It has happened again...

This post is going to seem very random to alot of you, but Jennifer and I were driving into the city for our weekly peek into a runner's world and experienced a phenomena that has become a normal occurrence. We passed a random, abandoned shoe in the middle of the road. This time said shoe was found on Critz Lane in Thompsons Station. One would think this would be a unique, once in a lifetime occurence. But no, I can't tell you how many times I have passed a single shoe in the road. These experiences lead me to a host of unanswered questions:

1 - Is there someone walking around with only one shoe on?
2 - Why is there not a complementing shoe located near the abandoned shoe?
3 - Why don't I see trends in other objects in the road? I have seen a ladder - once. I have seen a sofa - once. I have seen a bale of pine straw - once. With shoes - at least a dozen times in my lifetime.
4 - Did the shoe get there from someone walking? Or fall out of a car?
5 - Is selection involved in losing a shoe? All shoes I have ever seen have been very utility in nature (e.g., boots, sneakers). I have never seen a high heel shoe or a dress shoe abandoned in the middle of the road. What does this mean?
6 - What happens to these shoes after being found in the road? Does the Dept of Transportation have a "Lost & Found" bin for random objects found in the road?
7 - Has anyone ran across a random shoe in the road that they actually lost? If so, did they have the humility to stop and pick it up?
8 - Is there a pervasive variable that lends itself to losing shoes? I have seen random shoes in the middle of the road in: Franklin (KY), Bowling Green (KY), Nashville (TN) multiple times, Thompsons Station (TN), Franklin (TN), Spring Hill (TN), even in Green Hills (TN).
9 - Is losing shoes in the road a characteristic that is specific to certain people. In essence, is there someone out there that has lost a shoe in the road on a routine basis? Could it be that this is one person that is well traveled losing their shoes?
10 - Conspiracy theory: Could it be that someone is planting shoes in the road on purpose? If so, what is their intent? Is there a secret code to the type of shoe, and where it is placed on the road?
11 - Has anyone ever passed a shoe and identified it? "I think that is John's shoe!" If so, did they stop and pick it up and return it to John?
12 - Has anyone ever identified the shoe and NOT picked it up - mainly because the person in the passenger side starts ranting about how is it possible that people lose shoes (this question is for Jennifer)?
13 - Rumor has it that at times women lose a shoe when they have been drinking. This would make ALOT of sense to me in explaining my experiences, except I HAVE NEVER SEEN A WOMAN-LIKE SHOE ABANDONED IN THE ROAD! It's always a work boot, or a Reebok sneaker, or a Puma. I know you are asking yourself - "Does Jason slow down to analyze the shoes he sees in the road?" I might...
14 - Is there a support group for people that have a habit of losing shoes in the road?

I have tons of other questions, but I think the more questions I list the more concerned you are getting about my train of thought. Let me know if you have any possible answers to any of my questions. Yes, I actually think people around me will send me theories...

Jason

The BLOG

Ok, so I am starting a blog. It's my official entry into the 21st century. I've been thinking of the best way to integrate a sustainable process to support an occasional blog. I've discussed the idea of a blog with Jennifer. I thought the best way to publish material that would not be controversial, sensitive, or dorky is to allow her to screen the blog before it is published. She informed me that it would be dorky even with her intervention (what can I say, it's how I roll!). Back to the process, the genesis of my idea for a blog is the wonderful start to the day I have everyday. My wife and I commute to work together and the mornings allow us a good 40 minute commute time to listen to talk radio and discuss current events. Let me tell you, we have solved most of the world's problems on this commute. Not because of any of my doing, but Jennifer has some pretty good positions on issues. So, I thought how selfish it is of me not to share some of the outcomes from our discussions with my friends. I figure I can take notes on my blackberry when I deem something to be blogworthy. After all, I have the worst memory in the history of man. Seriously, I thought I was 22 years old until 2005. You'll probably find my blogs get off point more often than not, that's because I am a rambler. No, not The Gambler - although Kenny Rogers is the man (in large part due to Don Schlitz)! And I'm serious when I say that. My best gift at my 30th birthday party was from Chris Dennison. He got me the Kenny Rogers Greatest Hits CD...got a little tear in my eye. Some of you may know that my parents house burned down when I was in the 5th grade. When that house went up in smoke, so did the strongest Kenny Rogers Cassette tape collection this side of the Ohio River. Oh, it was strong...believe that! And, two years ago at the ASCAP awards, I ate at the table right beside Kenny. I was so close I could have filed an assault charge against his bodyguard. Not because I was a psycho fan or anything, just making reference to how close our table was to his (I have more tact than that...at least in public). Remind me to tell you my Don Schlitz story too, it's pretty strong. Back to this blog thing - once I have determined some blogworthy material, I will spend time during a wonderful TV show (such as LOST) writing a blog for Jennifer to review. Once she approves it, I will publish. I hope the turn around time is fairly swift, I would hate to be posting material about Octumom after all her kids are already grown. That wouldn't be relevant. I can't promise a routine post, but again my goal is a sustainable process that might provide some insight into some of the entertaining outcomes to my daily commute. I wish everyone could ride with us, it is the best! Everyone is welcome to provide feedback, I look forward to better connecting with alot of friends from times of old. And be nice to me on the grammar. Most of you know I am a product of the public school system, and from Kentucky. So I am facing an uphill battle from the start!

Jason

Starting Blog

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