Adventures of the Present Tense

Thanks to some friendly and much needed prodding by fellow blogger JB, I’ve taken to my keyboard to update this lonely blog. To learn more about this influential and motivational chap, check his blog at:

http://jsb178.blogspot.com

and also in my sidebar ----->

I’ve taken to my keyboard to update this lonely blog.

Recent highlights in the world of Stephens are as follows:

-JB, CAROBERT, and CAROBERT’S lovely wife visited C-town. The boys sampled Dangleberry Blowout. They frowned at the name. They seemed to enjoy the brew itself. JB dissected a Vagrant Records sampler CD with surgical precision.

-Tarika and I have chosen to separate. I am single again, a role that, for better or worse, I am very good at playing. The transition is a sad, but well rehearsed turmoil. I slowly consumed a gallon of Carlo Rossi, made Chex mix, and bought a new computer game that possess nominal entertainment value, but teaches me a lot about World War II.

-I recently saw a Led Zeppelin cover band named “Stairway Denied”. These young men do the Gods of Rock supreme justice. If you want to see a quality show and rediscover the sounds of a band from whom almost ALL heavy rock was birthed, you can check out one of their shows. One of the things that make this band great is not only the intimidating technical abilities required to imitate the skills of Plant, Jones, Bonham, and Page, but the youth and raw energy these boys posses.

http://www.stairwaydenied.com

-Two new beers have made their start in recent weeks. One new beer titled “Stella Dog Premier Red”, mastered by Mr. Don, a co-worker of mine. Blair and I helped in its creating, mostly be telling wild stories and eating Mr. Don’s food. Blair and I also mixed down a new batch of our own frothy goodness. In fact, it was created the day after my new mate, JB, paid C-town a special visit. In his honor, we are brewing an Australian Lager, which I have named “Koala Tribute”. Here’s to you bucko. -There was a false JC sighting in my living room. The “false JC” turned out to be a stained glass rendition of a dog, but it was paid appropriate homage nonetheless.

-I recently attended my company’s annual holiday party. And as usual, a handful of us that shy away from the formal scene quickly made a pilgrimage to our favorite local pub, Suds and Suds. For some, not even Suds could quench the thirst for further debauchery, so the party moved to a friend’s house for hot-tubbing, cigar smoking, guitar playing, and some other unmentionable juvenile acts. Casualties included a drowned cell phone (not mine), my eardrums, and copious amounts of pride. -My brother continues to immerse himself in the Portland open-mic comedy scene. A distance acquaintance of his posts some of his comedy and random acts of boredom on a website. I would not normally provide a link to this sort of thing (especially considering its rampant vulgarity and adolescence) but I notice that in some of his standup bits, he wears the exact same ugly, gas-station-attendant-type coat that I own and love. For that and that alone, I introduce you to David Cope at:

http://www.howicope.com/rtc.htm

My brother thinks David is a genius. I think David has an undiagnosed bipolar disorder and is the son of a professional Republican housewife with a diet pill addiction.

-I am writing a new song. It is heavily influenced by Nirvana and the Rolling Stones, so it should prove interesting at the very least, if not downright epic.