Slow service

Yesterday we had a streak of bad luck with slow service at restaurants.
We had long finished our small appetizers before they brought the
entrees, and the rice that arrived earlier was cold by then. It then
took 15 minutes for them to bring us the check and another 10 minutes
for them to come collect the money and bring the change. This wouldn't
be so bad if our purpose had been to go out and muse about work issues
and Ethiopia in general, but there were four of us last night and it
seemed everyone was pretty tuckered out with long lulls in conversation.
There were moments when I actually analyzed the ceiling in great detail,
pausing momentarily only to sip my glass of flat, lukewarm coca-cola.