A contest!

To set the stage, as I write this, I am undertaking my first attempt to use my washing machine. The machine is making unfamiliar noises, and my clothes are spinning in ways that they are not used to spinning. However, I have great confidence that this will all work out.

Now, TO THE MATTER AT HAND! If you can name this animal (at right), I will name my new bicycle a name of your choosing. If this is actually a pig with fur, you must explain how it came to be so. [Source: Picture of a picture in the Hungarian Museum of Ethnography - can't believe I forgot to post it yesterday.]

Went apartment hunting today - the guide was really helpful and my hockey friend Abel came with which was incredibly nice of him. The one place that would have been perfect got snatched up by someone who wanted it for 18 months, so, I'll be back at it later this week. Also, I start Hungarian lessons Friday - woo! I picked up a few more words in conversation today, but having a teacher should make this a ton easier.

Some random facts:

• American Eddie Eagan is the only person to ever win gold at both the Summer (1920 - Boxing) and Winter Olympics (1932 - Bobsled).
• Georgia (the nation) has the third largest contingent of troops in Iraq. (I didn't know this, and was interested because the ceasefire is heavily in the news here. However, the troops may withdraw due to the conflict with Russia.)