Legos and My Quarter-Life Crisis
I have been jokingly using the term “quarter-life crisis” ever since I started buying NES games again, but I just learned that this is an actual term. Who knew?
I’m beginning to notice quite a few signs that I’m experiencing a strange phase of my life, not the least of which being my strong desire, despite horrible reviews, to go see the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. The list continues to grow: I was at the store a couple nights ago and after my usual browse through the electronics area, a strange impulse brought me to the toy section. For whatever reason a Lego set caught my eye. Now, Legos are not a new concept to me. Sure, everybody loved Legos when they were kids, but like most of my hobbies, I took my Lego addiction to extremes. I was a member of the Lego builders’ club for the majority of my grade school years, and I still have all my Legos in a 20 gallon plastic tub in the attic. I haven’t really even thought of them for a good 15 years, and something told me this set would be a lot of fun to assemble. Well, whatever that “something” was was right; I built, disassembled and rebuilt the kit (and its variations) several times that night and the next day.
But it wasn’t enough. I returned just a couple days later and bought an additional set from the same series (Lego Creator series, if you were wondering), choosing it over a larger, more expensive set that begged to be purchased. The next day at work, I couldn’t stop thinking of the larger, more expensive set, and finally broke down and picked it up as well. Today I went to five different stores to browse their Lego selections, picking up an additional assortment of four smaller sets. Every time I get a new set, I waste no time rushing home to put it together. I’m totally addicted again, and the REALLY large sets taunt me every day.
Anyway, of COURSE I’m going to put my completed kits in my poor man’s light tent and take photos of them, so here’s a couple from a selection of my purchased kits.
From left to right:
- This model came with both English and German stickers, but after assembling it, the car looked distinctly European to me, so I opted to stick the German ones on. I think it looks really cool. This police car was a cheap buy, and I got if half-off because of a sweet deal K-Mart was running on their Lego fire trucks. Yes, I’m twenty-five years old.
- The first Lego man I’ve purchased in at least 15 years, proudly standing next to his sweet German-engineered cruiser. I learned today from the Wikipedia entry on Legos that they’re actually called “LEGO minifigures” (or “minifigs” among the fans), but fuck all those guys; I call ‘em Lego men. I also learned that you’re supposed to call Legos “LEGO Bricks”, and that the LEGO is brand is specifically all caps, but that is equally retarded. They’re Legos.
- A bitchin’ jet, and the third set I purchased. It has functional flaps and landing gear, as well as a mechanism that allows you to extend and retract the wings. So rad. My new addiction has been met by derision from just about everybody I know, but deep down I know it’s because they don’t have this set.
- A semi, which is a variation of the original set I purchased that started this whole goddamn thing.
March 29th, 2007 at 5:52 am
For what it’s worth, the TMNT movie hasn’t been getting terrible reviews from people who are/were actual TMNT fans.
March 29th, 2007 at 6:18 am
Yeah, the movie was pretty fucking rad. I really enjoyed myself. It was pretty neat feeling the excitement of going back to the theater 15 years after seeing the first one to see the new one.
I don’t think it’s a “quarter-life crisis” (dumbest term ever by the way.) I just think that’s who you are. I’m pretty sure you’re the only person I know (besides Justin) who can get into something like underwater butt paddling and have a S.C.U.B.A. set the next day with an assortment of no-slip, rubber paddles in an assortment of colors all with their own advantages/disadvantages. And of course you’ll know them all.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:43 am
Hah, that’s cool. I found that really interesting because I feel the same way about Lego as you described — except I’m sixteen and stopped playing with them a few ago. Also, I just have to point out that Lego is singular and plural, though from that blog it sounds like you’ve already Wiki’d Lego. Sorry. I had to.
March 29th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Monica told me that you stop maturing psychologically at the age you start drinking. Judging by your new hobby, I’d venture that you were an alcoholic when you were 6.
March 29th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
If you still enjoy the first two TMNT movies, the new one is definitely worth the money. I really, really liked it.
And Legos are damn expensive.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:34 am
I really want to comment on this and maybe even ridicule you, but, I too have played with legos in recent history, there are pictures, and I WAS ridiculed, I remember how much it hurt me, therefore, Bill, I will not judge you.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
From Wikipedia:
Whatever. They’re Legos to me.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
I think unless you’re an asshole, they’re Legos. And who in their right mind would stop a child whilst in exclamation of a new Lego set and explain to them
“The word LEGO® is a brand name and is very special to all of us in the LEGO Group Companies. We would sincerely like your help in keeping it special. Please always refer to our bricks as ‘LEGO Bricks or Toys’ and not ‘LEGOS.’ By doing so, you will be helping to protect and preserve a brand of which we are very proud and that stands for quality the world over. Thank you! Susan Williams, Consumer Services.â€
LEGO is officially written in all uppercase letters. The company asserts that to protect its brand name, the word Lego must always be used as an adjective, as in “LEGO setâ€, “LEGO productsâ€, “LEGO universeâ€, and so forth.”
FUCK DAT
March 30th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I’m with Chris W.