A time lapse of the entire weekend!
900 frames were taken for this, one every 5 minutes!
Monday, July 2, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
A funny story...
Now you might think that I miss certain things - as in the DC event that happened this past weekend and the Indiana Jones sets coming from LEGO.
Well, I missed the DC event completely. Indy I knew about as a low-level rumor since the beginning of the year, but really couldn't say anything (no verification) until last week...when everyone else got the scoop.
And no I wasn't too terribly happy about it. I want BrickJournal to get the scoop, if only to keep the rumors down.
So I got back from Brickworld and sent some notes to the LEGO PR team, asking them to send me any materials on these things - and I got this:
whoa...that's not what I expected. It's better.
How neat is that? I'm looking forward to the Indy sets.....
Well, I missed the DC event completely. Indy I knew about as a low-level rumor since the beginning of the year, but really couldn't say anything (no verification) until last week...when everyone else got the scoop.
And no I wasn't too terribly happy about it. I want BrickJournal to get the scoop, if only to keep the rumors down.
So I got back from Brickworld and sent some notes to the LEGO PR team, asking them to send me any materials on these things - and I got this:
whoa...that's not what I expected. It's better.
How neat is that? I'm looking forward to the Indy sets.....
Brickworld Day 2 Expanded
Friday was an important day because I actually had something to do. With Brickworld, I did a couple of things under the hood, so to speak (most notably the event program), so I was actually quite the relaxed person at the convention.
My task for the day was a BrickJournal presentation set for 11 am. And as usual, I had very little preparation. Things usually happen like this:
Two weeks before deadline: - I think about some ides and a presentation with slides....and then forget about it.
One week before deadline: I remember about my ideas and start thinking again about it...and then forget again.
One day before deadline, in the car: I remember again and think about doing something on my laptop...and promptly fall asleep.
Apparently, I don't like to plan presentations. I like the town square meeting, where I get to talk and field questions. I also like to take suggestions. So I usually write some really quick notes, then throw them away before I start. I know more than anyone about the subject, so I really am not afraid of the questions.
But before the presentation, I had to findthe meeting room. I found it easy enough with Mel, the European Bureau person with me. WE went to the presentation before mine: the Art of the Brick, with Adam Tucker, Royy Cook and Felx Greco. WHile this was meantto be a discussion of how Adam built his skyscrapers, this quickly became a discussion on art...which was something my brainwasn't quite ready for at that hour. And I was hungry, so Mel and I cut out to eat breakfast before my presentation.
So how was it? It was pretty good. I got soe nice feedback from the LEGO Group and teh people who attended. Many people are curious about the hardcopy date (which I am planning for winter - issue 10) and others were just curious to see what I was planning...
I did lunch with Sean Kenney, Certified LEGO Professional. He's a great guy and has offered to help BrickJournal on a number of occasions. We chatted about getting the CPs in BrickJournal more and also some other ways that BrickJournal can help out the community.
After that, it was a lot of wandering and pictures! In fact, I was called upon to take pics at teh opening ceremony and also to do a crowd picture....but more on that in a bit. I was supposed to take a pic outside of all the attendees.
My dinner was a Black Plate Sponsor dinner, so I was with Tommythe Brick Engraver, Brick Forge,LEGO, and Greg Hyland as well as the organizers. That was pretty nice. However, I noticed that it was dark outside earlier than I expected. It was overcast, os I wondered about that and asked about the picture. Plans were quickly changed to the next day.
Besides, there was teh LEGO Store shopping event later this night...and I had to take pics of that!
I got to the store and was allowed in early to take pics....the line was LONG! And once the doors opened, it was a a trickle that quickly became a flood...and there were people everywhere and the constant noise of plates and bricks being taken and thrown in tubs and cups. Sets were being bought by multiples and the lines were long and slow. But no one complained. In fact no one got upset at all...it was all fun.
Me? I didn't buy anything at all...I reached the point long ago where I cannot buy anymore until I build something.
And after that I got back to the hotel, took some more pics and called it a night...at 3 am.
My task for the day was a BrickJournal presentation set for 11 am. And as usual, I had very little preparation. Things usually happen like this:
Two weeks before deadline: - I think about some ides and a presentation with slides....and then forget about it.
One week before deadline: I remember about my ideas and start thinking again about it...and then forget again.
One day before deadline, in the car: I remember again and think about doing something on my laptop...and promptly fall asleep.
Apparently, I don't like to plan presentations. I like the town square meeting, where I get to talk and field questions. I also like to take suggestions. So I usually write some really quick notes, then throw them away before I start. I know more than anyone about the subject, so I really am not afraid of the questions.
