BOHICA...I finally get it...

Sorry I haven't posted anything the last couple of days. Things have been pretty busy and there has been some news on Jeff's deployment...so I have had a lot to take in and process.

The military uses a lot of acronyms...I remember being a new Army wife and trying to learn the lingo so I wouldn't feel or appear stupid to other people I saw on a daily basis. I have a wonderful book called Married to the Military, and in the back, there is actually a glossary of terms to know. Thank God for that. BOHICA is one of them...and I have learned the true meaning of it this past weekend. Bend Over Here It Comes Again...this phrase can be used by many people over the past year...but Jeff and I have felt it more and more the last 3 months. On Friday, Jeff found out that he would be leaving on Friday April 3rd to go to a new Guard Unit in Indiana. That means no 4 day pass...no time for us to be together. I was heart broken...I know that may sound selfish...many people have gone without seeing their loved ones for more than 6 weeks, but given the circumstances, Jeff and I were looking forward to the weekend more than we have anything in the past few months. Orders came down to about half the guys...some would still be going to Texas with the Wisconsin National Guard unit...the rest would be going to Indiana to meet up with the Nevada National Guard unit there. This unit is the 1/221st Cavalry unit and they will be deploying to Afghanistan. Now we at least know a little more information than before, although it may not have been what we were wanting to hear. I got on the internet Friday night after finding out and did some research on the unit. This is the largest deployment for the unit since WWII...it will be the troops that Obama has been talking about. The unit uses the Bradleys, which is what Jeff was a gunner and BC (commander) on when he was at Fort Benning. The soldiers will provide security for a provincial reconstruction team that is rebuilding the country and will also conduct combat and infantry missions in Laghman Province to ensure civil order in the region. Some of the squadrons will also be assigned to sector of Afghanistan somewhere between Kabul and the Pakistan border to provide security and stability operations for countering militant forces. In other words, Jeff will be going where none of us really want him to be. Right now, we all need to start saying some extra prayers for all of the guys.

Jeff doesn't know what is going to happen when he gets to Indiana or if he will get any time off before deploying. Everything I have found on the unit says that they are set for a late April deployment...so we are crossing our fingers for a long weekend at least. Once I know more, I will be sure to post it, although Jeff probably won't know anything til at least the second week of April.

Since we know where Jeff will be deploying to, I am going to start taking orders for the Deployment Hero bracelets. Please take a minute and look at www.herobracelets.org and look at the deployment bracelets. These are something that we will all wear to support Jeff and all of the troops deployed. I will be placing an order soon...the bracelets are about $11 and I have also had some interest in the dog tags which are $13. So if you would like to order some, please let me know...bracelet or dog tags and how many. I know this order is going to be pretty big, so I will need anyone interested to send me a check so I can place the order. I just need to how many I am looking at getting, so let me know if you are interested. You can either reply to the blog, or email me at shelly613@hotmail.com . Thanks to all of you for your support already...I know that Jeff and I truly appreciate it. We love you guys!

8 more days...

Today I went on an adventure...I know Jeff is probably laughing at me by using the word adventure since he knows just how much I love taking them! Today I had to go to MacDill AFB to get my military ID. MacDill is the closest base to us, and it's about 100 miles away...so I used some time off at work and took the day, not sure of how long the ride would take and then how long I might have to sit at the ID card center. The ride was uneventful...which is wonderful! I had a GPS with me (thank God) so I didn't have to worry about reading directions and driving. The ride took a little less than 2 hours to get there. As I was driving over the Sunshine Skyway, which is a HUGE bridge, I was reminded just how lucky I am to live in my own little piece of paradise. The sun was shining and there was the Gulf below me...what a beautiful world we have! Once I got to MacDill, I had to get my visitor's pass and map so I could find my way to the ID center. Needless to say, the map didn't help much...only took me about 25 or 30 minutes to find where I had to go...and I think I may have driven by it before I actually "found" it. Oh well...The positive thing is that it only took about a hour or so to wait. After about five minutes of paperwork and one horribly aweful picture, I was on my way back home. I was able to stop and take a short walk by the water while still at MacDill...it was too beautiful not to. I am home safe and sound, and one day closer to seeing my husband!!!

