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January 25, 2004

Jack Slept Here

SteveG pointed us to this little web app, presented by World 66, that generates a map of the U.S. with the states of your choice colored red.

Since I was little I've kept track of all the states I've slept in. That's what this map shows. Red equals I slept there.


Gone East pal Jo Ann and I have an ongoing debate about the definition of "sleeping in the state". To me it means spending a regular night's sleep. Sleeping in the back seat of the car, while rolling along I80 in Nebraska doesn't count.

Posted by jghiii at January 25, 2004 11:27 PM
Comments
Posted by: sherman on January 26, 2004 12:15 AM

Way too strict criteria.

For me, it's being on the ground. So purposely driving thru West Virginia on the way back home to New England from Kentucky counts WV as a state.

Flying over a city doesn't count. So there are huge gaps in my color.

Posted by: MGA on January 26, 2004 07:26 AM

Looks like you'll have to go back at least one more time through the
south and return via the north to get them all covered.
Slept in Canada or Mexico?

Oh, BTW, Sherm. It's not about the gaps in your color. It's about the
gaps in your ethnicity. :)

Posted by: adamg on January 26, 2004 07:48 AM

My wife's definition of a "visited" state: One she could have died in. So we both get Delaware, even though the extent of our time there was driving on I-95 to get somewhere else.

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 26, 2004 09:02 AM

Hey, cool! :-) Now Jack, I don't think our ongoing debate is about the definition of "sleeping in the state"... isn't that obvious?!! I mean, unless you're going to take that meaning down a whole different path... which I'm not! That would change my stats anyway... I'm not a sailor!

I think it's more accurate to say that our debate (great, now we'll debate about the debate!) is the question of what qualifies as being able to claim that you were "in" that state. Ya know, be able to "mark it red", so to speak. (Can I mark mine "blue"? As a democrat, I'd be more comfortable with blue.)

Our debate is that you think one has to spend the night in the state to claim it, and I think one just has to "be" in the state. Now, I do think driving through a state (if you never stepped foot outside the car) and especially in an airplane, needs to be stated as such, otherwise it's misleading... but still technically correct... you were still "in" the state.

Here's how I come to my theory: If someone is in a vehicle in a state that they never set foot in and (God forbid!) died in the vehicle, the legal record would state that they died in that state that they never set foot in. By your theory, they died in a state that they can't claim that they were in. :-)

Now, of course you can't count states you've only flown over, unless you happen to experience a crash landing; then you are certainly entitled to count that as a state you were in.

Here's my stats: I have absolutely set foot in 44 states and am proud to say I've slept in most of them! Hey, I took 2 & 1/2 years traveling/working around the country... they count! "Have little red Honda, will travel."

By the way, do you think travelers with chronic insomnia never got to where they went?

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 26, 2004 09:13 AM

Hey, I just read Adam's post! Woo Hoo! His wife and I have the same theory... "if you can die in the state, you were there!" How funny and yet, odd and slightly disturbing is that?!! :-)

Posted by: dah on January 26, 2004 03:29 PM

every one here has the same opinion except Jack ?
just cause you have not slept in a state does not mean you have never been there. we dont care were you have slept Jack, infact we dont want to know that kind of stuff...."were ya going Jack, were have you been, were do you wnat to be?"

No, no,...have you been to any of these states that are not red ?

Posted by: Jack Hodgson on January 26, 2004 03:52 PM

I just KNEW that if I brought this up we'd go down this road.

Jo Ann and I have had this exact conversation on many a Scotch-enhanced occasion. And I'm sticking to my story.

For those of you who feel a need to inflate the size of your list, feel free to decide that if you merely see a state out the window, that you get to put it on your list.

But I chose to hold myself to a higher standard.

Now, David, if you want to see a map of the states I've had sex in, well, first of all that is definitely a MOM ALERT thing. And second, it would certainly require changing the state color to BLUE.

