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Hi! Welcome to my journal!
What's here?
A bit of everything. What started as a place for writing ideas and whatnot in 2003 turned into an actual journal without me noticing. These things happen. ^^;; You can call me Kalloway or Kalli Ashton. I've wandered through multiple careers; currently I'm a robot doctor.
( HobbySpace )
( RealLife & Access )
( DW Communities )
( Decentralization & Elsewhere )
20 Years Project Master Index - an ongoing project to talk about media I've enjoyed over the years + whatnot.
It's Me, I'm Here
Oct. 24th, 2026 06:39 amI need to just start posting via mobile, even if it's going to be an awkward process at first...
I'm mostly through the stage of grief known as Paperwork and onto the next, which is Phonecalls. As someone who is phone-avoidant on my best executive function days, this is Not Great But I'm Doing It (Slowly). This weekend is Dad's actual burial, and the week after that Mom has her annual? specialist appointment in Cleveland and after that I think I am... mostly in the clear aside from some little details and the stage of grief known as Getting Rid of a Lot of Crap. (I suspect this will invite another round of the laying-on-the-floor-too-sad-to-do-anything grief, which I mostly keep at bay by being too busy. We shall see.)
Free time is still model kits, Gundam and otherwise. I really do mean to post pictures... I'll see what I can do. ^^;;
And between when I started this post a few days ago and now, some sort of plumbing/septic mess has developed which I'll need to investigate once it is daylight and I get a few other things taken care of. Truly, no breaks for me.
I'm mostly through the stage of grief known as Paperwork and onto the next, which is Phonecalls. As someone who is phone-avoidant on my best executive function days, this is Not Great But I'm Doing It (Slowly). This weekend is Dad's actual burial, and the week after that Mom has her annual? specialist appointment in Cleveland and after that I think I am... mostly in the clear aside from some little details and the stage of grief known as Getting Rid of a Lot of Crap. (I suspect this will invite another round of the laying-on-the-floor-too-sad-to-do-anything grief, which I mostly keep at bay by being too busy. We shall see.)
Free time is still model kits, Gundam and otherwise. I really do mean to post pictures... I'll see what I can do. ^^;;
And between when I started this post a few days ago and now, some sort of plumbing/septic mess has developed which I'll need to investigate once it is daylight and I get a few other things taken care of. Truly, no breaks for me.
And sleep...
Oct. 5th, 2026 09:02 pmI slept at my place today, for the first time in exactly four months. (Coincidence!) Hopefully, the roof replacement is going well. There were guys delivering shingles when I left after grabbing some work clothes and food in the morning. I basically said I'd peace-out til everything is done, unless needed, and since I have no messages otherwise, I trust it's going well. (A neighbor has the master key just in case.)
I spent my time here cleaning. There's still a good bit to do with the remaining plants, which all remained for various reasons. But I think, once I get through the next few busy weeks, I'll be able to split time between here and the House more easily. I really just did need to come home, as dumb as it sounds. (Next step, food at both places! I dread to spelunk the fridge here.)
(I'll just have to figure out a bag to carry between with basics and hobby stuff, I suppose?)
I've started sending off some inquiries about selling the (classic) cars. We'll see how that goes.
I spent my time here cleaning. There's still a good bit to do with the remaining plants, which all remained for various reasons. But I think, once I get through the next few busy weeks, I'll be able to split time between here and the House more easily. I really just did need to come home, as dumb as it sounds. (Next step, food at both places! I dread to spelunk the fridge here.)
(I'll just have to figure out a bag to carry between with basics and hobby stuff, I suppose?)
I've started sending off some inquiries about selling the (classic) cars. We'll see how that goes.
A Time Capsule
Oct. 3rd, 2026 08:23 amWhile they're doing the roofs, I'll stay at my place. A novel concept. It's such a time capsule of June 4th that it's honestly kind of weird. I mean, I do stop and get the mail almost every day, and check on things and swap out books and model kits and whatever. Actually sleeping in my bed is going to be weird. ^^;;
I was looking for a flashlight earlier and despite normally having a few around, couldn't find a single one. But while looking I realized there are still dishes in the drying rack (must've had pizza a day or two before), and just other things sitting and waiting.
I'm slowly getting time moving again at The House. I cleaned and worked on the stuff in my childhood bedroom for a bit (as opposed to my failure!adult bedroom, which is a different room) and got some things out. The living room is becoming a sea of stuff to go that I also need to work on. I guess I need to pick a day to make into donation day, or something.
