Tracy Kornet's Blog

Some of us have generations of relatives who've served in the military. Some of us have a friend or two whom we've met on their multiple moves across the country. My extremely limited exposure to military life is through a girlfriend I've known since age 14. High school pals Lisa, Tricia, & Tracy She is super cool. Super strong. The absolute greatest daughter on the planet. And she is one of the best friends a girl could ever have. Her name is Tricia York, a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Tricia's Big Promotion--pinned a Colonel! Tricia taught me what it meant to work hard for everything you have. In 9th grade Tricia would take the bus home with me after school and walk to work in her swaggy, green polyester Publix uniform. Her mom would pick her up at closing time. My childhood Carrollwood Village home in Tampa, Florida We still laugh about the ham sandwiches we would eat together in my kitchen. We also laugh at how hot we thought we

The blogging well's been running a little dry lately. Time to prime the pump and give it a whirl. I've been working in Nashville for 6 weeks now, almost a full month on-air. And while I've experienced some serious ups and downs, I am happy to report I am definitely on the upswing. There is something about a two-minute commute to work, a one-minute drive to Pilates, and a three-mile jaunt to the state's top shopping area that really puts a girl in a good mood.  Couple that with a gorgeous wooded walking trail right across the street--and wonderful childhood friends to walk it with--and I have much to smile about. Meeting up with the adorable Andrea from Dallas in Knoxville On the work front, I feel like I'm growing again. Sinking my teeth into fresh topics in a community that truly cares about its local news. I feel enthusiastic and inspired. Tailgate Tri-Deltas at Vanderbilt Reunion Weekend I also feel nourished by the wonderful

First promo shoot at the house I should know better by now that keeping my feelings inside is not a good idea. I could rattle off several words to describe the roller coaster of emotions I've experienced since moving to Nashville--like excitement, creativity, homesickness, thrill, regret, boredom, and anticipation. I tend to vacillate among them every two hours or so. (My poor husband!) Our first Vandy football game in at least 20 years! So today I am determined to count my blessings while blogging, hoping this catharsis will not only clear my mind but get my writing juices flowing again. (I can't wait to start on-air next Tuesday night!) I told my new boss I'm so used to running around with my hair on fire--scrambling to write stories when the video's in late or racing from shoots in Dallas to the studios in Fort Worth--that I haven't known what to do with myself during these 2-3 weeks of behind-the-scenes transition in Tennessee. I swear, I almost

My last newscast in Texas, 9-4-14 Sometimes you leave a job because it simply stinks. Sometimes you leave cause you can't stand your boss. Sometimes you leave because you feel no purpose in what you do. It's for NONE of those reasons I am leaving CBS11. With the fabulous teary-eyed Tammy Dombeck With love and genuine affection for my awesome friends, colleagues, and viewers, after eight amazing years here, it is time to head toward home. If you've followed this blog for any length of time, you will have noticed some recurring themes: I absolutely adore my children; I love my job; and I crave new adventures. But lately my bubbling joy hasn't been bubbling so much. I've deeply missed the greater sense of purpose my children have added to my life, with the five of us crazy Kornets living in four different states. So when this happened--the  last-minute-head-turning-life-changing miracle , sending our youngest son to our alma mater, Vanderbilt

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox I saw Planet of the Apes last night and truly enjoyed it. Laughed at the "Monkey Braveheart" moments but really relished the heck out of the special effects. Plus, there is something powerful about seeing the soul through a simian's eyes. The whole experience helped me embrace a reality to which many of us can relate: being a second banana. My fabulous 4pm teammates! I'm pretty sure we've all felt that way at some point in our careers. In the news business, it's just part of the deal. I'll be honest with you, I've always preferred playing the lead--have needed the attention, the money, the LOVE in most seasons of my life. But then I had kids. And then they got older. And boy, did my desires evolve. When my children transitioned to junior high and high school and we moved to DFW, being Second Banana was sweetly convenient. I was hired as the 7-9pm main anchor of our independent station

I'm getting really good at this moving thing. I've done it 8 times in the last 4 years--once for me and the rest while helping my three kids. Moving John to college 4 years ago I don't know about you, but my parents never helped me haul my crap in and out of dorm rooms and apartments. My kids not only get their parents' free help, but we load them up with housewares and furniture, too. Moving John OUT of college, 4 years later  They really have it good. And you know what? It's awfully good for me, too. All of this lifting and packing and scrubbing keeps me grateful. Grateful I'm healthy and young enough to do it. Happy our children even want us around.  Thrilled to have a reason to make so many purposeful road trips and spend quality time with each individual kid. Taking a break mid-move on Nicole's bed, spray-tanned legs with albino feet intact  My husband just moved our oldest son into his first,

Shopping for picnic lunch on the grounds of Versailles For three weeks now I've been reflecting on one of the most exhilarating trips of my life--a girlfriend trip to France and Monaco.  I have yet to post a blog about it, because I can't seem to land on one theme. My thoughts are log-jammed. So much stimulation in such a short time is hard to sift through. Plus, I continue to question what's been missing from my life to have made this trip so profoundly fun--not to mention how I might replicate the experience in daily doses back here at home.  Taking off for Nice, France I just stumbled upon some notes I took during our seven-day adventure, about one particular afternoon I had almost forgotten. We girls were heading to the artists' colony of Montmartre for the day, and my friend was craving a mocha. One of my extroverted travel companions struck up a conversation with an American woman at Starbucks. (This was after 100 other stops in French cafes.

On the CBS11 set with the talented Doug Dunbar When you work in news, March Madness means you might do the late show well after midnight. This year I don't really mind, since it is helping me pass the time until my daughter plays her First Round NCAA game tomorrow against DePaul at 12:30pm. It can't get here fast enough!  Courtesy: University of Oklahoma   This has been a tough year for my #1 Sooner, Nicole Kornet. A learning year. A growing year. She's battled back and is on the other side now. I am so very proud of her. So this text message today TRULY made my day. She sent it to the family after practice at the uber-cool Cameron Indoor Stadium at Duke University in Durham, NC: Please ignore the fact I once again took a screen shot with the edit prompts. (I'm a loser.) Nicole said basketball is FUN! And she loves it! As a musical theater/dance team/sorority girl, I give these college athletes so much credit. On top of their academic resp