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Dear NBC: Please don't make me look like a dork
37 comments
The great pay debate rages on
32 comments
It could be much worse
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So, I’m not going to lie to you. The last three days have been tremendously awful. My hosting provider’s “little problem” has still not been resolved, which means the only data I have from my previous web presence is a month-old database back-up (which, by the way, will require that I open a ticket with my new hosting company to actually install, which I am holding off on because just maybe my data will still be recovered).
But as of right now, everything else is… gone.
For a control freak like me, this is beyond devastating. I’m losing revenue, yes—lord knows that financially this is going to be a nightmare long past whatever site restoration I do—but more than that, I watched my business, my baby, vanish. And there wasn’t anything I could do.
I don’t mind telling you (and this will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me in real life, or indeed anyone who’s a long-time reader) that I completely flipped out. Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying that in the past tense. Years of work, gone. Things I’d counted on, gone. Income I’d assumed was a given, disappeared. And I had nothing in the way of a disaster recovery plan, because I had no idea something like this could even happen.
That was the worst part, of course. Many of the tears shed in this debacle were pure anger for being too stupid to have protected myself. Yes, the hosting provider screwed up completely, but I should’ve backed up more often. I should’ve had copies of everything. I should’ve had a plan.
Anyway. I am exhausted and overwrought (really, I’m sure you couldn’t tell), but now we come to the point of this little story:
Always back up everything.
Oh, wait. That wasn’t it. I mean, yes, please do that, but that’s not the point. The point is this:
It’s not that big of a deal.
I mean, okay. Yes. It’s a pretty big deal. A huge deal, even. But while I was sitting here for three days straight, crying into my keyboard, spending hours on the phone with tech support, trying to figure out what to do and how to do it? Emails started pouring in from my readers, and the theme was always the same. “I was worried something had happened to you.” “Oh, thank goodness you’re okay.” “It was a server problem? Thank God, I was afraid something had happened to you or the kids.”
The first thing I learned from that was that I have the best readers in the whole world. But the second thing I learned is that y’all are right. Something really awful could’ve happened. What did happen is that my business got screwed up, but my family is fine and I’m okay (other than the twitching and insomnia that I’ve developed this week) and I’ll get through this. It totally and completely sucks, but I’m grateful we’re talking about a server failure and not a mortal illness or horrible accident.
With God as my witness, I’ll never eat turnips again!
Wait.
Okay, the lack of sleep thing here is becoming problematic….
This entry was posted on Thursday, November 8th, 2007 at 4:48 am and is filed under Deep thoughts, Head hitting brick wall.
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November 8th, 2007 at 6:00 am
You know, I was really relieved to here from you through this site and Chris’ blog. I hope everything will be recovered soon.
I also just backed up my blog. Not my computer though because my backup hard drive is full. Ahem…
November 8th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Oh Mir. I hope it all sorts itself out soon. But like I said yesterday… we’ll still be here waiting when you get back up and running. Take care and have a good cry, a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit (British remedy for all ills)
November 8th, 2007 at 6:44 am
I would cry too, and I don’t even have anything more important than some documents and photos on my computer (yet it claims it has too much stuff on it to back up, hmmph). I’d guess Otto’s last name is Murphy (as in “Murphy’s Law”), but it seems this kind of thing has been happening to you forever. Like you said, hold on to the fact that you have him and the kids!
November 8th, 2007 at 7:13 am
I hadn’t realized how heavily I relied on your blog for instant laughs and a good dose of humanity until you suddenly weren’t there. I felt sad and incredibly worried, which is kind of funny considering how we’re all just a bunch of strangers, really. But isn’t it interesting how, through the magic of cyber socializing, you end up opening your heart and caring about people you’ve never even met. (Quick! Someone write a dissertation on this!)
November 8th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Mir, I think you’re incredibly brave to see past this, and to realize that this is a big deal, but not that really bad kind of a big deal. And for what it’s worth, I think so many of us are learning a lot from you right now - not just about backing things up (how many emails have I sent to our tech team? :), but about BIG things like life perspective - where our businesses fit in on the scale of big deals. So thank you.
November 8th, 2007 at 9:36 am
I am so sorry this has happened. Like all your other readers, I’ve been worried about you and your family. I’m glad you guys are all ok!
November 8th, 2007 at 9:45 am
I’ve missed you! I’m so sorry about the server loss, I’d like to go kick their asses for you. Thank you for having Chris update us, I was worried one of those giant Georgia bugs was holding you hostage.