Posted by: Not Jack's Mom on January 26, 2004 04:05 PM

Actually no Mom Alert would be necessary.

It will be nice to see how chaste you are. I'm glad you are saving yourself for marriage. (And we just won't discuss that period in your life with Rob).

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 26, 2004 09:15 PM

Jack, Jack, Jack!

So, you still really think you have to spend the night in a state to claim that you were in it? Personally, I think one should step foot on the ground to really count it as a state they were in, BUT, even if you were driving through and never got out of the car, you were technically in the state! It's just more legit to clarify that you "just drove through it".

To say you have to "sleep" in the state... that's just wacky. By your definition, you could drive from Augusta, Georgia to Knoxville, Tennessee, arriving in Ashville, North Carolina at 1:00am, crash at a Motel 6, sleep for four hours, and never see North Carolina in the light of day. And that counts as a state you were in because you slept there.

But then you could have a tummy full of biscuits and gravy from Betty's Truckstop in Bonner Springs, Kansas and with a full tank of gas drive non-stop for hours straight through Missouri and over to Clarinda, Iowa in the middle of the day without ever getting out of the car... and somehow you can't count Missouri... a state you saw more of in broad daylight than North Carolina, simply because you didn't sleep there!

By your definition... on your trip through Missouri you could do a drive-by shooting and legally get away with it because you don't think you were really in the state of Missouri... good alibi!

Whoa. I gotta go pour myself a Johnny Walker Black, neat.

Posted by: Jack Hodgson on January 26, 2004 09:30 PM

Jo Ann. No, no, no.

YOU'RE the one who's obsessing about being IN a state. I'm saying that that is no big deal. Passing through a state is easy. It's a good criteria for those of you who are having a difficult time making your lists very long.

But I've moved beyond merely visiting a state. I need a more challenging criteria for my list. I have to have slept there.

For example, you don't hear historians getting all excited about the states that George Washington VISITED. No! People on our level must aspire to a more lofty standard.

I've been IN lots of states. But I only COUNT the ones I've slept in.

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 26, 2004 10:10 PM

Oh, you silly boy, Jack.

So now you say you acknowledge that to drive through and shoot someone or die there is being in the state, but by your standards, doesn't count "enough". Okay, "whatever"!

Now if you're challenging me... remember, I'm a gamblin' girl! Poker in Lake Tahoe ring a bell?

I would absolutely bet that I have slept in more states than you... anyway you slice it. Easily. :-)

Shall we make this interesting?...

Posted by: Jack Hodgson on January 26, 2004 10:44 PM

You're on! For a bottle of single malt scotch.

But we're talking about a regular, restful, G-rated night's sleep here. Not some hippie-chick's definition of, you know, like, sleepin' with the band.

Posted by: sherman on January 27, 2004 12:11 AM

That's how Jo Ann plans on using Kansas and Alabama and too bad there isn't a band named Alaska that she can sleep with.

Posted by: Jack's mom on January 27, 2004 12:24 AM

someones made a comment using my name. it wasn't me. Sounds like maybe it was Sherm, since he mentioned Rob. That's a no no.

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 27, 2004 05:02 AM

Alright Jack! I'll count up my states and we'll be in touch...

Mr. Jack and Mr. Sherm: what is up with the comments?! First of all, I am sooo not a "hippie chick"... I am way too city for that! Now Sherman did give me an idea... hmm... there are also bands named Texas, Ohio Players, New York Dolls... not to mention Boston, Chicago, Memphis Jug Band, and Frankie Goes to Hollywood... Oh, never mind, since I've already SLEPT IN ALL THOSE PLACES! You are sooo toast, Jack! :-)

Posted by: Sherman on January 27, 2004 03:13 PM

Mentioning Rob is a no-no?

One of those family secrets, huh?

Aiight.

Posted by: Jack's mom on January 27, 2004 03:50 PM

You know what I meant. Making a comment under my name is a no no. Behave yourself Sherm

Posted by: Sherman on January 27, 2004 06:30 PM

Yes, Ma'am.


