Hey, all!  Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that I'm now hanging out a lot more on tumblr, so hit me up at http://corrincampbell.tumblr.com/

See ya there!

Peace, C.

So... this weekend I spent some time with rad people - photo shoot in Birmingham with Ryan Russell on Saturday (with some Jim 'n Nick's for dinner, yesssss). Checked out a new church on Sunday - there are so many options here!  But I went to Parish Presbyterian Church, which is only a few blocks from my new house.  Checked out the Frothy Monkey (a pretty rad little coffee house with awesome food) with Brett as well as a few new pals.

As far as the house:  man, it's been a challenge.  I've been working to get utilities turned on, getting property management, etc.  It's pretty nerve-wracking leaving your brand-new house completely empty for two months, so I decided to get someone to watch it.  Plus, the last guy in there left it a total mess.

A couple years ago, everyone started flipping houses.  I watched the shows on A&E or TLC... even I thought it was a great idea!  :)  How many people know who Armando is...? Flip this House...? Bueller? Bueller?  haha  Anyway, flipping houses became a fad, and a new form of get-rich-quick.  The person who sold us this house had it for only 3 months before we were under contract.  What we've discovered through the inspection (and further inspection)... this was a flip gone bad.

The floors were re-stained a dark color, but the wood was not sanded first so it was just stain over stain over sealant.  The stain doesn't go to the edge of the floors, but somehow still ended up all over the baseboards.  Yikes.  The rooms were repainted, but only partially - wherever there was furniture or a TV, the previous owner just decided not to finish the edges.  However, he did manage to splatter some on the light fixtures and parts of the trim.  Plus, they were painted dark, bold colors which are horrible in small spaces.  Dark floors - bold, dark paint: it managed to make the 1120 square foot house look even smaller!  The kitchen is all new, but it's too big for the space; the granite countertop was cut so big that the pantry and utility room doors won't open all the way.  Plus, the appliances were just tossed around in there and have totally ripped up the hardwoods (that has also happened in several other places in our house).

Not to mention all of the things that weren't even addressed: i.e. original 1930s single-pane windows that were (at some point) messily caulked shut, a 15-year-old heating/cooling unit, a 15-year-old roof, a decaying front porch, a tiny bathroom that looks like it hasn't been cleaned since 2005, and a driveway that is breaking away bit by bit.

All of this could be expected with a fixer-upper, but I've never seen a home "flipped" to anything but move-in status.    When this went on the market, it was listed as "completely updated".  It doesn't even have grounded electrical.  If anything, I'm going to have to spend money undoing all of the guy's "upgrades".  The work done on this home is a joke.  Beware of flippers, friends.  Very rarely is it done properly, and few flippers actually care about doing right by the home.  But when you're talking about a home in a historic district and proud neighborhood, you just can't get away with doing a bad job.

That being said: this house is awesome.  Underneath all of the bad handy-work that's been applied to it over the last 70 years, the house has great bones, amazing woodwork, and incredible potential.  The last guy is a fool.  Had he done even one of those things correctly (let alone all of them), the house would've appraised for more than I could've afforded to buy.  :)  His loss - my gain.  He thinks he pulled one over on me - but the house pulled one over on him.  :)  Sorry for the attitude.  It's been a long-haul.

So today, I decided to 'reward' the house by giving it a little positive attention.  Threw away the dying plants on the porch, swept it out, mopped all the floors, cleaned the windows, put in some solar-powered lighting along the sidewalk, and put in a couple Glade Plug-ins.  It smells good in there!  haha   Later this week, it'll actually be getting more done - painting over the existing dark colors (seriously, a tiny room painted deep burgundy?) and getting a couple truckloads of crap out of the garage.  I don't even know what's in there, and I'm not sure how it became my problem to get rid of it, but I've decided to cut my losses and pay someone to clear it out.  I'm excited to see how the house looks with some lighter colors in there.

