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Looking hard core...

Franchi and Justin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:15:22 GMT

DSCN0737, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

Well, New Jersey is everything I expected it to be --- cold, icy, nothingness ... do people really live here? are FROM here? Of course, my vantage point is from inside Army barracks. And I'm all armored up now. Looking pretty tough, no? Just wait until I have the weapons....scary, very scary! I know you are!

More to come about Ft dix, but needless to say, it's supposed to snow AGAIN tomorrow -- allows for some "snow ops" but not much else. Does this state operate in February?

I love San Diego!

Franchi and Justin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:02:09 GMT

DSCN0696, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

Arrived in a rain-soaked San Diego on Friday 1/22, had a yummy Mexican dinner w/ Dave Picken (another doc from yoko who also was deploying), and got tucked in at Ford Hall on the 32nd street base in San Diego.

the weekend was mine - so I was able to do some reconnecting with my Southern Californian roots...soaking up the sunshine on Saturday and Sunday with days out and about.

Natalie, my college roommate and good friend for, uh-HEM, over 10 years now, drove down for a gorgeous day out. We tootled around Balboa Park and decided to go to the ZOo! What a great Zoo! -- you can click on the Panda to see more pictures -- seeing the gorillas (family, you know), elephants, pandas, koalas up close -- and all in the heart of the city. It always amazes me!

We had dinner in the Gaslamp district. I was so thankful for a day with a woman I have known so well for so long ... walking around and talking was just what the DR. ordered!

Sunday I spent running along Mission Bay. Did a few errands and then went to visit more old friends in the area- - some med school (love little Isla Chen) and Navy. It has been nice to have some downtime for reflection and reconnecting. Sometimes Japan is more than just an ocean away.

I remember why I liked southern Cal so much. Bright, sunny. the freeway system is great. Wide roads. Green hills. And ocean...lots of ocean.

Started the check in process this morning at 0500. Fitted for the ACUs that i'll be wearing for the next 8 months. Then "death by powerpoint" introduction to our time here and beyond -- but all good information. Recognize a few souls going with me and that's always nice! More info to come...Tomorrow is "medical day" -- ugh - Anthrax AND smallpox. My arm already hurts!

Spent some very special time tonight with my friends Kelly and Bryan - I met her in JAX when she was a friend of a friend of mine from Pasadena and we both were swimming together and she was in nursing school, and as fate has it , her husband - whom she met in JAX - is in the Navy! Met their darling daughter Dylan and had a fantastic "Bistro AIX" meal of salmon and salad and chocolate cake...and was so blessed to be able to spend time catching up with them. It made me miss my friends in yokosuka, and made me miss not being closer to those who are here in the States.

There are many things that make the military annoying - (the smallpox vaccine is one of them) -- but one of the things that makes it special is the way it bonds people across state lines, across oceans, and across life situations. Neat.

And the adventure begins....

Franchi and Justin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 07:46:15 GMT

DSCN0677, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

After 2 blissful - slightly wet/snowy - weeks with my mom and dad, I said sayonara to them at the airport in Reno ... my poor mom and her 2 military kids had to say goodbye again. I'm not sure that gets any easier for her and if you know my mom, you know how much she just loves it when we're home. We had such a great time shopping, and talking, and working out, and eatng out and doing nothing at all!

But I told her she's fired b/c I spent WAy too much money on cute clothes when I was there. I re-familiarized myself w/ clothes that aren't too short-sleeved or too short in the leg. And I remembered that I LOVE shopping.

Note the shirt -- I thought it was appropriate and mom and I cracked up!

Off to start the grand Narmy (yes, that's the Navy-Army) adventure. Of course, that started with packing the legendary "Seabag". Now, just realize that I came to the US w/ a full suitcase (medium size) and a half-full seabag w/ a backpack and a computer bag. I was SO GOOD and really, after we vacuum bagged a few items and Dad stuffed and shook and stuffed and slammed my bag against the floor, we got all that was coming with me into the bag!! (Uh, minus the computer...oh and the toiletries....but it all worked out!) It was a hilarious scene...but i didn't feel that bad b/c at least one other woman arrived with the thought that she had to pack for the 6 months and had 2 full suitcases, a bag for the hair stuff, and 2 carry-ons. See, I'm so much better right now!

