Census Stalkers

There are two people you should NEVER talk to: 

1.  Those people who say they'll compare and contrast health insurance policies and get back to you with which is the best for you.

2.  The people from the US Census

Because the first time you do, you've automatically signed up for the Stalker of the Month program.  Or, in the case of the US Census, the stalker of every 30-minutes-until-you-pick-up-the-phone.

Now, I have nothing against the US Census.  Really, I don't.  I don't mind answering how many people are in my house.  I don't mind giving ages.  I even don't mind telling you whether or not we have jobs.

But they go waaaayyyyy beyond that.

This random census lady showed up at our door about a month ago and I accidentally opened the door.  I told her Husband wasn't fully dressed (because he very rarely is) and hesitated to invite her in.  She said she would wait.  And she did.  For ten minutes while I frantically tried to find stuff to cover Husband.

She said it would only take a few minutes.  It took forty-five.

The questions she asked made me somewhat uncomfortable - like if we'd ever not had enough money for food, how much we made, where we worked and what our job titles were, how many hours a week we worked, what time we worked, etc. 

I know, I'm paranoid and getting more so every day, but all I could think was, "Good grief, lady.  You show up randomly at our door with an ID tag you could have made at the Tiki Hut, asking us questions that could easily be used to decide whether or not we're worth robbing."

She said someone would be calling to do follow-up in a month.  I didn't want to tell her I wasn't going to answer the phone because she'd sort of freaked me out, so I just nodded and smiled.

About two weeks ago, the calls started.  There was a four day period where I literally had 5 calls and messages/day.  I finally answered one and told them we weren't going to continue to participate.

The calls decreased to three times a day but still they kept calling.

Then Friday evening they came by.

I didn't answer the door.

They came Saturday and left a note.

They came Sunday.

Husband told them I was too sick for them to come in, which was totally true.

When the lady insisted, Husband told her no again.

The lady was belligerent when she said, "Well, I guess I'll just write down that you refused."

What was your first clue?  Me not answering the first 50 calls?  Or the time I answered and said we didn't want to continue to participate?  Or Husband answering the door and telling you that you couldn't come in?

Seriously people!  Give it up already!