As per my entry for April 2nd, I am once again working in the prison's kitchen doing what is officially known as food service work...
Having exchanged my olive green uniform, which is the standard uniform for most of New York State's prisoners, for an all-white Navy-style one, it's as if I transitioned from soldier to sailor. This was not my choice.
Now I am back inside the kitchen's overheated "Pot Room." This is an area where all our pots and pans of every shape and size, along with our cooking and eating utensils, and our cups, bowls and serving trays are washed and sterilized after each use, then stored.
The Pot Room is notorious for being an undesirable place to work. It's dirty and sweaty work, for sure. Try washing the dishes for 500 men, three times per day. But I'm not complaining. I'm actually enjoying it, especially the camaraderie, to include an occasional friendly water fight.
Frankly, I was happy to have put down my janitor's broom. Being a porter, the prison term for a janitor, was boring work. Fortunately, however, I am in the kitchen only half days. The other half is being a caregiver for the sight-impaired and special needs men. So far, so good!
D.B.
Now I am back inside the kitchen's overheated "Pot Room." This is an area where all our pots and pans of every shape and size, along with our cooking and eating utensils, and our cups, bowls and serving trays are washed and sterilized after each use, then stored.
The Pot Room is notorious for being an undesirable place to work. It's dirty and sweaty work, for sure. Try washing the dishes for 500 men, three times per day. But I'm not complaining. I'm actually enjoying it, especially the camaraderie, to include an occasional friendly water fight.
Frankly, I was happy to have put down my janitor's broom. Being a porter, the prison term for a janitor, was boring work. Fortunately, however, I am in the kitchen only half days. The other half is being a caregiver for the sight-impaired and special needs men. So far, so good!
D.B.
