Month: August 2026

August 22, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I don’t write/blog as much about our oldest. We are headed up today to drop him off for his last year at UC Berkeley. He’s 21 now and very much an adult. He could graduate early but will stay the full 4 years at school, and will finish his BA in Psychology and he added on a Creative Writing minor. That he added back writing into his studies, his father and I are so happy.

I’m so proud of him. Mr. Plastic Picker is very much Korean, and always worried about his son. His way of loving him is worrying about him. And he worries and worries and worries. He doesn’t worry as much about our daughter, because in Korean culture the girls are not as important (which is unfortunate but true). Korean fathers worrying about their Korean sons. This is the story of my life. I just watch my husband worry.

But I told him last night, that it’s so easy to love our oldest. He is filled with love, joy and light. He had an amazing summer which felt twice as long as previous summers because he had so many adventures. We traveled together to Europe and met some important people and connected. Then he trekked with his uncle and his good friend from Toronto on a epic 10 day journey through the Swiss alps. Our son told me, “Mom. I’m in the best shape of my life.” So it was fitting that this was the summer, he did this physical task when he is at his healthiest. He celebrated his 21 birthday party at home with a houseful of friends that cared about him. He was joyous and celebratory. He studied and did the academic work that he is supposed to. He was creative and launched some new independent projects. He thought about his future, and made new connections. He asked people he trusted for advice. He did climate projects and his part in the work our family does. And he was present in the life of so many people that he cares for.

He loves and is so loved. And that is why Mr. Plastic Picker, you should not worry so much. Plus I’ll work every day of my life to make sure he continues to have joy and to protect and nurture him. I will work every day for our world and our climate, because he is in the world, until my body decomposes. And that is the truth. He is also my climate why, why I work so much for this beautiful world of ours.

August 18, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Eight years ago we brought this puppy home and she became central to our lives. But today I have been thinking of what seven means. We have 7 more days until we leave for Cambridge/Harvard to drop off our youngest to college. And it’s been about 7 years since I started blogging. Checking my blog, this is my 951 blog post – so before this blogpost I’ve written 950 entries onto this blog! Wow.

That act of writing for me, and bringing that back into my life has been vital for me. Writing/blogging/creating has helped make the last seven years the best 7 years of my life. And it’s helped me create my own story line in this climate chaos, giving me agency in my own life and in this world.

So if you are at a loss, write. Write it down. Write somewhere. Write anywhere. But start writing.

August 16, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

OMG I am so tired still from yesterday’s summit. It was wildly successful with record number attendance and the sessions went flawlessly. We had to stay late to clean up, and the student leaders understandably were ready to move onto their weekends. If you know me in real life, there will be a lot of food in the lunchrooms! We overbought some Costco food. Most of the conference attendees ate the empanadas instead of the mediterranean food this year. It’s hard to know why.

There were a lot of interesting developments. More organizations want to become officially involved. Lots of those connections folks were looking for. Students were milling around having finished their projects. We moved the climate conversation with new and innovative sessions, and really talked about the idea which is not so new to veterinarians of “One Health.” We had a new logo and stickers this year. There are always little hiccups and this year toward the end because some of the student leaders were not communicating as well, there were actually a lot of hiccups. But other people and students stepped up and filled in the gaps. This is the natural ebb and flow of working in a team. I learn so much about the students through this process, and I hope serve as a positive mentor to them. In the end, as long as everyone leaves the entire process having learned something. Learned something about themselves, about others, about the climate, about microplastics. I hope that student leave with new skillsets whether it be making social media ads, postering, how to run a panel, presenting a poster, dressing up for a conference, or how to jump in a figure out how to record a session when the microphone doesn’t work.

I know yesterday was very impactful and our family did what we could for the climate movement. Yesterday was our day where we gave San Diego and the earth a big hug.

But the next 9 days! No more summit. No more climate stuff (except for one session for our HMO). It’s all about getting our kids off to college. Our oldest starts his last year at UC Berkeley! And our youngest heads off to Cambridge/Harvard in 9 days. Yes, we are going with her. And we wish everyone else during this big time – please enjoy every moment with your child and family! We get to live today which is such a blessing. And if you do something that helps the earth or that is more sustainable – than that is wonderful! Thank you to everyone who made it out to H3SD this year! There were so many lovely people there.

August 13, 2026

It is 2 days until the 4th annual H3SD, and 12 days until we fly out with our youngest to drop her off at Cambridge/Harvard. She’s registered for her classes and after minor drama, has a schedule that she loves. In between shopping with her at stores and spending money I would never have spent on myself, I’ve been working with our UC San Diego premedical students and getting the 4th annual H3SD summit off the ground. It’s been a lot more work for me this year, since the students organizing the summit are younger and need more support. But it’s honestly been more interesting and more rewarding. In previous years, I would just hold my breathe and hope it all worked out. And it always did due to the amazing contribution of everyone but in large part due to senior post-baccalaureate students who are now all matriculated to medical school.

This year, I’ve been involved more heavily in the speaker coordinating, CME approval process, coordinated several sessions, speaking at one of the sessions, recruiting volunteers, nagging volunteers, recruiting the tech team, nagging the tech team lead (who is my own son), making sure said son comes back in time from Vegas to lead the tech team (which involved buying him a ticket to fly home from Vegas instead of driving home with his friends), nagging Mr. Plastic Picker (said tech team’s father) to buy him his ticket home. Then there was the custom cheese boards and charcuterie platters that were etched with our logo. The logos were created by Dr. Luis Castellanos’ son. There was ordering the stickers! Here are the stickers

There was also approving 2 research/advocacy posters, and then heavily organizing and writing 2 additional posters (they were ALOT OF WORK!). But those are two important projects that I wanted to get done for the community anyway, and it was fun working with the two separate groups.

There was recruiting my own resident to present, and mentor a high school student.

Wow! It’s been so busy. But during this entire time, I was able to spend time with our daughter. We have 12 more days until she leaves for college. And I intend to fully enjoy the last 12 days with her. We will shop. We will chatter. We will be together. She said she’d come with me to some of the summit preparations as well. Here is the fancy luggage we got after many conversations with her aunt.

So it will be a glorious 12 more days to end an idyllic last summer together. And then I will be left with myself. But I really know and like me. So I think I’ll be okay. I have a lot of projects planned for the fall, and will by flying out twice to see her.

She’s so cute! I had 10 mugs made with her picture on it. The mugs cost $15 each and they are for close family. Her education already costs $500K (JEEZE LOUISE!) from 3-18yo but it was totally worth it. I never intended to work so much as a pediatrician but it all went to her education which was good. I have to go now and keep on working! I hope to have graduate school to pay for!

August 7, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I’m not really sure what the point of LinkedIN? I’m mostly on the platform because I had several premedical students posting incorrect things about their credentials, and have to monitor it to make sure students that I’m mentoring aren’t posting incorrect credentials.

So I’m on this platform occasionally to post things. But it seems just old people and some young people who are acting like old people, jabbering and posturing with their resumes in front of them?

That’s it. The platform does not take too much time. But I know the people I need to know, and being connected with folks on LinkedIN doesn’t really help my climate work, because no one is DOING ANYTHING on LinkedIN. No one is picking up trash. No one is signing petitions. no one is volunteering. No one is becoming more climate aware. No one is being inspired – on LinkedIN.

Pretty much folks are just posturing. But I like to see some of my friends there who are more active on LinkedIN. I’m also there to make sure no one is taking credit for work they aren’t doing. And also to monitor my premedical students.

That’s it. If the platform went away, it wouldn’t be a bad thing.