But what reward do I get if I do? Do you know how to FedEx a chocolate cake?

Posted by: dah on January 28, 2004 01:11 PM

one last comment to this issue of being in a state...

I have said that you dont need sleep in a state to say you have been there, I would like to retrack this statement and add to Jacks
requierments...

Not only do you have to sleep in a state, but you need to be there for more then 24 hrs...

It was more then three years since I had been in Mass. that record was broken yesterday. and yes, I slept there, not fair, I however I was only down there for 15 hrs, so I did not reach the 24 hr mark, I was not there and my three year record continues to grow....

Posted by: sherman on January 28, 2004 01:27 PM

Kinda self-serving criteria there, you Massachusetts hating dude, you.

Just make sure you outlive your family -- or else you know they will bury you in Massachusetts and you will spend eternity going "Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 28, 2004 04:56 PM

HA! Now, what if you never sleep there, but you were there for more than 24 hours?!

I still say that if you can shoot someone or die in a state, you were there! But you still ought to clarify it if you didn't ever touch the ground. "Yes, I was in Vermont, beautiful state! I should explain though that I was just driving through... so I can't really say I was "there". I didn't sleep there and I never even got out of my car. Oh, by the way, I did feel a little road rage though and shot 3 people. But I don't really feel like I "experienced" Vermont enought to count it as I state I was in."

Now, we could up the ante to more than merely sleeping in the state or being in it for 24 hours. To count a state as one you can truly claim, you should have to stay at a house with locals and get a job! Extra points if you stay with third generation residents and get a state job for a minimum of three months, no, make that six months! Or, how's this... one has to get a driver's license from the state to count. Yah, yah, that's it.

Posted by: Jack Hodgson on January 28, 2004 05:19 PM

OK That's interesting. I'll go first.

I've had drivers licenses in three states.

Posted by: Sherman on January 28, 2004 06:10 PM

I've driven cars with an expired license in 4 states.

Posted by: sherman on January 28, 2004 06:11 PM

Or maybe the criteria should be if the state names a town after you. Massachusetts has named two towns after Jack.

Posted by: Beth on January 28, 2004 08:37 PM

What are the two cities?

Posted by: sherman on January 28, 2004 08:38 PM

Why Marblehead and Athol, of course.


(this doesn't require a Mom Alert -- unless the Mom has a speech impediment.)

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 28, 2004 09:52 PM

BWAHAHAHA! I think I just gave myself a hernia reading that last comment...

Yeah, I don't think there are any cities named after me. I know there is a Jolo, West Virginia... but I don't think I had anything to do with it and, since my last name isn't Lopez, it isn't even a knickname. Darn.

Posted by: dah on January 29, 2004 08:54 AM

cThis has been one of the most popular comments section I have ever seen on this web site.

so to add to it one more time,

licenses
I've had drivers licenses in four states.
what does that really count for ?

but you know, in conversation, when some one asks "Have you ever been to Texas" they are asking if you have visited the state and not just drove through or slept there. So often when answering this question I will always reply with "I have been there but did not actually visit"

I think a visit to stop and actually soak in some of the state is what really counts here.

Posted by: Jo Ann on January 29, 2004 05:49 PM

Nope, we uped the ante. It doesn't count to say you visited the state unless you lived and worked in the state and got a driver's license to show for it. Just kidding!

Yes, this is a good response... to say you were in the state, but didn't really visit if you drove through or had an overnight business trip, whatever. That's what most people agree... you "really were there", but in discussing what states you've visited it's more accurate to clarify if you just drove through, etc.

Jack is competing with George Washington! He wants to mark his territory by noting which states he slept in! (I kid, Jack!) Actually, have you ever noticed (at least in the West) how many signs there are that claim that "Mark Twain was here"? I mean, that guy really got around! I don't know when he had time to write, he was always on the move.

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