Last year during the kids April vacation from school, we packed up and jetted off to San Diego for the week. It was kind of a spur of the moment trip for us and by spur of the moment I mean the we only booked it about six weeks before we left. I am a planner and for me, that was very last minute. My sister in law, brother in law and adorable nephew live in San Diego, and since we don’t see them as much as we wish we did, we thought we’d go to them for a visit.
We left on a Friday and I surprised the kids, who knew nothing about the trip, by picking them up from school early. Chris & I took them to lunch and told them that we were going to California. They had never been to CA before, so to say they were excited was a total understatement.
I made the decision beforehand not to bring my laptop with me on the trip. We had some major things planned for the week (Disney Land, the San Diego Zoo and Sea World to name a few), not to mention that I wanted to spend as much time with my in-laws as possible, so I figured I wouldn’t have much time to keep up with things on my end – hence my decision to leave my laptop home.
What I did was line up a bunch of guest posts for my blog before I left, so that way things wouldn’t go unattended for an entire week. I got some great posts in and was really excited to share them with my readers. The first two days, the posts went up without a hitch, but on the third day something horrible happened.
Apparently the post for that day contained some sort of a bad link and ended up shutting down my entire site. I got a whole slew of texts and emails that morning, but I was on my way out to the San Diego Zoo, so I did the only thing I could think of to do at the time – I emailed the person who designed my site in the first place to see if she could get in and see what was going on. Of course, the one time I don’t have my laptop ended up being the time I needed it the most.
She was able to get the post removed, but the damage had been done. She spent the better part of a week working on my site trying to get everything restored, but eventually she broke the bad news to me. Not only had I lost about 90% of the images on my site (at that point I had three and a half years worth of posts, so that was A LOT of images), but I had lost the past years worth of content. Gone.
I cried. Literally.
It wasn’t so much that I lost hundreds of hours of hard work on the posts, but my posts are personal to me. I blog about the things I do with my family and to lose a years worth of memories in an instant was devastating. I truly believe that the designer did everything she could do to get them back for me, but I had to accept that they were gone forever.
Honestly, at that point I considered stopping blogging all together. I mean, if something so small could cause so much damage in an instant, why bother? Chris reminded me that we were in the middle of a vacation (remember we were still across the country in California while all of this happened). He said that I should post about our California adventures and then see how I felt after I was done posting about our trip.
Obviously I came to my senses and here I am leaving for San Diego again today – but I am taking my laptop with me…..you know, just in case.
I remember that Robin… I can remember it affecting my blog because you were on my blog roll. What a crazy time that was for you. I am so happy that you didn’t stop blogging.
I forgot to say…. Have a wonderful vacation!! I am sure we will be seeing lots of vacation posts of all the GREAT places you go.
I totally do remember that and now you reminded me to take my laptop if I do go away this summer, because I think I would totally cry if this happened to me, too. Seriously though enjoy San Diego and have a great time!! 🙂
Has that been a year? That doesn’t seem so long ago. I am very glad you didn’t quit blogging. Very very very glad, this is one of my most favorite blogs evah!! Have a happy vacay! And because you’re taking the laptop, you won’t need it (and that’s a good thing). 🙂
I guess that’s why they say back everything up…but that whole process scares me too. Safe travels!
I remember when that happened, but didn’t realize you lost that much! 🙁
Once someone tried to clone my blog. I was shut down for three days. My heart was racing.
I’m glad you kept on blogging.
Have fun on your trip.
Omg!! I would cry too if I lost blog posts!!!!! Have fun in Cali and enjoy the sunshine!!!
That’s really a lot Robin =/ I wouldn’t know what to do if I were in your situation. Always do a backup though 🙂 I’m in California too right now. Love it here so far! Have fun in San Diego!
Wow – I can’t believe you had to go through that! Sometimes our websites are indescribable, they are our passion! I know how you feel. Have a great trip.
Oh yay, Robin! More vacations to live with you vicariously. I love your trips and your posts about them. Oh and so sorry about the virus crap that got ya. Just know that I love your family and I appreciate everything you share. HAPPY EASTER!!! ♥, Renae
Yikes! Scary times… I had my blog go down for a day and was in tears just trying to get it back up. I can’t even imaging losing a whole years worth.
that is one feeling that I hope I never have to feel. I know several bloggers that keep a back up blog but i’m not sure how they do it , perhaps I should look into it.
