Under the Duplo Sea - Duplo Octopus

DUPLO Octopus

The bumps on the DUPLO blocks have always reminded me of the suction cups on an octopus. I have been wanting to build an octopus with Bella for some time, but we never had enough blocks in the same color family. Looking to expand our collection of basic blocks, I checked out the basic sets on the DUPLO website, but they cost more than I could afford for the quantity that I wanted to purchase. I then thought that since DUPLOs are made from such durable plastic, why not just try to locate some used ones? DUPLOs seem so indestructible to me that how could you even tell if they were used? Besides, even if you can tell they have been played with before and often, isn't that a good thing?
    I found out about the BrickLink website from a very nice and helpful LEGO representative whom I had contacted to ask whether or not a certain DUPLO set had been discontinued.

Octopus Closeup

When she told me that the set had been discontinued, I told her that explained the crazy prices I had seen for it listed by sellers on Amazon's website. As I complained a bit that these sellers had inflated their prices so high, the representative told me about the BrickLink website and described it as a marketplace created by people who genuinely like LEGO and are interested in building things and collecting pieces.  She believed there was a lot less price gouging on that website, and I think she is right. I used the site to find a seller of  Bella's desired set for a very reasonable price.
   The night that I decided to buy some used bulk bricks, the BrickLink site was down. Since I don't find myself with too many free nights where I can internet shop, I decided to give eBay a try and found a lot of used bulk sets. The sellers on eBay do a pretty good job of photographing and describing what their bulk sets contain. I wanted a set that just contained the standard rectangular and square faced bricks and some of the eye bricks. I was able to find a set with about 200 pieces for less than $40.

Octopus Sideview

    A few days after ordering the set, our bulk blocks arrived, and we began the octopus construction. Yes, the used blocks do have some scratches and discolorations, but neither Bella nor I even notice them. All we see is a huge pile of DUPLOs!
   I guess instead of building an octopus, we should have been making a hurricane warning flag since Hurricane Isaac has just entered the Gulf. Hang on everybody down there and stay safe!!