1 JAN, 2006 - 1650 CST I don't get excited about the temperature this time of the year - excess heat in the summer is more of a problem. December started out way below normal and we had an 8 inch snow cover by the 20th. Then the jet stream flopped around again and we have been 10 to 20 degrees above our normal high of 30. The concrete ice rink in the park in back of our house has very little slushy ice left. The snow is reduced to scattered remnants left from snow removal activities and that will probably be gone before cold weather returns next weekend. What concerns me is that 2005 was the fifth driest year on record in northern Illinois. The NWS says we are still in an extreme drought. We had less than half our normal moisture in DEC. Unless we have a really wet winter and spring, we could end up with an even drier 2006. HNY - Dick, W9GIG