News.....

Just wanted to let whoever still reads the blog know that the time has come to stop sending care packages. I will be leaving my FOB ( Forward operating base) somewhere in the next fifty days. I want to thank every one for the many packages I have received as well as the thoughts and prayers. Feel free to continue sending the thoughts and prayers, because even tho I will be leaving soon I am still not out of the woods. I will also be away from my FOB for a few weeks. My roommate and I decided to volunteer to go with our Civil affairs team to another FOB to do some work. If nothing else it is a change of scenery and it will get us out of here for a few weeks. I am kinda looking forward to it. Hope to see everyone soon.
Love
Jeff

Updated pics of the house!

Hey ya'll...just wanted to give an update of things here at the home front. Since closing on the house, I have been a busy little bee working on the first of many projects in the house. The entire house is wallpapered...very tasteful wallpaper, but none the less, wallpaper. So Jeff and I decided that we would start with one room and get going on making the house "ours." The living room and dining room would be the starting point, since these are the rooms that people would most likely be in while visiting the house. I have never taken down wallpaper before, so I wasn't sure what I was in for. It actually came down in full sheets, which I was thankful for. Uncle Steve knows someone for every home improvement here in Charlotte County, so he was able to get Kevin, a drywall guy, in to help refinish some of the walls and replace a few pieces of drywall for us. Once the painting was done, Uncle Steve and his two friends, Kenny and Tim, came and helped put new chair rail up in the dining room, replace switches, plugs and ceiling fans and Kenny replaced our whole electrical panel for us as a housewarming gift. Needless to say, I couldn't have done this without them! Here are some pics!

The Porcaro House

Had to show off my pride for my husband...the bows say "SSG Jeffrey Porcaro; Our Soldier, Our Hero"


This is the living room before...this is coming in the front door

This is the dining room before...there was a large mirror on the wall that was GLUED to the wall and wallpapered around. While Kevin was helping, he cut the mirror down and replaced the drywall for us...he is a great guy.

Here is Taylor (Moke & Dawn's daughter) helping me out with the walls.

This is the AFTER...view from the front door to the kitchen

The dining room after. The light fixture will be replaced soon.

Living room and new curtains

The new fan that Jeff and I picked out...it will match our decor once we move furniture into the room after the floors are done in 2010.

Dining room...yes, I hung the pictures and sheers!

Just a little something....

So we had a reporter from ABC news here a few weeks ago. She was mainly covering stuff about the interaction between the women we have here in the PRT and the women out in town. Being a Muslim country women are pretty much only good for having children. The new government is trying to change that. Any who, as a side project she wanted to do a story about military tattoos. At this point I am sure those of you know what tattoos I have are probably wondering which one could possible be related to the military. And this is the point where you discover that I got a new tattoo while I was home on leave in September. I don't remember who started saying it, but when we were at Camp Atterbury someone started saying "That's Zabulshit" when ever something stupid was going on. (The province I am in is Zabul province for those who have not been paying attention). Well the dumb shit just continued when we got here, so Zabulshit was still being used. So I decided that I was going to get my military tattoo done when I was home on leave and I decided to get Zabulshit on the back of my arm. I wanted it on my forearm but for some reason Shelly objected to it, still cant figure out why. So the reporter was here and she mentioned what she wanted to do and one of my wonderful buddies decided to throw me under the bus and told her about my tattoo. So I showed it to her and she said she wanted to use it. A few days went by and I assumed she forgot, well apparently to be a reporter you need a good memory, because she came and found me so she could take the picture. So she took the picture and wrote down some stuff and told me it would be on the ABC news website. A few days went by and I asked her when she would have it up, she said she still had to write it and submit it. So I gave her my e mail address so she could let me know when it was going to be up. She left, and a few weeks went by and I never heard from her. I kept checking the web site and I finally stumbled on it by accident. Still have not heard from her, but here is the link. Might have to copy and and past...not sure how it will work.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/Afghanistan/slideshow?id=9269824

Long story short: I managed to get into the news while I was over here and all it was for was having Zabulshit tattooed on my arm.
Much love to all, take care and I will see everyone soon.
Jeff

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. I got to talk to Jeff today on Skype and he was doing well. He actually got a Thanksgiving dinner so it made it feel more like a "special" day than just another day in Afghanistan. This time of the year is proving to be especially difficult for Jeff and I. The holidays are something that we have always spent together, and now that we are in our new house, we should be celebrating our first Christmas together there, waking up together on Christmas morning. Please remember to think of Jeff and all of our service men and women this holiday season. I know that it will help Jeff out tremendously to have comments and messages left on here for him to read. Remember, if you want to get a box to him by Christmas (hopefully), please send it out by December 4th. Sending love to all and thanks for all of the blessings in our life.

