newb shoe question

I don't quite understand, do you mean one shoe for both events?  If so I don't think so, I think most change shoes.  If you mean are there tri specific shoes for the bike, yes there are but then you would change to your runners in T2. 

hm ok. I ask because in the lbs today i was talking to one of the guys that work there and hes really been helping me out since thats the only store i have shopped at and then a bystander came into the conversation and asked me if they make a shoe for running and biking in a tri. told him i hadnt heard of one but would look into it. i guess it would be a smart concept though. so whats the difference between a tri specific bike shoe and a regular bike shoe?

I can't imagine a shoe that would at once give you the firm platform and clip in ability of a bike shoe and the flexibility needed for a running shoe. 

I believe the biggest difference between a road bike shoe and a tri shoe are number of straps for ease of entry/exit. 

The straps often fasten in the opposite direction as well...my road shoes have 3 velcros straps that pull from the inside to the outside of the foot, I have seen some tri shoes that have one large strap that closes from the outside of the foot to the inside...so all you have to do after getting your foot into the shoe while riding is push is inward across the top of your foot.

And if your shoe is flexible enough to run in, it will lose power on the bike when you pedal, so a dual riding/running shoe isn't really feasible.