Peng Peng's Episodes

Some of my friends were expressing their surprise to me after reading previous two episodes about San Mateo Bridge and Conservator’s Three Noes; for, instead of shao po, I was the one to be laughed at. They even concern if I will continue my husband joke writing. Don’t worry. I am just giving my dear husband a spring break since he has been working so hard these days and it is not very nice to tease a work-exhausted husband. Just too cruel for me to do that, even being kind to my husband is never my strong point.

However, my husband joke has never been in short supply even when shao po is extremely busy. He is certainly a very “inspiring" husband in this sense. Q’s husband likes those jokes so much that he even asked my permission to let him put those jokes on his web site. I am flattered but surprised to learn this guy is so enthusiastic in promoting other man’s jokes. Man’s justice is easily challenged.

There are quite a few lovely ladies working in NTI (shao po’s company) but, for some reasons, none of them can catch my husband’s attention as much as Maggie.

Maggie is a dog, K’s dog. Don’t laugh. Never show your disrespect to dogs in NTI, a company which would definitely pay for dog’s health insurance if there is such a thing available. From CEO, VP, Director, to managers, lots of them have dogs. It is not very hard to imagine these start- up guys working more than 12 hrs everyday, seven days a week. Dogs are not like wives, who can take care of themselves. Dogs need a lot of attention (haven’t we all learned that dogs will become anxious and panic if left alone for a long time). So whenever you have chance to visit NTI, there will always be one, two, or three—dogs wandering around the office space. And, Maggie is always there.

So she is definitely the most-known “significant other" in the company. NTI is not just a heaven for dogs but also for dog-lovers like shao po. Did I ever tell you my husband’s greatest dream is to have his own dog sit in the car and stick the head out of his car window? (let’s not worry today about where I am going to sit if he takes Miata——–) So being able to play with dogs is considered one of his benefits. Especially, his office is next to K’s.

Maggie is an expert of playing ball catching. Although 9 year-old, considered a senior for dogs, she is still extraordinarily energetic. So even NTI is such a dog friendly company, you can imagine what a tough life Maggie has been through to stay indoor most of time with her lovely K. Occasionally I need to meet shao po at NTI, Maggie is always the one who greets me in the front gate. Probably not for me, she just wants to go out, running around like a normal dog.

Shao po often shares his lunch box with Maggie. I know my husband. He just cannot ignores the sad look of Maggie. Sometimes, he shares with Maggie and K. I can almost picture this warmhearted family scene.

Once a while, shao po would give me a call and tell me he needs to “dogsit" Maggie for a while so he will be late. He would also tell me Maggie looks great after K gave her annual haircut before he could recognize I had a haircut too. Well, I don’t blame him. I have haircut every month, the annual cut deserves more attention.

On a Friday night, I and shao made a great effort to meet in SF for a Taiwanese film of SF Film Festival and found out it had been rescheduled. Feeling very frustrated, I signed while waiting for my Japanese noodle. Shao po, sitting across the table, showed his worry “You look tired," before I nodded, he seriously added “Maggie also looked very tired these days." His remark took me off guard, and I had hard time finding proper words in response. Agree or not? It is a question. I don’t mind being compared to a dog: If you know my husband well, this is indeed quite——an honor. Sitting in this Japanese noodle place located in Japan Town, I kind of dreamed the Japanese author Haruki Murakami standing beside our table and saying his famous line: “All things connect." Shao po is a big fan of his. I should credit shao po’s imagination to Murakami.

A couple weeks ago, NTI was moving. Move to a bigger place which can accommodate more people (and of course, more dogs too). Shao po decided that we should check out the new place. So the plan was we dropped by the office, print out the direction, go see the new building——and live happily ever after. Three easy steps but life always turns out differently. That’s why we call life “the reality". I soon knew it was a trap when shao po told me: “give me 10 more minutes." It is always a bad idea to let your husband back to the office after dinner, no matter what excuse he has. K was there, busy too. Maggie was walking around and trying to find something to do just like me. One hour passed, we were still there. Maggie showed me her comfortable dog-bed in K’s office. I am tired but it’s too small for me, I told Maggie. Honestly, a wife running out of patience is just like a trouble kid. Shao po let me play with internet so that I could stop asking him when we are leaving.

Two hours passed. Three hours passed. Time does not “fly" in your husband’s office. Eventually K walked in and found me falling asleep on the chair.

“Did shao po tell you he would just stop by office for a minute and then show you the new building?" K said, with tremendous sympathy.

Instead of answering, I asked him " Is that how you told Maggie?"

“I told her we would go out." K said with a sad look for apparently he has not done what he promised. Look at old poor Maggie, I guess she knew what I would like to tell her. Hi——– men are all the same.

We, K, Maggie, shao po and I, finally manage to get out of the office by midnight. Maggie seemed very lively outdoor and certainly showed no interest in checking out the new office. So shao po took his wife only to see the new location. It was a full-moon night with nice breeze. We eventually get to see where my husband is going to spend most of his next coming year. Ok, we can go home sleep and live happily ever after. Well, the reality is not necessarily too bad; it just takes a detour sometimes.

peng peng