Christmas Boxes to Jeff

Hey guys...sorry I haven't update lately. Not too much going on. I know that everyone is getting more and more busy with the holidays coming up. I subscribe to the Army Times (a newspaper that discusses things going on with the military) and it suggested that you send out boxes to loved ones in Jeff's area no later than December 4th to get there by Christmas. There will be an increase in mail and boxes and since the mail is not picked up every day for Jeff and the rest of the guys, this should give about 2 1/2 weeks for the boxes to travel. I just wanted to pass this along to those of you sending boxes Jeff's way. Right now Jeff is pretty stocked up on goodies and things that he needs and he doesn't have any ideas for Christmas gifts. If you are wanting to send him something, please remember that he will have to pack everything up to ship back to the States, so don't send anything too big. I hope that everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and take time to really give thanks for all the blessings that we have in our lives. Love to all!!!

We Own a Home!!!!

Just wanted to post a pic of The Porcaro house! The closing happened on Monday the 2nd...and after a slight delay (come on, after all the issues, did you really think the closing would go super smooth?), I was able to sign mine and Jeff's life away for the next 30 years! So even though I didn't sign the papers on the 30th like I thought, everything worked out and we are getting a little money back too...which will help in the painting of the living room and putting in new tile.

All of our stuff was moved in on Saturday the 7th with the help of Uncle Steve, Kenny, Tim and JB. They have all helped with some repairs at the house prior to move in and JB is putting in a new back door for us and Tim will lay the tile when all the painting is done. Without these guys, I would be lost! Uncle Steve really outdid himself this week when he decided to "trim" the palms and Beugonvilia bush...I came over after work and they were all gone! He has another friend coming to pull out the stumps for us. The house has a whole new look! Can't wait for friends and family to come visit...mostly, I can't wait for Jeff to get here and make the house a HOME!!!!

Please check this out....

This is just a little something I wanted to share with everyone. Just copy and paste the link. (I hope it works) Not sure if anyone has heard about this or not. Matt was here with us for a few months and he was a really great guy to work with. And as you read the article and his four page resignation letter (the link for that is in the fourth paragraph, is says "four page letter" in blue) you will also see how incredibly intelligent he is. I remember picking him up from Logman when he got here, he rode in my truck and you could tell right away that he was a really nice guy. As you read the article you will see that he is very brave as well, and not just for his recent actions in speaking out about the war, but as a Marine officer serving in Iraq. Just wanted people to read this as food for thought.
Jeff


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603394.html?hpid%3Dtopnews

We have a closing date!!!!

Hey guys...just wanted to update you on the house situation. After 8 long months of waiting and finding out that second forclosures weren't taken care of and permits weren't closed, Jeff and I will be homeowners on Friday, October 30th! My only wish is that Jeff were here to sign the paperwork with me. But once he gets home, the house will look like ours...I already have plans to take down the wallpaper in the living and dining room and repaint in November and am hoping to have the carpet torn out and ceramic tile laid in the living & dining room and kitchen before Jeff gets home. I told Jeff that he has the easy part yet again...he didn't have to pack up the apartment in Michigan and he doesn't have to unpack in the new house! The only thing he will have to do is help to hang ALL the pictures in the house! I think he gets the good end of the deal! So I will place the open invitation to all...starting in January, you can book your time at the Porcaro house!!!! Please know that President's weekend in February is already booked...my girlfriends from high school are coming down for a long weekend! Can't wait to post some pics up for everyone to see!

One Proud Wife...

I am so glad to be able to share good news with all of you! On Tuesday, I received a letter from the United States Army that Jeff has been promoted to E6, Staff Sergeant! I was so excited and I didn't think that Jeff knew, since he was still traveling back to his FOB. I was able to share the good news with Jeff on Wednesday while he was still in Kandahar, waiting to get back to his FOB. I would have shared the news sooner but he wanted to be the ones to let his parents know. So, CONGRATS to Jeff...I am so proud to be SSG Porcaro's wife!!

