Monday 6/6/05 - Tuesday 6/7/05

Monday - Well, here is Troy's request.  I was on my way to bed when I found this...

I wasn't very happy about this discovery.  I had been warned by the neighbors and was ok with taking the picture but when I started to sweep it out the door and it headed for my bedroom I was not a happy camper.  I finally got it out of the house.

The Cane Spider (also known as the Large Brown Spider) is one big spider. Usually the size of a can of tuna fish (YES IT ALMOST WAS!), this spider has a huge body and thick hairy legs.

The Cane Spider can be found on all the Hawaiian Islands and, as the name implies, the spider frequented the cane fields.

While certainly scary looking, this spider is actually quite a helpful arachnid. The Cane Spider does not spin a web, but instead hunts for food at night. Just about any insect is fair game for this spider, including cockroaches and silverfish.

Cane Spiders are very reluctant to bite and prefer to run instead of defend. However, if sufficiently provoked the spider can bite and though rare, can inject venom. The spider's bite is small and usually does not result in any long term problems.

Cane Spiders will often find their way into houses. While nobody wants to be startled by the sudden appearance of one of these hairy beasts, they are beneficial in the home and it is not recommended to kill the spider (either let it out or let it live in the home).

Since the spider does not have a web the egg case is carried by the mother in her mouth for up to a month, during which time she will not eat and constantly guards the precious bundle of children. http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Animals.cane

Tuesday - I went to the DMV today and finished the process for my drivers license.  You won't believe this!!!! I got it 3 minutes after I paid.  I mean the real thing, not a temporary.  Amazing!  I love this place!  The requirements are more stringent here, the office is more organized and I even had to take a test (haven't done that in years).  I then promptly took my application with all of the paraphernalia I wrote about earlier to the Tour bus company and applied.  They will send it to Oahu for my job history check, etc. and then I will hear.  Hope it's fast.  This not teaching is driving me nuts.  I'm getting lots of support calls but I'd really like to get out of the house at least 2 days a week.  My plan is to drive on weekends or evenings and still teach two days a week starting in July again.  I received my schedule of classes for July through December (Fall session) from the college so I'm all set for those classes.  Driving should be fun, I think I will love to visit with the tourists.  Oh Hal... I don't teach the whole time you and the family are here in August so we'll have lots of time to visit.