wordpress custom modules/widget areas on the page? can i make my own?

You can add additional widgetized sidebars to your theme by adding to your theme’s functions.php.

If you have not already added widget support in the theme, include:

if (function_exists('register_sidebar'))

Then add:

// Footer Widgets
register_sidebar(array(
  'id' => 'footerwidgets',
  'name' => 'FooterWidgets',
  'description' => 'Widgets here are shown in the footer',
  'before_widget' => '<div id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
  'after_widget'  => '</div>',
  'before_title' => '<h2>',
  'after_title' => '</h2>'
));

Then in your theme add <?php dynamic_sidebar( 'FoooterWidgets' ); ?>

Now simply go into Appearance >> Widgets to add whatever you like to this area.

WordPress Codex – Widgetizing Themes

If you have not already added widget support, include