vol. 2, no. 26 | Times Change

Ishmael


            
        November 10, 2025
    

vol. 2, no. 26 | Times Change


            It is so nice to cry because of beautiful things. It is better to have company either way. It’s a nice problem to have too many leads. Yes, you are also a hoot. The temporary rescheduling of sunset has made afternoons prettier. Local politics are improved with pizza—thank you for your civic contributions. It is both sweet and unimpressive that you know how to find us, but lovely that you look for us. I’m glad you asked the question. I like that you like this spot of sunlight. It is nice to have so many people to talk through these decisions with. I do not want to run but the fomo might motivate me. The star ceremonies that go weirdly are significantly more fun—I hope you get to be in one of those someday. I like how when you turn your hat around we all pretend you’re a different person. Midafternoon is a good time for a movie with old friends, at this festival that means and will mean a lot to us. We will remember this moment without even trying, and still I am going to take these pictures, of you remembering your insignificance. We are all very charming right now. Thank you for letting us tell our favorite story. It was novel to get a ride back in your house. Thank you for getting the lunch crew together. It is hard to pick which conversation to listen to, they’re both so fun. I told the woman next to us about how you two met in this choir. We’re all so proud of you, and I cried hearing about the flowers. You are very good at thinking of funny things on the spot. It is so nice to have you around again. We’re going to miss you so much.
—Ivan
Happenings
This week:
Glint: Opposite, Tuesday, November 11
True, personal stories, told live, without notes. Pretty much exactly like The Moth, except without the competition, on Tuesdays instead of Fridays, and everyone knows each other (or is about to). Our next theme is “Opposite“.
Do you have a story of difference? Of opposition? Of opposites attracting? Of reflections, reversals, or mirror images? Of contrasts, juxtapositions, dichotomies? Of polarization? Of magnets? Whatever your interpretation, we want to hear it.
Tellers include Adrianna Muñoz, Madeleine Lebovic, Ivan Ruiz-Knott, James Young, Amber Case, and Lauren Smith.
If you’re also interested in telling a story, reply and let us know.
$10, or free for tellers and members.
Plan not to come and then do the opposite →
Weekly Wednesday Worknight, Wednesday, November 12
The Company is about combining creative work with good friendships. Make an appointment with your side project this (or any) Wednesday at a Worknight, where we oscillate between enforced, focused, quiet time and optional chatty social time.
$5, free for Company and Moonlight members
Work together →
Ishmael Book Club: 6–9, Thursday, November 13
Mark once read a book that still means a lot to him, and he’s hosting a book club about it. Our first meeting was soooo much fun—there are some really thinky and well-read people in this group and the discussion was a strange kind of riot—and it’s a short enough read that you can catch up and join us for the second.
Think mythologically →
Offsite: Poetry Grand Slam, Saturday, November 15
A little over a year ago we pretended to be an art house theater so that we could screen (and thereby watch) Gary Hustwit’s Eno documentary. To our delight-turned-brief-terror, strangers came, including Jim (a physicians assistant), who’s married to Katie (also a physicians assistant), who once had an overlapping rotation with Ryan (a doctor who on the side is a very talented slam poet) and invited him to a PowerPoint Party, who after a few months mentioned Glint to Madeleine (also a slam poet), who has since become a regular and a friend.
Both Ryan and Madeleine will be competing in the Poetry Grand Slam, and, having heard them both perform before and knowing how easily I am moved, I can guarantee that I’ll be very tearful that night. Join for good poetry, or to see me be an absolute mess.
Slam that buy button →
Future Weeks:
In The Making, Thursday, November 20
In The Making is a showcase of original, amateur, creative works in progress. Are you interested in sharing about a passion project, and what you’ve been learning through it? Or getting feedback on something you’re working through? Reply and let us know and we’ll get you on the list.
$10, or free for members and presenters.
Make an appearance →
Offsite: Creative Mornings, Friday, November 21
Forgot to mention the last one, but we’ve been going to this for years and we’re not stopping now. (Some of us have already stopped going.) (But the rest of us who have gone will probably keep going, as long as schedules and interest persist.) (But you, dedicated or casual reader of Paperwork, don’t have to go every time! You can go just this once, when it’s at a visually rich immersive art venue, located in a mall that also has a LEGO store, where I will most certainly be stopping by afterward.)
Hang out at the mall with us →
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Also coming up: PowerPoint Party No. 33 (December 6), Offsite: Orbis Holiday Disco Party (December 13)
Nostalgia
Do you remember that one afternoon that we were a total mess, watching Coco? How we sobbed over the story, and all the things it reminded us of?
How immediately after, people walked in to our tear-streaked faces, and it looked as if we were heartbroken over sushi and candy?
Do you remember when, at salsa, Livvy asked, “wait, but am I a hoot?”?
The management-only recess with the perfect light, the week of the time change? The Ballot Study Hall, with Chris and Sam’s gift of pizza? How it was Joe’s two favorite things? How a few of us hung out after?
Or the day with just us and Liz? How we worked late on Paperwork, and Allyson came by because she saw we were “at the clubhouse”, a lucky moment of catching up?
Do you remember our whispered and close conversations during Jessica’s meetings? How Madeleine accidentally interrupted to announce her good news? That moment in the sunlight? Our lunch with Dan? The return of the basketball at recess? The Worknight? The discussion of shushing progression, and the Company Run Club, and how at one point Alex got replaced by bro Alex? How we had a nine-star night? That Joe’s first star ceremony was a breeze?
Do you remember the afternoon movie offsite the week of the Denver Film Festival? How with some of us learning about a porridge competition and others in meetings, Ryan was left alone on an unaccompanied recess?
