June 7, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Given the Harvard entering class is about 1600 unique individuals, the idea that anyone knows the formula of how to get into Harvard – is really ridiculous. Some other parents have asked Mr. Plastic Picker, who is the Chief of the Radioactive Doctors Department, and he just shrugs his shoulders. It was an exhausting process senior year for all involved, just applying to college. It just happened that the top college our youngest was admitted to was Harvard, and it has that aura. But for all of us who are alumni and Harvard trained, we all know it’s just a place. It’s pretty similar to other places like Yale, Brown, Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, Cornell, Berkeley, Clairemont McKenna Colleges, USC, UCLA, and on and on and on.

I’m glad she’s in and we’ve reveled as a family and community, but then moving past it. I’m relieved. Our daughter has made contact with the Harvard Ceramics program and other key people she will need to know while there. She has a vague idea of what she wants to study and professional goals. And we have our plane tickets and hotel reservations, and a move-in date. We are back to the regular world of having to do things together as a family, and are still celebrating – but not nonstop. It was very wonderful but a bit too much for my nervous system! Yesterday Mr. Plastic Picker and I went for a long walk. We ate food at home which has plenty of protein, and some fruit/vegetables. We are eating all the many many leftovers in our house, and re-centering ourselves. We had a last gathering of our girl scout troop yesterday which was very meaningful. And ended that chapter of our lives. It was twelve years together. That could be an entire book in itself! I am so grateful I was their girl scout leader, and got to have that experience with my daughter and her friends and the other moms. We had so many different experiences together!

How do you get into Harvard? Actually I got into Harvard too! But I’d rather ask the questions – how do I deep clean my bathroom? How do I fill the sink-hole in my backyard? How do I navigate menopause? How many supplements does any sane person take? Which hair-dye should I use? How do I get Mr. Plastic Picker to exercise more and stress less? Those are the questions I really want answered.

Our now two adult children went to the gym together yesterday, and they were laughing and had funny antics that they were showing us. A secret handshake that includes a robot-like ending. It’s really funny and endearing. We used our ninja air fryer and the turkey burgers turned out really well! And everyone had their burgers a bit different with different fixings. I never realized how the children don’t really like fresh tomatoes? Which is crazy since we have so many tomatoes every year! My son made this stir-fry with a bunch of leftovers and it actually turned out okay. I was initially horrified that he dared alter a fundamentally amazing Vietnamese dish by combining it with some dishes, but when he stir fried it with some left over salmon poke bowl and a random chicken tender – it was actually transformed into something really interesting! But most importantly he ate it and there wasn’t any leftovers and we had less food waste in our kitchen.

I know the blog has become more my blathering than anything. But it helps me sort things out in the morning. I have to write a letter of recommendation today, try to finalize an abstract by a student group. I’m not sure if they got it done correctly? And then make sure I show up where I’m supposed to show up this week. I have to email Harvard an email from our family regarding our daughter, so that they can place her in the right dorm with the right roommate. Thank you Harvard – I really appreciate that care and consideration. And then I have to finish ordering our Harvard freshmen ad for the yearbook. So lots of Harvard things to do for our Harvard-bound youngest. How did she get in? I think she got in because she applied and she was qualified and an interesting candidate. And it doesn’t hurt that both her parents were alumni. But we are proud of her, because she was admitted to another Ivy League college and a few other top notch schools. So if she hadn’t got into Harvard, she would be freezing her tushy off in Ithaca! Phew. That would have been close! Cornell is really really really really COLD!

June 5, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Hee hee! I just sent an epic number of emails, posted on Linkned, and facebook. I realized that I do not have ADHD, but in this disjointed world I’m trying to connect all those dots that need to be connected. Yesterday was honestly exhausting but meaningful. I don’t think my young colleague realizes how much I’m doing when I wandered out of my office in a daze. I had climate meetings from 1230-130, 230-330, 4-430 and then working on other human rights stuff at night with my family. It was actually an epically important climate day because I connected Christina Laster who helped pass a California Law that helps implement heat safety measures in schools https://www.laschoolreport.com/author/cclaster/ with Nan Renner from Scripps Oceanographic Institute and Mikaela Robinson from Green Schoolyards of America. We are all going to speak at the same breakout session at H3SD San Diego’s Heat and Human Health Summit. We only met because Christina spoke at District 8 Summit which was inspired by H3SD. It’s so interesting how the world works. And Christina is up at Stanford, and wants pediatricians help in forming the state-wide policy in implementing this law. So I responded to an email from Lisa Patel from Stanford about something else, but will connect her with Christina who is also at Stanford.

