Dinner Time

Last night, I went downstairs in the hotel around 8pm to grab a bite to eat. I was not looking forward to it, but knew I needed to hvae complete meal. The grilled Tilapia I had the night before was horrendous. I couldn't even eat more than a third of it. I got back from the studio session at 6:45. Then I couldn't pull myself away from the music videos. Between Channel O, TRACE TV and the 2 or 3 local channels playing music I could flip the station and inevitably find so,ething I liked. I was able to dodge the booty shaking stereotypical trash. I actually saw a few videos that visually inspired me to think about my own.

There was an italian buffet in the restaurant tonight and the hostess was excited she would get to practice her enlish. I was excited I would get to practice my french. Natalie, the hostess/waitress, assured me that I would be satisfied tonight. I avoided the $40 buffets up until this point for a few reasons: 1)the quality of the food here has been a gamble; 2)Since the intensive cleanse I did this past summer I am unable to eat a lot at one time (it takes the fun out of a buffet); and 3)out of protest for the ridiculously priced food here in Kinshasa. We asked Bob to stop the van at the grocery store and I spent $60.19 on snacks (i.e. peanuts, oranges, juice, chocolate and a short can of pringles). He told us that we would have what he called STICKER SHOCK when the bill was totaled and he was not lying. However, the buffet also included a band and I desparately needed something to calm my soul. They say Kinshasa can be difficult to manuever, but my two week stay has been filled with such great musical highlights that it all balances out. By the third song I was smiling, eating and dancing in my seat. The band lit into a classic soukous melody and I had a flashback to Kilimanjaro in Washington, DC. If my cellphone had not crashed right before I left the US, I would have called Florence, Tuesday, Amadou or Adama just to say 'do you remember when?' ohhhhhhhhhhhh. BUT I have lost all of my numbers...sigh.

The man at the next table was also eating alone and struck up conversation. Of course, I am in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and I befriend a motivational speaker/lecturer/life coach. It was an incredible conversation. As the band played the soundtrack for this particular scene in the movie that is my life the saxophonist, an older chocolate version of your favorite uncle, serenaded each of the tables.....Congo style though. There was nothing mellow about the way he worked that horn.

As I walked down the long corridor back toward the elevator that would lead to my room I heard the Spinners.........Whenever you call me, I'll be there. Whenever you want me I'll be there. Whenever you need me I'll be there. I'll be arounnnnd...........They do not pipe elevator music here. lol. It made me think of my childhood at Grandma's house, California Bay Area breezes, fish fries and a time in my life when I didn't have to do affirmations to believe that a world could exist without war. Sigh. Oh well I thought to myself: tomorrow we record music that will make a difference.....