If you have any skill at the hugely popular Facebook game, Bejeweled Blitz 2, try this. Turn off your sound. Seriously. Your scores will go up. The sounds are a major distraction while playing and turning them off lets you concentrate more on the game.

The bare chested vampires and werewolves of Twilight sequel, New Moon,  shattered the all-time 3rd biggest opening weekend record of $135.6M. It also set the record for biggest 2-day total with $115.9M, passing The Dark Knight’s 2-day take of $114.8M.  It was the biggest November opening in film history, besting Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire's $102.7M.

OK. So New Moon is a huge success. But what is the reason for that? Is it a particularly good movie? Are the actors any good? How's the story? What's that? Edward and Jacob are half naked through the movie? Where do I get tickets!

Really, though. I've heard mixed reviews on the film and those performing in it. I have yet to see New Moon so please take all that I am saying with that in mind. I saw the first movie and it was OK. I haven't read the books, but I've people have told me everything from "I couldn't put it down," (great) to "I couldn't put it down fast enough." (awful) Teen angst stuff, even when coupled with vampires and werewolves is something that I can only watch so much of. I actually enjoy the CW's Vampire Diaries, but I think it's darker than Twilight and I enjoy that. It makes it somehow more real.

I will probably wait until New Moon hits the dollar theater in town before seeing it. In the mean time, all I have to do is browse the internet to see a barrage of shirtless Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson images. If that's the hype that will bring young girls, not so young housewives and the occasional gay man into the theater then so be it. Here's my contribution to the hype.

Shirtless Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga: New Moon

Shirtless Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga: New Moon

So have I cast my vote for Team Edward or Team Jacob yet? One thing I've got say about Taylor Lautner is that he worked his ass off to keep this part after the first movie. You've got admire someone who knows what they want and will work hard to get it.

On the other hand, I've always loved a sexy vampire.

Going to give something a try and see if I can drum up any more business.

I've put all the men's and women's organic t-shirts and fitted t-shirts on sale over at Whee! Design. Normally, they are priced at $26.99, but I've knocked $3 off the price so they are $23.99. I'll try advertising through the regular channels and finally get an email out to everyone on the Whee! Design list. We'll see what happens.

There are still some styles that are priced lower than the organic shirts, but I'm hoping that because they are actually very nice quality, that I will get some extra hits on those over the next few days. If this sales works out then I'll consider doing other things like it in the future.

I am totally in love with the Droid!

It's been a few years since I had a smart phone, the last being an old HP running Windows Mobile. Now I have internet access, wi-fi, texting, cool apps and much more.

One of the first things I tried out when I got the phone was the new Google Mamps navigation. I wanted to see if the phone could get me home from the Verizon store. It did with flying colors. While still a computer voice, the verbal directions were clear and understandable. The view of the map shifted as I drove and upon reaching my house, I got the Google Street view of the location.

Facebook integration is another wonderful feature. I'm always checking up on my friends through Facebook and having this phone makes it easy. Not everything that is posted in the Facebook feeds makes it through to the News Feed on the phone's app, but I think I'd rather have it that way. I can always go to the web site if I want to see more.

Speaking of the web, the built in browser works like a charm. Just for the heck of it, I checked the acid tests on the browser and Acid3 reached 93 out of 100. Not perfect, but still a great accomplishment. I loads most of the web sites I use regularly and the zoom feature lets me do just about everything I normally do on the web.

I'm still getting used to the keyboard, both physical and software. My fingers are a little big and I occasionally hit the wrong key. But the suggestion feature on the software keyboard is a great help. I can usually enter 2 orr 3 letters and get the word I am looking for . Tap it and it's inserted into my text.

There are a HUGE number of apps available at the Android Marketplace and so far they cover everything I could need. And as a developer, I fully intend on writing my own apps for it to tie into some of the web based software I've written over the years.

All in all, I am very happy with this phone. It's going to be even more fun now that my best friend has one too!

Looking at my last post, I realize it's been an entire summer and most of the fall since I posted anything. It's been a crazy year to say the least.

The summer was decent except for the part where I was sick for nearly 2 months. My doctor couldn't find a thing wrong with me, but what ever it was was kind of like Mono or the flu. It wiped me out. I actually lost 15 lbs during the whole. I know I wanted to loss weight, but from now on I'm hoping to do it without being sick.

Went camping a few times over the summer and took it easy for the rest of it.

I survived my 40th birthday. I had a really good time hanging out with my friends.

Got a new digital camera. There will be MUCH more about that later, but its a Canon EOS Rebel T1i. I LOVE it. I've taken some great shots with it and hope to do much more. I've actually set up a little gallery with prints and cards for sale over at my Valador Studios site.

