Follow my blog it you like. I promise to post more in the following weeks.

I have really enjoyed Collecta.com over that last year and now I they have created a great WordPress widget to monitor blog topics inside of your side bar. I installed this widget earlier this afternoon, check it out to your right.

If you are not familiar with Collecta.com, it is a real time search engine that you can adjust to spider through engines, blogs, twitter, you name it. I highly recommend it for when you are watching events and want to know real time comments and thoughts. I had it running during the State of the Union address a few weeks ago and could read the real time thoughts from people all over the US and the world. I plan to update this widget for cool events each week.

Also check out the Meebo.com toolbar at the base of my blog, cool way to share blog posts. You can get download the Meebo Toolbar here.

Further more, I took a few days off from blogging, twittering, txt’ing to spend some time with family that was in town. I feel all of us who embrace the social media world need to be reminded from time to time that spending time with our real family is more important that spending time with our virtual families.

Now that my disclaimer is out there, I have a few hours here before I leave to go see the Arizona Cardinals take on the Atlanta Falcons and it gives me time to reflect on 2008. What a year it was for my life. Here is a Harper’s Weekly style summary for everyone.

January – Diane and I Celebrated New Years, by accidentally being allowed into a $200 per person private party at a fine Italian restaurant here in Vegas. (no names, don’t want them to find out).

February – Turned 29, went to see Artie Lang at Mandalay Bay and Diane got to meet him after the show, super cool.

March – Diane and I purchase a house and construction begins.

April – House construction was in full swing, started choosing options for the house.

May – The house started looking like a house and Diane and I already sold almost everything we owned.

June – Selling Source / PartnerWeekly eliminated my position to change their corporate structure.

July – Go to work for Black Diamond Digital Imaging.

August – Closed on the house and hours later on our way to Idaho with VegasGeek for a two day concert. This was one of the most fun trips I have ever taken. Can’t wait to do it again in 2009. Any excuse to wear a cowboy hat.

September – Economy really started to fall apart, but was able to get away and visit my parents in Wyoming. That is always a party.

October – New theme for JakeLudens.com and Diane and I went to a record number of Halloween Parties. Normally I am not one to dress up a lot.

November – Diane and I got engaged! Yeah how crazy is that? I am excited, should probably set a date for the wedding, 2010, 2011?

December – 30 day blog challenge. My parents came to Vegas to see the new house and stay with us for a week. It was great, our first Christmas in the new house and we had all of the family here.

2009 is starting out great, I spent yesterday spending gift cards from Christmas and watching football. Now I am off to see an NFL playoff game in Arizona. I can’t wait to see what 2009 has in store for the bloggers, tweetfreaks, and this crazy life of mine.

For any of you who are not familiar with the Las Vegas First Friday events, check out the MySpace Page.

Even though our offices are not an official part of First Friday, we like to open up our office doors for a few hours to help bring our friends and clients down to support the First Friday events and the Las Vegas art scene. Old downtown Las Vegas has always been my favorite part of Vegas and the city has been doing a lot lately to renovate and make it the “happening spot” it is known for.

Since we are in the Holiday Spirit, we have a great theme for this month’s get together, Beanie’s. We were also lucky enough to get some great prizes donated for the Best, Ugliest and who knows what else. We also will have buckets for clothing donations if anyone wants to get rid of some stuff.

Well, I need to finish up some work and look forward to see everyone downtown tonight. Oh and since JohnHawkinsUnrated.com decided to Rick Roll me this morning in my comments section for yesterday’s post, I need to come up with a really good prize / payback.

Oh and last but not least – there is a Twitter Meet Up as part of tonight’s get together. If you aren’t familiar with the greatness that is Twitter, come on down and we can help explain it’s benefits.

In an attempt to simplfy my life and to make better content here at JakeLudens.com I will be transfering over some of the content of my other blog FeedingTheBlind.com and slowly phasing that site out for future uses. Not to worry, it will return. For now check out my new page where I will be listing books that I have read that I think others would enjoy. In the next few weeks look for small review snippets for each book listed. I am constantly ready, so please leave a comment on the books page me know any books that you recommend.

I have also updated my blog roll, check out Diane’s Recipes. She has been creating great, low fat, heart healthy foods and getting some great responses over at Recipe Zaar.com

Finally, watch for the closing blog post on Diane’s and My new house. We are finally moved in and have some great finished photos.

But for now, check out the newest photos

A few last minute touch ups and it is all ours!

We are going to be out on the road with John and Chris for a few days but wait for the final house building post coming soon!

The house is looking great and they have really made some great progress.

The new flooring went in this last week, it was still covered but I was able to get a few shots.

There isn’t much left for the builders to do, the next thing Diane and I will need to do is finish the back yard, that will be fun.

It looks almost finished from the street.

I have been in contact with a number of great people form the Marketing and Advertising world and look for great things from me in the near future.

I have not really posted much here at JakeLudens.com about anything but the new house that Diane and I are building. Look for that to change starting in the next week. I have been busy finishing up a number of things and getting ready to move in to the new house.

I will also have a full announcement of what is next for me in my career soon.

Please keep the comments coming and I will have plenty for all you advertising buffs to talk about.

I wish PartnerWeekly and The Selling Source the best of luck in the future and thank them for the experience.

I am looking forward to bigger and better things. Watch for new updates to JakeLudens.com, I will be posting my full resume and ways that you can get in touch with me.