i thought it might be mysql locking files so I stopped mysql and did a fsck of /var and got other problems
Code:
** /dev/da0s1d (NO WRITE)
** Last Mounted on /var
** Phase 1 - Check Blocks and Sizes
** Phase 2 - Check Pathnames
** Phase 3 - Check Connectivity
** Phase 4 - Check Reference Counts
UNREF FILE I=329912 OWNER=mysql MODE=100660
SIZE=5 MTIME=Dec 2 15:45 2008
RECONNECT? no
CLEAR? no
** Phase 5 - Check Cyl groups
FREE BLK COUNT(S) WRONG IN SUPERBLK
SALVAGE? no
SUMMARY INFORMATION BAD
SALVAGE? no
BLK(S) MISSING IN BIT MAPS
SALVAGE? no
37424 files, 231871 used, 1220376 free (2616 frags, 152220 blocks, 0.2% fragmentation)