Just in case there was any doubt in your mind about what a goof I am, I will share with you my excitement over the Census coming out.
No, really, I am just over the top tickled. The Census? YAYAYAYAYAYAY! I feel like Steve Martin in The Jerk when the phone books come with his name in them. The Census is coming, the Census is coming-- OMG, It's HERE!!!
There's just something about being connected to something so ancient. Like Mary and Joseph returning to Bethlehem to be counted, giving birth to the baby Jesus. Knowing that the count would be one less if you weren't here. Our household is 4 more people! Stand up and be counted!
Remember I said I am a goof. Cut me slack. LOL, we all have our quirks.
So last week we get a card that says the Census will be here in a week and my anticipation starts to get all fevered pitched and what not.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASIDE: Why? In this computer age, why wasn't there an option to fill the census out online? Why are we wasting paper, postage, etc when the majority of folks could just go fill the survey out on their home computers thus saving a couple million dollars? They could have password protected it... holy moly, government is silly.
So anyways, yesterday the long awaited Census gets here. I clutch it to my chest, quickly counting... this is only the 3rd Census I've been able to fill out, what a moment. I run in the house, rip open the envelope and grab a pen, getting ready to sit down and fill it out right there and then. I'm wiggling in excitement... and then I read the first question:
1. How many people were living or staying in this house on April 1, 2010?
I get ready to put a big ole 4 in the box and my eyes catch the instructions above "Do not count anyone living away either at college or in the Armed Forces".
WWHHAAATTTTT?????
I read further: Leave these people off your form, even if they will return to live here...
WHAT??? REALLY??? Not count my baby? Are you kidding me???
I throw the form aside.
Forget you! If I can't count my baby, I'm not gonna count myself.
Stupid census. Just like Ralphie finding out his secret decoder was just an ad for Ovaltine, I am completely dejected. My household is 4. Not 3. I will not put 3 in the box. Even Mary & Joseph got to be counted at HOME.
Errgh. Now the government will have to waste more money coming to my door and asking me why I didn't fill out my survey.
QUICK ASIDE: Do you think maybe the winter was too long for me?
Additionally, Why April 1st? Am I supposed to be a mind reader? The sky could fall in by then. Ugh.
8 comments:
Linda, don't get me started on why you can't fill out your form online. Some folks over in decenial couldn't decide things fast enough to get it off the ground, etc., etc. I'm mad at them, dumbest thing ever. Oh, and there was an issue about security, too, since all answers are confidential, no hackers if we don't online.
count your kid, just don't tell anyone I said to.
I don't remember why they picked the first. Kinda like a fiscal year thing.
Funny thing: 10 years ago, my mom lived in two places on the 1st, she had an apartment she live in during the week and went home to dad on the weekend, so she was both places on census day. and filled out both forms.
I will technically be at home ON April 1st.
Additionally, HOW RUDE Government! Kill trees on million upon millions of tiny sheets of paper and then not even let them count me! And they probs won't even RECYCLE them when they're done!
So if I go to college, I don't exist?
They don't let me count my babies either.Just because they grew up got married, had babies of their own who grew up and left home, they won't let me count them. In my heart my household is a family of 6. In fact I know that we are a family of 16, but I only get to put 2 in the box.
College students get counted, they just get counted AT college. All students at my university got an email a few weeks ago about how important it is that we are counted in the town where we go to college, because that's where we are the majority of the year using the roads and infrastructure.
Rhia, yes we do. Recycle.
Things are going to start happening now!
"I throw the form aside. Forget you! If I can't count my baby, I'm not gonna count myself."
I laughed out loud. In my stuffy office at stuffy NASA. :)
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