Actually I have both the BL and VCC connected to 5v. No problems so far, hope I don't damage anything :-X
Well, when I use the lcd_clear command, it does just that, it clears. When I have any information on the screen, it just looks like it's flashing because it keeps looping, and if I put in a delay, it just flashes, but slower. 
And yes I understand the parameters, I think, haha battle ship! 
But minus the letters. As for the itoa, doesn't make too much sense to my noobness at the moment, but slowly but surely everythings making more sense.