Cassandra

[AGBF]

Cassandra,

Here is your thread, awaiting you. I am longing to hear about your life. I know you remarried and are pregnant, but I do not know if you have one or two children already and how old she (they) is (are) now!

Deb

 

[Cassandra]

Okay, here goes!

My name is Cassandra. I am 24-years-old! I was born and raised on the east side of Michigan. I am a high school grad with some college under my belt. I spent a few years working in a retail undergarment shop for a nice elderly couple (who's sons are rather famous). I've done a number of other things in my "younger years" including getting my public access producer's license for public television, design jewelry (no longer), sell my original fantasy artwork and have my poetry published. I am also a divorcee.

Since my first daughter Sabrina Jade was born (she is now 2!), I have been into photography. I am being booked to shoot several local weddings this year. Last fall I won 2nd place in a city festival for my photography. I will be starting my own Wedding Photography business once I build a decent portfolio.

I have also recently done some graphic art contract work. I had gone to several Sci-Fi and Fantasy Conventions in the past, at which I spoke about art and had my work on display (for auction/sale).

When I’m bored, I’ve spent some time working on a fantasy novel. I expect the story will take several years to complete, at which time I will look for a publisher.

I am married to my wonderful husband Aaron. Though I currently live with my parents, Aaron and I just bought a house! So within the next few months we'll be packing up and moving in. It's on the west side of Michigan, just around the corner from the in-laws (whom I adore).

We also own 2.5 acres of property just maybe 15-20 minuets from the new house. It has lake access and is completely wooded with beautiful trees. The street frontage is lined with raspberry bushes that produce some of the best berries we've ever eaten. Plus, it's a private road in a private neighborhood, and we're just at the end of a court. (No through traffic, yay!)

After we've been in the new house for a few years and I've had a chance to tweak the details in it, we plan on turning around and using it as a rental. Sometime in-between there, we want to build a new house on our property. A Dome Home! (Specifically, a Monolithic Dome Home - totally gorgeous interiors!)


We are expecting our second baby on June 2nd! It is (supposedly!) a girl! We have decided to name her Juliana Shannon. Aaron picked the first name, and I chose the second in tribute to a great friend who passed away last June.

Aaron and I's first wedding anniversary is coming up on April 4th. I picked the date to give him an easy anniversary date to remember.

4-4. We're hoping to be in the new house by then.

I still do not have a pretty rock to share with you all.

But if I stick around here for a few years, I just might!

We have one cat.

Her name is Pistol, and she is an Ocicat. She earned her name from her breeder who, when my husband went to pick her out, kept saying: "That one, she's such a pistol." And the name just stuck!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Cassandra,

Thanks for sharing your story with us. Congratulations on the marriage, pregnancy, AND the house! Sounds like you've got a nicely busy life.

Good luck in your housing plans

My husband and I also are planning similar things. We own property that we're going to build on and then turn around and rent our current house and maybe even move to a third house. . .! Who knows. . .we sort of keep changing our minds, but eventually we'll figure it out. lol

Good luck in your future.

Michelle (who posted on DT as Seattlemom)

 

[pqcollectibles]

Small world, Cass! My sis lives in the Portage/K-zoo area of MI.

Welcome to Price Scope!!

 

[Giangi]

Hi Cass! Nice to see you back!

Great story!

 

[Cassandra]

Michelle, I know whatcha mean about always changing your minds.

We wanted to build a house first originally, since we found our land. But then we decided that would take too long. So we went house shopping!

pqcollectibles, I know where those places are.

The new house is in the northern region of Kent County. We've got some friend in Kalamazoo though.

Hello again, Giangi!!

 

[AGBF]

Thank you for being so obliging and posting your story for us so quickly, Cassandra! You have certainly done a lot for someone of 24!!!

Deb

 

[derekinla]

Nice to meet you Cassandra! Wedding photography seem like such a wonderful line of work. Do you do medium format? 35mm or digital?

 

[Cassandra]

Deb, no problem!

Derek, it's nice to meet you too.

I do digital. I use the Canon 300D Digital Rebel (6.3 mega pixel cam). I'm still learning the ins and outs of this particular camera. It was an upgrade from the Olympus C5050 (5 mega pixels). In a perfect world, I would have gotten the 11 mega pixel Canon.

However, I didn't have an extra $7000+ for it right now with the house purchase, baby and all.

I find photography very rewarding. It's given me yet another creative outlet. I will be shooting standard wedding shots (the families all gathered and posed), but I prefer to do photojournalistic shots. I feel they're more memorable, and are much more interesting to look at. I'll be experimenting with several new lenses over the next few months. I'm particularly interested in finding a lense that can produce a nice fish-eye effect. I've seen some really nifty group shots that just seem to come alive with that effect.

 

[Kamuelamom]

Cass, big hugs. Hope you stick around for the fun!

Aagggh! I want that hug smilie!

BTW, what did you do with your C5050? Are you looking to sell it?

 

[Cassandra]

Oh I'll be sticking around.

<---- (I really like that smiley!)

