November 1, 2024

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Can you believe it’s really November 1 2024? I had to submit schedule requests for April and May and it was kind of surreal. That is when our daughter will be taking AP exams and finished with her SATs. I can’t even begin to imagine her being that far into junior year. This time is so precious to me, and I want to slow time all the way down.

The list of the ever expanding doximity resume for me, continues. Which is completely ridiculous because I already have a job that I love. I keep on at it, because it’s part of how I address the existential threat of climate change and global heating. I decided I can’t now remember 5-6 years ago, to begin mentoring premedical students in climate and health and environmental health related projects. I am a projects based person. And as they get advising and meaningful projects to do, we advance the work of decarbonization forward. So because I was blogging to you about my resume, I just updated it on more stuff.

But here is my emotional journey. And I’m content today. I have a new tooth! Well at least a new good crown which I hope will last me at least 10 years as we continue to fight this existential crisis. My goal is to keep that crown and tooth healthy, and also to help keep us below 2 degrees of global warming. It might be easier to stop global heating then prevent a new root canal? And I’m serious about that.

But I’m content because I am here with you. I am just who I am. I posted above a picture of one of my biggest successes as a climate and health advocate. Dr. Melissa Campbell is my continuity clinic resident. I’m super proud of her! She’s going to be chief resident next year and is co-chair with me of the AAP -CA3 Climate Change and Health Committee. She’s really awesome. I missed her awards dinner because I had to work so much that weekend (YES I’M STILL WHINING ABOUT THOSE EXTRA SHIFTS). But it ended up well. I would have gone but I had just one day to spend with my teen daughter. I usually show pictures of her, and she has super gorgeous ones that I can’t post nor share. But if you see me in real life and you are a real friend, I’ll show you.

She had homecoming and all her little innocent teen drama. She has the day off today, and is working on her Informative speech for the next speech tournament. She gets to go to a pizza party on Monday for getting high grades and also doing well in certain classes (which I’m not sure!). So I’m excited to just be in the room next to hers, and I know she is doing her academic things and I’m typing nonsense into the blog. She peaked in and asked me “are you updated my resume AGAIN?” Yes, I told her. It’s my joy. That and taking cute pictures of her.

Otherwise since she is sixteen and busy with life and our also wonderful son is in college, I otherwise just try to save the earth for our collective children.

We have spread the heat and human health summit idea to District 8 AAP which is the western US and Canada, minus California. This is via real friends and colleagues and through natural networks. We are expanded our leaded aviation fuel advocacy model to our friends hopefully in Oregon, Arizona, Utah and New York State. We have a team for both things. And also indoor air pollution advocacy team that a very capable climate and health leader will take over, since she wants to do it and I have the team formed and there is too much work for everyone. What else? Oh yes the Tijuana Sewage Crisis and then decarbonizing Orange County.

It’s funny that anytime someone tells me no, I find a way to get things done. I’m not sure where I learned to be so contrary.

But it’s a beautiful day today because I have a great new tooth and crown and we are having homemade pizza tonight! Sending the blog readership a lot of green hugs and thank you for following along on my journey.