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