But before the presentation, I had to findthe meeting room. I found it easy enough with Mel, the European Bureau person with me. WE went to the presentation before mine: the Art of the Brick, with Adam Tucker, Royy Cook and Felx Greco. WHile this was meantto be a discussion of how Adam built his skyscrapers, this quickly became a discussion on art...which was something my brainwasn't quite ready for at that hour. And I was hungry, so Mel and I cut out to eat breakfast before my presentation.
So how was it? It was pretty good. I got soe nice feedback from the LEGO Group and teh people who attended. Many people are curious about the hardcopy date (which I am planning for winter - issue 10) and others were just curious to see what I was planning...
I did lunch with Sean Kenney, Certified LEGO Professional. He's a great guy and has offered to help BrickJournal on a number of occasions. We chatted about getting the CPs in BrickJournal more and also some other ways that BrickJournal can help out the community.
After that, it was a lot of wandering and pictures! In fact, I was called upon to take pics at teh opening ceremony and also to do a crowd picture....but more on that in a bit. I was supposed to take a pic outside of all the attendees.
My dinner was a Black Plate Sponsor dinner, so I was with Tommythe Brick Engraver, Brick Forge,LEGO, and Greg Hyland as well as the organizers. That was pretty nice. However, I noticed that it was dark outside earlier than I expected. It was overcast, os I wondered about that and asked about the picture. Plans were quickly changed to the next day.
Besides, there was teh LEGO Store shopping event later this night...and I had to take pics of that!
I got to the store and was allowed in early to take pics....the line was LONG! And once the doors opened, it was a a trickle that quickly became a flood...and there were people everywhere and the constant noise of plates and bricks being taken and thrown in tubs and cups. Sets were being bought by multiples and the lines were long and slow. But no one complained. In fact no one got upset at all...it was all fun.
Me? I didn't buy anything at all...I reached the point long ago where I cannot buy anymore until I build something.
And after that I got back to the hotel, took some more pics and called it a night...at 3 am.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
BrickWorld Day 1 expanded
The first day I arrived at the Westin was around noon on Thursday. Setup began at 6 pm, and the first organizattional meeting was at 4:30, so there was quite a bit of time to rela before things got into gear.
I went to Chichago with Tommy Armstrong, the brickengraver. It was a long trip from North Carolina to Illinois, and somehow, Tommy managed to do all teh driving. I would have tried, but when I was about to, I got hit with something that really pset my stomach, and that took over the rest of Thursday.
Felix Greco was our third roommate, and at checkin, I was met by Barbara Price, Steve Hassenplug's mom. For us, it was a little bit of a homecoming, as we worked together at BrickFest 2006. It was also alittle odd, too, because I wasn't a coordinator this time - I was an advisor. So I was a watcher. She was the Volunteer coordinator, so she was getting people here and ther for different tasks.
I also ran into Mike Huffman, his wife Erika, and Mike Cotterman and his wife, Susan. I chatted with them for a bit and wandered the florr - the tables were being arranged by the hotel staff and tablecloths were being placed. And the room looked BIG.
I got pulled to help pick up some attendees at teh airport, so I help wiith that (and almost don't make it because we don't have enoough for a toll). And from there I went to teh coordinator's suite.
It was at the suite I ran into other staffers (Heather Hassenplug , Kathie Bonahoom, Abner Finley, Steve Hassenplug, and a staffer from LEGO, Simon Kent) They were finishing setting up badges and also adding a correction to the event program - I forgot to give credit to the cover artist, Greg Hyland. I didn't realize that until I ran the first proof program, and the correction was done on a file that wasn't used by the printer...
The organizational meet went with some questions, some directions, and a lot motivation. We got our registration bags and some items for being part of the event. We aso got a look at Adam's event kit, which was only completed earlier that week.
And from there, it was out to the floor, which was opened up for setup. Models were being carted in and set up - small ones like my micro mechs and large ones like Bryce McGlone's dragon and Brian Darrow's Blacktron Intelligence Agency.
There's an air of excitement that started building as more people came in with stuff. LEGO's area is full of boxes and sets - there are new Creator sets stacked up, and bags of Cafe Corner parts....and Steve Witt lets everyone build the sets for display....
I go off to dinner and then take many pictures of set up. I also talk to Kyle of Brick Forge and take a look at his stuff. VERY nice. I also meet Arthur Gugick and talka about hismodels for a bit (arcitectural models in microscale - very nice)
So things start like they should, with everyone looking forward to the weekend....