I've been reading more, but most of the books I've picked have been ones that haven't hit the right notes. That's fine; they can go in the sale box or get donated. At least now I know instead of them lingering in the TBR pile for eternity.
Weekly Update: paperwork turned over to financial guy, roof deposit made, warehouse club membership half-sorted.
Week to Come: Roofs! Paying final roof bill, stop by insurance with proof of roofs, dentist and bloodwork for Mom, try to sort out cellphone(s?)
I was looking for a flashlight earlier and despite normally having a few around, couldn't find a single one. But while looking I realized there are still dishes in the drying rack (must've had pizza a day or two before), and just other things sitting and waiting.
I'm slowly getting time moving again at The House. I cleaned and worked on the stuff in my childhood bedroom for a bit (as opposed to my failure!adult bedroom, which is a different room) and got some things out. The living room is becoming a sea of stuff to go that I also need to work on. I guess I need to pick a day to make into donation day, or something.
I've been reading more, but most of the books I've picked have been ones that haven't hit the right notes. That's fine; they can go in the sale box or get donated. At least now I know instead of them lingering in the TBR pile for eternity.
Weekly Update: paperwork turned over to financial guy, roof deposit made, warehouse club membership half-sorted.
Week to Come: Roofs! Paying final roof bill, stop by insurance with proof of roofs, dentist and bloodwork for Mom, try to sort out cellphone(s?)
Proof of Life and Whatnots
Sep. 27th, 2026 09:19 amI'm here, and I'm reading when I can. Still pushing along with things. I ended up withdrawing from ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
iddyiddybangbang because I just... I had a few days where I was very deep in the hole. Casting off a deadline was the first thing I could think of to do. I'm feeling a bit better now.
I've got a busy October already and I have a short but dense list of things I want to get done during it. Mostly sorting out accounts and whatnot, and figuring out what I want to do with-
Figuring out what I want.
I still can't figure out where I want to live from day to day. This is a question that only I can answer, but right now it feels too big. (I can also change my mind, depending. I suspect I'll find a way to be more fluid about residences but it's going to take a little more time.)
Anyway, next is paying an absolutely ungodly amount of money to get the roofs replaced. The house needs done and the barn needs done and my parents had intended to get it done this year but now the homeowners insurance is down my back about it. And since the garage roof is nearly as old as the house, I might as well just get them all done at once so they're all done and I don't have to do mental calculus to remember how old each is.
After that, sort out the warehouse club memberships. Then on to the cellphones... (And then, and then...) I have achieved propane/heat, at least.
Also going to meet up with my funeral director and pick out a nice box ("urn") for Dad for burial. Simple, but nice. And I think that'll be enough for one week?
Eventually I'll manage a Media Roundup post or something.
iddyiddybangbang because I just... I had a few days where I was very deep in the hole. Casting off a deadline was the first thing I could think of to do. I'm feeling a bit better now. I've got a busy October already and I have a short but dense list of things I want to get done during it. Mostly sorting out accounts and whatnot, and figuring out what I want to do with-
Figuring out what I want.
I still can't figure out where I want to live from day to day. This is a question that only I can answer, but right now it feels too big. (I can also change my mind, depending. I suspect I'll find a way to be more fluid about residences but it's going to take a little more time.)
Anyway, next is paying an absolutely ungodly amount of money to get the roofs replaced. The house needs done and the barn needs done and my parents had intended to get it done this year but now the homeowners insurance is down my back about it. And since the garage roof is nearly as old as the house, I might as well just get them all done at once so they're all done and I don't have to do mental calculus to remember how old each is.
After that, sort out the warehouse club memberships. Then on to the cellphones... (And then, and then...) I have achieved propane/heat, at least.
Also going to meet up with my funeral director and pick out a nice box ("urn") for Dad for burial. Simple, but nice. And I think that'll be enough for one week?
Eventually I'll manage a Media Roundup post or something.
no subject
Sep. 17th, 2026 09:32 pmIt's mid-September, somehow. My father's memorial service was last weekend, and the number of phone calls and appointments and whatnot is slowly decreasing. (Slowly.) I can't say things have gotten easier. They're just different. (I did get the model car done for the memorial. I promise I'll post pictures at some point. It's not perfect but I'm pretty happy with it.
