What It’s Like to Live in Iowa Before the Caucuses

6 a.m. “On the way to the rec center for my morning workout, I notice my neighbor’s Bernie sign was missing — which I had nothing to do with. There were snowmobile tracks, so maybe it just got run over or stolen.” — Ed

7:17 a.m. “Listening to a Pandora ad at breakfast, my 7-year-old asks, ‘Is that real that our country is in danger?’ Mom and Dad may be numb to the political ads, but apparently she isn't.” — Kaci

10 a.m. “Neighbor visited, and besides farming, we discussed the Republican candidates and the caucuses. He may not go to the Republican caucus but will not change to the Democratic Party to caucus, either.” — Colleen

10:17 a.m. “I want to caucus so I registered to vote online this morning. Twenty minutes later, someone from the Hillary campaign texts me about a political rally. I don’t know how she got my number. I lie and say that I will be attending. I’m not actually going to attend.” — Malcolm

11:18 a.m. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 18 years, it’s that it’s not best to talk politics and personal rankings of Kanye albums with your friends. It’s a recipe for disaster nine times out of 10. He texted back that he was Team Hillary. Crisis averted.” — Malcolm

All day “I unplug our house phone during election seasons. I also taped a fairly crude note to my front door to avoid pollsters from knocking. It does not always work.” — JoAnna

All day “I have my portable phone next to me all day long to answer all presidential polls to show my support for the Republican J.F.K. that I have waited over 50 years for: Rubio, of course. If they identify right away that they’re calling for another candidate with numerous questions, I hang up — no point in wasting my precious time.” — Ed

2:24 p.m. “I’ve been watching random Beyoncé videos for the past half-hour and each video starts off with a 15-second commercial from Ben Carson. The commercial says something about Ben looking death in its eye. I’m disgusted that such an ad like that would play before my daily blessing of Beyoncé videos.” — Malcolm

Midafternoon “Checked the mailbox, got 11 candidate fliers: 2 pro-Rubio, 2 anti-Rubio, 1 pro-Bush, 2 pro-Cruz, 2 anti-Cruz, 1 pro-Trump, 1 pro-Huckabee.” — Gerald

3:30 p.m. “Drove to pick up daughter and run errands: 16 yard signs, 9 large vinyl signs on privacy fences, 4 billboards. Saw 17 cars with current stickers (this will pick up AFTER the caucus, when it’s down to two or three real candidates). Listened to a CD to avoid radio ads.” — JoAnna

6 p.m. “My 9-year-old asks at dinner, ‘Why was the radio yelling Donald Trump's name this morning?’ Then comes an in-depth conversation about the caucus, the political parties and why we don't want Trump to be elected.” — Kaci

6:09 p.m. to 6:48 p.m. “Television ads on CBS. 6:09 p.m. pro-Marco Rubio. 6:11 pro-Ted Cruz. 6:15 anti-Marco Rubio. 6:20 pro-Marco Rubio. 6:20 anti-Marco Rubio. 6:21 pro-Bernie Sanders. 6:25 anti-Ted Cruz. 6:27 pro-Ted Cruz. 6:29 Donald Trump bashing Ted Cruz. 6:37 pro-Jeb Bush. 6:42 anti-Marco Rubio. 6:48 pro-Hillary Clinton.” — Colleen

7 p.m. “Go to my hometown basketball games wearing a coat with a Rubio button and when I take off my coat, I am wearing another Rubio button on my sweater, much to the amusement of my buddy, the superintendent. Other days, I am drafting another letter to the editor or talking to anyone within 50 feet about Rubio.” — Ed

7:50 p.m. “Googling what I should next binge-watch on Netflix and it seems all the political ads are stalking me.” — Kaci

8 p.m. “Many of even the most die-hard Democrats and Republicans are getting tired of the constant barrage of news on TV, radio, and in the papers — plus the phone calls, mailings and emails. The only people profiting now are radio/TV/news ad sellers and direct mail printers. We cannot wait till 7 p.m. next Monday!” — Gerald

9 p.m. “If nothing else comes from the caucus invasion, it shows our children that they have a voice in the government. Iowa is not just a fly-by state — there is a reason the caucuses are important here, because despite the annoyance and harassment, it gives the people the rest of the country views as farming hicks a real voice.” — JoAnna