Jeff's Almost Last Night Home at Danny's

Since we decided to spend Jeff's last night at home making our annual steak dinner, we went to Danny's two nights before Jeff left. We told friends to stop in to say "see ya soon" to Jeff and a few of my coworkers came as well. I have to say that while we only have limited family here, we truly have made "family" from our friends. Danny and his wife Debbie have been so supportive and have done so much for Jeff since he has been reactivated. Between throwing his going away party, checking in on me, having the GI Needs program and eagerly anticipating the Welcome Home Jeff party, they are angels in disguise. The friends we have made at Danny's are irreplaceable. Cowboy Joe, one of the frequent karaoke-rs, and his wife Penny came to see Jeff off along with a couple cans of dip for him. Cowboy Joe sang a wonderful rendition of "American Soldier" to Jeff that made us all cry. He also gave Jeff his St Jude medal to wear to keep him safe and to have him know that others are thinking of him. Amazing how many people care and love us. We are truly blessed. Here are some pics of the night at Danny's.

FINALLY...faces to the names! This is Debbie and Danny with Jeff, the wonderful owners of Danny's Deep Creek Pub

Here are Jeff and Uncle Steve sharing a moment...they love each other!

Here is Aunt Lisa and Jeff

This is Cowboy Joe and his wife Penny dancing...they are wonderful friends

Here is Danny and Penny singing some karaoke

Mr & Mrs Porcaro :)

Jeff & I with Uncle Steve

Good Times During Jeff's R&R

Since Jeff's visit was a total surprise to me, I had plans made for the first weekend Jeff was home. I was going to see our friends, Dawn & Moke. Jeff met Moke at work and Dawn and I hit it off from the first time we met. They have been great friends to both of us and continue to check in on me and make sure that we still get together while Jeff is gone. Since Jeff got to surprise me, I wanted to be in on a surprise too. I let Dawn know that Jeff was home, but that we wanted to surprise Moke. I told her to have Moke answer the door and Jeff would be there. When we got to their house, Jeff knocked and Moke opened the door and yelled for Taylor, their daughter, to come say hi. When Moke turned around and saw Jeff, it was great! He was so surprised to see him and we had a great time together that night. Nothing like some good friends, beer & wine and Jett's Pizza!

Here are Moke and Jeff

Sorry Dawn, but I had to put this one in...Jeff really wanted to take your sweet jacket back to Afghanistan with him...maybe you will let him borrow it sometime!

Dawn & Moke

Dawn & I

On Saturday, October 3rd, the city of Punta Gorda held the Second Annual Barstool Open. To help raise money for mammograms and Breast Cancer research, each 4 person team went to 9 bars and putted 9 golf holes. I was already planning on doing this with three of my coworkers. At the last minute, one of the ladies couldn't do it, so Jeff graciously stepped in for us. Keep in mind, this was on the day of the Michigan/Michigan State game too! He did get to see some of the game at our 9 stops along the way. Here are some pics from that day.

Here are the "Support Sisters & a Soldier" Me, Barb, Crissy and Jeff at the Slip Not. Our shirts say "Big or Small...Let's Save Em All"

Jeff & I at the Slip Not

This is a sign that it in front of Beef O'Brady's. Apparently there is a Lions Fan Club that meets there every Sunday to watch the game...Jeff and I thought it was pretty humorous and of course, I made him take a pic with me!

Jeff's R&R-Getaway to Ft Myers Beach

Hey guys. Sorry that it's taken me so long to get some new pics and posts from Jeff's R&R on here. It was so wonderful for Jeff and I to get to spend some time together. Since we didn't have anything planned, we decided to "run away" to the beach for a few day. One of the best parts of living in Florida is that you can drive 30-45 minutes from home and feel like you are on "vacation." So Jeff and I did just that. We went away to Fort Myers Beach for a couple days and stayed at the Pointe Estero Resort. Along with our stay, a one hour couples massage was include, which was well needed for both of us. Here are some pics from the beach!

This is our resort, the Pointe Estero

This was our "Welcome Gift" along with a bottle of champagne...a beach bag and 2 beach towels

This is Jeff in the living room of the condo

This is our lanai with our beach view

This is Lover's Key State Park. Jeff and I stopped there on last day and spent the afternoon walking the white sand beaches.

Fort Myers Beach on our last night

This is me after our massage

Jeff after the massage...doesn't he look happy to be on vacation???

Jeff and I on the beach

My Lifetime Surprise!

