Hi! Welcome! Don’t think we’ve met before. I’m Ivan. I run this place with my wife Livvy—she’s the smiling pregnant woman over there—and our friend Norton—he’s the unsmiling non-pregnant man over there. Haha, that was such a weird way to introduce them! Anyway, what’s your name?

No way! That’s such a cool name! That shows up in a lot of songs, doesn’t it? That’s gotta be nice. There’s a One Direction song called “Olivia” that Livvy sometimes sings, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song about a Norton or an Ivan. Weirder names maybe. I mean, yours is weird too, not like—sorry, haha, not weird weird, just uncommon. But still, there’s so many songs about your name! Maybe there’s songs about Ivan in Russian, but I’m Mexican. I haven’t really dug through the Spanish-language songs, but no one’s ever mentioned an Ivan song to me.

You’re Greek? That’s so cool! I think Gus is Greek too—he’s, uhh, hmm. I haven’t seen him yet but I’ll make to introduce you when he shows up. Anyway, is this your first time here? How long have you been in Denver?

Oh, no way! Just passing through? How’d you hear about this?

Ha! Of course! I’m not even surprised anymore, she’s lived so many lives! Still though, that’s so neat that you chose to squeeze this in! Where ya headed after this?

I think our friend Margaret went to school there! That’s where Cornell is, isn’t it? Oh gods! Pardon my manners! I’m trying to get better at this hospitality thing—would you like something to drink? In that mini-fridge over there—hmm, you can’t see it right now, but it’s beneath the pride flag—yeah, in there we’ve got some sparkling waters, and some of those new fancy low-sugar sodas. We might be out of Poppis though. Hope Jim isn’t upset about that… Oh! Or would you like some tea? There used to be a coffee cart called Cuppa—you just missed her last day, actually, it was such a blast—but we’ve got some loose leaf tea in the kitchen we can make for you. I don’t know much about tea, but it’s apparently from Tunisia or somewhere near there. Our friend Case travels a bunch and brought some back for us.

Right? Isn’t that neat? It’s so cool when coffee and tea come from really far away, haha. Yeah, I think this one is made out of water lilies or something like that. Some kind of water flower. I’m forgetting now.

The tea? Yeah, of course! Let me get someone else to… steep the water? Sorry, I actually really don’t know what I’m talking about. I hardly drink coffee or tea—I’m both really heat sensitive and impatient so I usually burn my tongue. And I’m really caffeine sensitive too!

Haha, yeah, it’s a bad mix! I would always ask Beth—she’s the one who used to run Cuppa—I’d always ask her for something ‘weak and sweet and cold’ haha. But I’ve liked this new tea a lot! And it’s an herbal tea, so less jitters! Let me see— Mark! Hey Mark! —Yeah, that guy over there half-wearing a shirt, that’s Mark. He knows so much about tea.— Yeah, could you get some of that new tea going for our wily guest here?

Yeah, that one! Thanks! —That’s it, lotus tea! You’re gonna to love it. Also, so sorry, can you remind me your name again?

—Iván

→ Up Next

• Every Wednesday forever (including tonight, July 22) is Weekly Wednesday Worknight. $5, or free for members (actually this is in the past now but it was so cool, trust me).
• In the Making is taking place tomorrow (July 23). See works in progress from Joe, José, Carolina, Sylvia, Allyson, and Lizzie. Interested in sharing work? Sign up using Whiteboard or shoot us an email letting us know. José, by the way, is on track to win the first Golden PIG. IYKYKINYCAUAI.
• This Saturday (July 25), there will be a special post-Cuppa-closure event where Beth will be selling many items (furniture, merch, and equipment) at a discounted price.
• Mary Ann’s Book Club is reading Yesteryear for the next discussion on Monday, July 27.
• Offsite: On July 28, Madeleine’s alter ego, Eve Addams, is co-hosting a performance slam called Love, Death & Roses at The Bug Theater. 12 performers will compete head-to-head (bracket style) across 3 rounds (2, 3, and 4 minutes) for a prize of $150. Judges will decide who advances to the next round by throwing roses, and all kinds of performance art—music, storytelling, poetry, dance, standup—is fair game. As long as you don’t use any glitter. $15, or free (after reimbursement) for performers. (There’s also a 4 ticket bundle for $50)
• PowerPoint Party No. 41 is on Saturday August 1. We’ve got a full list of presenters, but show up! We’re very hospitable.

