Since I normaly don't work the UHF contest it was a treat for me when I didn't have to work on a Saturday so I was able to try out the UHF contest again this year.  Band conditions were dismal to non existant here in the Ozarks.  Out of the maybe eight stations that are on VHF and UHF here in Arkansas we have at least four that are in this grid EM36.  But partisipation was down this year with my hearing only one other station.  Being that we are only fifty miles apart KG5MD Ronny and myslef worked a sweep on our three bands 222, 432, and my newest band 1296.  I wasn't sure why the bands were so lacking until later when I found out that there was a geomagnetic storm in progress along with a much needed local thunderstorm that forced myself and others to disconnect our antennas to protect from some major lightning activity during the evening rain storm.  There wasn't much rain in it though, which we need desperately.  Its been so hot and dry in our part of the world that I discovered highways do have a liquid state.  But for now I've put my attention towards the September VHF contest.  Lets hope I can do better next time.  73   Joe