Howdy Joe-grow - for the sake of streamlining I'll answer the question you asked in my old cab thread here.
(I moved my active log to http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=84094 The older one's been relegated to just a cabinet description.)

The cabinet is a standard Lowes C22 46" wide, 20" deep, 6-foot model, and is the cheaper version of the one Jamstigator used when making his iconic original. There are pictures of his in this thread, 15th post: http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=86903

Lowes isn't the only store that carries them. A "C22 cabinet" Google search shows numerous regional and internet suppliers. Fan noise outside the cabinet is muted but audible - about equal to a well-ventilated computer with an open case. Be warned that the packed unit is herniatingly heavy. I've been a serious weightlifter for 15 years, and carrying that box through the twists of my house left my knees buckling.

As for your Phhhlit-ing ballast, I say buy the guests some movie tickets and sneak off to the shop to get it working. :dance:
I've got my own replacement working, and the light penetration is amazing! I think the fellow who grows with T-5 only has 12-16 lights arrayed all around his grow space.

As for which week I'm in, I suppose week 4 since that's when I actually managed to grow a plant over 2", but I'd been trying since the end of September.