vol. 2, no. 37 | Blinking
For the last few hours I’ve been staring and drafting and deleting and just watching the cursor blink. I write this part last, and it’s hard today.
Locally, life remains bewilderingly wonderful, but I am a little too stunned by the killing of Alex Pretti, and the administration’s characterization of it, to attempt a tidy reflection on anything going on here. Livvy and I have called our senators, we’ve donated some money. I know that isn’t nothing, but it feels close to it.
I hope you’re doing well and finding a healthy way to engage.
—Ivan
Happenings
This week:
Mary Ann’s Book Club: Atmosphere, Monday, January 26
This event has already passed. I was optimistic I’d send this out before it passed, but couldn’t because I was busy trying to finish reading the book (I cried so much—I love crying—it was so nice). These issues cover Sunday–Saturday timeframes though so I include it here for the historical record.
Weekly Wednesday Worknight, Wednesday, January 28
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
Offsite: Nerd Nite, Friday, January 30
This event has totally sold out, except for the special reserved and discounted tickets that Earl set aside for Company folks, because Lauren T. and Madeleine are 2 of the 3 presenters, and (health and schedules permitting) we roll deep!
You, dear Paperwork reader, also count as Company folk! So feel very free to make use of these special tickets. Slightly different link than last time, but same code-entry process:
Click on the
Detailsbutton in theSold Outbox, find the Promo Code box and entercompany. Be warned that this works only on the Eventbrite website, not the phone app.
$10 for Company folk
Get more (from fewer) for your (more) money →
Future Weeks:
Offsite: Eve Addams Poetry Feature, Sunday, February 1
Eve Addams is one of Madeleine’s pseudonyms. Maybe her only one (there’s really no way of knowing for sure). In any case, it’s the alias she uses for poetry, and under that moniker she’ll be the featured poet at this Sunday’s Mercury Poetry Slam. Some of us have seen her perform before and it’s a really great time, so we’re going again.
Free
Creative Writing Workshop: Time, Monday, February 2
Continuing with the string of events that have something to do with people purporting to be Madeleine, she will be hosting another creative writing workshop! Which will again involve 90 minutes of lightly directed writing around a theme. The last one was a blast and went by quick. For the second workshop, the theme is Time.
The theme will be explored through a series of prompts, and we’ll have progressively more time to respond to each. At the end of the night, we’ll have the chance (though not the requirement) to share.
Note that this workshop is not for feedback or editing—the purpose is to generate new writing.
Bring yourself and something to write with.
$10, free for members
PowerPoint Party No. 35, Saturday, February 7
Twelve people giving 7-minute presentations about whatever they’re currently into. At past parties, people have presented about sneakers, riding the bus, figure skating, and death. It’s a wide mix.
It’s a nerdy and sincere crowd that cares a lot, and we’ve met some of our favorite people at these.
Want to present? We’ve got a waiting list (but your chances are good!). Want to just show up and meet interesting people and learn about what’s fascinating them lately? That’s great too. Bring a friend, or come alone and make a friend.
$10, free for members and presenters
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Also coming up: Cuppa Valentine’s Day TREAT YOURSELF Clothing Swap (February 14) Glint: Rearview (February 17), Mary Ann’s Book Club: The Anxious Generation (February 23), Annual Performance Review (February 28)
Nostalgia
Do you remember the day with Alex’s peanut butter and jelly cookies? The very late walk we took? Lizzie’s hug resupply before the Moonlight Report? The Report itself—how we reviewed our progress and talked about our new goals and Allyson’s dreams?
Or Madeleine’s first first interview? The hoops? Returning to find Jim, and our meandering conversation about ear gum and other atrocities before we learned of his great sadness? How we hung around after work and just sat around and talked while consuming his gift of aftermarket olives?
Do you remember the day Galen came over, and with him and Adam we talked about Switchyards over lunch? How Simon and Brien and Case appeared, and we talked about chakras?
Or the recess when that we realized the crane was gone, and had been sad to miss its self-disassembly? That we tried to climb a building, and Simon found an unlocked grate?
How at Worknight we discussed sandwiches and reviewed the cube rule of food?
Do you remember the WiFi troubles in the minutes before Madeleine’s second first interview? The sound of the UPS screaming, the phone calls, our running around? How Ryan lent her his phone as a hotspot while we slowly realized we could just plug all the things into a different thing?
How after the interview it came up that it doesn’t make sense where and how Englewood is? Or when Madeleine asked if Livvy had ever considered being a fashion icon, and the conversation shifted to praising Allyson’s style?
Do you remember the In the Making with the stained glass and the death clock and the disposable nose picker? That we laughed at ratings and joked about shares? That we hung out afterward as late as we possibly could?
Or the loud morning with the road work outside? The coffee and the conversations and the record player setup? That over lunch we talked about places and memes and optical corrections in typeface design?
That Madeleine had her first second interview, and we listened to vinyl, and Ellen swapped records all afternoon?
Bureaucratic Minutiae
Case and Adam have jointly loaned The Company the use of a vinyl record player setup! There is also a tiny library of loaned records available for playing and we welcome additional contributions.
Thanks to Atniel and Ryan for helping troubleshoot our WiFi and UPS issues.
At Worknight: Case took a phone call with the entire country of India; Ivan outlined changes to a presentation deck and wrote for 1 hour; Marvin finished some work on Clean Pick; Lauren T. finished the Rosalind Franklin background section for her Nerd Nite presentation and did some reading; Jessica S. finished a workbook; Livvy worked on her In the Making presentation; Mark reviewed a party proposal and worked on a retreat outline; Will worked on his In the Making presentation; and Mary Ann readied Ridwell recycling.
At In the Making: Ivan read some more from his family history project; Earl told us about creating small press education and community; Madeleine A. showed us her stained glass visualization; Christof puzzled over plans for a new community; Will demoed and reviewed his holiday gifts; Livvy shared her progress on her adaptation project; Marvin pitched a sanitary disposable nose-picking product; and Allyson sought feedback on a new painting.
Finally, 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
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This issue of Paperwork was written by Ivan with additional reporting from Jessica S., and was shot by Ivan, Case, Madeleine, and Lizzie. Photo selection and editing by Ivan and Livvy. 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, Jacob, Mark, Sabrina, Beth, Dani, Chris, Will, Marcia, Rebeca, Sarah, Alex, Jessica P., Jessica S., Mike, Ben, Sam Ad., Christof, Ryan, Lauren T., Madeleine, Simon, and Adam B.
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.
🤞