After I got home, I had to go to the wonderful storage unit and take my "winter" clothes back and get my pretty much year round clothes out. This was interesting...I wish that Jeff could have seen it! He would have been laughing at me, and not surprised at all by my stubborness of doing this by myself. I think that Jeff's dad has been the only person to have the pleasure of seeing both our storage units...I had to get clothes in a wardrobe box that is in a stackable unit...that would be way off the floor. The I had to move some other boxes to get to tubs with clothes. But being the independent, strong willed woman I am, I handled it and after sweating a little bit and saying a few choice words, I was done. It's kind of funny how I was so worried about the big things with Jeff being gone...being alone, not seeing him or talking to him everyday, dealing with the fear and worry of the deployment, missing the day to day things, hoping that I have said everything I want to say so that Jeff knows just how much I love him and cherish him. I never thought about if I had to get something out of the storage unit! I guess in some ways, I have taken my husband for granted! I'm sure that he will read this post and laugh at me...probably picture me in the storage unit and imagine me telling him all about it with the wonderful story telling ablility I have (including facial expressions and hand gestures). All I know is that I missed him more today for that. And just when I needed a pick me up...I arrive home and have a note from my favorite high school teacher and theatre director, Ms. Angie Hillman. She always seems to know just when I need a message from her. For those of you who have never met her, she is truly a wonderful woman and has touched the hearts of many people in her years of teaching. She is a mentor and true friend to me and I am blessed just to have met her and to have her in my life. She is my soul sister.

Now I have just 8 short days left before I get to see Jeff. I can hardly wait!

9 more days...

Not much news to inform all of ya'll on today. Jeff continues to train at Camp Shelby...although I know that he is looking forward to next weekend more than the next week of training! Tomorrow I will venture to MacDill Air Force Base to get my military ID...all I know is thank goodness I have a GPS that I have borrowed! Hopefully my trip won't be too bad, although I have to take the Sunshine Skyway...anyone that has taken that knows that it is a really long bridge...and I am not too fond of bridges! But I have to get my new military ID...so tomorrow is an adventure! I have the whole day off work since it will take me about 2 hours to get to MacDill..it's near Tampa. Once I get there, who knows how long I will have to wait at DEERS to get my ID...then I get to drive back. I am hoping for some pool time when I get home!

Only 10 more days to go...

Just wanted to say a big THANKS to anyone that shared their excitement with me about my trip to see Jeff. I know that Jeff and I really both needed this and that this might just help us get to the last month or so before he deploys. Hopefully things will fall into place, and who knows...maybe Jeff will get to sign the mortgage papers himself before he leaves and actually get to sleep in his OWN house before he deploys...these are simple dreams and wishes that I have not only for myself, but for my simply wonderful and amazing husband.

I was reminded today, just how sometimes we forget about those that are seperated from their families in this time of war and terrorism. I was at Danny's after work and just when I needed a pick me up, on one of the screens that Danny uses for messages popped up a yellow ribbon with the message "Support Jeff and all of our troops"...what a wonderful group of people I know to display this and be proud of this wonderful country we live in. When we start to take life for granted, we should think of all of those before us, that have given us the freedoms we have today...the right to vote, freedom of speech, the right to live in a free country...we should thank all of the soldiers and their families...past, present and future. My only hope is that not many more families will have to deal with the heartache and loss that many in the military have...but there will always be a war to fight...countries to defend. So I ask of all of you, please stand up for what you believe in. Fly your flag. Tie some yellow ribbons on your trees or your house. Proudly display your services flags in your windows. Show the world that no matter what, despite the war, that you support and stand up for our troops...they need all the love and support in the world.

