Every time I started to think we were in the clear with our recovery, something new would happen.  The last thing was, none of the security descriptors for the windows files were copied.  I fixed roughly 80 percent of them by re-running one of three versions of robocopy (version 026 is the only one that will run on Windows 2k3 and includes a /secfix ooption).  Some of the files nevere had them to start with...in other words, they were restored without them.  So we're dealing with it now and forever onn a one-by-one basis.  The good thing is, they fail into a safe mode, more restrictive than not.

On Tuesday after being up all night fixing the files and re-copying a few directories, I emailed my sort-of boss (that's a term of endearment) who's been through this whole thing with me, and said, hey, I'm taking the rest of the week off.  Then I emailed the owner and said the same thing.  Haven't heard from him, but meh.

What I learned about myself and the world since August 30th:

1. Data is fragile.
2. The fastest systems and networks are still too slow for the volume of data that any of us typically use.
3. Technology from the 1970s (magnetic tape) might not be better than technology from the 70s (hard drives).  Or vice versa.
4. I can work for 28 hours solid and still write coherent emails, including one where I tried to resign.
5. The thing is, someone had to be responsible for the whole goddamn thing.  And that someone was me: I made the decisions, I did the update that took down the array, I specified the technology, I was the admin on the servers, and I was ultimately the only person on sight who knew anything about the Linux or Windows specifics, the syntax of the storage array, and how to speak to Poland via skype.
6. Point #5 needs to be fixed.  To that end we're interviewing.  My former co-worker Charlie would be a perfect fit: a storage engineer with an Air Force background.
7. I've found that I can deal with working 7 days a week and having my house worked on.  "My" bathroom was gutted and work started right when this array failed.  Contractors and such have been in and out of my house for a month.
8. In the end, these next five days will be fucking sweet, and it will be time for me to make a decision.  I plan on doing nothing.  Maybe driving to some other place in Texas and doing nothing.  No matter what, I will be doing nothing.
9. However, my sort-of boss has asked me to be available.  That means no camping in Uvalde, no getting lost in the desert in west Texas, and no leaving my cell phone / email client.