Welcome to 2010!!

Franchi and Justin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 03:33:58 GMT

Welcome to 2010!!, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

Holy moly! Where did 2009 go? 2009 was an amazing year - full of travel and races and lots of time spent together AND lots of work. In brief: in January, I was in Diego Garcia and Justin was skiing in Hokkaido. in February, we were split between work and home. In March, we ran the Tokyo marathon. in April, we ran a 1/2 marathon - and justin BEAT me. (That won't happen again!) We also had my aunt and uncle visit and we took a trip to Kyoto and Hiroshima. In May, we did another long race (triathlon kind). in June we went to Hong Kong, where i presented at an international family medicine conference. In July, we kicked off the month w/ a great big birthday dinner for Justin, who turned 35, and my brother came to visit for 2 weeks. We climbed Fuji and did lots of exploring around Tokyo. August brought mostly a LOT of work, but I also went canyoning (rappelling down waterfalls, etc). in September, I turned 30 -- took a solo trip to Okinawa while Justin was traveling with the Boy Scouts in Taipei. We spent my birthday in Tokyo and saw a Cirque de Soleil show...October and November FLEW by. Justin did a 3-day 70mi/day bike ride with friends AND was offered a full time job as a District Executive for the boy scouts! November was pretty quiet UNTIL I got word just before Thanksgiving that I was chosen to deploy to Afghanistan.

Hence, December was a blur of getting ready to go, spending quality time with friends, figuring out how the next several months were going to go, and buying the appropriate electronics to endure it!!

2010 promises to be VERY engaging -- i'm in California for 2 weeks, then New Jersey for training and then off to the middle east for 6-7 months. Justin is working full time for the boy scouts and will undoubtedly keep himself very busy. our friends have promised to pull him out every now and then and keep him in touch

God bless you all. We will have more interesting things to share, no doubt. I'm going to blog from this site while i'm away and hopefully post some pictures! Justin is learning to do the same from his corner of the planet.

The Cimino-Davis clan will be apart this year but with you all in spirit. Keep in touch with us!

my cute cyclist!

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:11:37 GMT

IMG_3527, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

this is justin at the end of a very long 3 days of cycling -- almost 110km (70mi) per day. Went w/ some of our other friends from the base - had great weather, great scenery, great support, great food...jsut a few snafus - like 3 busted tires and a crash at 41km/hr...but you know Justin, he just bounces. I'll have him write more about the race but if you click on the picture you can see more of where they stayed (traditional Japanese hotels) and what they ate and how many people were there!!!

we might do it together next year. we'll see!!

A big race ahead. TOUR DE CHIBA

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 11:09:29 GMT

A big race ahead. TOUR DE CHIBA, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

okay, so we need to catch up. ONE YEAR in Japan. it's crazy how time flies. As we enter the fall and the air gets chilly again (okay, SO not ready for that again), we have been once again, going at full speed.

September FLEW by - with new people arriving at the hospital, and good friends leaving. Justin has been doing personal training at a crazy pace (sometimes getting to the gym at 0430 for some REALLY motivated clients - that's TOO early, even for me!)....and coaching swimming...and doing boy scouts...and running membership for the Oakleaf spouse club and pretty much being the favorite husband of mine . It's a big job.

After a busted girls trip to Bali for me, i diverted my trip to Okinawa - and had a great time catching up with my friends from JAX who live there, doing a little shopping and seeing the sights. Justin was on a trip to Taipei (already planned) for a Boy Scout thing....we both had a great time (although it would havebeen nicer to be together!).

We spent my 30th in tokyo at the New Sanno hotel...had an EXCELLENT Japanese feast the night before and then my friend Sara and I went to Zed, Cirque de Soleil - here in Tokyo. Freakin' AWESOME. Would recommend it again and again. THen we went out to a fantastic garlic italian place near the hotel that night....good friends, good food, good times! Good Way to ring in the 30s.

holy smokes, i'm old.