Take care and you’ll rebuild better than ever!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I really did not realize how much your websites are part of my life until they went down. Despite all evidence to the contrary I was convinced my computer wasn’t working by day two of the great Mir blackout. COME BACK! I am glad to know that it is technical difficulties and not life drama, and I wanted you to know the lurkers miss you.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Completely random person commenting here (followed a few blogs, ended up here, and was sympathising like heck at your hosting disaster!). I’m sure you already know this, but do you know how to at least rescue some of your recent content from your broken sites by checking Google’s Cached pages? For example, a few posts are readable from your blog website: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site:www.wouldashoulda.com&hl=en&start=0&sa=N&filter=0
There may be more for your other sites, and there are some websites around that even archive websites (like http://www.archive.org) and you might find copies of stuff to rescue there. Just had to mention it, in case it’s not something you’d thought of yet.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:26 am
You’d be amazed at what getting things corrected and under control can do for sleep. Until then…breathing is the only thing I’ve found to help.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I rarely comment, but I check in on WCS daily. I jsut saw a note over at “NotesFromTheTrenches” that you were stop-gapping over here, and I have never been so relieved to know that someone I don’t know is OK; I was worried that something BadWrong had happened, or that someone had crawled under your skin in just the right way that you took the whole shebang down, or ny number of things.
It does completely blow, though, that you’re dealing with this.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:31 am
I too was *so* worried that something had happened to you or Otto or the kids… so I did breathe a sigh of relief when I got your email that it was a server issue.
A server issue SUCKS, but I’ll take a downed server anyday over the alternative. Hang in there. We love you!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:50 am
I was worried too, and so glad it is something that will eventually be remedied. You are part of my daily routine and I missed you. Was it sad that I was going to email Chris and ask if you were ok and then she posted! Especially since I’m just a lonely old lurker? Keep well.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:52 am
We’ll be there, reading, wherever you are!
November 8th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Very wise advice — both the backing up and the keeping-it-in-perspective.
Now, how should I go about backing up my blogs, exactly?……
November 8th, 2007 at 11:23 am
I’m so glad everything is ok with you and your family! Like many others, I was very worried.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Just to let you know, I typed “where’s Mir” into google yesterday and that’s how I found you here. Glad to know it’s *just* a server thingy.
Oh, and I got laid off last week, out of the blue, so I know what you mean about trying to keep it in perspective. I moped around for a few days, and now I’m starting to send out resumes. I have to say, it’s very dangerous to get laid off right before halloween… I think I’ve gained 5 pounds.
So, glad to find you - I especially need the bargains now
November 8th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Oh, pretty Mir…. I miss you and wantnot!
Hope you’re up and running soon. Have some tea and chocolate and stop pulling your hair out!
Sending lots of good karma and pink puffy hearts your way!
K
November 8th, 2007 at 11:41 am
I’m very glad to be able to check in with you here, and that service provider absolutely SUCKS.
I am sending positive content-recovering and service-provider-finding and bad-service-provider-punishing thoughts your way.
November 8th, 2007 at 11:55 am
I am so happy that all is well with you and yours. Reading about your terrible incident made me realize that I have not backed up any of the 2+ years of blogging I have done with regard to my daughter…from birth until now. It has become her baby book of sorts, and if all of those precious entries were lost, well, I would feel as absolutely devastated as you must be feeling now.
Thanks for the heads-up.
November 8th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
So glad to hear the worst is over and you are still in one piece. A bit frazzled, but still a strong woman.
You can do this. You have more people cheering you on than you think.
Go Mir, Go!
November 8th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I was kinda hoping your sites would be up and running by today and you’d be feeling a lot better, but since they’re not, lots of chocolate and patience and keep looking at the big picture (and I would give you an herbal tea recipe for the lack of sleep, but I have no idea what the name of the herb is in english), hang in there, where with you!
November 8th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I got back from vacation and you were gone. I’ve obsessively tried to access want not several times a day since. I’m so glad you are okay and that I found this from Friday style!
November 8th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
hmmm … that is … WE are … sorry about that, I think I’m sleepy too …
November 8th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I am so sorry about this royal screw up. Now I know I wasn’t the only one going through withdrawl! We will folllow you anywhere! Good luck!
November 8th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Yet another lurker comin’ around to say that you’re missed and I’m glad it was *only* technical difficulties and not something tragic. Take care.
November 8th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Mir, we just love you! You’ll get through this - you’re doing great. I really, really hope they find a good backup for you!