Four up!

(gp: January 24, 2010)

It's been a busy day on the ice!

Our 4th contestant has shown up, and apparently from a long way.

Creating a bit of a challenge, Ganeppy the Gnome arrived speaking Spanish to our Gnomish Translators, causing a bit of a scramble to find a local translator. Ganeppy hails from our first off-continent site of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.

Ganeppy, pictured here with his lucky mushroom and a bag of mangoes, has a rather wistful, possibly forlorn expression most of the time. Perhaps this is due to the first time he's ever seen snow, much less endured temperatures reaching single digits while standing on ice.

Our newest contestant has even more challenges ahead. At only around 7 inches tall, or smallest contestant so far, Ganeppy has the real possibility of being lost in the first snow storm until spring thaw.

Ganeppy also caused an additional stir, arriving with his pet ducky. Apparently named "Mi Perro", the Great Gnome out officials were sent scrambling to try figure out whether the (apparently somewhat rubber) ducky could be allowed to stay with Ganeppy.

In unprecedented mixed decision, the matter went to vote, and resulted in a tie:

3 for the fact that the ducky was a flotation device, therefore not allowed

3 for the fact that the ducky was plainly food, and thusly allowed.

For the moment the ducky remains with his Gnome, pending further investigation and due to the fact the Spanish translator got bored and left during the voting and nobody could explain what was going on to the bewildered Gnome.

Ganeppy is out on the ice this afternoon as daylight wains.

Gerald Putzny - Gnome Press International