Tiger Balm

I'm beaten, battered, and bruised. I'm on Team Sidetrack Cafe, and I am playing injured right now. I am a dish washing warrior. Really, I'm a dish washing victim. My upper back feels like I've been beaten with a baseball bat. It hurts. It really, really hurts. Two days ago I awoke in the morning to a pretty sore back. It seemed I had pulled a muscle just to the left and below my right shoulder blade. This occurs every four months or so, and isn't too remarkable generally. However, generally I'm not washing dishes for a living. I got a tip from a coworker that I should try a Chinese remedy called Tiger Balm. I found some after I got off work, and kept a steady supply of it on my back for the rest of that day, and the next. Then last night I awoke at 4:30 AM with a throbbing, tight ball of pain in the afflicted spot. It hurt a lot. Betsy had to rub the balm on for me, while I periodically moaned and grunted. I had get up at 7 AM for work, so I took two ibuprofen and went back to sleep.

Things weren't much better at 7 AM. Upon arriving at Sidetrack I told Marina that I wasn't sure I could make it through the day, but I would do my best. It was rough. My back hurt. A lot. The rigor of the work caused the pain intensify and spread to include the entire top one-third of my back. I felt like I'd been jumped by thugs whose attack focused on my upper back. At noon, after the major rush of the day, Marina told my I could go. Phew.

On the other hand, I do like my job. I have become friends with my coworkers, and generally don't mind going to work each day. I usually get up early, and at least one day this week caught a stunning sunrise over the ocean on my way in. Can't beat that. I have the mechanics of being a dish washer down. I know exactly what kind of plates, cups, cutlery, bowls, dishes, etc. can fit on each of the two types of dish racks. I know by heart how long the dish cycle is, and usually turn to retrieve the completed rack within a few seconds of its conclusion. My ears even seem to have tuned in to the sound of the dishwasher, so I usually notice the second it clicks off. I've even learned to plan ahead, calculating the best plan of attack based on the amount of space available to stack washed items, the demand for particular items at a given time (ie. how is our supply of brown cups?), which racks I have available, how much time is left in the current cycle, etc. I wouldn't say I've mastered it, but I'm damn good!

I made it to my weekend! I now have two consecutive days off. We also have some visitors headed our way, in the coming months. For those of you coming, we're very excited to see you!

More good news, Betsy got a new book. She picked up a virtually new copy of War and Peace at the Red Cross Thrift Store for $5. She's really excited to have found such a nice copy, and to read it. No, I'm not making this up; reading War and Peace does actually sound fun to my awesome, intelligent little girlfriend.