check into the situation when he went to work at 3am - so it might have been his actions that got this ball rolling - not sure. Regardless, thanks Caryl! Others of you have posted the info on your blogs and forward the info to friends - I appreciate that. As frustrated as I am I'm trying to keep my cool.

Here's a good one for you. During my first call to India I had provided copious details regarding my American Tourister bag and a description it's contents - most notably a hardback book of Middle-eastern art which was the last thing I had placed in the bag - so it was right on top when opened. Nonetheless, during one of my many calls yesterday an agent actually said, "Mr Tims, we apologize for any inconvenience and please rest assured that we are looking for your Sampsonite bag with the Cuban cigars" - ?!

There is at least a glimmer of hope that the bag my yet find it's way home and I will continue to report on the progress. Like you, I'm on pins and needles! 

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I have returned from the most fantastic trip to Dubai only to have the joy and excitement overshadowed by the fact that United Airlines has lost one of my bags. What was inside? Along with the unique and wonderful items I obtained in Dubai was my quilt, Bohemian Rhapsody.

I had two international flights before arriving in Chicago at the international teminal (#5). At this location we were required to collect our luggage, pass through customs, and place the bags on a United Airlines conveyer, placing them in the care of United Airlines employees where they would be directed to my final domestic flight. I had both of my bags in my possession in Chicago. My final flight was from Chicago to Colorado Springs this past Saturday evening.

Upon arrival in Colorado Springs, one of my two bags did not arrive so I reported it to the baggage office and was told by the official that my bag would be on the first flight the next morning. It was not. Now, 48 hours have passed.  Six calls have been made to United Airlines "delayed" baggage with no results. I was told that the bag tag was not scanned once I delivered the bag to the United Airlines conveyer and therefore the bag should still be at the international terminal in Chicago.

Apparently there is no way to contact United Airlines in Chicago. All six calls I have made were diverted to Dehli, India where I had to speak with people reading from a script and who cannot assist in finding my bag. I have requested to speak with a United Airlines representative in the U.S. and they will not put me through. I have requested to speak with a supervisor, but they will not allow that either. On two separate occasions I was told a supervisor would call within minutes. I have yet to receive a call from any representative with United Airlines. 

If you have any way to assist in getting me connected with a human affiliated United Airlines in the U. S. that can assist - please contact me via either of these links: On TQS here or at rickytims.com here.

I thank you for your concern, but it is not sympathy I'm needing right now - it is action. If you, your spouse, your friend - or a friend of a friend - can get me in contact with a human that can assist in locating this bag, I would greatly appreciate it. In the meantime, please keep your eyes open for Bohemian Rhapsody as it might just show up on Ebay.

P.S. I should also add that one of Libby Lehman's quilts was inside as well. I had been asked to return it to her.

Oh - and I already know United Breaks Guitars.

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As you probably know - Alex and I have started a new quilt magazine (The Quilt Life aka TQL) in partnership with AQS. Jan Magee is our editor and Joyce Robinson is Art Director. The first issue landed in our hands over the weekend - we'll not my hands, but Jan made sure a copy was sent to Lilo (TQS Wizard) who lives in Colorado Springs. My flight to Dubai was leaving out of the Springs so Lilo met me at the airport so I could see this new baby before leaving on my trip - thank you Lilo.

I'm taking off - the magazine is taking off - and it will be landing at Barnes and Noble and other news stands in a matter of days. 

All I can say is - you'll won't have ever seen anything like it. We are all proud parents. Did you subscribe? This will be one to keep on your coffee table and read from lid to lid.

Up Up and away!

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I'm having the great privilege of teaching at the International Quilt Festival Dubai which is held next weekend in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is often sited as being the most affluent city in the world. It currently is home to the world's tallest building. The photo I've posted is an architectural rendering of the next major building project to get underway - the Dubai Towers - simply unbelievable. 

Yes, riding a camel and seeing belly-dancers is on my list of things to do - so is riding four-wheelers in the desert. After my day of fun I will be teaching machine quilting and Rhapsody quilt lecture/demos, judging their show, and playing piano for their gala dinner. Two TQS guests will also be teaching there: Sharon Pederson (episode 512) and Bonnie McCaffery (episode 205).

I'll be in overload mode while I'm there so my reports may have to come once I get home. I'll do my best to keep you posted, but until then - it's Dubai or Bust! We have some TQS members attending the show and my classes. Anyone want to chime in with advice before I board my plane 24 hours from now?

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Buggies abound in Shipshewana.

Personally, I was glad the decorations were still up.

I had a whirlwind weekend. The first stop was with Yoder's Fabric Department Store in the Amish village of Shipshewana, Indiana where Andre Yoder put together a fantastic program at a very cool performance theater. I was able to sample some fantastic food - you can imagine! Being a camera lover, I was able to find time to get out and about to take a few photos - more like a few hundred!

Then it was off to Elm Grove, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, where I visited Bigby's Sewing Center. Rosemary, the owner, went all out by setting up a store, letting folks test drive Berninas, having fresh flowers on the tables and providing lunch for each participant. The students were lively and we had a lot of fun.

Thanks to everyone who help to organize these events and to all who attended! Instead of showing you photos of the classes, I decided to show you the sites I saw. Are you city folk or country folk?

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I've just had a fantastic visit to Yoder's Fabric Department Store in Shipshewana where yesterday I did two lectured/demo classes and a concert last night. I could not have been happier to have a spare hour to get a few hundred photos of the beautiful Amish country on a photo perfect snowy "gray day". Thought I'd share one of the pics.

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You might think that since I'm pretty tight with Alex that she would have just sent me her new 4 n 1 tool. However, it finally dawned on me that most of you are pretty tight with her too - so she'd have to send you all one - and I know that's not really possible. So, I bit the bullet and went to her website and got my very own 4 n 1 Essential (I like that word) Sewing Tool. But, if you want to know the really cool part - I put a comment in about Alex being so cute and all - and I got an hand-written reply on my package slip. That's right! Alex wrote me a personal message. Now, if you get a 4 n 1 tool, I wonder if you'll get that sort of special treatment? Is it okay to gloat?

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Tino and Coco

Great guesses everyone! The secret ingredient in Earnest's ribs is whiskey, but also garlic jelly. One of the best parts of the evening was meeting Jude's new puppies. Valentino and Coco. Since I had to tell the secret to the ribs, I took this as an opportunity to post the pups pics. Of course, these two puppies have joined a bigger brother and sister already at the house - two great pyreneese, Ella and Miles - that would be Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis. Of course there's a ratio for quilters who have dogs vs. the quilters who have cats. Judith has that ratio at her house too. So, if Jude has four dogs - how many cats does she have?