This weekend I sent out the following message to most of my readers via my Aweber account (because NONE of my sites was online):
I got some VERY sad news this morning.
My friend and hosting service provider for many years, Steve Hetrick, passed away suddenly last week.
By result, most of my sites are offline, including:
** Rosalind Gardner’s Academy
** NetProfitsToday
** RosalindGardner
** SuperAffiliateHandbook
** PrivateLabelCentralI have been told that the outage should be relatively short in duration (a few days? a week?).
I appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter and assure you that I will continue to do whatever I can to resolve the situation asap.
In the meantime, if you have questions, please address them via my Facebook Page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rosalind-Gardner-Online-Entrepreneur/153044274713504
BTW, to post to that Wall, you will have to click ‘Like’ on the Welcome Page.
Sorry about that, but that’s a quicker and simpler solution than my having to process a number of friend requests on my Facebook profile — especially considering I’m currently in a State Park in Arizona at the moment with limited connectivity. :-/
Last, but certainly not least, PLEASE extend your thoughts and prayers to Steve’s family who have just experienced a huge loss. Steve was SUCH a good, caring man. I shall miss him terribly.
Thank you!
Rosalind
I went through the emotional gamut this weekend. From grief over the loss of my friend and business associate to feeling confused about what I needed to do and almost everything in between.
I honestly didn’t know whether I could or would get my sites back online, or if so, how long it would take to get them back. My mind tumbled with thoughts about how I would handle the former situation – how the heck to start over completely?
Egads.
Talk about being a bit brain-fried.
Not that I was worried, per se.
I ALWAYS tell folks that worry is a completely wasted emotion. You’re much better off to spend time preparing the Plans A, B and C’s, rather than sit and worry. I definitely like to practice that one, ’cause worrying creates stress without benefit.
Fortunately, the sites are coming back slowly but surely with the help of Coast Inc., the folks who managed Steve’s servers.
But I also have to Thank YOU…
I have no doubt that the condolences, kind consideration and good wishes that you all sent via my Facebook profile and page beefed up my karma. 🙂
Comments like the following from Jacqueline Hutchins’ made me teary and happy at the same time..
I’m sorry to hear you lost a good friend. 🙁
I hope also that you are able to get your websites up as soon as possible. Don’t worry too much Ros, you have devoted followers/readers like this one. Even if people don’t know why they can’t reac…h the sites, they will return.
So, thank you SO much!
And trust me, I’ll be blogging about this situation more in the coming days with the I lessons learned that desperately need to be passed on before you find yourself in the same situation.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Ros. And glad that you have everything running again on your sites.
Take care of emotional things too 🙂
Best,
Sandy
Sorry for your loss Ros and our prayers are with his family. Glad most of your sites are coming back up; just give it time and they’ll all be back running smoothly again. Plus you really do not stand the risk of losing any readers. Really
How sweet. Thank you!
Hi Ros,
Good to hear things are getting better on the business end. You and I talked a few months back on this but this is another great reminder to back up one’s websites. As long as they’re on WP I’m finding WP Twin to be about as easy as it can get for backups and I can move sites to another host almost immediately if I have to. I’m now backing up all my important stuff about once a week and sleeping better because of it.
Stay well!
Mark
Hi Mark,
Thanks for the reminder about WP Twin. I use WordPress Database Backup and have copies sent via email every day for my smaller blogs, i.e. RosalindGardner.me
Steve also did backups and from what I can see, the sites are all there. Just wish http://AffiliateBloggerPRO.com would come back online.
Cheers,
Ros
Hi Ros,
I was pretty sure you were covered, it just sounded like it might be a major pain to get everything up and running again. Hard to stay patient at a time like this but it sounds like everything is getting resolved.
I was shocked to hear Steve passed away…I too knew him. I originally had my niche gardening site hosted on his server. We conversed numerous times.
My condolences to you and most of all his family. Time heals all wounds.
I glad to hear your site is back online.
Paul
Hey Paul,
Nice to meet someone else who knew Steve. 🙂 and glad to hear that your site wasn’t affected by his passing.
Cheers,
Ros
I don’t mean to sound glib, but how did Mr. Hetrick’s sudden death bring down all your web sites?
Hi Tim,
That’s a question I’d like to get an answer for eventually.
Cheers,
Ros
Sorry about your loss Ros…this part of life is tough,
but we get through it.
We’ve never met personally, but from what I read and
see on your sites, I know that you have the gumption
to overcome the business setbacks you’ve recently
experienced. Hang in there, we’ll be here when all is
well again.
All the best,
Jon
Rosalind! We’re with you, always. Although I can’t begin to imagine the shock. Of losing a friend so young and then your websites going offline. I’d be a basket case. You are full of grace. That’s why we love you…
Karen
I seriously thought we were going to see a new membership site popup anyday. What a relief to hear this!! I had heard through the affiliate vine that the company would not talk or release any information because you were NOT on the account. I thought – holy crap – how can you have thousands of hosted sites all go down and the company not feel obligated to help?
Well glad they did.. and I love the “worry” plan.. I’m going to implement it immediately!!!
HUGS!
Sorry to hear about your friend, Rosalind. Glad to see you are almost back on track and looking forward to the pearls of wisdom you will no doubt pass on to your lucky subscribers.
Hi Ros,
My sincere condolences on the loss of your friend Steve, true friends don’t happen very often.
As you have your websites up and running there is very little more to say than if people didn’t understand the problem would you want to deal with them anyway? You explained the situation very quickly and could little more.
In the words of the song “Always look on the bright side of life”
Keep well .
Nick Johnson
Wow, sorry to hear about the loss. I’ve got a friend who was using the same hosting and lost a lot of his data and files for his sites. Good to see you’ve at least got the blog up and running.
-josh
I’m sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our prayers.
My condolences to you and Steve Hetrick´s family. A celebration to his life would be beautiful, as he helped you and many other people.
A suggestion:
How about transfering your websites to SiteSell? Maybe someone there can help you with this task. It has an awesome support and excellent webmasters.
Nuuky
Sorry about your loss Ros.. You explained the situation very quickly and could little more. We will keep you in our prayers!
I just want to know is the host you mentioned is “Blue Host” as I’m going to subscribe its’ service.
Leo
Sorry to hear about the loss as everyone has previously mentioned. It’s times like these when things are really put into perspective and you are able to weigh things up logically. I’ve been following the blog for a long time and am glad you are able to continue writing.
All the best.
Thank you Matthew. I’m really glad to be able to continue writing as well. Don’t know what else I would or could do. 🙂
Rosalind,
Here we are with you!
Take the time you need, as we understand what you are going through.
We will continue following you and we support you!
Love,
Nuuky
I am sure that the passing of your friend has left a huge hole in your life, please try to remember . . . this too shall pass.