summer time!

Well, it's definitely summer. And not just because it's damn hot outside. The Rhein has chilled out (and warmed up) enough to allow for some casual swimming, and day by day the numbers of floaters-with-the-current increase.  Also, of course, the World Cup figures heavily in everyone's plans for each day (including mine).  My friend in Denmark even had the time of his orchestra concert changed to accommodate a soccer match. People are having picnics, in parks and by the river. Beer is consumed, with little fuss or notice. My personal level of inactivity has reached a nearly startling peak; I do still go to Druckwerk daily, but most other things have gone by the wayside. I finished a 400-page book in two days, for instance. And today, finally, I swam in the river, and was inhibited only by the multitudinous cuts and scrapes I have from a stupid bike injury received yesterday on my friend's sorry excuse for a bike. I couldn't get it going on a hill and just fell over, alas.

Then today, maybe 30 minutes ago, on my way home from watching Brazil vs Chile, I had another stupid experience (this time with my own bike) and got this little doozy:

Oh well.  Good thing I'm such a tough cookie.

The Rhein swimming was great.  I'll go again as soon as my little bear-attack scabs up.  I haven't been working on any new projects at the print shop, but we've been cleaning up after a bit of excitement, in the form of a new press, delivered last week through the window.  The window came out of its frame,

leaving a big hole in the wall for the press to come in through.  (Remember that we're on the third floor.)

As Marcel and I watched through the hole, the press arrived on a truck,

then was transferred onto a hydraulic lift,

and slowly brought up to the window.

I thought I'd be able to catch the press on video, slowly gliding into the shop.  Ha.  It took about two hours of slowly moving it a few inches in, strategically placing blocks of wood underneath it, moving it in a few more inches, moving the blocks, etc.  At first everyone couldn't get enough of the show.  Here are Marcel and Florian:

And the neighbors across the way:

But we eventually realized it was going to take a long time, and let the workers continue with their incremental bits of progress and their man-grunting, unwatched.

I'm happy to report that the new press is a Vandercook (American!) with a giant paper size.  From the 1950 catalog:

Vandercook 42-28 Power Test Press 
Bed: 42″ × 50″
Maximum sheet: 41¾” × 30″
Maximum form: 41″ × 28″
Floor space: 4’10″ × 9′
Weight: 5650 lb
Price (1950): $7740
“The largest test press in the Vandercook line for proving one and two-color plates and forms.” The automatic frisket is optional.

It's nice having something from the home-country in the shop.  It probably won't be hooked up to electricity before I leave, but that gives me all summer to think up some projects printed on giant sheets of paper.

(More photos and some video of the press in the air coming soon to my flickr page.)

Alternate titles for today's post:

Bike Injuries

Fußball? Fußball!

How early is it OK to have a beer?

Rheinschwimmen!

Three Tons of Cast Steel In The Air