I would like to step forward and claim my prize.  I believe this qualifies
as the longest series of unbelievably stupid things I have ever done.

1.  My fstab referred to a host by name - but the host had two IP addresses.
Using the alternate caused problems.

2.  I then corrected my fstab to use the IP address I wanted, but made a typo.

Everything now works just fine, as it probably did all along, except for
my hilarious mistakes.  I should be a sitcom.

-s