The Brick Connection– A novice Lego fan explores the great brick world of LEGO

Well readers, this week’s post will be short. What can I say, it’s a holiday this weekend and I’ve been in vacation mode for about a month now. Yes, that’s right, one month of preparation for my three day weekend. For those struggling with the math at home, that’s one day longer than my regular weekend.

I was hoping to do my first real LEGO build this week and tell you guys about the experience, but my Lego supplier is very unreliable. I met him outside the 7-11 with the fedora and sunglasses on as we discussed in the AOL Lego chat room, and had a wad of classic Monopoly money in my pocket. (I wasn’t sure what currency he accepted.) And exactly 3 hours and 22 minutes after our planned meeting time, there he was. All four feet, 3 inches of him. The eight year old child walked toward me with one of his lackeys in tow; a mysterious woman who looked in great need of a nap. Just a few feet before they reached me they turned and walked into the 7-11. They did it in such a casual way though, like it was their intention the whole time. Something must have spooked them. I turned and saw a cop car had just pulled up. Well actually the van said mall security, but clearly someone was on to us. I got out of there as fast as I could...

Okay actually Ryan Hauge, a.k.a. the co-owner of BrickWarriors was supposed to be my supplier. All I wanted was some basic Lego bricks. I was going to take them to the office and just make some simple brick connections. (Yes, I just plugged my blog within my blog!)

I was going to be like a fresh-faced five year old child, experiencing the joy of Lego for the first time (although technically it would not have been my first time.)

BUT NO! Ryan is apparently very protective of his Lego. He said once he has his Lego room set up in his new house that I can come over and use his Lego there. And he had the nerve to say that after I had just spent hours helping him organize his Lego collection. Blasphemy!

Well I will be coming over and playing in your Lego room, Ryan! (And rearranging everything to mess with your head!) I will then do at least one whole blog post about it. Even if I have to spend the entire day in there! Anything’s better than spending the day in this office.

But it makes me wonder, what does Ryan think I’m going to do to his Lego bricks? No, like really? It’s Lego…

Also, it is quite clear that if Amanda and Ryan ever have children, they will never be allowed in Ryan’s Lego room. He’ll be like Will Ferrell’s character in The Lego Movie, except there won’t be a happy ending.

Don’t worry future Hauge children, every time your Aunt Cori babysits she will let you reign free in the Lego room. And I’ll make sure your grubby, sticky, slimy little hands infect every single piece.

Okay, this took a weird turn. Let’s get back on track.

Without Ryan’s Lego bricks I had to improvise. Back in December, Amanda and Ryan bought myself and the two other BrickWarriors employees (who shall remain nameless because this is MY blog) little Lego sets. And then they made us build them as they watched. Like we were animals performing for their amusement. You know, the usual employer-employee relationship.

Anyway, my set was a cool one from The Lego Movie. Since this was the only Lego I had, I decided to build with it again. But this time I had my amazing new Lego knowledge. It’s like I’m an entirely different person, both inside and out. (Because I’ve gotten a haircut since then.)

                             


First I had to take the previously completed set apart. I’ve recently taken apart a lot of Ryan's Lego and it was whatever, but taking apart something I built….A TRAGEDY! I was heartbroken! But mostly because I had forgotten how many little pieces were in this set and putting it all back together looked like it was going to take FOREVER.

I decided to film it all for my vlog. Did I mention I have a vlog??

             Behind theBrickWarriors Mask

                     - “The best vlog about a premium minifigure accessory company EVER” – said someone, probably

Yes, I have a video blog series where I try to give you a behind the scenes look at our amazing company. It’s a lot of silliness, but silliness related to Lego and Lego accessories. Please check it out, if you haven’t already. My personal favorite episode is #12 called About a Boycott. I’m really good at coming up with clever titles if you haven’t noticed.

Check out the latest episode related to today's blog at the bottom of this post.

So The Lego Movie set has a lot of tiny intricate pieces. Clips, single studs, chains, pipes, slopes, plates, tiles, rods, a plate shaped like the letter A. And those are just the pieces for which I can think of names. LEGO was kind enough to give me a glossary in the back of the instructions with a picture of each piece and its corresponding part number. Super helpful guys! Maybe if I was trying to sell these individual pieces on Bricklink! (This was my way of telling you guys that I know what Bricklink is.)

This will haunt my dreams

Anyway it ended up taking me almost 22 minutes to put the set back together. (And that was after maybe 10 minutes of trying to take it apart.) Here is a picture taken in the middle of the insanity:

Ansel Adams quality photo

It turns out the first time I built this set I had forgotten a piece.

Man, that last sentence was the most uninteresting bit of information I have ever provided. I should probably start this holiday weekend early.

To sum up, I figured the missing piece fiasco out and ended up with an even better build than the original. Score!

Smiling through the tears

Alright, I’m out. Happy Independence Day America! Let’s do what we do best, eat lots of unhealthy food. U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A! ….Also, watch the women's soccer team play in the World Cup Final!!

And for any foreigners reading this, remember, we’re better than you……when it comes to eating lots of unhealthy food.

Stay tuned for next week when I will discuss how much I’m dreading going to Jersey for a Lego convention. Ugh! Jersey!



The latest Behind the BrickWarriors Mask - Ep. 18: Picking up the Pieces

*Compliments, general feedback, and constructive criticism are welcome. Any haters that are gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate can go step on some Lego with their bare feet.*