On that note...Jeff mentioned that when he checks the blog, there aren't a whole lot of comments. He mentioned that when he is deployed, he will read this, to see what I have to say and what others are saying as well. So PLEASE...leave some messages of love and support for Jeff. He will need them more than you know in the upcoming months and I know that they will help me to get through all of this as well. So let us know what you think...once Jeff deploys, he will try to post updates as well, so we can hear from him. This is the easiest way for us to reach all of you...our family, friends and loved ones...so please take the time to read and post any comments you have.

My birthday has come early...

I have been extremely blessed to find my job when I moved here to Florida. I was only here 3 weeks before my interview, and started my job less than a month after I made the big move. The people I work with at Charlotte State Bank have really become my family...and they have again given me a great gift. I will get to see Jeff in Mississippi the first week of April! I feel like a kid on Christmas, knowing that in just 11 short days, I will get to see the love of my life...my past, present and future. Everyone at work has pulled together to make sure that I will be able to take some time off so I can go see Jeff. Not only that, but my husband, who I love more and more everyday, made my day by telling me thank you and that he loves me and can't wait to see me. I am truly one lucky woman.

I will be flying into Mississippi on Thursday, April 2nd and staying til Sunday, April 5th. I will drive from Jackson Airport to Hattiesburg, where Jeff is and will get to spend almost 3 glorious days with him...I cannot wait. This is truly an early birthday gift and I am thankful that I can afford to make this trip on only two weeks notice. Someone is truly looking out for Jeff and I and knowing that we just need to be together for a few days. All I know is that Jeff and I are thankful, and glad for luck to be on our side for a little while.

Hoping for some good news...

Sorry that I haven't had much news to post lately...sometimes that can be a good thing though! Jeff started his training yesterday...he was in the classroom most of the day and he said that it should be the same for today. The soldiers were issued their weapons on Friday...they have to have them with them at all times except if they are going to the gym or taking a shower...then they have to have someone else watch it for them. This is to get them used to always having a weapon with them wherever they go, whatever they are doing. Saturday was the beginning of a 14 day training cycle. On Friday, April 3rd, they will have a small "graduation" ceremony and then will be released for a 3 day pass. Since Jeff knows this is for sure, I have looked into flights and renting a car to see him. Unfortunately, I won't know til Monday if I will be able to get the time off of work...normally this would not be an issue, but my supervisor already has Friday the 3rd off to start her vacation. Since we know that the pass is happening for sure, I have asked for "special treatment" to see if we can get someone to help out on Friday at work. Hopefully I will be able to write a wonderful update tomorrow, saying that I will get to see my husband after 6 long weeks! To some, that might not be long, but getting used to not being together has been difficult. We know that we will get thru this, but we are hoping for a weekend together. So say some prayers! Hope to be able to post a good update tomorrow...

More pics...

Just wanted to share some more pics with you from before Jeff left...some are from the party at Lisa and Steve's , some from the party at Danny's and some from the day Jeff left. Just wanted to share with everyone...

This is Jeff, Sandy and I doing a shot of Patron at the party at Steve and Lisa's

Here are the guys at Danny's...Dad, Uncle Steve and Jeff

Here is Jeff with his Dad and Aunt Lisa

This is at Chili's in Ft Myers Airport right before we said good bye to Jeff...That's Aunt Lisa, Uncle Steve, Jeff, me, Sandy and Dad

Here is Jeff and Aunt Lisa doing another Irish Car Bomb

Lucky...

Last night I went over to our friend Dawn and Moke's house for a night out. Jeff met Moke at work and Dawn and I really hit it off from the first time that we met. Even though we only got to hang out a handfull of times while Jeff was here, Dawn has been keeping tabs on me since Jeff left. She got me out and about my first weekend without Jeff and checks in with me during the week to make sure that I am doing ok. I honestly believe that Jeff and I were supposed to meet them...they have become great friends to us.

While I was over, Dawn asked me if I had heard the song called "Lucky" by Jason Mraz. When I told her I hadn't she said that I had to because the first time she heard it, she thought of Jeff and I. So we found it on the computer and I honestly think that someone snuck into our life and decided to write a song about it! I wanted to share the lyrics with you since they are so honest and true...and since you all know Jeff and I, you will understand how it could truly be "our song."

