This week has been interesting indeed for me. It’s had it’s ups and downs however it was happily mostly positive.
Wednesday was “Futile Effort To Save A RAID-5 Array” day; One of the email-to-SMS services dropped a drive half an hour before quitting time (as they are wont to do) and it soon became apparent that this was beyond the expertise of the guys at our datacentre in East Brisbane to fix.
So over I scoot from our Valley HQ, half a dozen spare SCSI drives scrounged up in the hope of kicking off a rebuild and getting the box back online.
However, it was also discovered that one of it’s brothers has also shirked it’s mortal drive coil. This is Very Bad Indeed, as anyone with knowledge of RAID-5 arrays will tell you, loss of two drives in an array and it’s all over folks.
However, I thought I’d have a shot anyway. Through some minor miracle it did rebuild and show as optimal (at least shutting off the audible alarms on the RAID card) however the data was still completely useless, as I expected. But at least I’m now an expert in managing and configuring Adaptec RAID cards and I made an effort (which will keep the Powers That Be happy anyway). As it happened, the product that this server provided has been used by almost noone lately, so it’s not been missed.
I am also happy to announce that the Guys ‘n’ Dolls Promotions website is up and running - this is a new promotions and modelling company set up and managed by my good friends Carla, Lacey and Maria. Their aim is to provide promotional models - both male and female - to businesses and corporations needing people who don’t just look pretty and smile politely, but demonstrate a depth and intelligence that a lot of wannabe promo folk lack. Given the almost zealous drive and focus these girls have on providing a good service with more than a touch of class, I’m sure they’ll give any client their money’s worth and eat many of their competitor’s lunches in the process. Go get ‘em folks!
However an unexpected highlight was seeing my good friend Sarah again. Those that have read my Zen page will know of her (she is the young lady referenced in my first anecdote, which is my first flash of kensho and first formal steps along the Way).
After spending 18 months down in her home town she’s moved back to Brisbane permanently and happened to be at one of our old haunts on Friday. Happily she is as cheerful as she was when I last saw her and happy to be back in the big smoke. Her current work isn’t fantastic but she still has some good friends among her colleagues so all will balance out.
We caught up and swapped a few anecdotes - including my abovementioned awakening - and generally enjoyed the night. As she’s sticking around we’ll try and keep in good touch. It also goes to show that leaving and returning are indeed one and the same - she never really “left” after all 
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