Perils abound when you do field work in Southern Arizona. You have to seriously consider the possibility that you will run into a drug dealer in the middle of nowhere (sometimes armed to the teeth!), there’s a real risk of dehydration if you get stuck somewhere in the summer, and every now and then you almost walk face first right into one of these:
Spider eating grasshopper
I have to say that the glory of this beast is diminished when you notice it with just enough time to slam on the breaks before you end up with a large spider and its silk-wrapped grasshopper breakfast strewn across your nose. It’s much better enjoyed at a more leisurely pace. :)
(Anyone want to ID my spider for me? If so, leave a comment!)
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The Dragonfly Woman 
It’s a cross spider, or European garden spider, Araneus diadematus.
Are you sure? The carapace has a pattern that is distinctive of Neoscona spp. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoscona
ID it? You said it was a spider right there in your post! That’s a completely accurate identification!
I lean with Pavan’s ID, Neoscona.
Ooops — Sent that off with incorrect email address, but you can get it from the bugshot list.