I've been dreading leaving Nashville/Franklin to go back to Baltimore.  Now that I've purchased this home and have been working so much with Brett... I just feel like I'm already here.  Plus, working vocals all day is just so rewarding.  I almost forgot that the Army still owns me for another 2.5 years - *sigh* - but I'm looking forward to moving in October and having this house to escape to on the weekends.  What an awesome double life that'll be.  :)

Okay, well I've got to go to bed - it's a 12-hour drive back to Baltimore tomorrow, and I still have a couple items of business before I can leave.  If you actually read all of this, thanks.  Leave me a comment.  :)

I'm in Nashville studying with the outSTANDing Brett Manning.  If you ever want to sing, wished you could sing, or might want to carry a tune in a crowd, seek out this guy and his technique.  Instead of taking my own lessons, I'm observing and studying to teach like Brett. Awesome. Ness. :)

ANYway, what does that have to do with a house? Oh, right. Bought a house in downtown Franklin. So far, I really love it. Today I met with a restoration specialist to talk about the future of this house. It's even better than I saw when I was feeling it out. I've decided to blog it - I'd love for other owners restoring their homes to comment, share. It's going to be a long road, but I want it cataloged, 'cause it's just going to be so much fun.

Here's what we have in front of us. We have a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom 1100 sq. foot house. It's a 1930s craftsman-style bungalow home, though don't quote me on that, 'cause I'm still learning the styles. In the 1960s, it was renovated and a brick façade was placed around the outside siding. The house has a pretty cool front porch that definitely needs restoration - well, the entire house needs restoration. :) More coming on that. There is also a two-sided fireplace which faces the living room and smaller bedroom - non-functional.

Inside, the previous owner refinished the floors with a dark stain, and painted each room with different colors. The walls are plaster, with wallpaper over, then many layers of paint. Removing the wallpaper and resurfacing the plaster is a huge project. The kitchen is completely new, but doesn't quite fit in the small space, and the kitchen closet door doesn't open all the way; it hits the counter instead. Out back, we have a detached garage that is pretty sound structurally, but needs to be cleaned out.
The good things: the mantles around the fireplace, though covered with many layers of white paint, are beautifully crafted solid oak. Both sides still have the original subway tile on the floor and hand-crafted decorative custom covers. The same wood and design exists in all the wood in the house, to include around all the doors, windows, closets, and even the baseboards. With a nice light oak under there, we just need to get all the white paint off and it'll look gorgeous.

The original hardwoods are in the house. The dark stain that exists on it now is completely opposite of what that wood should look like. We've discovered that it is southern heart pin, and will glow a gentle pink, almost cherry color, once the stain from the last 40+ years have been removed. Most likely, we will just clear coat and let the natural color shine through. That, with the oak woodwork, is going to look just amazing. Even the porch wood is still all pretty much in great condition. There has been so much paint slapped all over the house over the years that the wood hasn't even had a chance to rot or deteriorate. There are just a few pieces that will need to be replaced.

Most of the doors and all of the windows are original. Plus, it's not too difficult to come by 5-panel 1930s doors. We'll be able to get the house matching in that fashion pretty easily. I think we're planning on restoring, not replacing the windows, so we can maintain the appearance and "think green". Why use another tree if the wood that exists is perfectly fine?

Some other projects we may/will pursue:

Fireplace restoration (make it a functional wood-burning fireplace), purchase and install antique subway tile in the bathroom, plaster wall refinishing, complete bathroom renovation, kitchen built-in cabinetry restoration, landscaping, and driveway re-pavement. We'll also be updating the plumbing (which is original 30s cast-iron plumbing), and installing a grounding rod so the electrical is grounded. Lastly, we may pursue possible demolition of the detached garage, possible addition of a master suite with its own bathroom, and possible addition to current attic space by extending the roof back from its current highest point. We shall see what else pops up. In the meantime, here's a picture of the home. It's gonna be an amazing project.

okay, top seven. i'm going to try and keep it short and sweet (like they're making the judges now).

first, alison. i think it's good, as usual. but everything's starting to sound kind of the same now. i wish the arrangement was a little higher - it's kind of low for her. but it sounds good, of course.