Hello all...I am sure by now that most or all of you have heard of my wonderful surprise I received on Thursday at work. It was just another wonderful day at the bank and I was heading to the vault with my supervisor, Lisa, when I heard the door open. By instinct, I turned around and there was my husband, walking into the bank! I did a double/triple take, screamed, threw my keys and a basket that was in my hand and went running into his arms! I almost knocked Jeff over...as he said, I was like a line backer coming out of a three point stance! I couldn't believe that he was here in Florida with me again! I knew that he was going to get some leave time, and only found out last week that it would be sometime in October, but Monday night Jeff found out that he was in the first group to go on leave and that he was going on Tuesday. Needless to say, there was not a dry eye in the bank...I just wish that there would have been customers in there to witness our "movie" reunion! Lisa, my supervisor and Jim, my bank manager were both in on the secret. They knew Jeff was coming home, but not sure on a date. So, here I am, spending 15 wonderful days with my husband. LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!

More new pics...

Hey guys...just wanted to add a few more of Jeff's newest pics...he is really getting some good ones. I'm sure that you guys will love some of these new ones, especially because they are of Jeff! So as Sue would say..."ENJOY!"

This is Jeff...I think this might be up the hill from his FOB at Alexander's Castle

This is called the Glass Room at the top of Alexander's Castle...not really sure what it was used for, but it sure is a cool pic.

Here is my honey...doesn't he look handsome????


This is the view from Alexander's Castle out into the city...looks like a big maze to me.

This is some of the old ruins in the city.

Hope you guys like the new pics...Jeff can always give more info...I just try my best to relay it to everyone! Talk to everyone soon!

Hey....

Hey everyone, Jeff here. Just wanted to add a new post since it has been a little while. Not really a whole lot to report back. It has been a very uneventfull last few weeks, which is definately a good thing. Most of what we have been doing lately is just sustainment missions.....picking up supplies from a nearby FOB (Forward Operating Base, for you non military types) And we do a lot of Combat Taxi missions...taking people from point A to point B. By the way if anyone knows someone in the taxi business we are looking for a stencil or something that we can put on our truck. We want one of those signs they have on the side of cabs listing the prices.....$2.00 for the first mile 50 cents for every half mile after that....you get the idea. Thought it would be funny to paint on the truck. We are also looking for a cool stencil that says "Combat Taxi" So if you can help me out or you know someone who can let me know. We have also done a few missions out to some villages in the province as well. We stay at a FOB in the area. Then we go out and do Humanitarian Aid (HA) drops to schools and clinics. My wonderful wife added some pics from the HA drop we did at a girls school in Sha Joy. I added some new pics on Facebook, from our venture to Alexander the Greats castle, and I am sure that once she gets a chance my awesome wife will put them on here. It is a lot easier for me to add pics to Facebook then it is here. Well that is about all for now. Just wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.
Love Jeff

A few more pics...

Just wanted to post a few more pics that Jeff has taken. I am trying to keep everyone as "in the loop" as I can and I hope that these pics help too.

Jeff took this pic for me...he thought the one girl in the middle had a cheetahish looking scarf...gotta love that he is thinking of me in all of this. I think the girl has great style!

Nothing significant here...Jeff and I both thought this was an interesting pic...in all that is going on...there are two birds on the wire...

Again, nothing significant here but a blue door

I absolutely love this pic...I guess it makes me think of just everyday life for these girls. I am thinking of blowing it up and finding somewhere to hang it in our house.

New Pics from Afghanistan...

Hey guys...since Jeff has a hard time loading pics on here, I thought I would share some of the new ones with you. Jeff is doing really well. I just talked to him today and he called to thank me for a box I sent...I was surprised since I just mailed the box a week ago today! So mail might be getting a little faster for him. I'm sure once the holidays approach, it might take longer, but we will see. Here are some new pics...I will do my best to narrate for Jeff!

This is the girl's school in Sha Joy...they guys were helping to hand out school supplies to the children.

Sunrise over Qulat

More of Qulat


This is Wood, Jeff's buddy, pulling security

Jeff is all his gear..."sweating his ass off" as he said!

This is Scout, the PRT's new puppy...after seeing the pics, our nephew Eric asked my sister if Jeff could bring Scout home with him!

Another pic of Scout...he looks like he is wearing one white sock!

The PRT dogs...Tina (the big one) and Scout (the puppy)

Jeff and Wood

This is Alexander the Great's castle...you can see it from Jeff's FOB

Hope that everyone liked the pics...there are a ton more and I will post some more in a few days. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers...Jeff and I appreciate it!