A day in the life.

I just had the most amusing conversation with the census bureau.

She called - not that I think the census bureau is female, but this representative of it was.  She called because they sent me some damn survey a month ago. 

Which I ignored. 

Because it said census bureau not IRS, and who gives a fuck.  

It turns out it is mandatory (ish) and I have to fill it out every quarter for 8 quarters which is going to go SO well.

She started to make sure they had the correct mailing address and I said, no, no, I remembered it.  I put it in the pile of things I didn't really have to pay attention to.  Because of it not saying IRS on it. 

Which she thought was REFRESHINGLY honest.

I offered to move it to the pile of things to do AFTER I finish the pile of things I REALLY have to do.

But she said no.

And I said, so I really and truly have to remember to do this every quarter for the next eight quarters?  And she said YES

And I said AWESOME.

And she said I had a GREAT attitude.  Which made me laugh.

So I said I would put it on my pile of things I REALLY had to do SOON.

I kind of love her. 

I bet it only take 3 minutes to do.  Three minutes and a 1000 dead trees.

Comments

[Angelia]

The great attitude comment had me laughing. Why do you have to fill it out for 8 quarters? I thought the census was a once & done kind of thing?

[tana]

Love this.

[Dr. Steph]

They're mandatory in Canada too. But once every 5 years or so. And only once. But like others, I do use census data so I think it's important.

[charli]

i'm pretty much talking out of my ass here, but i don't think you really have to do it. what's the penalty?

[donna lee]

Every quarter? I hope I didn't get one and throw it away......(i think i'd be in big trouble about now)

[Jenny]

Go. Blog. Go. The census people keep on coming up to see us - can't quite figure out that we are not the same people in both houses. We have tried to explain the relationships/same names - but three people with the same name just doesn't compute.

[Danielle]

Can you delegate to someone? Because this is EXACTLY the kind of thing that would drive me (more) bonkers.

[Victoria]

Welcome back!

[Jocelyn]

Ah. You have one of those piles, too, eh? Well, she really should have congratulated you for not just sticking it in the recycling bin to start with!

[Jessica]

How did you get lucky enough to be selected for such an honor? You know... so I can avoid it?! ;)

[Martha]

I filled out that friggin' thing for the company I work for. It's like 5 pages long and most of it doesn't even apply to us. Sigh.

[KateinIowa]

It's probably the American Community Survey. A new one that they use so they can shorten the big one coming up next year. It's important! Funding and representation to Congress is determined by all Census information. Good for you for being such a good citizen of your country!

[lanea]

Ah, census. I worked for them once upon a time. I'm glad your caller was so . . . different from the people I worked with.

[Melissa]

Hmmm...I think I got one of those too. Maybe I should dig it out of the Pile of Stuff That Will Probably Get Thrown Away But Not For 4 Months Because it Might be Important.

[tina]

Heh. Love the new subhead, too.

[Lizbon]

Whoops, obviously, I meant IRS, not IRA. That would entail carrying a machine gun, which, while she might have also been doing, you wouldn't have been able to tell over the phone.

[Lizbon]

Well, even if she hadn't identified herself as being Census and not IRA, you'd be able to tell that she was, because she has a sense of humor.

[Lynn]

Perhaps you're representative.

Of what, I don't know, but apparently the census bureau would like to know.

Me, too, come to think of it.

[Elizabeth]

So, this is random, as I think google reader recommended your blog to me because of the knitting. (hello!)

BUT, I feel compelled to comment!

As someone who uses census data on a day to day basis, you, filling out your forms every quarter for 8 quarters, are totally my hero.