Dishwasher is working fine now.
I'm still figuring out how best to use it. One way is to keep one side of my double sink full of hot soapy water, and drop used pots, pans, mixing bowls, utensils, etc in the water as I finish using them. When I have a spare minute, take the stuff from the water, use a brush to knock off any large pieces of food, and place in the dishwasher. Push "wash" button on dishwasher, get beer, open beer, pour beer in glass, admire head, open dishwasher, remove and put away the clean and steaming hot stuff. Unless it's flimsy plastic in which case you have to throw it's deformed remains away :-). Do this as many times as needed during prep and cooking. When you return from the dinner table, put the dishes, glasses, flatware in dishwasher, run dishwasher again and you're done!