PaulS:
while (blinkmodeon == '1') // compares blinkmodeon to the character '1', i.e. the byte value 0x49The comment here told you EXACTLY what the problem is. blinkmodeon is an integer value, but you are comparing it to the character '1'. Try comparing it to the integer value 1, and you'll probably have better results.
while (blinkmodeon == 1)
-facepalm-
Gah, you're right.
Those books I'm reading are confusing me so much 