Sin has thoroughly diseased us

[Martin Marprelate]

But I think the Holy Spirit can begin to act on people in small increments, slowly and that sometimes Calvinists insist in a no work at all or a light switch coming on. And it has to be one or another. I believe there can be a definite period of time where the Holy Spirit is working on someone - they are not saved but they are beginning to move in that direction. Do you guys believe that it has to be total depravity, no interest in God, then regeneration, instant complete salvation and then we can talk about repentance and belief?

I'm sorry; I missed this post until just now.
I agree with you. The problem with the 'light switch' theory is that it obliterates the need for Gospel preaching. Either one is totally blind and dead to the things of God, in which case preaching is useless (1 Corinthians 2:14) or one is already a Christian and Gospel preaching is superfluous.
I believe that there is a point when someone becomes awakened. He has an interest in religion that wasn't there before. Then, perhaps as he reads the Bible for the first time, he becomes convicted; he's aware of the holiness of God and his own sinfulness. Then perhaps he will come to church and hear the word preached and God will fully open his heart to receive it. That is certainly my experience.
The time between these various stages can vary. Sometimes they are telescoped together and the different stages are almost indiscernible; in other cases, like that of John Bunyan, the time between conviction and faith can be months.

This was the view of many of the Puritans. William Perkins wrote a book on the subject called The Golden Chaine. Later Puritans like Thomas Goodwin and John Owen also believed in it.