I'm mostly building models in my spare time, because it remains a good way to turn off certain parts of my brain. I'm also working on a fic foriddyiddybangbang which I think will require their amnesty extension. It's basically a story from Ye Olde Long-Running (War)Game but it's unplayable because the main two characters are both mine and yeah, lol. Right now, I'm still at the very beginning, whoops. Like, they've not even gotten breakfast on Day Zero. (LOL SOB)
Work is work, other stuff is other stuff. I re-read all of Gundam 00F basically in one shot before the 00F event started in Eternal and 1) 00F still holds together pretty well. I think this is the first re-read I've managed since it came out, despite multiple attempts where I ended up bouncing. And 2) the event is unfortunately pretty bad. There's some 'new' art that might be from Crossrays or something, and that's nice-enough, but overall the event is a let-down. Somehow, the first Astray event was actually pretty good, X Astray was crap, and this is crap. I suspect some of the events for stuff I'm not as familiar with were also crap but because of unfamiliarity, I didn't realize how crap they were. Which is probably partly a constraint of adapting manga to a mobile game but probably also partly the way they're choosing to adapt things.
There have been some really good events, for the record. The SD events have been great, and there was a UC-Alt-Timeline event that was fun.
I have, unsurprisingly, dumped like all my hoarded resources into making white Astraea into something fancy.
It's Tokyo Game Show weekend and I'm just kinda checked out on it. RomSaGa 3 remake was already announced and we've got Resonance coming up and idk what else I'm really looking forward to?
I'm mostly building models in my spare time, because it remains a good way to turn off certain parts of my brain. I'm also working on a fic for
iddyiddybangbang which I think will require their amnesty extension. It's basically a story from Ye Olde Long-Running (War)Game but it's unplayable because the main two characters are both mine and yeah, lol. Right now, I'm still at the very beginning, whoops. Like, they've not even gotten breakfast on Day Zero. (LOL SOB)Work is work, other stuff is other stuff. I re-read all of Gundam 00F basically in one shot before the 00F event started in Eternal and 1) 00F still holds together pretty well. I think this is the first re-read I've managed since it came out, despite multiple attempts where I ended up bouncing. And 2) the event is unfortunately pretty bad. There's some 'new' art that might be from Crossrays or something, and that's nice-enough, but overall the event is a let-down. Somehow, the first Astray event was actually pretty good, X Astray was crap, and this is crap. I suspect some of the events for stuff I'm not as familiar with were also crap but because of unfamiliarity, I didn't realize how crap they were. Which is probably partly a constraint of adapting manga to a mobile game but probably also partly the way they're choosing to adapt things.
There have been some really good events, for the record. The SD events have been great, and there was a UC-Alt-Timeline event that was fun.
I have, unsurprisingly, dumped like all my hoarded resources into making white Astraea into something fancy.
It's Tokyo Game Show weekend and I'm just kinda checked out on it. RomSaGa 3 remake was already announced and we've got Resonance coming up and idk what else I'm really looking forward to?
no subject
Sep. 7th, 2026 07:55 amWell, the nerd show ended up being a bust. Definitely the wrong weekend for it. But got to hang out with M and make some other connections, so it was fine.
Doing a lot of cleaning. So much cleaning. (And if I'm staying in the house for more than a year, because honestly I have no idea anymore, the living room is getting new carpet. It does not need to be good carpet, just different carpet. Thirty year old white carpet looks exactly how you're imagining, but possibly worse.)
I finished Texas Graveyards, which I have a lot of thoughts on but most of them are just that I want to go look at graveyards in Texas, now. Good book. I would have finished it sooner, but it vanished for some time into a sorting pile. *sigh*
Doing a lot of cleaning. So much cleaning. (And if I'm staying in the house for more than a year, because honestly I have no idea anymore, the living room is getting new carpet. It does not need to be good carpet, just different carpet. Thirty year old white carpet looks exactly how you're imagining, but possibly worse.)
I finished Texas Graveyards, which I have a lot of thoughts on but most of them are just that I want to go look at graveyards in Texas, now. Good book. I would have finished it sooner, but it vanished for some time into a sorting pile. *sigh*
Perfectly Reasonable Towels
Sep. 5th, 2026 06:09 amThe cleanout continues, slowly. I am approaching this with a combination of too much emotion and the mindset of a baffled anthropologist. I know these towels. These were around when I was a kid. Why are there still 40+ year old towels around? Why are there so many fucking towels? What is a reasonable amount of towels to hold onto? Who will possible need them?
(And times this by every single household item, I swear.)
