Here’s the quick version:

A long, long time ago, in a land far, far away (known as my other apartment) I had a blog that was read by about 20% of the people that read me now. This blog was a good thing, as it led me to start THIS blog, which was an entirely new beginning/fresh start/move of great awesomeness.

I don’t carry much forward from that old blog, save for some excellent fellow bloggers I met in the trenches. One of them is Eric (who was actually a HUGE proponent of me starting MegFowler.com. You can thank him later.)

Eric is a lighting designer in San Diego and ALSO had/has a blog. When he popped onto the scene about a year after I did, I received multiple emails from other bloggers with subject lines like I THINK HE’S SINGLE and DO YOU LIKE CALIFORNIA and DO LIGHTING DESIGNERS MAKE GOOD MONEY and WOULD YOU MOVE.

Because the Internet? Likes me to date. And Eric? IS actually single.

But anyhow.

Eric and I commented on one another’s blogs and then became good email/chat/Web/phone friends, and then he also began doing all those same things with the lovely Catherine (whom I live with.) From there, we all became friends and stuff and it was super good.

Well, Catherine and I were already friends (which makes living together easier.)

Then Eric came to visit us in Vancouver, which meant we became real life friends, which is kind of like going into the Sephora store vs. ordering online. In other words? WAY BETTER.

Then we went down to California on the best road trip of all time to visit Eric. It was truly amazing. Once in California, we learned that a) it is good to live across from a coffee shop; b) Eric is the best driver on earth; and c) YES I WOULD MOVE TO CALIFORNIA. JUST NOT THE MIDDLE PART BECAUSE I DIDN’T LIKE FRESNO.

Since then, he has come here three more times, and we went down there again this September. We’re all friends as a happy trio, and with one another independently. Awesome.

But the most awesome thing is when he gets asked by Canadian border security what he’s doing visiting NOT ONE BUT TWO women he met on the Internet.

The answer?

Having a lot of fun. BUT NOT LIKE THAT.

None of us are dating or are planning to date (save for the fact that Cat and I are Hetero Life Mates) and that’s all good.

We’re just happy as we are.

So why am I telling you all this?

Today is Eric’s birthday. I’d send you to his blog, but he hasn’t updated it since last April, after one of his trips here. All the comments on that last post are like WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT HAPPENED? and I don’t want you to add to the drama.

Okay, okay, twist my arm, here’s his blog: EverybodyThinksImWorking.com.

Great blog title, no?

Great writer, no?

Yeah. I know. But he’s a busy guy and if he blogs again, you can bet it will be awesome but not because I told him every day HEY ABOUT YOUR BLOG?

I don’t do that anymore.

Here’s what you need to know about Eric before you join me in wishing him a happy birthday:

He can make me laugh harder than most people on earth. And comes back with a marvelous laugh of his own.

He is as addicted to coffee as I am.

During one of the most difficult years of my life, he was a complete rock. As in, total dependability. As in, “remember to call you after your medical appointments” kind of dependable. No matter where I was at or what I needed, Eric was there.

He knows everything. I’m only 5% kidding, mostly out of jealousy. And he’s whip smart. But doesn’t use whips. I think.

For that matter, he’s brilliant at his job. BRILLIANT. An artist. Any theatre would be lucky to have him. Seriously.

Yeah, he’s one of those people who is good at 30,000 things but doesn’t tell you until he makes you the Best Dinner Ever and you’re like, what? You can light things AND cook? Oh yeah, and did I mention the driving? And the piano thing? Also the writing? Jerk.

Despite the overaching power of his own awesomeness, he will always believe in you slightly more than you do. Or a lot more. Depending on what you need.

He has the loveliest parents ever. Really. I actually phoned my mom after leaving his parents’ home to ask her why she wasn’t nicer. That was a good call, let me tell you. KIDDING, MOM.

My parents have a big crush on Eric. It’s a bit awkward. “You guys, stop staring.” Apparently Eric’s parents being nicer also means they had a nicer child. KIDDING, MOM.

He also lets you choose his haircut. Don’t ask.

So to our Eric, on his birthday:

I’m very, very, very thankful for the Internet, if only because I got to meet you.

May this year be the most inspiring, exciting, fulfilling year of your life.

And may people always be the beautiful friend to you that you are to them.

Love you!

NOW WISH ERIC HAPPY BIRTHDAY! GO!