My mom now has the C5050 so unfortunately I'm not selling it. However, the prices on those are bound to be dropping because of all these new heavy duty 8 mega pixel cams becoming more readily available. Canon just released one, and Sony had released one a few months prior.

If you do a search online, you can find it from $475 to $699, new (just be careful whom you order through).

 

[PlatinumDiamond]

Greetings Cassandra!

That was great to hear a little about you .... it is always fun hearing about your friends

 

[derekinla]

Cassandra,

Do you think the price on the Canon Eos digital will drop anytime soon? I'm itching to get a digital SLR (I have a Canon Eos Elan IIe for my 35mm and a handy Canon S230 3.2 megapixel digital camera)

 

[Cassandra]

I'd say give it a few months for people to shift their interest from it to the new 8mps and there will definitely be a price drop. Also, if you're going to go with the Canon 300D, I totally recommend getting the package that comes with the 18-55mm lense. You can't buy that lense separately, and it's only $100 more than just the body of the cam. Well worth it IMHO.

Cass

 

[Cassandra]

Here's a quick sample of some of my artwork.

Just doodling today while Sabrina was watching Harry Potter. No laughing.

I haven't really drawn horses much, so it may look a little "off".

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Cassandra - beautiful artwork. You're very talented. Oh, and your daughter is stunning. What a cutie

Michelle

 

[DD]

Hi Cass!

May I ask why you stopped designing jewelry? I had a hope that I'd ask for one of your pieces one day!

You photographs and your first-attempt horse are great!

DD

 

[pinkangel]

Me too on the piece of jewelry!

Cassandra, I'm not sure how I missed welcoming you, I always enjoyed your posts at the other place, and am so very glad to see you here!

 

[Cassandra]

Thanks for the compliments, ladies.

I had a severe lost of interest in the jewelry design area after Shannon (Mercier) passed away. My projects turn out to be much more a financial drain on me than I can handle at the moment as well. I also drifted away from my "manufacturer" in that time due to email troubles.

One day I may pick up the pace again and start from scratch, but it will have to be after my other business venues start bringing in some cashola.

 

[pinkangel]

I'm sorry to hear that Cass, although I certainly understand. I hope your business ventures get going very soon, I think you had tremendous talent in the jewelry design area!

 

[DD]

Thanks for your reply. I had a feeling that Shannon's death played a roll in this.

If you feel the inspiration in the future, I hope it will coincide with some extra cash in mine!

DD

 

[Kamuelamom]

----------------
On 2/10/2004 8:27:05 AM Cassandra wrote:

Oh I'll be sticking around.

<---- (I really like that smiley!)

My mom now has the C5050 so unfortunately I'm not selling it. However, the prices on those are bound to be dropping because of all these new heavy duty 8 mega pixel cams becoming more readily available. Canon just released one, and Sony had released one a few months prior.

If you do a search online, you can find it from $475 to $699, new (just be careful whom you order through).

----------------

Thanks, Cass. Your new camera sounds awesome!! I am highly considering the C5050, that is plenty of need for my purposes.

I considered upgrading to another Sony since I have the memory sticks, but the think I dislike about the sony is that there is a long delay after each shot is taken. You can really miss some great moments that way! What's your feeling about that? From what I've read, the C5050 doesn't have that problem.

Does anyone else have any input on Sony cameras? The 5.0 mp is around the same price as the C5050 now. Hmmmm, what to do, what to do.

 

[Cassandra]

Well, any camera *can* have that delay. It depends on two things.

A: How big of a file you're trying to take. If you take a JPG picture with the C5050, it takes it pretty quick. If you try to take a TIF file... this takes maybe 15-20 seconds to process because the file size is so much larger.

B: The type of memory you use. If you invest in a SanDisk Ultra II compact flash card, it writes 9 megs per *second*. Which pretty much means instant pictures. However, I don't know if the Ultra II's are compatable with the C5050. That's something to ask your local retailer (or look up on the net!). I never bothered to try my new card in the old cam.

 

[Colored Gemstone Nut]

Hi Cassandra,

I am glad to see you posting again. I am sorry to hear you are not designing jewelry any more. I have seen some of your designs ove on DT and was impressed.

Glad to see you here..!

 

[horizon]

Hi Cassandra,

Guess what? This is my first post ever on Pricescope! I signed up eons ago, and never did anything once I got "addicted" to DT

I just wanted to tell you that the picture you drew of the horse is fantastic! You have SUCH talent in so many areas. I loved your heart ring you designed, and I'll betcha are a wonderful photographer.

Anywhoo.... Just thought I'd say hi...

 

[Bagpuss]

Hi Cassie

Just wanted to let you know that Ben is giving me my/your pear pendant next week - at long last - I thought this birthday would never arrive. I'm so looking forward to wearing it. Many, many thanks to you for making it possible.

I hope you and little bump are doing well.

 

[TxsChatterbox]

Hi Cass. Just wanted to say hello and I look forward to reading your posts.

I love your artwork. You are super talented.

-Tami