Anyway, this is me absolutely declaring comment amnesty for like June and July. Thank you, truly, for your thoughts and words and hugs. I saw them, and they mean everything to me. I'm trying to get back through my inbox for anything that definitely needs a reply/action and if I miss anything, let me know. I do read my friends page whenever I can, even if I don't often have the wherewithal to comment.
(And times this by every single household item, I swear.)
Anyway, this is me absolutely declaring comment amnesty for like June and July. Thank you, truly, for your thoughts and words and hugs. I saw them, and they mean everything to me. I'm trying to get back through my inbox for anything that definitely needs a reply/action and if I miss anything, let me know. I do read my friends page whenever I can, even if I don't often have the wherewithal to comment.
no subject
Sep. 3rd, 2026 10:02 pmTheoretically still nerd show on Saturday... We've had some wild weather and even a (confirmed) tornado, so... yeah.
I finished Heaven Official's Blessing, which was okay enough. I can kinda see why I stalled out before but this time I made it through. I'll probably hang on to it for now. It's just a really uneven series.
Also re-read Gundam 00F since an event is coming in Eternal. This is actually probably my first full re-read since the English publication? I've tried in the past but bounced really hard and then been annoyed by that. Anyway, it's actually pretty good but gets a little squinchy at the end.
I think that's really all I have at the moment.
I finished Heaven Official's Blessing, which was okay enough. I can kinda see why I stalled out before but this time I made it through. I'll probably hang on to it for now. It's just a really uneven series.
Also re-read Gundam 00F since an event is coming in Eternal. This is actually probably my first full re-read since the English publication? I've tried in the past but bounced really hard and then been annoyed by that. Anyway, it's actually pretty good but gets a little squinchy at the end.
I think that's really all I have at the moment.
no subject
Aug. 22nd, 2026 10:58 pmI built my first Gundam model kit on August 23rd, 2008, so this weekend is my gunpla-versary, lol. Not that I've spent a straight eighteen years building; there were definitely time periods where I didn't touch a thing for various reasons.
I had definitely meant to get my little site with pictures and stuff up by now, but the stars did not align in that favor. It's okay. It'll get done.
I've started a bit more active clean-out at the 'rents, and if things are good (things were not good this last week but are okay now), I can also start spending more time in my own home and get things at least pickedd up there.
I have a table at the little nerd show down the street next month and basically intend to just have a $1 table of books and little stuff. Dunno if it'll work, but hopefully I can get rid of some stuff that way.
I guess that's really it. I have a lot of half-read books to get back to, and plants to tend. It has been a time of deep adulting.
I had definitely meant to get my little site with pictures and stuff up by now, but the stars did not align in that favor. It's okay. It'll get done.
I've started a bit more active clean-out at the 'rents, and if things are good (things were not good this last week but are okay now), I can also start spending more time in my own home and get things at least pickedd up there.
I have a table at the little nerd show down the street next month and basically intend to just have a $1 table of books and little stuff. Dunno if it'll work, but hopefully I can get rid of some stuff that way.
I guess that's really it. I have a lot of half-read books to get back to, and plants to tend. It has been a time of deep adulting.
I'm here and basically to the point of just hurry-up-and-wait for the next round of paperwork and whatnot.
My goal for the next week is to come home for a bit and get some stuff done and get the place aired out.
Will have to make a proper media roundup post since I have been reading a bit, esp. books I got for my birthday.
My goal for the next week is to come home for a bit and get some stuff done and get the place aired out.
Will have to make a proper media roundup post since I have been reading a bit, esp. books I got for my birthday.
Random, Random
Jul. 21st, 2026 02:55 amThe last week was smoky, though it seems to have cleared for now. At one point, and I can only assume this was from the smoke, I was getting GTA/Toronto radio stations cutting over the local ones.
Had an impressive storm come through over the weekend that knocked out power most everywhere, so I had a building full of angry encabulators yesterday. (I now want to steal that for a future punk band. "Angry Encabulators" has a nice ring to it.)
At some point, I want to get back into the habit of watching things after work. But right now, any time I settle onto the couch or chair, I'm out cold five minutes later. I know it's supposed to be impossible to make up lost sleep but that sign can't stop me if I'm too tired to read it, I guess.
Had an impressive storm come through over the weekend that knocked out power most everywhere, so I had a building full of angry encabulators yesterday. (I now want to steal that for a future punk band. "Angry Encabulators" has a nice ring to it.)
At some point, I want to get back into the habit of watching things after work. But right now, any time I settle onto the couch or chair, I'm out cold five minutes later. I know it's supposed to be impossible to make up lost sleep but that sign can't stop me if I'm too tired to read it, I guess.