Lot's more to talk about and big plans for this site as well as Valador Studios and Whee! Design.

Finally!

It finally feels like it's summer in Erie, PA. Coconut Joe's officially opened a couple of weeks ago and, as always, it's a blast! Nick Zuber started things out as the first live band and the following weekend was the Erie Wild Rib Cookoff and Music Festival. I ate far too much and probably spent way too much time at the bar. But I had fun.

Playboy Playmate, Crystal McCahill was at Joe's as a celebrity bartender last weekend and will be back for Roar on the Shore this year. Got some fun pics of the gang with her at the bar.

I just volunteered to help out at the end of the month with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition right here in Erie. It should be a great time and will help out a deserving family.

I'm planning my camping trips for the summer. Things aren't working out for an extended trip this year, but I will definitely be taking those camping trips 3 or 4 times this summer. I've been spending more time at my mom's since this winter. She had to have her gall bladder removed and was in the hospital for several days. I spent that time taking care of my brother and still try and help out when I can. So things have been a little crazy the last few months and not really what I had planned for hte big 40 birthday year, but then who's plans ever work out the way they are supposed to.

Doing more work to expand on Whee! Design. I'm branching out to help other people set up shops for themselves and their businesses. The most recent is one for Boardwalk and Coconut Joe's. The t-shirt shop has a couple of designs already and we've got plans to add many more. I've expanded the custom designs available to a certain degree and have a lot more ideas (and a lot more programming) to complete.

So been very busy. No where near my weight loss goal, but headed in the right direction. Discovered I'm developing carpal tunnel in my right hand so I need to deal with that. All in all, I'm ready for a vacation. So it's back to figuring out when I'm taking that first camping trip, then maybe a new design or two for the shop.

There's some other inspiring things that I'm focusing on. The 40 years old thing has really got me thinking about what is age and being "old". It's got to be more a feeling than actual numbers. Like I said before, I really don't "feel" old. Most of my friends are younger. Through out my life it's been that way. I always seemed to fit in better in one of two places. Younger people or older people. The younger people because of their energy and optimism and desire to "play" and do things. And oddly, the older people (and by older, I mean older than me) I would hang out with were people who were DOING something. Not the older, sit at home and watch TV crowd, but artists, performers, adventurers and so on. All though highschool I would hangout after the bell rang to talk to the teachers. Especially the ones involved in after school stuff like theatre, clubs, etc. They encouraged that kind of activity in me. I never seemed to fit in with my peer group. The ones I did fit in with were the ones who hung out after school with me.

In college and grad school, it was very much the same. My professors became some of my best friends. I learned so much, not just about the subject they were teaching, but applying that knowledge, living their lives, and the fact that they were always growing and trying new things.

So, no I don't "feel" old. And I have some inspiration to not LOOK old as well.

I've been a fan of Hugh Jackman for a while now. Love him as an actor. Someone who can go from flamboyant Peter Allan in "The Boy from Oz" to Wolverine in "X-Men" has some talent. I've heard him talk about his career and his life on various occasions and he always seemed well grounded and confident and like an all around nice guy. That fact that he looks that good and is in that kind of shape at 40 is an inspiration.

Another inspiration is Bob Harper. Bob is a personal trainer and if you;ve ever seen the TV show "The Biggest Loser", you know who I am talking about. I've got one of the Biggest Loser workout DVDs and Bob's workout really kicks my ass. I just signed up at his new website mytrainerbob.com and will be using that as well as my account at SparkPeople to keep up with my workouts and nutrition. Bob is 43.

If these guys can look this good in their 40's, so can I. True, they can work out a whole lot more than I can. They sort of do it for a living. But still, they are something for me to aspire to.

OK. So not entirely "failing"... but not doing as well as I hoped. Workouts are few and far between. Though today, I did spend a good 30-45 minutes out clearing out my driveway. THAT was a workout. There are times I really hate this city. When the snowplows do finally come by, all that snow from the road seems to end up in my driveway. I think it's beacuse that's the only place for it to go as they are pushing this huge mound of snow down the street.

Also, I have been eating better. There is a new Lean Pocket flavor called Garlic Chicken White Pizza. VERY tasty! And only 270 calories and 8g of fat.

There's been some progress on Whee! Design and the custom design generator. I've got several customizible designs set up under the Valentine's Day portal.

So Not "Failing". Making slow, but steady progress. That's the attitude.

That's all for now. I need to get some work done today. Not sure exactly what yet, but something will get accomplished.