The PA Happy Birthday Thread

Yes, our friend Eric is the big five oh today, and he joined the throbbing mass which is the progger bear pit on 6 April 2008, lasting for an extraordinarily measly 20 minutes without being seen or heard from again.

Now, a bongo can mean different things to different people. It can be a drum. It can, however, also be a South African nocturnal antelope. It can even, if you are a resident or visitor to Edinburgh, be a fantastic nightlife venue, although normal activities have been halted owing to the ongoing lurgy saga The Bongo Club - Edinburgh, Scotland 

Our Eric hails from Nashua, New Hampshire, which, if Mayor Donchess is to be believed (and why would he not be), is committed to building a welcoming and neighbourly (note to Mr Mayor. That is how you spell it. It comes fitted with a u. In fact, I have always found the u in neighbourly to be utterly essential) atmosphere; Nashua, NH | Official Website As with many politico blurbs, this does suggest to intelligent personages that the reality is that said Nashua is not, at present, particularly welcoming or neighbourly without a little bit of Mayoral intervention, in which case Mr Laz could not possibly recommend relocating there to his readers. Sorry!

What particularly caught my eye about Eric was his occupation. He listed this as a “phone concierge”. Not unreasonably, I asked myself, what the f**k is a phone concierge? Somebody who carries a dog and bone for a rich capitalist pig dog to speak into because he’s too bloody idle to do it himself? Someone who has to stay by the phone constantly in order to provide drinkies and entertainment for someone on the other end of the line? 

Well, it is something like this. Take a look at the Sadbook page for Eric. Eric Peyton Smith | Facebook  He worked for Aspire Lifestyles  (extraordinary every  time!) as a Customer Service Representative. And, looking at his duties, running around after said fat cats was the gig: “Telephone concierge for AMEX platinum and centurion card members assisting with various requests including, but not limited to, dining suggestions and reservations, event ticket sales, floral arrangements and delivery, emergency roadside assistance, vacation planning, etc”. Personally, I’d rather be a bongo!

However, as Sadderthaneverbook makes clear, Eric thankfully moved clear of this life of servitude, and is now the owner of Heart Song Productions in Northfield, NH, having obviously grown rightly tired himself of Mayor Donchess’ false dawns. The business, if it still exists, for which a wee bit of doubt exists, was that of a DJ with a personal touch at your special event. So, if there is anybody from New Hampshire thinking about joining the happy throng of blissfully married people, then Eric is the man to play 21st Century Schizoid Man as the first dance with your newly minted missus. I would, actually, recommend this, by the way, chaps. Make clear your intent to make a glorious racket throughout your married life from the outset. Give her a bit of Gaga, and she will want Gaga all the time! It simply isn’t worth it!

So! Happy Birthday Eric! Spin us a tune! Do you take orders over the phone still?

Elsewhere in proggerland, we send our prog love and felicitations to our dear friend Shadowyzard. Ozgur hails from Ankara in the land of Atta Turk, and is 40 today. He joined our beloved brethren in February last year, and has been a prolific contributor ever since. Happy birthday, sir! We love you! I won’t tell anybody that you previously signed up as Durakonis, honest! Or, indeed, as Edwin Odesseiron! Try not to forget the password this time!