Oh no, that’s scary sweetie! I hope you have a wonderful Easter!
Diana
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Does your host do daily backups? Thank god mine does. But it’s also a good idea to do your own back ups as well
I can’t even imagine how horrible that would be. 🙁 I don’t understand why someone would do that to bloggers.
I would freak out! Do you have yours backed up now?
Oh dear! That makes my stomach churn just thinking about it. There is no way I could’ve gotten my mind off of it, even if I was on vacation. Ugh.
Oh my goodness… I had no idea that that had happened to you and your wonderful blog. I’ve cried for lesser things on the blog.. so I can imagine how devastating that must have been 🙁 So glad you’ve gotten things back together.. and that you’re bringing your laptop this time! Have a wonderful vacation!!
I lost about 6 months once. It was horrid! I ended up purchasing the backup copy from my host for like $150. Now, I make backups frequently.
Have fun on your trip… You’ve convinced me that I need to take my laptop with my next week to the P&G conference, even though it’s only 24 hours!
Omg! That must have been so hard to deal with being away from home! I am a control freak and would have died! I am glad you decided to keep blogging!
I’ve had my site crash before (and I lost tons of photos), which made me switch over to blogger. Have fun in San Diego! I’ve never been but I’ve been to Disneyland before! I love California.
Don’t you know the minute you don’t have the one item you need everything goes wrong. this time nothing will happen because you have your laptop. Enjoy your stay.
oooh my…it must be horrible! I l couldn’t imagine if it happened to me…good thing you you continue blogging..yaay…and TFS your wonderful stories with your family. Cheers from Indonesia…
I hope you have a wonderful vacation! Can’t wait to hear all about it.
Oh my! I think I would cry for sure! When we go out of town I take my laptop “just in case” something were to happen. Even if I never turn it on, I rest easier knowing I have it with me. I hope you enjoy your vacation.
Those things ALWAYS happen when we are on vacation! Crazy! Fingers crossed for you for this trip!
I do remember that! So glad you didn’t stop blogging! I always get a good laugh over here 🙂
Yikes that’s horrible. Enjoy SD and Happy Easter!
Oh my goodness, I can’t imagine. I once mistakenly erased my entire image file off my thumb drive and cried. Luckily I was able to recover most of them. Have fun on vacation!
Ugh, I can’t imagine. I don’t know if I could come back after this. This year, enjoy your trip!!
Safe travels! Sorry you had such horrible issues… I, too, would have been devastated. It’s like a scrapbook of our lives. Stories and quotes that we shared. So glad you found a way to move on and create/document new stories.
That’s crazy and scary. I would have been devastated too. Blogging can be so personal. Like you said it’s family memories.
I look forward to seeing pics from your vacation. That is so scary! It reminds me of the time that a sidebar link on my blog shut my whole blog down. It was so scary because at first I had no clue why my blog was shut down. Luckily, my blog designer did some investigating and figured out it was coming from a sidebar link.
How horrible. I am glad that you did not stop blogging though.
Isn’t it alwawys how things go, I was sick to my stomach reading what happened to you. Kind of ruins everything but so happy you decided to continue with what you do. I too have learned to bring my laptop on any vacations and I am not a blogger. I have gone without it and the kids have called and said get on facebook to see this…hmm, nothing to get online with. Glad this one is behind you now. I heard there are things you can get now that will retrieve things that were lost, have you heard about them? Would be worth a try anyway. I think it was Our Kids Mom blog I read that on, not sure now
That is horrible! To have all that work just dissappear…it is heartbreaking.
I hope that you’re having fun on your vacation!
I am definitely glad you didn’t quit. I look forward to hearing your stories every day! Have a blast on your vacation out west!
Hope you are having fun in San Diego – glad you continued to blog. 🙂
Surprise trip to Cali…. please adopt me:(
Oh, I can’t imagine. I’m so glad you decided to keep blogging and I hope you have a wonderful vacation!
Disney is so awesome; I go every year in Florida! By the way, loving those Sonic the Hedgehog shirts; those kids have great taste in video games! 😀
That would be totally horrible. I think I would take my laptop with me on all my vacations from then on!
