Elbow Grease: The Adventures of Dave-Bob and Bob-Dave at Barker Brothers in the Summer of '76

by Dave Guthmann

This nostalgic memoir recounts the adventures of a recent college grad and a very funny pothead who work as "gofers" at an upscale furniture store during the summer of 1976.

In 1976, Dave, the book's author, took a minimum wage job at Barker Brothers, a top-of-the-line furniture store in Riverside, California. He soon met his staid, taciturn boss and the eccentric members of the store's sales staff, and wondered if he could survive a whole summer in this very strange place. However, a laidback, witty pot smoker named Bob soon joined the team, and the two partners-in-chaos survived many odd experiences both inside and outside the furniture store. These included dealing with their boss's odd managerial decisions, making several very unusual furniture deliveries, and having lunch at a fast food joint that sold hot dogs and hired pretty girls. If you enjoy humor, nostalgia, and adventure, you'll love this book.

171 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 9, 2025

About the author

Dave retired from a long career in Washington state goverment, which now gives him the opportunity to do what he enjoys most--writing funny stuff. He still lives in Olympia, Washington with his amazing wife Diane and adorable Golden Retriever Willow.