← July 12–18

Nostalgia

Do you remember the strangely big Monday, with Mark and Christof and Emily joining the regular crew? Emily’s departure? The lunch talk about being like our parents? Mark’s long and impressive description of his mom’s storied career? How he recapped all of it by saying “So yeah, I’m not that”?

Or how you worked together on the punchard sorting? How Mark designed and considered ordering a single shirt? The workshopping and review of our potential baby names?

The Creative Writing Workshop, Mark’s first, with Topaz briefly in town, from her far away life?

Or the day when Madeleine was impatient to eat so she started lunch early? How Beth needed a mouse and Norton had the perfect one? The good and final news about a new job? How we celebrated with the traditional rounds of handshakes, and then ice cream? How Norton ran ahead to save his from melting, because it was so hot in those days?

The Glint, with stories of mean people and the meaning of things? How it was exactly a year since Madeleine’s first came to The Company? Or how surprised and excited we were to see Jessica P.?—she didn’t miss a Glint! How sweet it was to see Josh profess his love? That after we wrapped up, Michelle reviewed the party box, and her monitor gave us a message?

Do you remember Helena’s return, after a lifetime away? The afternoon discovery of the half-fork? How Sabrina sort of didn’t remember who Madeleine was? That Allyson ran Worknight?

Or Michelle’s birthday lunch? How Marcia came in right as we were getting started, but didn’t stay for the pie? That Michelle answered the birthday questions, and Dan showed up just in time for the singing and the candles?

The morning of the water shutoff? How Bennett and Laura joined Beth on the first Cuppa-less Friday? Do you remember Alex’s first day back? How he came in for lunch, and very successfully won many rounds of Ricochet Robots?

Bureaucratic Minutiae

• Mark sharpened all the pencils with a teeny tiny hand sharpener.
• The first half of the final fork has been found.
• At Worknight, Mark wrote notes from a coaching session, selected an acupuncturist, reviewed massage therapy school online platform, & sorted Ridwell trash; Sabrina finished cutting RSVPs & cleaned the bathroom; Andrew prepared staffing notes; & Allyson worked on a PPT for an hour, paid a parking ticket & looked into new tags. Writeup by Allyson
• At Glint: Mean: Christof told on his sister but then it was sweet, Ivan recalled not calling a pastor a jerk, Morgan shared about a very strange relationship with clear signs, Allyson reflected on mean girls and complicity, Josh took us on his journey of finding his purpose in finding love, Dan pondered his changing approaches to feedback, Madison reminisced about being apologized to by a kid that she beat up, José recounted his relationship with his mom, and Madeleine told us about a time that time meant nothing to her.
• Finally, a reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place. If you’d like to pop in for a workday and you know one of us, reach out to schedule a time and we can let you in for free. If we don’t know you yet, reach out so we can get to know you, or come by an event and say hi.

Photos

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This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan, and was shot by Iván, Norton, and Beth. Photo selection and editing by Iván and Madeleine. Editorial support was provided by Livvy and Norton. This issue, and The Company itself, was made possible by the support of our members, Halie, Drew J., Justin, Mason, José, Mary Ann, Trevr, Allyson, Lizzie, Elijah, Michelle, Jim, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Rebeca, Sarah, Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Ben, Sam Ad., Christof, Ryan, Lauren T., Madeleine, Simon, Adam, Gus, Lauren S., Earl, Bennett, Sylvia, Morgan, Joe, Case, and Vivian.

Feel free to forward. Everyone loves Paperwork.

😘