As someone who went to Harvard, I totally get it. We can literally be in the same space working on the same issues, and not know that the person you need is right in front of you.

But anyway, the thing I really wanted to tell you is that 5 years ago? I think it was 5 years ago, I met a documentary film maker named Mitzi Mayer who was making a film about plastics. And I’m Dr. Plastic Picker (although I don’t really do that much advocacy on plastics). She interviewed me and we had this super interesting day where we got sandwiches from Fig Tree Cafe with one of my patients/students Ashley, and then walked to our house and she interviewed me in front of my mother-in-law’s tomato plants. I think Mitzi also went to the H3SD summit? I haven’t heard from her since but know where her web page is and know she’s out there doing things, and she emailed everyone letting everyone know her film was done. I haven’t watched it yet, but it was so fun to receive her email! She is such a genuine person and I was so happy to meet her years ago.

But anyway, she was looking and trying to figure out where to premier her film. I happened to be at the San Diego Natural History Museum for another project (which is super interesting called Healing Through Nature) where I’m trying to get a bunch of doctors to help the NAT do this important project. It will get a bunch of doctors out of clinic and into a fun place! I think they’ll LOVE IT! Anyway, I happened to be at the NAT and chatting with a few people about this other project. My daughter and niece were sitting a table away, just returned from wandering around the NAT, and I got to introduce them to my new young friends! I thought that was cool that I’m actually semi-famous/infamous. And then I off-hand asked Natalie from the NAT, “I know this is weird but I met this really cool person 5 years ago Mitzi Mayer and she did a documentary film on plastic pollution and I’m in it (just a little bit) because I’m Dr. Plastic Picker! I haven’t seen the film but she’s looking for somewhere to premiere the film? Could she premiere it here?” And Natalie looked excited and mentioned to her other friend, and they might make it happen.

So in the gazillion emails and Linkned message and facebook messages I did send, the coolest one was a quick reply to Mitzi’s email and I cc’ed Natalie. I hope it works out and I think it really will! I’m really excited that there might be a documentary movie premiere at the NAT on a plastic waste documentary that I might be in, and it will be at the NAT! I LOVE THE NAT! My entire family loves the NAT!

Anyway, I thought that was really cool! So it’s 5:56am and I am going to go jogging and pick up trash /plastic on the beach because I’m Dr. Plastic Picker! SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, too much coffee already.

June 3, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It was the primary yesterday! I definitely voted and our daughter voted in her first election. I’ll be honest, I don’t really vote carefully. I kind of take my ballot and vote for the people I know well and trust, and the others sometimes I leave blank and sometimes I’ll just make sure to vote for a Democratic (I was raised Republican but lean left because obviously I’m a pediatrician and climate minded person). But I’m not a purist. I think because I was raised very conservatively I understand some of the concerns that are coming from the right side. But I’m definitely non-partisan usually I think? I don’t really donate to politicians. I think it’s a waste of money. But I definitely VOTE. Which is the most important thing.

The election was last night and I was only following it peripherally. Because of the Tijuana Sewage Crisis, I met Matt Mahan, Xavier Becerra, and also someone else – I forget who? Anyway. I met 3 people or was it just 2 – running for Governor. I actually voted for Becerra before I realized he had taken money from Chevron. But now that there is a Republican in the run off, I’m glad I did! No politician is perfect but definitely Becerra is preferable to a Republican right now. Anyway, I got to meet him in Imperial Beach and got to shake his hand and chatted with him before my shift. It was all very interesting. His wife is also I believe a Harvard trained physician.

