I'm not saying that anyone is intentionally beating me up or even unintentionally beating me up. What I'm saying is that some of the posts I've read here - and to be fair not most, not even specifically yours and not just tonight - make me feel that way. I'm not saying it's anyone's intent but, as the sole spokeperson for FG here and a member of this community, it's been very hard not to take certain comments a little personally. There have been a sprinkling [that's all, not a lot, just a sprinkling] of posts that I read and came away feeling that I hadn't done enough to make this situation work and/or I was somehow trying to screw you guys over.

If people say, "I'm concerned that it's too much money," I'm more than okay with that and understand that position. If people say, "I'm not comfortable deciding that fast," I get that too. I honestly just threw out the offer to give you the best solution I could afford and I saw it as a remote possibility that you'd go for it. I am very aware that it's 1000% increase in cost and that the deadline is very very tight. But I didn't think it would hurt to make the pitch and see what everyone wanted to do.

But certain comments about the deadline and the terms have, regardless of their intent, felt personal. Again, like I'm trying to scam everyone or pull a fast one.

I really did try my utmost to make this current situation work and I do feel very badly that it didn't. I'm sorry that everyone has to have this conversation again. I'm sorry that ita will, once again, have to deal with relocating the site. If I'd known it was going to turn out this way, I wouldn't have set us on this path. But, unfortunately, we were working blind six months ago and had to guess at what the issues might be.

I'm also wishing I had found a way to let this roll off my back. Sadly, I think that cool-headed, unemotional parts did not come factory standard in the Kristen model.

Kristen, for what it is worth, I see you/Fangeek as so willing to help that you're even changing your own, already-satisfactory-to-you, set-up for your other accounts, to get us a better deal. You? Scamming us? Not even a concern. I can't speak for everyone, but I bet I do. You're a godsend.

I don't even see Steve/IH as scamming us. I'd be happier if one of two situations existed:

1) I am suddenly smarter and completely understand and can render a perfect diagnosis and cure for our problem. Immediately.

2) Steve runs in here, saying, "Buffistas! I'll be your willing slave. Stay with me and pay $20 until we figure out your problem. If it's on your end, you'll need to upgrade. If it's on our end, we fix it for you. Either way, I'll send you free, really good chocolate, at whim of your hormone cycles, and build an altar to you in my home, and FanGeek gets a free ride for a year, for putting up with both Buffistas and IH."

I am fully aware he'd be out of business, and possibly in a well-padded room, if he did this in reality.

I almost hate myself for asking this, since it's a horrible kludge, but would it be possible to swap database accounts, i.e. load all our live tables into the test account and make it the live one?

I really did try my utmost to make this current situation work and I do feel very badly that it didn't. I'm sorry that everyone has to have this conversation again. I'm sorry that ita will, once again, have to deal with relocating the site. If I'd known it was going to turn out this way, I wouldn't have set us on this path. But, unfortunately, we were working blind six months ago and had to guess at what the issues might be.

Kristen, you did more than many people would have done, and I greatly appreciate what you did to help us find a home when we needed one. I know I would be having trouble not taking things personally if I were in your position. 'Tis a hard thing, mixing business and friendship.

And the hosting has been everything we could have asked, up to this point, when we've evidently hit an unsolvable problem with this setup.

(After an hour or so of board-reading without a single error, suddenly I just hit five in a row. I guess I was alone on it for a while?)

I'm tired and feeling kind of beat up here.

Kristen, based on your explanation, I see where you're coming from. But I want to apologize if I've said anything out of line. FG in general, and you in particular, have been very helpful and patient in dealing with us and our situation. I'm sure I'm not the only one who appreciates all you've done (even if I haven't been too vocal about it).

Kristen, the fact that we're having a conversation raises you head and shoulders over most hosting solutions available. We just have to work out quickly if we can afford the ability to have these, or perhaps even if paying money to help you go slowly insane is a good idea.

Which reminds me -- did you say you'd refund us all the money? Because we should pay for the months we were with you, I think.

Kristen, I know I was one of the ones who was concerned about both costs and deadlines, but I hope that nothing I said came off as a criticism of you or FG -- you've gone way above and beyond, and done so with a kind of grace you don't generally see in the hosting biz.

you've gone way above and beyond, and done so with a kind of grace you don't generally see in the hosting biz.

Yes, this.

that whole no opinion thing? I take it back. I have an opinion.

Since the people who keep the accounts and asked for funds last time think that we can raise the money needed for a year with little problem, I'm not worried about money.

Also, as a shopper, I tend to know exactly what I want and I have no issue going in and buying it without shopping around. In this conversation, I sense we are more concerned wtih paying more for some stuff (like storage and bandwidth) we don't need to get the mysql connections and control of the server we need. I think that I'm okay with having more than what we need to get what we do need.

I'm also a firm believer in repeat business, or going with the merchant we do know over the one we don't. While the $200 month buys us a lot of space, it also ensures that we stick with a provider who has demonstrated a willingness to work with us as opposed to pulling the plug. To me, that is worth a lot.

So, I'm advocating that if Kristen hasn't taken the offer off the table that we go with it.