Resurrection and approaching death on the ice!

gp: March 13, 2010

The Ice giveth back, but the water closes in.

Mother nature can be cruel.

With the ongoing weather of low 50's F during the day all this week, the ice pack on the Grizwald Pond continues shrink. Water is almost completely around the edges of the pond and is fully crossing the back of the pond where the main current is.

Mother Nature can also be helpful.

One of our Contestants, Ganeppy, has resurfaced miraculously from the ice's cold clutches. Today's Contestant check positively confirmed Ganeppy's visible presence on the ice, although still partially encased in it's frozen embrace.

"Yeah. Look at that. One of the little buggers is gettin' spit back out" responded an enthusiastic Bob Grizwald who made the initial discovery while sitting on Great Gnome-out's viewing stand and enjoying the first beer of the morning. Given the color of his eyes and general appearance, it was a miracle that Bob could focus enough to see the ice much less the diminutive Gnome.

In a potentially more amazing recovery, rumours are that companion of Zweibell from Germany - Duckysnowman - has been sighted. The yet to be confirmed rumours are that the pair are currently upside down or close to it so only Duckysnowman's white underside is showing, making it very hard for clear identification against the glare of the ice. If Duckysnowman's presence can be verified, the ruling of the Great Gnome-out's judging committee that the pair - or at least Duckysnowman- were lost will have to be reversed.

But again, Mother Nature can be cruel.

As reported earlier, the water continues to close in on Gnub, our Sailor Gnome. Observation has the open water flow across the back of the pond only inches away from Gnub. Worse, it is obvious that the ice under Gnub is thinning.

With today's weather report calling for temperatures in the 40's, and for a rain-based Nor'easter with wind and rain to hit tonight, Gnub may be swimming with the fishes in Grizwald Pond before morning.

The rest of the contestants are mostly unchanged, though it was noted that both Jakemily Emiljaky and Ribbit are beginning to tilt, with Emiljaky's position upon his mushroom starting to look precarious.

Off in the woods to the west now of Grizwald Pond, we can still hear the calls of the Rescue Teams searching for Buzz Fly-boy. This effort has be going on for days, but is wanning as becomes evident that our AirForce Gnome is not to be found.

Our readers must note as the end for some of these upstanding (or lying) creatures nears: what appears to be cruel endings to innocent Gnomes and Garden Creatures is merely Mother Nature's whims and the call of the Great Game.

As the end of the game draws near, the crowds of spectators jostling for viewing position grows daily.

Gerald Putzny for Gnome Press International.