Big Happenings at the Gnome-out!
In the week following the the major storm that so drastically affect the Great Gnome-out, changes have been fast paced, with the majority of the Contestants. Worse, we have apparently have had the first 2 casualties.
Observation is purely from distance at this time: between the early spring rains, last week's major storm system and the weather reaching over 40 degrees F during the day, the ice has become unstable enough to not support most humans. Indeed, since the storm there has been open water at both ends of the Grizwald Pond.
More disturbingly, there has apparently been another rash of attacks on the ice.
Here is the status of our contestants:
- Buzz Flyboy, our loud mouthed Gnome Army representative is missing entirely. At this time his fate is unknown. The ice where he had taken his position is unchanged, indeed there appears to be the impression of his feet still visible, however Buzz is not in evidence.
Rumours abound: Did Buzz reach his point of endurance after the storm and take off in his stealth Gnome jet? Was Buzz attacked and carried away by what ever has been stalking the Event Grounds? Was he attacked by rival Gnomes, tired of his incessant needling? We may never know.
- Zweibell and Ducky Snowman have also been lost. Despite whichever entity of this pair you were rooting for, both have apparently gone down through the ice. Ever since the extensive snow storm mid-February that covered over the smaller Contestants, and the subsequent melt down/refreeze cycle, this diminutive pair was only briefly seen the day after the storm, sitting low in the ice.
Three Contestants are still standing upright: Ribbit, whose wide bottom and sunflower umbrella seem to have been a good combination is the least affected by events on the ice. Jakemily Emiljaky and Ptthbshurtmmmm are both still standing (or in Emiljaky's case, sitting) albeit at a list to one side. In both cases, the list is due to the beginning of sinking into the ice.
Sir Humphrey, Grumpy Chato and Gnub are all lying down on the ice. Given the previous attack on Gnub, the Great Gnome-out Event leaders have been worried about the possibility of a repeat of this episode, but the attitude of these three seems to speak more to shear exhaustion versus the result of some attack. All three are in minor ice declivities -the beginnings of a melt-through. The debate rages that these gnomes are not resting and they are tied into the disappearance of Buzz Flyboy in some way. Calls out to the ice to these contestants, have not gained any coherent response, and the condition of the ice is such that humans cannot reach these contestants.
The tale gets much sadder from here. Ganeppy our Spanish speaking Gnome from Puerto Rico and his ducky are on the edge of loss. All evidence of Ducky has disappeared. Ducky struggled early on despite his evident ability to float, his tiny size working against him. Ganeppy himself is in serious difficulty: he has sunk into the ice to the point of being completely encased. Given the freeze at night / melt during the day cycle the Grizwald Pond is currently experiencing any contestant encased in ice could make a reappearance, so this reporter's hopes are with both Ganeppy and Ducky.
Snail, our silent contestant, is just a small lump of a shell, barely sticking out of the ice.
With the weather showing continued clear days with temperatures in the mid 40's F. and nights in the high 20's F., we are heading toward and early Ice-out for the Gnome-out this year.
Gerald Putzny for Gnome Press International
- Zweibell and Ducky Snowman have also been lost. Despite whichever entity of this pair you were rooting for, both have apparently gone down through the ice. Ever since the extensive snow storm mid-February that covered over the smaller Contestants, and the subsequent melt down/refreeze cycle, this diminutive pair was only briefly seen the day after the storm, sitting low in the ice.
Three Contestants are still standing upright: Ribbit, whose wide bottom and sunflower umbrella seem to have been a good combination is the least affected by events on the ice. Jakemily Emiljaky and Ptthbshurtmmmm are both still standing (or in Emiljaky's case, sitting) albeit at a list to one side. In both cases, the list is due to the beginning of sinking into the ice.Sir Humphrey, Grumpy Chato and Gnub are all lying down on the ice. Given the previous attack on Gnub, the Great Gnome-out Event leaders have been worried about the possibility of a repeat of this episode, but the attitude of these three seems to speak more to shear exhaustion versus the result of some attack. All three are in minor ice declivities -the beginnings of a melt-through. The debate rages that these gnomes are not resting and they are tied into the disappearance of Buzz Flyboy in some way. Calls out to the ice to these contestants, have not gained any coherent response, and the condition of the ice is such that humans cannot reach these contestants.
The tale gets much sadder from here. Ganeppy our Spanish speaking Gnome from Puerto Rico and his ducky are on the edge of loss. All evidence of Ducky has disappeared. Ducky struggled early on despite his evident ability to float, his tiny size working against him. Ganeppy himself is in serious difficulty: he has sunk into the ice to the point of being completely encased. Given the freeze at night / melt during the day cycle the Grizwald Pond is currently experiencing any contestant encased in ice could make a reappearance, so this reporter's hopes are with both Ganeppy and Ducky.
Snail, our silent contestant, is just a small lump of a shell, barely sticking out of the ice.
With the weather showing continued clear days with temperatures in the mid 40's F. and nights in the high 20's F., we are heading toward and early Ice-out for the Gnome-out this year.Gerald Putzny for Gnome Press International
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