Anyway, we aren't going anywhere exciting any time in the next few months but have little excursions around town. Work is really busy for me so i spend the "spare" weekends doing catch up and working on projects sometimes and Justin if off doing Boy SCout stuff quite a bit.

after a year here, we've learned several things:
we love the food.
We love the structure (mostly) and the extreme politenes and accomodation of the Japanese - their entire culture believes in customer service and this is something Americans should really consider.
We love the nuances we are always discovering.
We love the public transport, although it is still fun to drive.
We love the travel.
we love the sake.

We have also learned this: it's WAY expensive to shop here, so we generally don't (except for veggies). People stop on the side of the road randomly, so this is a little dangerous too. We still can't speak very well (our fault entirely) and this definitely makes us feel more like foreigners. We are still often the only blonds wherever we're going. We still can't identify all the food.

But ce la vie...we have more planned for this year. Might be travelling to Sapporo, Australia, or Thailand (or all three). have races to do. More time w/ friends. POssibly a job for Justin. Possibly an acupuncture course for me. All very cool.

More to come.

i wish i was a pilot...

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:37:00 GMT

Untitled from Francesca Cimino on Vimeo.

Touch and go

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:36:00 GMT

Touch and go from Francesca Cimino on Vimeo.

From the USS Fitzgerald

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:35:00 GMT

Watching launches off the USS GW from the USS FITZ from Francesca Cimino on Vimeo.

USS GW in the distance

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:08:48 GMT

IMG_1549, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

rapelling down the waterfall

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:06:55 GMT

rapelling down the waterfall, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

more pics if you click on the picture

10m + jump... don't i look excited?

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:05:39 GMT

10m + jump... don't i look excited?, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

yeah, i'm totally faking being thrilled here...did I mention i'm not a big heights fan? But i will say this whole day of jumping, rapelling, sliding, climbing and swimming through the fresh water of Japan's rivers. Of course, we were wearing 3 layers of wetsuits!!! 15mm!! and i was still cold!
do you see those little people-ants below!? HELLO?! Good therapy.

at a bonodori festival

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:02:21 GMT

at a bonodori festival, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

we are in traditional yukata - a summertime robe/wrap made of a light material...we attended a bonodori festival on the beach - dancing on the beach (traditional japanese dancing of course -- and then a party on a boat in Yokohama bay...it was really amazing.

This summer has flown by - highlighted by an early summer visit to Hong Kong, then a visit from my brother and friends from DGar, climbing Mt Fuji, and a lot of other little mini adventures - including Justin's endless camping and swim meets, a trip canyoning, and then a family/friends day cruise on the USS Fitzgerald. Holy Smokes! Where did all the time go??

Already one year in Japan. Work has been INSANITY for me - always always busy. Justin may even be busier -- is this a surprise for anyone? - btw boy scouts and swim coaching and venturing crew and the oakleaf spouse club and personal training...i can't keep his schedule straight!

More to come. We miss you all. Write. or Call.

crooning away...WE BUILT THIS CITY..

Franchi and Justin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:06:07 GMT

crooning away...WE BUILT THIS CITY.., originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

who knew? the NEXT AMERICAN IDOLS ... be thankful we don't quit our day jobs. I love "We Built this City" - but thankfully Jefferson Starship wasn't banking on us to sell their song...however we DID score a 14.5 on the popularity scale...out of 10!

a crazy crazy man

Franchi and Justin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:52:45 GMT

a crazy crazy man, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

2 climbs, 2 days...he's insane...

and was a little sunburnt.

he's amazing really. My favorite crazy man. My favorite husband.

on the top of the world....

Franchi and Justin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:46:37 GMT

it was really cold and windy at the top, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

This is LIsa and me at the top of Mt. Fuji. Check out the volcano behind us. What you can't tell is that we are FREEZING, the wind was blowing so hard we thought we might fly off, and we left shortly after this was taken...

The whole Fuji thing was quite the adventure - and fiasco. The first few pictures in this series shows you (click on the picture to see them) that the weather was miserable on the first day we tried to climb. We got about 2000ft up the mountain from the 5th station (already about 7000ft up) and 6 of the 9 of us turned around. Justin, Dustin and Sara kept going - but w/ wind whipping at sustained 25mph winds and gusts much higher w/ rain and sleet and snow...the triumphed and alighted at the top - but it wasn't pretty. (Mission complete, however). the rest of us (well mostly Lisa and me) wallowed in our coward and vowed to go the next day when there was better weather. And sure enough, we did.