**i don't like only two of the judges talking. that sucks. i want to hear what each of them say. just limit the judges to a certain amount of time, and take out some of the fluff video before the performances.

second, anoop. i think this song is hard, and there are a couple items he struggled with. but i think he did a pretty good job with it. it's definitely taking his vocal to the "next level".

adam. i think i should just keep it to myself. haha. i'm still not on the adam train. i hate the arrangement, and (as usual) he sticks his tounge out, screams, and looks like he's crying on the last note. i'm just sick of it.

matt: it seems like he's having trouble singing down there... his pitch is off. now that he's in the chorus, i'm much happier with his tone, but he still feels off to me. like he's sick or something. i like this guy. i hope he gets to stay.

danny: hmmm, his pitch sounds off. i don't really like it. simon wants him to be a little more involved with the arrangement - i agree. it wasn't super creative. but careful what you wish for, 'cause you might just get adam lambert.

kris: i think kris is my top male pick. yeah, really. i know that's not the majority. but i think the musicality in his performances.. undeniable. he's got great dynamics, a type of finesse that you'd expect from a professional. his arrangements are good, and even though i'm not familiar with this song, i could feel the emotion in it. because HE emoted it.

lil: i think the judges will be mad that she didn't do something from 'the bodyguard'. but yeah, the first part is rough for her. when you have as much power as her, it's hard to stay in first gear.

here's my thoughts: a girl is definitely not winning this year. wah wah.
bottom three: lil, matt, anoop. i think anoop will go, even though he did a good job.

hey all,

sorry i missed american idol's top 8... i've been getting behind on things lately. the GOOD news is that we have a new video up from our gig last week at the ottobar. it's a brand new tune called "done with you" and we'd love to know your thoughts!! :)

peace, cc & the e

top 9, america! :) here are my two cents:

anoop - caught up: usher's da man, so anoop definitely picked big shoes. he's doing all right with it. his pitch isn't perfect, but it's made worse by the backups. i don't know what it is with the backing vocals this year, but i've had issues with it al season. but as far as anoop... i wish the song was more upbeat. though the tune itself is higher energy, it only works with a bunch of dancing... randy agrees. overall, i still like him.

**side note: i love when simon puts in a huge insult and then adds "if you want my honest opinion". haha oh, simon. as if we had a choice.

megan - turn your lights down low: this girl is really pretty. i can't make up my mind about her. i definitely hear how her voice is different, with this old-school cabaret flavor. and i like that. but sometimes her stage presence and vocal-isms are so awkward that i can't tell if she's good or not. the judges are being pretty hard on her. it's like paula said, "okay, she gets it".

**side note: the judges take a super-long time with the singers in the beginning, and then at the end they have to be like, "i loved it, you're pretty, go". lol

danny gokey - what hurts the most: oh, no. i love this song so much and it's gonna get gokey'd. dang. okay, i'm gonna try to be objective and listen. :)... nope, can't. hate it. kidding. but i wish he would utilize more straight tones, which gary from the rascal flatts most definitely does. and danny's voice is so scratchy. maybe he has nodules on his vocal chords... will the judges rave? yup. maybe i need to read a book about it or something. but i'm just not getting it.

allison - don't speak: man, i really dislike those backup singers. it's hard, 'cause i love that she has a more "weathered" rock sound, but that's not gwen. gwen has this masterful way of being soft and hard in a tune, playing a little girl voice versus a soulful rockin' voice, and i love that dynamic. but is it fair to compare allison's vocal to that? either way, i still think she's

scott - just he way you are: this guy is super sweet. i still think he's a little out of his element vocally, but i can hardly help but root for him. however, when paula was critiquing, she said something about how "it has nothing to do with your challenge" and simon made a face (without meaning to) that showed he disagreed. 'cause let's be honest, that does help him with votes. but i think he did a good job this week, and definitely good enough to go on to next week.

matt - you found me: i hope he uses straight tones; this could be a lot like when he sang coldplay... it sounds like he's really trying to. yeah, i like that he seems to be trying new stuff with his voice. i feel like he didn't just do what he has always done this week. he pushed himself. paula thinks it sounds like coldplay... and i completely disagree. i think it's very unlike when he sang coldplay. all the judges agree... i don't get it... randy says he should do stuff with "more riffs". okay, for once i agree with kara. she said he's not deciding one side or the other "pop-rock" or "pop-rnb". and i get that. i get what they're saying. but i still think he's good. in my top 5 still.

lil rounds - surrender: i don't think i'm going to like this. her pitch is not really as on point as you need it to be for this tune. celine dion is definitely in great pitch all the time. the second half was good, though. i still like her, and want her to do well. and daaaaang, her kids are cute! :)

