anyone know what this is? it's been hanging out for a week now and everyonce in a while it freaks out and starts to roll around and 'do the jerk' if you will. it's about 3 inches long and looks like a piece of wood.

i have video of the 'jerk' if you're interested

This is the pupa of a hawkmoth, the exact species is difficult: Have a rummage around here:

http://tpittaway.tripod.com/sphinx/list.htm

Start with Daphnis nerii, but it looks a little dark and I can't see if it has two apical spines.

yep, that looks correct to me, thank you! these are the other "hawk moth" caterpillars i find around the yard:

You still wake up sometimes, don't you? You wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs.

This is the final larval instar of the Oleander Hawk Moth (Daphnis nerii) - very different from the earlier bright green forms.

The complete life cycle is recorded here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/siebe/184115199/

You still wake up sometimes, don't you? You wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs.

I was thinking along the same lines!!

Both the death's heads go brown, not so black AFAIK.

The best thing is for the OP to collect some of the pupae and then wait and see...