So I collect comic books, play a variety of games, drive a quirky British car, carry around a stuffed monkey, and have a cat… What else could make me more “Not Normal”? One word- Lego. Yes, I know I just used a four letter word in a family friendly comic- I’m sorry.

As some of you know my day job is in public education, right now I’m a “Teacher on Special Assignment” working with the Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) magnet schools in my district.  There’s a lot more to it than I originally thought when I took the job, but it is an interesting change of pace.  Which leads me to that four letter word- Lego.  Both schools have First Lego League Robotics teams so the kids learn to program robots built out of Lego to complete a task.  It is kind of cool and something I wish had been around when I was a kid.  (Historical note: My last Lego kits growing up were 853 & 854 the Technic Car Chassis & Go-Kart back in 1977)  So a few weeks ago using the excuse of “research” & “networking” I attended Brickworld in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Brickworld is basically a convention for Lego builders of all ages.  Different clubs (yes, there are Lego clubs) get together and show their skill by building complex set ups.  While there were many traditional set ups with what seemed like tweaks to to make them stand out from the basic kit they were all impressive.  I did learn something about Lego, as every geek has their collectible, so does Lego- the mini-fig seems to be the big thing.  You know, that little guy with the yellow head that is shaped like a propane tank.  Tables full of armies of yellow headed people, and real people snapping them up.  Scary sight, since I remember when they didn’t have faces (Set 585).

This got me wondering if I still had it in me… Could I still build with Lego?  Sure I’d bought the Lego knock-off TARDIS kit, but a blue box is pretty simple compared to… a Sopwith Camel.  SO returning from Brickworld, Sue and I stopped by the local Lego Store in the Mall… first time I had set foot in the Mall since I don’t remember when.  I walked out, my wallet a little lighter with a massive kit (Set 10226) and promised I wouldn’t start working on it until I had some other work done.  Three days later, It was done, and now I have to figure out what I’m going to do with an 883 piece airplane.  The other thing that I have to work out is… What will I build next?