washing dishes to bring to the dishwasher

so yet a couple more things in camp that make me scratch my head and go 'huh?'...which also makes me happy that I checked my common sense into a locker at the bus station in Edmonton before getting on a plane to get up here because if I had my common sense with me I am sure that it would be going absolutely haywire at this moment in time.

First thing, the dishwasher has gone completely insane in his old age. 64 year old guy that seems to have all the great ideas on how to run a kitchen but all his plans seem to make his work easier. For instance, long time ago when I was the dishwasher full time all the cooks brought their dishes to me dirty. If it was baked on stuff like they did a tomato pasta or macaroni and cheese that sat on the steam line for 2 hours and was literally rock hard cement baked on then I appreciated that they threw it in the steamer to kind of do a hot soak but I didn't demand it since I could just as easily have put it in there myself.

Then it graduated up when Henry took over the dishpit (or as I like to think of him 'the bull in a china shop' since he doesn't really think about what is going on or see what other peoples plans are but instead will come in and just barrel through jobs and do it with force and then when problems arise cause he didn't stop and think about what he was doing he cursed everyone for their fault in the matter, even though they didn't do anything, and force his way to solve the problem which might cause more problems) and he started to tell people to rinse the pans in the back sink before bringing it to the dishpit. The dishpit has one big sink that they wash things in and a smaller sink behind them that I was quite happy to use for rinsing since you spray it with the big hose and then turn around and take the two steps to the small sink to dump the water. However, this proved to be too much of a hassle for him and since he got tired of walking to the back, rinsing the pans and then bringing them back to the dishpit he started to insist that everyone rinse the pans in the back sink before we brought them to the dishpit. So, effectively we were bringing the dishwasher our rinsed and almost clean dishes for him to wash. That one made me kind of go 'ooookay' but hey, it was Henry, he has come up with stranger ideas.

The latest now with the dishes is that not only do we have to rinse them in the back during the day but come supper time the dishwasher fills one of the three sinks in the back with soap and water and is now insisting that the cooks not only rinse but we scrub them with a metal scrub pad before bringing them to the dishpit for them (yes, 'them'...not just one dishwasher but we now have 2 full time dishwashers) to 'wash' and put through the dishwasher. So now the cooks are washing the dishes before bringing them to the dishwasher.

So yeah, like I said, if i had my common sense with me I am sure that I would be going absolutely nutty about this whole situation but since I don't have it with me I can only look at the situation with that strange feeling that we all get when we are somewhere and looking at a situation and there is a tiny nagging voice in the back of your head going "something is not right here" but you can't really put your finger on what is not right. Though, for some reason, my entire being is just screaming out for me to ask them to make me a dishwasher again since the dishwashers seem to be the only people in the kitchen that manage to get breaks.

Another piece of news is that my 2 weeks of 2nd cook and then 2 weeks of breakfast cook on nights (which was also to be me hanging with the good baker and learning a few tricks of the trade) might not happen. Seems the 2nd cook that they hired when I went out quit after only working a week and a half. So they had to go and hire another worker who has worked with the company before. Apparently he is a good cook, has his papers and seal, is inventive and industrious BUT (always is a but when you hear praise like that huh?) he supposedly has a huge chip on his shoulder and has a temper when given constructive criticism. When I have heard stories about him from other cooks the same thing always is said "he is like I was when I was young and fresh in the business. My way ruled, no other way would do and I wouldn't listen to anyone". I guess when it comes to being a cook, when you get out of cooking school it is like graduating from kindergarten to grade 1 where you know everything about the playground and the world and no one can tell you different cause you are gonna do it your way.

At the moment we have 5 people in the kitchen (two dishwashers and three cooks) which makes for a more relaxing day since we still work non-stop but it is not a rushed 'chicken with your head cut off' rushing but more a calm 'slow and steady' rush to get the work done. That is going to change in about a week and a half when the other cook leaves and we are reduced down to 2 cooks and 2 dishwashers. So that would mean if I went to nights when I was supposed to then the 1st cook now would be left alone to feed 170 people and train a new 2nd cook that might have issues with being told what or how to do things for two weeks.

On Saturday the 1st cook realized the possibility that he would be alone with a new guy and he tried flattery. First it was that I was a great asset, then it was that he enjoyed working with me. He even got the camp manager to come through complimenting me on how great the salads were looking and how the sandwiches were looking tasty and appealing as opposed to the things that the 2nd cook that quit was putting out. After groceries came and I finished my usual work in the cooler both of them then started in on how great it was to have the cooler looking neat and tidy since I know where things go and put them in their right areas where the other guy was just tossing them in helter skelter to the point where you had dairy on the meat shelf and vegetables mixed with the fruit. Almost a guessing game/hunt for what you were looking for every week. I was not buying it and just laughed at them.

Saturday afternoon they tried a different approach. When they brought out the dessert rack they commented on great Big D was at being a baker. She had come a long way in the 6 years she has been baking and they were proud of her efforts. I held my tongue since I have opinions of her baking. Mainly that her work is like the prom queen in the movies. Beautiful to look at and makes you want to take her to your table, however once you get her to the table you discover that her conversation is stale and flat and leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Most of the people I see take from the dessert fridge, eat the whipped cream that she uses in abundance and then throw the hard and stale bits away. They then said that since she is such a great baker that perhaps if I was to choose to go to nights then Big D could be my trainer and she could teach me all her tricks and all. Figured this was a bait as well since the camp manager knows that I don't work with her so if I was on nights Big D would be whining and complaining to him all day long and would be throwing temper tantrums galore. I broke down on that one and just looked at Radio (camp manager) and just went "you really want Big D whining and throwing temper tantrums for two weeks with you?" He just looked blankly at me and then walked away.

On Sunday I guess they figured that flattery wasn't working so they went to the next language...money. I am now being offered a tentative raise to stay on day shift. Of course the raise is dependant on the main camp manager as well as the head head boss approving it. However, being the skeptic that I am, I figure the raise really doesn't exist but what Radio is doing is offering it, I accept it, he comes back a week later saying "oh, sorry, I tried to get you the raise but was shot down by the others" but since I already agreed to work day shift for 4 weeks the schedule has been made and cant be changed. Talked to the Mrs about it, since she is going to be the one I am mainly complaining about working with people on days, and we both agreed that I shouldn't say anything about me staying on days until I have the raise in writing and in the bank.

Supposed to give my answer today but not really sure which is the best course of action. For myself going to nights would be better because I get to learn a few tricks on baking as well as see what the duties on night shift are. Seems making 300 sandwiches (that are set, no real thinking involved), cutting fruit and prepping/cooking breakfast sounds easier than what I am doing during the day. However, the helpful side of me is telling me to stay days since if they are actually willing to offer me money to stay on days (to my knowledge no one has ever gotten raises in camp...you get hired for a set amount and you stay at that amount unless you have quit, gone to school for more training and returned) then they are definitely desperate and worried. Guess will make the decision at the last moment and hope it is the right one.