| I want to start this out by saying that I | | | | to see him over the edge of my cup licking |
| have never had bugs or lizards of snakes or | | | | away. He had the cutest little tongue.One |
| anything like that in my house. I am indeed | | | | night I was out of things to make hot |
| one of those women who screams if I see a | | | | chocolate. Tony sat... humm.. or stood? |
| spider. I have never liked little crawly | | | | Well, whatever geckos do, he was there on my |
| things and have always considered the best | | | | bed stand waiting for his nightly treat. I |
| place for them is outside."Well of course!" | | | | felt bad for his sugar addiction and related |
| ... I can HEAR you thinking!OK... but with | | | | so well. I got myself a small handful of |
| all of that said, I live in Hawaii now and | | | | chocolate chips and gave Tony his own. He |
| the rules have changed considerably.If you | | | | didn't seem to like it as much as the hot |
| visit Hawaii and stay in a hotel it is not | | | | chocolate but his tiny tongue did lick it for |
| likely that you will come across a gecko in | | | | quite awhile and then off he went.The next |
| your room. Hotels take special care (like | | | | night I made my regular hot chocolate. No |
| poison) so you will not come across these | | | | Tony. No Tony last night either. WAAA! I |
| little critters with suction cups on their | | | | told my husband that maybe I killed Tony with |
| widespread toes. Your loss unless you visit | | | | chocolate. You aren't supposed to give it to |
| someone's home like mine.I have lived in | | | | dogs and cats but Tony was already a seasoned |
| Hawaii for about nine years now and I have | | | | addict. Yet, I felt bad. Why did I give |
| adjusted my thinking more than I would ever | | | | Tony that chocolate chip!? It was too |
| have imagined possible. Spiders that I once | | | | concentrated I worried.We bought a fixer |
| feared like the common Wolfie Spider is minor | | | | upper and all the electrical sockets are off. |
| to me now. The Wolfie is dwarfed by the | | | | My husband discovered poor little Tony just |
| Cane Spider and might I just add a scream and | | | | about an hour ago... electrocuted? I kind of |
| an, "EWWW!" here because they are indeed that | | | | hope so. I so hope it wasn't the chocolate |
| huge and that awful. Let's not even mention | | | | chip. WAAA!Bless little Tony's heart! So |
| centipedes because I have this theory that | | | | funny isn't it how one little creature takes |
| whenever I talk about them much, they show up | | | | on a personality like none other because we |
| to remind me how horrible they are. I will | | | | give it special care. If I ever have another |
| tell you though, that I have seen them just | | | | gecko come to my bedside for hot chocolate I |
| about 10 inches long. OK, lets not go there. | | | | will name him Tony Two and I will never give |
| You see what I mean though about the Wolfie | | | | him a chocolate chip... just in |
| being a minor threat in comparison?I don't | | | | case.-----------Kathy Ostman-Magnusen |
| spray for geckos like the hotels do nor do I | | | | |
| put out those cruel sticky things, that | | | | Fantasy Art WomanI am a figurative artist |
| people use for rats and mice, like some of my | | | | and illustrator living in Hawaii. Most of my |
| friends, to protect their computers and | | | | work is painted in oils. I also do |
| stuff. I think those sticky things are | | | | sculpture. I illustrated for Hay House |
| inhumane and should be banned. I don't do | | | | Inc.,"Women Who Do Too Much" CARDS taken from |
| anything at all about the some 15-20 geckos | | | | Anne Wilson Schaef's book. I also |
| and I am just guessing here, that live | | | | illustrated for Neil Davidson, who was |
| inside my house. YES! I said it and admit | | | | considered for the Pulitzer Prize in feature |
| to it, they live INSIDE my house. They chirp | | | | writing, and several other publications. My |
| at night and even sometimes poop on my | | | | paintings are collected worldwide. In every |
| paintings. After nine years I am indeed | | | | single one of my paintings my objective is to |
| used to it and that is my only excuse.So what | | | | 'know them'. To let character reveal their |
| about Tony? Who the heck is Tony, are you | | | | own vision or message. I am often astounded |
| wondering? You have probably figured out by | | | | as their presence unfolds and I am met with |
| now that Tony is a gecko that I have chosen | | | | who they are. I then realize that who 'they' |
| to name. I not only named him but allowed | | | | are defines me as well. My hope is that my |
| him to lick my cup after my nightly hot | | | | paintings & sculptures relate to you, and |
| chocolate treat. This is a terrible habit I | | | | that legends of mermaids; whimsical angel |
| have gotten into, that really must go. as I | | | | pictures; and tooth fairies fantasies give |
| can feel a few extra pounds because of it. | | | | you the message you need for your own heart |
| Tony loved it though and I must say that I | | | | and soul. |
| really thought is was the cutest thing ever | | | | |