I actually met Nicole Crosby who is in the run off for the District 2 seat as well. She was sitting at our table during our daughter’s Girls Scouts’ Emerging Leaders celebration. It was super interesting because our daughter gave a very good speech and received a good amount of applause when they introduced her and announced where she was going to college. I started following Nicole Crosby because she took our picture and was seated at our table. Politics and influence definitely flows through certain groups in San Diego and that includes Girl Scouts! Anyway, I thought she was really interesting and an up and coming young leader and started following her. She won last night! She mentioned in passing at the table that she knew Raul Campillo through something, who is also one of the current City Councilmen. Then one of my patient’s parents told me something about her, because this parent is a public defender. I have known this parent for years, so I thought her perspective was interesting. The entire election was interesting.

I’ll be honest though. I definitely vote and chat about politics and politicians, but I kind of just do my thing. I don’t think climate is left nor right, it’s just literally trying to survive. I think by concentrating on doing what I know I’m supposed to do, and then voting and participating – that I’m doing enough. So to the weird person’s campaign that called me to donate after I already blocked you on social media and on my phone, PLEASE STOP!

The weird thing about a lot of people, is they want to tell other people what to do. I really really hate that! I already am told what to do at work, by my patients, by my husband (in a partnership kind of way), by the IRS, and by my family – so I don’t take kindly to being told what to do! That’s why I don’t respond intuitively to some people and certain students. It’s like they are dumping things on me and telling me what to do with my time! Do it yourself! I’m pretty sure I’m busier than you, and all my activism is actually volunteer which is how I like it.

Anyway, just wanted to let the blog readership know I though the election was super interesting and will chat about it during work with my office buddies. I got to meet some of the politicians who like to tell us what to do. But the truth regarding democracy is that it’s really the people and grassroots organizing that controls the narrative. Also there is corruption is politics 100%, so we need to get to the root issue and take the money out of politics. I think Australia just requires everyone to vote on an easy to get to day like Saturday, and just fines people – if they don’t vote? I think that would save a lot of time and money if we did that. Again, I’d rather just be me and not involved or overly concerned with politics. But I did vote everyone! And the people I voted for actually did win. I think I’m reflective of the general population. And please don’t try to tell me what to do. I really respond poorly to that. I’ll literally just block you on social media, or ignore your emails. I’m a more collaborative person. I think I don’t like people telling me what to do because I’m Vietnamese, and imperial forces have been trying to control us for like a thousand years.

June 2, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I know it didn’t seem much of a pause, but to me it seemed like a pause! I spent the last 5 days gloriously just being a mother. I had a few virtual climate meetings sprinkled in but mostly I was rushing to senior awards ceremony, graduation, noticing the little details of her emotions over friends and pictures and leis – and then we had a family dinner at a beautiful restaurant to just be together the 18 of us who so rarely get to gather together like that. I sat next to Mr. Plastic Picker and we mentally rested with my siblings, and ate fancy food and felt so comfortable. The sun set and the children who are all mostly young adults now ate toward the other end of the table and we watched the sunset frame their conversations. It was a magical time with hundreds of pictures, and only a few shared on social media. When I mean I paused, I mean that so many of those photos and memories and conversations I didn’t share – because they are family memories and family photos and my daughter’s friend memories and friend photos and they belong to the very real world and not the virtual.

But real life is back, and it’s time to dive back in. I’m back to work this morning. Our daughter is stressed out because she has to take her online placement exams, and now Harvard is nagging her for things to complete before she lands on campus. There is always someone waiting for your spot if you don’t get things done at Harvard, so she will spend time doing the nitty gritty of placement exams and online portal management when she thought she’d be working out at the gym and looking cute.

But she was truly gorgeous during graduation!

It was her dream to wear a white graduation ao dai, and we made it happen for her! We do have a professional photoshoot coming up so we are excited to have her get to wear her graduation ao dai, and stole with all the pins correctly placed, and her prom dress one last time. By then she should have finished all the Harvard on-line tasks that is making her current life not fun! But girl! You don’t go to Harvard to just be pretty! She’ll learn you go to make your mark on the world, and bring the causes and community you champion into the spotlight. We are counting on you. No pressure. Just do what you can, and look good while doing it. Our world saving adventure continues to Cambridge, and in San Diego! But thank you to all our blog friends who have been cheering us on. It was really hard for her to get into Harvard! She’s an excellent student but it’s not easy! Phew. I’m glad it all worked out. I don’t think I could write a book or advise anyone about their own children. Our daughter also has no intention of being one of those students who monetizes her Ivy League admissions. Honestly, so much of life is due to serendipity and how do you write a book about that?

