I just got through putting my Nielsen diaries into the mail this morning. Since May 1 through last night, my family and I have been a “Nielsen family.”

In case you don’t know what Nielsen is, it’s the company that keeps track of what people watch on television for ratings. Since May is “sweeps month” this was a great opportunity to let Nielson know just what we were watching.

They even pay you for your time! OK, it’s only $5.00, but every little bit helps, especially since the democrats have let gas prices increase so much. You get a diary for every TV in your house and as a viewer you keep track of what you watch.

I’m no fan of CNN or MSNBC, so the Fox News Network received lots of love from me during the week in my Nielsen diary all day long. The “O’Reilly Factor” was watched every night. Olbermann received no love. Sorry Keith, “Countdown” has lost it and become so far out there, that even if I did watch his show, it would only be to watch the segment called “Oddball.” So when O’Reilly crows about his ratings for May being three or four times what Olbermann’s were, you can thank or blame me.

Leave Katie Couric alone! The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric was watched every night. Katie needed some love in the “all boys world” of network news and she got it.

The local Montana newscasts are all so poorly done that I don’t really have a favorite.

I just had to watch the CBS Early Show on Friday to see the greatest rock band of all time, REO Speedwagon, perform in Greensburg, Kansas. “Keep Pushin” REO! Greensburg is the town that was flattened by a tornado a year ago.

I also watched “The Today Show” when Al Roker visited Malmstrom AFB.

Of course, I could not miss ESPN’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning” the day that Mike Golic participated in the eating contest. Good TV!

Other favorites that I watched included “Lost” “NCIS” “Criminal Minds” and “House.”

Of course, the other folks in my home listed the programs they watched on that TV’s diary.

I think this is the second time we’ve been a Nielsen family for a week, but the first time was many years ago. It’s a fun to do and see, on paper, what your family watches on TV. It’s also interesting to see what the TV stations do to draw you to their networks by airing specials and events for sweeps month.