Do you remember how you were having a tough afternoon, and Jessica S. got news of a really good moon, and so we went in search of it, to remember our insignificance? How there was no moon in the sky, and we wondered if it wasn’t out yet, worried if without finding it we might be in danger of instead thinking we’re incredibly significant? How we wondered and wandered, walked down the hill to that spot overlooking the highway, and there, hovering above it, was a very beautiful and very meaningful moon?
That afterward, at the workshop, we bonded over cute charms and trinkets as we told our stories? How Lauren T. was so fake upset that she started fake leaving? That we left wearing our new creations?
And do you remember that last weekend? The First Friday Feast, with guest appearances by Michaela and Madeleine A.? Allyson and Madison’s choir concert? How proud we all were? The crowd of us at Greg’s improv show? The tension and relief of watching something go so well?
How we found each other at Sputnik? A mix of intended and unintended run-ins? That we waited an age for our corn dogs but were so happy for the company? That at the end, as always, we performed our drawn out goodbyes, as if we weren’t sure when we would ever see each other again?
Bureaucratic Minutiae
At Worknight: Ryan finished study module #2; Ivan drew way more than 10 letters; Livvy finished a meal plan, ordered groceries, and worked on a boundary document; Evan looked at hotels; Will worked on getting numbers to work on a seven segment display; Jessica S. completed 3 assigned learning modules; Jacob refactored a scene; Alex finished the last ticket in his Moonlight project, and tried to enjoy the Nuggets game; Joe finished a draft of a presentation; and Mike created a flow chart for work.
A reminder that The Company is a member-supported gathering place, and if you know any of us, you’re welcome to pop in any time for free (outside of events). If you know that one of us is here and you’d like to come by, reach out and we can let you in.
Photos
Not to be competitive, but I definitely cried more than anyone else. Coco is an oddly relatable story for me, including some of the more cartoonish details.
The transition to salsa involved explaining to everyone who walked in for salsa why exactly it was we were all so downcast.
A day of lows and highs.
Livvy hosted an unofficial Ballot Study Hall for us to get together and fill in our ballots. Company Measure 1A (backed by a small but powerful cabal with deep pockets) passed handily.
Joe said something like “debating local politics and eating pizza are two of my favorite things!” and we’re glad we got to see it.
I’ve toyed with creating a supplement to Paperwork in which I explain the varied reasons for my delays in its sending, but alas, I have too many side projects. In any case, Livvy and I were here late while I was working on the last issue and Allyson popped by to say hi and further delay the issue.
A lunchtime.
For some people, ball is life. For others, ball is a few minutes on a nicely lit afternoon in the fall.
Worknight this week.
Joe’s first Worknight!
Doesn’t this look like an ad? Possible copy lines: “The only thing missing is you!”, “Join the circle!”, “We’re definitely not a cult, but we’re cult adjacent!”, “There’s only one way to find out what the star ceremony is!” “We can leave whenever we want so why do you keep saying we’re a cult?”
Bro Alex’s second goal for the night was to enjoy the Nuggets game.
Ashley, who we floridly said goodbye to this summer, was in town for a few days and popped by The Company for a few minutes! A dear friend of Michelle’s, Ashley had a whole neighbors-to-friends arc with Christof, which is how we know him, so she is, in a way, responsible for the steady stream of baked goods.
Case setting up for her charm workshop!
❤️
On the most literal level, the moon we saw looked like this. But on another level, it looked like what a moon looks like when you’re in a meaning-seeking state of mind, and your friends are hoping to lift your mood by taking you to see the moon, and it’s a half-silly, half-hopeful expedition, and you’re really not thinking that it could possibly be that good of a moon—definitely not good enough to change the way you’re feeling right now—but you’re down to see what it’s all about, if you can even find it, and when you end up walking around for longer than you’d expect you wonder if the moon is even out yet, or if it’ll continually be blocked behind buildings, and you really should be getting back to the workshop soon, and maybe it’ll rise a little higher later in the night and you’ll have to see it then, but your friends, walking a little further ahead, start jumping, and pointing, and smiling and laughing, and then you see it for yourself, and because of everything you’ve been feeling it seems much bigger than it is.
So, anyway. Learning how to make charm bracelets and bag charms and glasses chains is fun!
Case has plenty of supplies to do another workshop (and also a direct source for more supplies), so if you’re interested, let her know. All us girlies are super into it.
Lauren T. showing off one of her bag charms. (She was clever and made multiples in different colors so she could match her mood or outfit.)
We spent most of the evening telling stories of getting together.
Watching adorable internet content on Beth’s new adorable tiny phone.
A group of us went to another one of Allyson and Madison’s choir concerts!
It was very queer and very joyful.
Sam Ad. brought flowers!
After the concert, a different configuration of us went to see Greg’s improv show, and after that, a slightly different group of us found each other at Sputnik. Some of the earliest people in this wonderful game. Photo by Dan.
—
This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan with additional reporting from Jessica S. and Trevr, and was shot by Ivan and Dan. Photo selection and editing by Ivan and Jessica S. Editorial support was provided by Livvy. 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, Jaime, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Marcia, Rebeca, Sarah, Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Mike, Ben, Sam, Liz, Christof, Ryan, Lauren, and our newest member, Leah.
Do you know anyone in the Denver area who might be looking for creative community? Feel free to forward this email along to them. Everyone loves Paperwork.
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