It's a tough climb - i mean the air gets a little thin at 12,000feet. Some breath taking views, though. The tough part was really the downhill -- seriously, those of you who know me best KNOW that I'm not a downhill kinda girl - and this was 3hrs of sliding down volcanic ash at 45 degrees

Lovely mountain. COnquered. CHECK....

In other news, July was a busy busy month -- and i'm SOOO behind on our posts. Tony was here for 2 weeks (AWESOME time, so good to have him here, and good for him to relax). Friends from DGAR here. We even ran into our friends from oKinawa, and a girl I went to college and med school w/ whose dad is retired military, when we were at the New Sanno -- SMALL WORLD!! And it gets smaller and smaller... Lots of work work work in between. Staff is down, so workload is up. Figures...almost off to EMF Afghanistan, but then not...

New friends are coming to Japan - new opportunities to see it through their eyes. We've been here ONE YEAR already. Kind of insane. My Japanese is not really any better. I still love the food here. OUr house is a little more settled, ours lives really aren't ....Justin, at the moment, is on a camping trip w/ the Japanese boy scouts. HE recently starting cycling -- hmmm, this is GReAT for his triathlon dreams, NOT good for his poor joints, as he falls of the bike. (I do too, still, because i just can't get out of the clips!) WOrk is still sparse but there are some good prospects.

overall, we are having a GREAT time...and there are only more adventures to come.

anyone want to come visit??

Tony love his LEGOS!

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:23:25 GMT

Tony love his LEGOS!, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

of all places...Enoshima, Japan. LEGO heaven. Tony is a happy camper.
mom and dad will love this.

My two favorite men!

Franchi and Justin — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:20:48 GMT

My two favorite men!, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

What a fun time! Tony decided last minute to join us in Japan for 2 weeks rather than blazing south Africa alone...GOOD DECISION! We've been busy busy...Had Justin's 35th birthday party -- our friend Mandy (july 5th) and he share a lot of friends, so we all went out to a Belgian bar and grill and ate and drank to our hearts' content.

Friday, part of our 3 day weekend, was sleepy and lazy. But we had Mexican and margaritas and watched HANGOVER (appropriate)....which, if you haven't seen it, is hilarious.

Saturday we drove to Yokota Air Base to pick up our Diego Garcia friends, shop at their commissary/exchange (much better than ours!) and drove home to sushi-go-round, a beatles cover band, and some GREAT fireworks. A little Transformers action ended the day.

We spent Sunday in Enoshima - an island near Kamakura - hiking around and trying fun Japanese food. Had great turkish food to end the day...

it really is international around here!

The last few weeks have been busy -- Justin was at Boy SCout camp for 10 days just after we returned from Hong Kong. Clinic has been crazy, but my friend Sara and I did manage to sneak away to Hakone to check out the very cool open air museum there.

We are all planning to climb Mt. Fuji this ocming week...so if you are reading this and can say a prayer, please do. might not make it back down.

more pics to come!
Miss everyone from home!

the crazy bus ride

Franchi and Justin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:55:10 GMT

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the crazy bus ride, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

his is a riot = a death defying ride on the double decker bus from HK central to Stanley Market...the bus wasn't going as fast as it was on the way there, but you get the idea. Cheapest rollercoaster i've been on ... total of $2 roundtrip (HK 8).

Link to our pics: www.flickr.com/photos/franchiandjustin/361

aah, starbuck's is everywhere

Franchi and Justin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:52:09 GMT

aah, starbuck's is everywhere, originally uploaded by docfranxusc.

This is the biggest outdoor bronze Buddha....okay, i'm feeling like i'm repeating myself...but it turns out that we've seen the biggest INDOOR bronze BUddha, the biggest outdoor stone Buddha in Japan and now the biggest outdoor bronze buddha in the world. And he's big. Justin saw him by himself...took a "360 tram" - check out our pictures for more views.
Don't you just love that starbuck's is everywhere? Have you tried the new "Coffee and Jelly"? Um, don't...it's weird.