I went to Chichago with Tommy Armstrong, the brickengraver. It was a long trip from North Carolina to Illinois, and somehow, Tommy managed to do all teh driving. I would have tried, but when I was about to, I got hit with something that really pset my stomach, and that took over the rest of Thursday.
Felix Greco was our third roommate, and at checkin, I was met by Barbara Price, Steve Hassenplug's mom. For us, it was a little bit of a homecoming, as we worked together at BrickFest 2006. It was also alittle odd, too, because I wasn't a coordinator this time - I was an advisor. So I was a watcher. She was the Volunteer coordinator, so she was getting people here and ther for different tasks.
I also ran into Mike Huffman, his wife Erika, and Mike Cotterman and his wife, Susan. I chatted with them for a bit and wandered the florr - the tables were being arranged by the hotel staff and tablecloths were being placed. And the room looked BIG.
I got pulled to help pick up some attendees at teh airport, so I help wiith that (and almost don't make it because we don't have enoough for a toll). And from there I went to teh coordinator's suite.
It was at the suite I ran into other staffers (Heather Hassenplug , Kathie Bonahoom, Abner Finley, Steve Hassenplug, and a staffer from LEGO, Simon Kent) They were finishing setting up badges and also adding a correction to the event program - I forgot to give credit to the cover artist, Greg Hyland. I didn't realize that until I ran the first proof program, and the correction was done on a file that wasn't used by the printer...
The organizational meet went with some questions, some directions, and a lot motivation. We got our registration bags and some items for being part of the event. We aso got a look at Adam's event kit, which was only completed earlier that week.
And from there, it was out to the floor, which was opened up for setup. Models were being carted in and set up - small ones like my micro mechs and large ones like Bryce McGlone's dragon and Brian Darrow's Blacktron Intelligence Agency.
There's an air of excitement that started building as more people came in with stuff. LEGO's area is full of boxes and sets - there are new Creator sets stacked up, and bags of Cafe Corner parts....and Steve Witt lets everyone build the sets for display....
I go off to dinner and then take many pictures of set up. I also talk to Kyle of Brick Forge and take a look at his stuff. VERY nice. I also meet Arthur Gugick and talka about hismodels for a bit (arcitectural models in microscale - very nice)
So things start like they should, with everyone looking forward to the weekend....
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Brickworld final notes
I'm finally back home and upolading photos (I took a total of 1500 pics!) on my Flickr account. I found out that I have a couple that have to be deleted (inappropriate gesture - oops) in what I already have, so I also have to go back and check teh pics I sent out.
It's also a relatively good time for me to try to write some better notes - I posted most of my notes at about 3am or so, I wasn't inclined to write any detailed notes. I apologize for that, because there wasn't much going out, and I really didn't help. I'm going to fix that now.
Here's what I experienced at Brickworld...
It's also a relatively good time for me to try to write some better notes - I posted most of my notes at about 3am or so, I wasn't inclined to write any detailed notes. I apologize for that, because there wasn't much going out, and I really didn't help. I'm going to fix that now.
Here's what I experienced at Brickworld...
Monday, June 25, 2007
And it's over...
What a great event!
Brickworld went off really well, and about 5000 public showed up to see what was going on. And yes it was crowded!
But it was also a lot of fun - there was a lot of meetings going on and a lot of social things happening.
A Cafe Corner building project resulted in a 19-story behemoth being one of the landmarks of the LEGO display (not to mention all of the Creator sets that were being shown)
There was MINDSTORMS Sumo and Indy 5.0 running, so there was cheering going on in the room from time to time - and it only added to the festive feeling of the event.
Awrads were given out for outstanding MOCs and people, including the youngest and oldest attendee.
And there was a lot more...that I will be talking about in the next few days.
Til then, take a look at the pics!
Brickworld went off really well, and about 5000 public showed up to see what was going on. And yes it was crowded!
But it was also a lot of fun - there was a lot of meetings going on and a lot of social things happening.
A Cafe Corner building project resulted in a 19-story behemoth being one of the landmarks of the LEGO display (not to mention all of the Creator sets that were being shown)
There was MINDSTORMS Sumo and Indy 5.0 running, so there was cheering going on in the room from time to time - and it only added to the festive feeling of the event.
Awrads were given out for outstanding MOCs and people, including the youngest and oldest attendee.
And there was a lot more...that I will be talking about in the next few days.
Til then, take a look at the pics!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Brickword Staurday...
Got to the display room at 8:30 and got pics of opening.
By 11:00 am, 500 people have come in.
It's a nice kind of busy, and am taking pics and talking and RELAXING.
By 11:00 am, 500 people have come in.
It's a nice kind of busy, and am taking pics and talking and RELAXING.
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