I am so glad you hung in there. I hope this trip is memorable in much different ways.
It is scary and I am glad you did not stop blogging. I do not allow guest posts unless it is a blogger I know because I had my site flagged as spam due to a link by google. I thought that was horrible enough I could not imagine what you went through! I hope you enjoy your trip and get to relax and enjoy it because everything for your site goes smoothly!
Oh my gosh, I cannot even imagine. I am glad you continued blogging!
I’m so sorry to hear that! I know it has been a year but it must still hurt loosing so many precious memories! Hope you have a lovely vacations and hope that never happens to you again!
Wow, that’s nuts! It seems that your host would have a back up. That is a horrible thing to happen- ESP when you’re on a vacation. I don’t hardly go anywhere without my laptop now. I’m sorry that this happened to you– that is a lot to lose all of your personal posts and time. I hope you have fun this time and nothing happens (Fingers crossed)
That was not a nice thing to happen to you while on vacation. It must have been so frustrating. I hope you have a great trip this time and can’t wait to read all about it.
Ugh, what a nightmare!! I’m very happy you stuck with it though – nothing can replace those original posts, but you’ve given so many more great ones! 🙂
Always when you least expect it! I’d feel super sad about losing posts as well since I started my blog way back in 2008 & it’s mostly personal posts like my trips, events, etc. Glad you’re blogging again though 🙂
Oh my goodness. How scary! I would not know what I would do. I guarantee this vacation is much better. Enjoy!
My goodness, I didn’t know you had that experience. Well, let’s focus on the good side now – I believe things are better now. 🙂
We back up data (posts, comments, etc.) daily and do a full backup of everything (all files, photos & more) bi-weekly. All done automatically through WP, the most we’d lose are a couple weeks of photos that we still have on our hard drive at home. Everyone should have a backup plan in place.
I would be in the fetal position I think. I am hoping that religiously backing up my entire blog might prevent this – because I seriously dream about this happening.
The only time I don’t take my laptop is when we camp — because what am I going to do in the middle of the Canadian woods? nothing. nada. I’d be totally screwed.
I just started shaking….
Have great trip this year!!
I hope that this time it’s a completely stress free vacation!
Wow. That is. awful! I have had to learn the hard way myself to back up my site regularly. Even still I do not do it as regularly as I would like but often enough that I should not lose a whole lot the next time something goes horribly wrong. Glad you stuck with it!
I’m glad that you were able to recover from this experience and continue blogging. We all know these fears as bloggers.
I like your definition of spur of the moment being six weeks out. My husband likes to do spur of the moment trips where he gives us maybe six hours notice!
That’s definitely scary! We do share so many personal memories on our blogs!
I am so jealous of you guys right now!
I hope you enjoy it!
I hope you and your family had a fun and safe vacation, and a wonderful Easter. I am sorry that happened to you last year, and I am glad that you made the decision to keep on blogging! 🙂
oh my goodness what on earth happened? that’s horrible. I think I would have quit too.
You have a great looking family, I would be heartborken if I lost a lot of the stuff I blog about as well my husband has always told me to come up with a back up system that works for me of some sort. I do my own design and I do my own post I thought of guess posting but after reading your experience I think I would have to re think that idea. Thanks for sharing that info.
Oh how awful that must have been. Glad you continued blogging and hopefulyl you had a great vacation this time that you can recap without any issue. But just in case backup your blog before you start posting : )
I will be moving in a few months and will not have my computer for about 3 weeks. I AM TERRIFIED something is going to go wrong… I am thinking of asking for guest posts as well, but not sure where to start. Thank you for sharing this with us and I hope you’re having a wonderful trip!
Oh goodness, I’d have been freaking out, too! If something like that happens again, go to my web designer. Someone went through the same thing recently and he was able to somehow recover all of their images and posts. It is truly scary how one bad link can cause everything to go haywire.
Oh wow, I had no idea. I am always so paranoid about my blog when I go out of town.
I totally feel your pain. Last August I accidentally deleted my entire blog. I was extremely close to just giving up. But I went ahead and started over but i learned to back things up.
That sucks but now you get to do some of those fun things again