Lucky
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillet

Do you hear me,
I'm talking to you
Across the water across the deep blue ocean
Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying

Boy I hear you in my dreams
I feel your whisper across the sea
I keep you with me in my heart
You make it easier when life gets hard

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

They don't know how long it takes
Waiting for a love like this
Every time we say goodbye
I wish we had one more kiss
I'll wait for you I promise you, I will

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
Lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday

And so I'm sailing through the sea
To an island where we'll meet
You'll hear the music fill the air
I'll put a flower in your hair
though the breezes through trees
Move so pretty you're all I see
As the world keeps spinning round
You hold me right here right now

I'm lucky I'm in love with my best friend
Lucky to have been where I have been
Lucky to be coming home again
I'm lucky we're in love every way
Lucky to have stayed where we have stayed
Lucky to be coming home someday
Ooohh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooooh ooooh oooh oooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

All I know is that I am the lucky one because Jeff chose me...and lucky to be by his side and in his heart.

Service Flags and Yellow Ribbons

Not much news to share with you guys...Jeff was able to get a 2 day pass for the weekend so he and some of the guys were going out into town to get a hotel room and get away from Camp Shelby. I had looked into going to visit, but flights were extremely expensive and it would be a 10 or 11 hour drive. As much as we both wanted to see each other, the money and the risk of me driving alone weren't worth it. We are trying to stay positive and hope that we will get to see each other soon...hopefully April or May. He did buy a laptop today...so he will be ready to go once he is deployed. He also bought a digital camera too so hopefully he will be able to post some pics and write some blog updates.

The highlight of my day today was a special delivery...Jeff sent me flowers at work! My hubby knows how to make me smile...a big bouquet of Gerbera Daisies! Of course all the women were jealous...which he was hoping! He wrote on the card that they were to give me something to smile about and to make the other ladies jealous...he succeeded on both! I have such a wonderful man to spend my life with!

I wanted to share a website that I found with you guys. I know that my sister, Jenny, had found the shop Old Glory in Livonia that sold service flags and had bought some. I purchased some off a website called http://www.serviceflags.com/ . Not only do they have service flags and support our troops items, they also have personalized yellow ribbons. We have ours up at the house...they say "Our Soldier Our Hero" on one side and "Sgt Jeffrey Porcaro" on the other. They are very reasonably priced and you can purchase them in groups, so if anyone is interested, you can try to share an order. I also purchased a personalized Service Flag...it came with the fabric flag, a small service flag decal (it might be a 3 1/2 X 5 size) and a service flag pin. I wanted to share the website with you because I was very impressed with the items and they were shipped very quickly. Hope everyone is able to at least have a yellow ribbon hanging somewhere at their house to support all of our troops. I know that I can't wait to take Jeff around Punta Gorda to cut down all of the ones placed in his honor when he gets home!

Visit from Mom P and George

The first week of February, Jeff's mom and her boyfriend Geoge came to visit wuth us. We had a really nice time together and got to have some fun...her are some of the pics.

Mom, George, me and Jeff at Danny's

Jeff and his mom

All of us at Dean's in Downtown Punta Gorda


Jeff and I

More info from Camp Shelby...

I talked to Jeff today and he got an address for Camp Shelby. Even though he will be there thru the first or second week of April (he really has no clue where he will be going after or just how long he will be in MS), he asks that if you send him mail, please do so before Tuesday, March 24th...this is only a couple weeks from now, but he wants to make sure that all the mail that is sent to him gets to him and doesn't get returned. So here is the address...
Jeffrey Porcaro IRR
2nd ITB 154th RTI
Bldg 3500 Ave C
Camp Shelby, MS 39407

More news from Jeff...