I have so many climate emails to send today! If you are waiting for an email from you, I’m getting back to you soon! Just took 5 days off to see our youngest graduate in style!

May 26, 2027

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It all worked out! I had previously blogged about the the nefarious HMO that was trying to take our chalkboards away https://drplasticpicker.com/dear-hmo-dont-take-away-our-chalkboards/. It ended up being a misunderstanding and miscommunication so we are keeping out chalkboards (YEAH!) albeit with a few infection control modifications. Then I was ranting about the premedical students not sending in any sort of slide deck for the big funding meeting https://drplasticpicker.com/thoughts-on-premed-mentoring-i-wonder-if-they-are-going-to-get-their-act-together/ at the San Diego Foundation yesterday. And it’s true the students I emailed did not send anything in, but another student had sent me a slide deck a few months ago and I was able to find it and texted him thanks and let the larger group know that he had generated one that I was able to use! It’s important to give credit where credit is due, and he showed up and got it done. Most importantly the two amazing UC San Diego Medical Students Daisy and Michelle during their busy clinical rotations, were able to come last minute and actually present 10 of the slides to the funding team. Given they had the slide deck just about 1.5 hours prior to the presentation and did it flawlessly, they did FANTASTIC!!! They are really smart and accomplished already because they are already in medical school.

So everything flowed well yesterday and it all worked out! We were able to reconnect with two wonderful people, who I had already met and known but fully understood who they are now. So they are climate friends with specific training backgrounds and roles they are playing in the San Diego climate space.

But during all that climate drama, I got to spend more time with my daughter. It’s this odd week where there are some activities for the graduating senior and a lot of off time. She wanted to get out of the house, and came to me to the funding meeting and sat in the corner. She baked cookies and we shared them with the four other women in the meeting. Home-made short bread cookies are special. And then we walked for a precious 20 minutes around Liberty Station. We bought some iced matcha, and talked and I was able to hear her perspective of the meeting. I try to be just her mother, but I could tell she was proud of me. She heard by spiel and my animated climate and health self – trying to save the earth for her and other children. But she’s 18 now, and technically no longer a child. I dropped her off at Senior Sunset making it right on time to see two of her classmates walking also toward the beach. The entire class was together at this picturesque spot, and I got to drive her and to drop her off. Her iPhone was directing her to her best friend Emily.

And a few days ago I realized why I really loved this plushie I bought at Little Tokyo. Where is she? (PAUSE). OMG I can’t find her! I have to go! I just found my wallet https://drplasticpicker.com/the-magic-of-blogging-i-found-my-wallet-subtitle-wallet-vs-warehouse-isr/. And now I’ve lost my lovey!

May 26, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It’s 4:56am and I haven’t yet received the students’ presentation. This is the fourth year we’ve been organizing the H3SD San Diego’s Heat and Human Health Summit, and we have a meeting with the San Diego Foundation today to secure funding for our meeting. Our meeting is at 4pm. It’s 5K that we ask for, and it’s really just to feed everyone. The entire day is a huge day of networking and moving the climate work forward locally and nationally. Its’ a great deal for everyone, as it brings out network closer together and it’s volunteer driven.

I had asked the student leaders who receive stipends and generous mentoring, to update the slide deck that I need to do the presentation. I can do the slide deck myself very quickly likely in an hour. But I’m giving them some pressure to get their act together and be coordinated to deliver me some kind of slide deck. I already have the medical student who will be co-presenting with me. She’s a senior medical student and her job is honestly just to show up. The premedical student leaders have already been working together for a while, and the pressure is somewhat on. It’s make believe pressure, because $5K is not a lot of money for the physicians who are organizing it. I can easily donate that amount and we did in previous years, and I donate about the same in the student stipends. These students are paid, albeit very nominal stipends. But the entire point is that everyone has a role and a task in planning the H3SD summit and indeed in combatting climate change. I’m trying to teach them to get things done and to hustle. I’m trying to teach them responsibility, and what it is like to work for a cause.

