I'm not sure what flavor Han Solo is...

I didn't realize how much of my knowledge of different LEGO bricks was connected to my sight, until I tried to put together a small LEGO police car in a blind build competition.

Now if you took away my hands and my sight -- I think I'd be in an even bigger bind. But that's not the case for a German teenager -- who comes to us courtesy of a television show in her homeland. She apparently can correctly identify Star Wars minifigures just by putting them in her mouth -- which considering LEGO bricks can be a choking hazard, I would not recommend trying at home.

I won't spoil how she does for you, but rest assured it's worth the four minutes and 36 seconds.

Couple friends and LEGO bricks

I've written about the concept of couple friends for newspapers -- wherein you can struggle to find couples that match up well with both you and your wife. And how the entire process is all too much like dating with rejection and the post-date analysis that goes on much too long.

Well, I didn't see this as a benefit until recently, but I have become a more desirable couple friend. It's funny to see husbands light up when I start to talk about LEGO bricks. And if the plastic bricks aren't enough of a grabber, I've always got Star Wars and Indiana Jones to fall back on before we get to the standard non-LEGO troika of beer, video games, or sports.

Men need an excuse to hang out and playing with plastic bricks turns out to be a great excuse. Although most spouses have no idea what their husband is getting into...

Image via Palo Alto Online.

Lights, camera, brick action

I don't admit it, few adult fans do, but when I'm alone with a LEGO car or collection of minifigures -- I'll set them in motion and act out some sort of scene on my desk. These are toys, they are meant to be characters in an imagination play.

What I have yet to do is film one of those delightful battles or epic quests -- capturing my imagination via stop motion animation. But others have, a "LEGO" search on YouTube turns up 499,000 results...

And now, potentially for the first time ever (feel free to offer up a correction Internet), a film festival celebrating animated brick films -- BrickFlix -- is set for May 5 in Durham, North Carolina, just one day before the Brick Magic convention starts in nearby Raleigh. It's only a matter of time before we see the fourth category for shorts at the Oscars.

Nathan Sawaya built my book cover

That's the official cover above -- so get out your photo printers and your framing equipment. This one's a keeper.

And that's not an optical illusion -- the actual title is made of LEGO bricks. In fact, the whole cover is a LEGO sculpture that sprang from the hands of LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya. He works with plastic bricks the way that others use clay or paint. His collection is currently part of a traveling museum exhibit called "The Art of The Brick," which will challenge your perceptions about the limits of building with LEGO bricks.

This is a perfect encapsulation of something that I noticed while researching the book that continues to fascinate me to this day -- that adults are capable of creating mind-boggling structures and mosaics from such a simple object. So here's to Nathan, I could have not asked for a more unique or interesting cover for my first book.

How you know you've made it

When I thought about the book coming out, I was primarily excited for two things -- to see it on the shelves of libraries and in bookstore displays. At both, I intend to stand close to the book, either remarking on its singular ability to change your life or suggesting that candy is hidden inside.

This morning brought an unexpected surprise via e-mail, which I would be remiss if I failed to express the odd mix of excitement and anxiety that sprang forth from yours truly. You, singular reader in Papau New Guinea (hello, by the way), can own your very own advance proof of LEGO: A Love Story -- courtesy of the good auction people at eBay.

So take a break from bidding on porcelain unicorns and Jonathan Bender jerseys to bid on the book -- there's free candy hidden inside.

All conferences should be held around such tables

It's too late for my home. There are LEGO bricks in almost every room and they're not going anywhere soon. The other day I compared it to the movie villain in "The Blob," it is just the slow, inexorable takeover of my house by tiny plastic bricks. Inevitably I try to run, but I trip and the next thing you know, my pants pockets are full of bricks and I've staked my claim to half of a bookshelf.

And since this is a hobby/lifestyle choice/obsession that extends beyond my home -- you will join us -- I figured you could at least look cool with a LEGO conference table. The one pictured above was designed for a British advertising agency Boys and Girls by design firm Abgc. There's a making of video here.

As soon as I'm done building my LEGO phone, I'll totally ring you to set up that meeting.

Image via freshome.

Miniland Jon and Kate

The Kansas City half of the book trailer is in the can -- or whatever you call digital film before it is edited -- and the second secret location is also complete.

Now before you get to appreciate the evil genius lair/Ikea repository that is my office -- I wanted to give you a sneak peek at two of the potential stars of the video -- Miniland Jon and Kate.

Two strong, brick-stacking hands put together these two figures on Sunday night. Kate's got braids and stockings, while I appear to be wearing a shirt that is clearly fashion forward (either that or the result of grabbing whatever bricks I had on hand in the 30 minute window I had to build).

Note, these are built to Miniland scale -- the recreations of cities that are the best part of LEGOLAND theme parks -- which means that Kate and I are now six-feet tall.