I just talked to Jeff a little bit ago...he has found out more info on his stay at Camp Shelby. He should be there for about 4 or 5 weeks...he won't start his training for another week or two because all of the instructors aren't at Camp Shelby yet. So he will be having formations daily, but will not be doing training just yet. He has to find out about an address yet...since he will be there for a few weeks, we may get to send him mail and packages, but I will update you on that once he finds out. As of this point in time, his drill sgt said that they are still supposed to be with the Wisconsin National Guard unit that are on his orders...right now they are in Texas training. Jeff does not know if he will be going to Texas at all or what the next steps are other than he will be in Mississippi for the next 5 weeks. Once he knows more, I will be sure to pass it along to everyone...he is more frustrated now than anything.

Update on Army life...

Since Jeff left on February 22nd, we have found out some more information on his training and deployment. Jeff first went to Fort Jackson, SC. He was there about two weeks doing all of his paperwork and physicals. He got about 7 or 8 shots in one day and felt like crap for the next 2! He did a whole lot of "hurry up and wait"...gotta love the Army! While at Ft Jackson, Jeff heard the rumor that he would be going to Fort Benning, GA, where we made our first home. This was good news, since Jeff's buddy from Basic Training, Murphy and his wife live there with their tow boys and since it's only a seven hour drive for me. If Jeff got a weekend off, I would drive and stay and we would get to spend some time with Murphy and Krissi as well. If there is anything the Army taught us, it's to not believe anything you've heard! We should have remembered this! Jeff called me Thursday night and said that they were NOT going to Benning for training...instead they would be leaving Friday afternoon and going to Camp Shelby, Mississippi! I had never heard of Camp Shelby, and neither had Jeff. So he left on Friday and arrived at Camp Shelby early Saturday morning. While they were handing out linens, the guys at Camp Shelby said, wow, you guys are a couple days early....needless to say, they were not expecting Jeff's class to show up at all! The guys were placed in barracks for the night and had to move to new ones on Sunday. All Jeff knows as of right now is that he will be there for three weeks...and that is about it. Once we get more information, which probably won't be til Monday...I will be sure to post it on here. I will try to have Jeff make some posts too once he gets settled and gets a laptop. He tells me to send his love to everyone!

And now the SURPRISE party!!!!

Since Jeff and I have made our new home in Florida, we have met some really great people. One of our favorite hang outs is Danny's Deep Creek Pub. It's about five minutes from the house and they have great food and a great atmosphere. Danny always has something going on there...poker, Bingo, and one of my favorites, karaoke. Jeff and I met Deborah and Terry at karaoke and they have become some great friends. Once I told Deborah about Jeff getting called back in, she wanted to help give him a big send off at the bar. So she talked to Danny and the surprise party was planned. It was great timing...Jeff's dad David and his wife Sandy were in town as was my mom, Sue. So "the plan" was for us to go up to Danny's for a fun night with all the family. Little did Jeff know that it was a party in his honor! I had told the people I work with to come on up and let Dawn and Moke know as well. Danny and Deborah took care of the rest...and WOW was Jeff surprised!!!! When we walked in, the whole bar yelled "SURPRISE" and stood up clapping for him!!!! I was like a little kid on Christmas because I actually pulled off the surprise! Needless to say, fun was definately had by all and Danny had a very good night at the bar! Here are some pics from that night!

This is Deborah, the mastermind behind the party. She also sang "All That Jazz" for Jeff...it's his favorite when she is singing!

This is Jeff and I with Deborah and Terry...they are some great people

Jeff's cake, courtesy of Deborah

I think this is the first shot of the night...Jeff's favorite, an Irish Car Bomb. That's Ariel, Jeff, Mom and Sandy



This was right after the surprise...I couldn't believe I actually pulled it off!

To see just how great of a guy Danny is, take a look at his web page for the bar...look all the way down...he is supporting Jeff too!

www.dannysdeepcreekpub.com

How do you wish farewell????

Before Jeff left, we had a party in his honor to wish him Good Luck. Fun was had by all and we can't wait to have an even bigger party when he returns home SAFE and sound. Here are some pics from the day.

This is Jeff's buddy from work, Moke and his daughter Taylor with Rusty in the pool.

I'm sure our Recycle man loved us that week!

"Uncle Tim" and Uncle Steve

It's shot time!!!



Jeff and I with Dawn and Moke