**side note: an ad for prince's new albums; man, that guy is king. haha i typed that without even realizing it.

adam - play that funky music: even the pre-video shows him screaming. i don't think i should be allowed to critique this guy anymore. he makes me feel like mothers must've felt about elvis when he came on the scene. i feel like everything adam sings/does has all these sexual undertones. and that his vocals are super self-indulgent. DO NOT compare this guy to mick jagger and steve tyler. steve tyler is an artist, and i don't think that of adam. anyone who has chatted with me about adam outside of my blogs knows i have made that EXACT distinction before.

kris - ain't no sunshine: i like the quartet. and i like his performance. his pitch is great, his tone is great, and now we know he plays piano well enough. :) i'm a big kris fan.

bottom three: anoop, megan, and scott. i think it's possible matt will end up down there instead of megan, but that anoop with go home. we'll see tomorrow night!! ;)

sorry i missed last week, guys. i think it was probably too soon for alexis to go home, but i don't disagree with the judges passing on 'saving' her. that said, here's my thoughts on the top 10...

matt giraurd - "let's get it on" : i like that he started it a little up-tempo with piano and then got out from behind it. reminding us that he's a competent instrumentalist, but not staying there. the song is good for his voice - a teeny bit predictable (you know SOMEone was going to do this tune). but i think he did a good job.

kris allen - "how sweet it is" : it's good that the contestants are starting to mix up the arrangements. i end up feeling like i get what they're going to do if they win. my only thing is that the lyrics were repetitive, haha. but he's got a great tone and his embellishments are tasteful and well-controlled. i agree with simon about his confidence. i want him to be more sure of himself too, 'cause he's darn good.

scott macintyre - "can't hurry love" : i think he's obviously a good pianist. but i would consider him one of the weakest vocalists left. i don't think i like the arrangement. apparently simon feels the same as me - oh, and so does randy. i think scott is limited to ballads, and he should embrace that. his vocals just don't have enough 'dig' to pull off the faster stuff.

megan joy - "for once in my life" : i love her dress. haha i think she's pretty and has a different sounding voice. but i'm not a huge fan of that "different" sound. i don't like the song, really. she picks mid- to up-tempo stuff all the time, but i want to hear her sing a ballad to really bring out that flavor. oh, and the judges are agreeing. but MAN her eyeshadow is cool, too.

anoop desai - "ooh baby baby" : i know the judges are gonna comment on his pitch issues. but one thing i really like about his voice on this tune is he's combining straight tones with vibrato - like he has some very real control. i like how he's using all that. i think he did a good job of it, but it's hard to pull that song off.

michael sarver - "ain't too proud to beg" : hmm. i think he's a good-lookin' guy. haha i'm not really thinking anything crazy about the vocals. i feel like he's more into his own performance, and not really communicating the meaning of the song. oh, and when paula starts off with a negative, it's not a good sign.

lil rounds - "heat wave" : i wish i could hear her sing something a little different. she's definitely a power-house singer, but i feel like it's too much. i have this horrible feeling that the judges are going to rave, but i feel like it was shouty. like she knew it was her genre and got too confident.

adam lambert - "tracks of my tears" : *groan* i'm scared of this one. here we go. well, i hate the motown look on him. but i don't hate his interpretation, for once. i still don't think his voice is aMAZing, but i feel like he used his skills for good and not evil this week. :) i would have had him sing a little less in his falsetto. actually, a lot less. but i'm less offended by this than anything else he has done.

daney gokey - "get ready" : i'm glad smokey told him to sing the hook, and not let the back-up singers do it. oh, but he didn't do that. too bad. i'm a little tired of the scratchy thang. he's a good singer. there's just at least three other guys that are better.

alison iraheta - "papa was a rolling stone" : this could be interesting. i'm still an alison fan, but i haven't really heard her all funky like the arrangement is starting out. it's a little fast, but she is still totally handling it. i LOVE the second verse. she's doing a great job. the last note was pretty strong. i'm diggin' it. however, i want them to quit saying "16 years old?". she's a good singer, and it's almost condescending to keep saying that to her. don't make it a shtick. she's an awesome vocalist regardless. i thought the second verse and last chorus were DA BOMB. the band was really funkin' it out, too.

bottom three: i think michael sarver, megan joy, and (dare i say?) scott macintyre.
my top two: alison and anoop (for surprising me).