I’m really really curious to see if they can get their act together. They’ve had some miscommunications in the entire group twice now in terms of scheduling. The meeting dates for the last two coordinating meetings were not the dates that I had asked for. I showed up and we were able to get things done, but I know in their group – they are not quite coordinated. It’s hard to work in groups, but that’s the entire point. I’m trying to get them to build professional climate and health connections, and give them real-world challenges. There is no playbook in this monumental planetary code. But what I try to do is to create mini-deadlines with the different projects that we need to get done, and they either make the deadline or not. They need to learn that getting things done, even imperfectly is better than a polished project. The most important thing is to show up, and any slide deck they send me will be great.

I’m really curious if they can get their act together? I haven’t received the slide deck yet and it’s 5:08 am. LOL. What they receive in kind beyond the stipends and opportunities they have been given is enormous. I think some of my calm that I haven’t received the slide deck is that $5K isn’t a lot of money. I can afford to do it without the funding. I don’t honestly even need the San Diego Foundation. It’s a situation where we all need each other and this network.

My ability to help coordinate our large network of physicians and students, is that I fundamentally know the value of my own time and skills. The going rate for premed mentoring is $500 an hour. That’s what I could charge students. I do this mentoring without any pay to select students who commit to doing climate and health work. But they only get mentoring, if they try. So I hope they try to get some sort of slide deck to me. LOL.

It’s 5:11am and instead of doing their slide deck for them. I’m going to get a head start on my charts this morning, as I have morning clinic. I’m going to send a few H3SD emails out. I’ll do everything such that I’ll get myself home right after morning clinic by maybe 1245 to check to see if they student group will send their slide deck to me in time. If they don’t, then I’ll put together something quickly between 1-3pm and make the meeting at 4pm – no problem. I like that they are feeling this pressure. Because it’s a true planetary code and I need to get the physicians and students together and coordinated in San Diego. I know that is what I need to do, and we’ve done it for four years now.

Otherwise, I’m proud to show you my daughter’s picture. She is not yet graduated but it’s the APIDA (which stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desai American) affinity group stole for graduation. They received it on Saturday during a very nice medium sized gathering on Saturday. She looks very elegant and capable. I know my kid has her act together. She gets things done. Which is why she’s going to the school that she is going to. She does her own projects and pursuing her own passions. I’m super proud of her.

Wishing an virtual-blogger good luck to the students who are likely stressing out right now! LOL. They are going into medicine and will be in far more stressful situations, so I don’t feel guilty. They’ll appreciate the lessons they are learning right now. I know that in my heart. We are trying to save millions of lives by doing climate and health work, and they are part of the solution. And mentoring them, and teaching them, and stressing them out – is part of my job. No matter what, these students will do great. But I enjoy seeing them stressed out a little bit. LOL. I’ve been working since the age of 8 and still maintain a busy clinical practice while doing a tremendous amount of climate and health organizing, so I feel no guilt in asking them to do this important task. Because I’m part of their team, and if they can’t get it done – I will do it this afternoon. But I believe in them! Wish them luck LOL.

May 24, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Where is my darn wallet? I’ve been to so many places recently and life is in a bit of upheaval and I can’t find my mini-wallet that holds 1 credit card and my drivers license. I think it may be in . . . OMG I FOUND IT! I had to change the title of this blog post from “Wallet vs Warehouse ISR (Indirect Source Rule)” to “The Magic of Blogging! I Found My Wallet!”

I’ve been to so many different places lately and using different bags, and in different family cars since we have so many drivers. I’ve been just flowing with life and family functions and projects . . . but sometimes if you flow too much, you can misplace your wallet! OMG I was actually really stressed for about 24 hours because it’s been misplaced for a few days now. I had gone on a fun workout trip to the La Jolla YMCA with our oldest, and learning new ways to move my body and get stronger. We had a fun time stopping by Sprouts and got healthy salads, which of course I paid for. He is almost 21 but has never had a paying job, despite the good grades from the top Public University in the country. But anyways, I pulled out my wallet to register for a guest pass at the La Jolla YMCA and then paid for our healthy food at Sprouts which is the last time I remember having my wallet. I definitely had it when I paid for the food, so it was good to know likely it was somewhere in my car, or in the house , or in one of the shopping bags. I think you are like our family and probably have too many reusable shopping bags. Anyway, after looking through all the bags we’ve used recently, the different pockets of the different outerwear I’ve been wearing, and just looking and looking around the house – I FOUND MY WALLET! And it all started with I began this morning with the title “Wallet vs Warehouse ISR.” Thank you MY BLOG!

