Life of a Meinkowsky: There's always a first to something

Well this is my first post on my new blog. I use to blog now and then when Myspace use to be a hit. I never kept at it back then so hopefully I can change that for this blog.

First off, my name is Allyson, and I recently got married to the most amazing person ever! At least he's amazing to me :). His name is Billy. We both come from Texas, the Lone Star State. He has links to Clifton/Waco/Belton area where I consider Austin home. Now I'm not a true Texan. I was born in California, in the Bay area, but only lived there the first two years of my life. I still have a lot of extended family in the west coast. Now even though I have family roots in California I consider Texas my true home. I always get that warm, fuzzy feeling when I cross the Texas border.

Me, at Spyro's Gyros in Coronado Ferry Landing (San Diego, CA)

My handsome husband, Billy. Spyro's Gyros

Now enough of my love of Texas and all it has to offer, I now call New Mexico my new home. At least it shares the border with Texas and it's not as far compared to San Diego (where I lived the past year and half). Billy and I moved to the Albuquerque area in mid September for his job that he received after getting out of the Navy. He now works for Intel while I continue looking for a job and get ready for my certification test for Medical Assistant. I'm still waiting on my diploma from my school as I post this which is what I need to complete the application process.

We love our new home since it's actually a home instead of an attached apartment or condo. It's adobe like and is located in a quiet neighborhood, well except the coyotes that howl at night and the dogs that are barking at the moment. I love that there is very minimal car traffic except for the neighbors. The scenery is something to get use to. I love a green, mature lawn with big oak trees and spring flowers. Not here. Lots of brown, neutral colors, and a lot of dirt/sand. I can get over that though. That just means less allergies for me. One thing I do love about the area is the sight of the Sandia Mountains. They turn a deep red at sunset and looks really pretty after a snow storm blows through the peak
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The Sandia Mountains, courtesy of google images

I forgot to mention one thing that is dear to my heart, my first baby, Sadie! She is my two and half year old Pit Bull who is one of the sweetest things in the world. She does have her annoying moments of her whining for attention or getting into the trash. With all that said, she just loves to snuggle next to you or lay in your lap. Mind you she's over 50 lbs! She loves the new house here in New Mexico, mainly because we actually have a backyard. There is no such thing in San Diego unless you have a mansion, farm, or a ranch. Billy and I have thought about getting another dog but until we have our own place with out a landlord that will have to wait. Billy wants a pug, which are cute when they are puppies but they get uglier as they get older. I wouldn't mind a boxer or something close to her height and weight.

Saide, 2-3 months old. I loved her ears back then!

Sadie, about a year old here. She had some fun in muddy water in my parents backyard. One of the funnies things I ever saw lol!

Now a little bit more about my husband. I mentioned he was in the Navy. He joined in 2005 and was officially a civilian after 6 years (Aug. 21, 2011). He spent about half that time in Japan at Yokosuka. I was lucky enough to make a 2 week trip out there the first year we started dating. That's right, 2 out of the 3 years we've been together has been long distance. It wasn't until he transferred to San Diego March of last year that we saw each other on a more daily basis, except for the underways through out that year. Billy was an E-5 sonar tech. His first ship was the USS Curtis D. Wilbur (destroyer) and his second ship was USS Bunker Hill (cruiser). His very last deployment to the Middle East was definitely interesting since it consisted of seizing pirate ships and the air craft carrier they helped protect was the one and only USS Carl Vinson, the very same that buried Osama bin Laden. I felt some pride in the accomplishments the whole Strike Group made, he may not since it's his job and all he wanted was to be back home. I always get emotional and a sense of pride when I see or read stories of our service men and women. My dad is a vet from the Air Force so I think that is the keystone of why I have such pride for the military.

Billy, walking toward me and his mom

USS Bunker Hill, they left for their second deployment in a year today. Please keep them and everyone else over seas in your thoughts and prayers as we get closer to Christmas!