Born into a family of poor, bloodthirsty sharecropping immigrants quite some distance outside of Minsk, Erik spent his formative years in the Twin Cities area. As a youth growing up in Vadnais Heights he experienced poverty, alien abduction and cannibalism, so as an adult he understandably gravitated toward the Styrofoam “packing peanuts” industry. When he discovered the near-universal disdain of the public for the clingy little menaces he changed his focus and resolved to become a Passenger Pigeon breeder (unsuccessful), then attempted to market name-brand “luxury” sand to the Saudi royal family (also unsuccessful), then attempted the first circumnavigation of the globe in a boat constructed entirely of Alka Seltzer (SPECTACULARLY unsuccessful.) After a prolonged period of introspection Erik discovered he wasn’t actually good at anything and realized he probably never would be so he decided to become employed by the government. He is currently enjoying an unremarkable 20+ year career as a low-level public servant.