There is really magical things that happen on this blog! I guess I’ll be able to help with the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule. You probably missed the news stories about the Warehouse ISR because there is a toxic exposure in Garden Grove, and also the domestic terrorist attack at the local nice Islamic Center. It’s really terrible right now. But I try to concentrate on what I’m supposed to do, and I’m concentrating on the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule especially since I FOUND MY WALLET! Phew.

For the Warehouse Indirect Source Rule, I’ve gathered the “A team” for premedical students. Oh, let me text one of them back now! (pause). Okay texted them. And then I got distracted on Instagram by cute pictures of my daughter and her new Harvard sweatshirt.

Okay! Just know that I found my wallet and I’m super grateful for blogging for so many reasons. Everything that is lost is then found on this blog, especially my true self. Sending everyone green hugs!

May 19, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Dear HMO.

Don’t take away our chalkboards.

Don’t take away our space that we use to teach, to write, to communicate, to create.

Don’t take away our space that we use to connect, to write, to draw, to exist.

Don’t take way the space that we love.

We draw uteri

Kids draw fish

We draw lungs

Kids write messages

We draw bronchi

Kids draw circles

Magic happens on these chalkboards.

Dear HMO. Why do you love AI but you hate chalkboards?

Dear HMO. Go find someone else to control. You seriously have nothing better to do than go after our chalkboards?!!!

A pediatrician.

May 18, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

It was unexpected. An hour of travel when we thought we’d just be finishing our drive from Berkeley to San Diego, bringing our oldest home from his 3rd year in college. But our son was set on having sushi and he wanted it in Little Tokyo. We were initially thinking the revolving sushi restaurant but it was a 2 hour wait. But honestly, the place we ate at was excellent and more importantly we experienced an hour of real delight.

It was really a sidequest, as our son called it.

And we bough the cutest matching souvenirs. Mine is the one in a bee.

The most fun was walking through the crowd in just a completely different part of California, that we never knew existed. The parking was $15 in the lot across the main part of Little Tokyo and it was 100% worth it! We will definitely be back! The family wants to go to Universal Studios together.

May 13, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

We still have more than 3 months until our youngest goes to college, but I’m absolutely wallowing. I’m wallowing in the pit of boredom and life is not interesting. There is no more college updates about her class. There is no more dress fittings and major photo shoots (we have one more). There is no more drama about college (although that was exhausting). We are in a peaceful lull now. She’s done with all but one AP test and will finish her high school academic career strong with all top marks. I think she only ever got one A-? And she’ll be off to Harvard at the end of the summer.

I’ll wallow but I’ll wallow and drag this wonderful last summer out. She’ll still be here and it’s been healing seeing her healthy and happy with her accomplishments. She’s finally having some fun. And fun for a former preemie raised the way she is raised, is going to the craft store and fabric painting shirts for her friends. She’s running in the morning, and taking walks to the beach and sometimes I’m invited. She made focaccia bread and had funny stories about her homeroom teacher taking the last few ones in a tupperware to share with the other teachers. Her focaccia bread is THAT GOOD. We had some for dinner last night and relishing each piece. She’s giggling with her friends about doing “hot girl pilates” and working out with her high school friends, as they prepare for adulthood and college.

She’s missing her older brother who will be home soon. And she’ll finally be stress-free and enjoy his boisterousness because he’s a big personality.

And she’s healthy and alive. While I was wallowing a few days ago, she turned to me and said “mommy what are you going to do when I’m gone? You love me too much. What if I die?” And I confidently turned to her and said “you didn’t die, and you are alive” and each day is a gift with you. I never take anything for granted these days. Each breathe is a blessing.