What are the $%& boxes waiting for? :(

[kitepilot at kitepilot.com]

Hello collective wisdom... 

I have several Linux boxes (different distros, no common denominator) that 
for no apparent reason have the processor(s) go into a 'waiting' state 
rather way too often.
And then they wait...
and wait...
and wait some more... 

Darn it, how do I find out what in the #$%@ World are those processors 
waiting for?   :(
Thanks...
ET