Galaxygazer Concept
Jul. 9th, 2026 03:27 am
Stargazer + Galaxy backpack + pink. Probably the quickest I've had an idea and then just bought and built it. Not an entirely clean job but given the circumstances, I'm really pleased with the end result.
Small Updates 5
Jun. 27th, 2026 09:43 amI haven't made it any farther in Heaven Official's Blessing, mostly because it was a very busy week.
( updates )
( updates )
Small Updates 4
Jun. 21st, 2026 07:19 amI may have to declare comment amnesty, but I am still here and reading as much as I can.
I'm heading back to work tonight because I need to get a bit of myself back, if nothing else.
( more stuff )
I am, otherwise, into Book 5 of Heaven Official's Blessing. Book 2 was okay, Book 3 was really bad, Book 4 was really good, and so far Book 5 has promise. I may make it through this time.
I'm heading back to work tonight because I need to get a bit of myself back, if nothing else.
( more stuff )
I am, otherwise, into Book 5 of Heaven Official's Blessing. Book 2 was okay, Book 3 was really bad, Book 4 was really good, and so far Book 5 has promise. I may make it through this time.
Small Updates
Jun. 8th, 2026 09:25 amI am surviving. Everything is kind of in hurry-up-and-wait mode. I am so tired of phone calls.
Currently I'm trying to make my old bedroom into a welcoming space. I don't think anyone has vacuumed or dusted in here since I moved out 14 years ago.
In my plans for the weekend that didn't happen, I was supposed to renew my DW account. At this point I don't even know where my card is for that. In my work bag? Which is? Hopefully at my place somewhere.
Anyway, could someone kindly float me a bit of DW paid time til I can find my own arse without a flashlight and map? Thank you. ;_; Truly.
Currently I'm trying to make my old bedroom into a welcoming space. I don't think anyone has vacuumed or dusted in here since I moved out 14 years ago.
In my plans for the weekend that didn't happen, I was supposed to renew my DW account. At this point I don't even know where my card is for that. In my work bag? Which is? Hopefully at my place somewhere.
Mecha Core Oberon [Final]
Jun. 1st, 2026 09:44 pmHere's Oberon, finished! I meant to post last night but DW said no-u.
Yes, his wing-span is basically my washer, and yes, those are quill-pen dragoons.
( two more under the cut )
Yes, his wing-span is basically my washer, and yes, those are quill-pen dragoons.
( two more under the cut )
Nerd Show Yesterday
May. 31st, 2026 01:59 amHad a table at the Hobbyist Market yesterday, which is the local one-day nerd shows. They seem to have started as dedicated Pokemon card events and are still heavy on that. Instead of being down the street like the last couple, this was a couple of towns away in the Mall.
The basically-dead Mall. We were originally scheduled to be down a distant corridor, but in the corridor so we'd theoretically get wandering foot traffic... But then when load-in instructions arrived, we'd been moved to the big shoe store (which is how I found out the big shoe store is gone). Honestly, it was a nice location! Big glass storefront, well-lit, and near to remaining stores. I wasn't entirely sure if people would wander in but they did!
Traffic was steady but sales were meh. Made table, got rid of a bunch of stuff, but it was all low-value random stuff. (This is also mostly on me? I wasn't planning to do this one til last-minute because May was such a mess. So I really didn't have anything new or exciting.)
Aside from some toolbox stickers, I mostly got things for other people. Some stickers for a gunpla server buddy, dice for![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
taichara... One vendor I've chatted with plenty of times gave me a 3D-printed obscene duck, lol.
The basically-dead Mall. We were originally scheduled to be down a distant corridor, but in the corridor so we'd theoretically get wandering foot traffic... But then when load-in instructions arrived, we'd been moved to the big shoe store (which is how I found out the big shoe store is gone). Honestly, it was a nice location! Big glass storefront, well-lit, and near to remaining stores. I wasn't entirely sure if people would wander in but they did!
Traffic was steady but sales were meh. Made table, got rid of a bunch of stuff, but it was all low-value random stuff. (This is also mostly on me? I wasn't planning to do this one til last-minute because May was such a mess. So I really didn't have anything new or exciting.)
Aside from some toolbox stickers, I mostly got things for other people. Some stickers for a gunpla server buddy, dice for
taichara... One vendor I've chatted with plenty of times gave me a 3D-printed obscene duck, lol.