Chance at Becoming President: 0%

The second day in a row for 1.08 miles. I have been busy with both work and sleeping enough to stay awake at work. I am still planning to deliver on my promise to do a six-mile run before this weekend is over. If I can get it done, I will have put in approximately 24 miles on the week. For next week, I'm hoping to get to around 30, with the additional six miles added onto my longest run of this week (which means I will have a 12-miler on my plate). I cannot afford to put off full marathon training any longer, and I will probably need to play considerable catch-up to be on track.

I went to West Des Moines yesterday to do a few errands. I got the keys to my new apartment. The place looked pretty good and was decently spacious for the price, so I am looking forward to it. I also stopped by my high school and took care of payroll benefits. As of September 1st, I will have health, dental and vision plans, a life insurance policy, and a retirement fund. Nothing has ever made me feel so incredibly old and young at the same time. Old because I finally, after 23 years of depending on my parents, have to set these things up for myself. Young because I didn't know what the hell I was doing and really didn't have a clue as to how all of these things work. Luckily, I got plenty of my questions answered by a really, really, really helpful lady in the business office of the school. I also went to pick up my textbook(s) from a fellow teacher, and I was surprised to find out that I will be teaching not just World History, but also American History next year. It was a bittersweet find. Two classes will mean more lesson-planning, which basically means double the out-of-class work. But I love America, and loving America as much as I do requires that I get up in front of a bunch of teenagers and flaunt the flag. Flaunt the flag, baby. Just flaunt it!

Also, today I put my signature on a ballot referendum to give the Iowa Socialist Party a chance to put a candidate on the November ballot. I am not a Socialist by any means, but I felt sorry for the guy because everyone was ignoring him. I figure, hell, why not give them a chance to be as miserable as everyone else in the political forum. Maybe I shouldn't have signed it--he was wearing a Yankees cap. But anyway, he was kind, and the more options the better. Maybe a third party will at least pressure both the Republican and Democratic candidates to get more done. We shall see.

For a fact, I ruined my shot at becoming President. They'd dig up all the dirt on me and find out I signed a petition thirty years ago allowing a socialist to be on the ballot. Crazy.

To do: Find a reasonably-priced gym or fitness center in the Des Moines area. One that's not too far from my apartment. Hopefully something that's open 24/7, too.