Category: Uncategorized

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.

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 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 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.

May 10, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Especially to all the mothers out there that I’m your actual or spiritual pediatrician. You deserve a WONDERFUL FANTASTIC SUSTAINABLE MOTHER’S DAY! Your pediatrician is cheering you and your children and your family on! I’m a bit self-serving though since your family keeps me employed!

I realized today is a big day, or an important Mother’s Day because I am done with my mothering of minor children. Our last child turned 18 before Mother’s Day and is now officially an adult. I know we never finish mothering, and I hope to be at some point in the next 10-15 years to be grand-mothering. I will of course continue doctoring and pediatrician-engineering (or is it pediatric-practicing?). But it’s a major milestone to finish raising minor children as a working pediatrician mother.

THAT WAS HARD!!! Trying to figure out work schedule with another physician parent with two minor children WAS NOT EASY! We had to leave Boston/Harvard and find a more manageable system, so landed back in San Diego where we had more family and enrolled them in prep school. We had to combine our household with my in-laws (and we happily have a three generation household now) so that everyone could take care of each other. We had to sit and coordinate call schedules, and I can’t tell you the number of times I almost quit. There were times things were so stressful that I wasn’t sure if we as a family would make it out on the other side of raising children, intact. It was super frustrating shipping my kids to relatives during school holidays or enrolled in another camp so that I could work and adhere to the rules of our organization. It was not easy and I look at the younger physicians in our office, and know it is super difficult for them and they don’t have as much support as we both had. I’m usually open hearted but this is my blog and an emotional journal of my climate and health journey, and I can just say here honestly – PHEW! I’m DONE! Good luck to you guys! LOL. It wasn’t easy and I don’t want to ever repeat the stress of the last 18 years when they were sick, hospitalized, college application season, emergency funerals where the grandparents had to suddenly go to Korea and on and on and on. I remember when Mr. Plastic Picker had back surgery and I wasn’t sure if we would be able to continue with the kids schooling without his income, and thought of so many alternatives. It was upsetting to me that I had to first figure out finances and not get to worry about my own husband’s health. He figured out his own health, as I sat and made contingency plans financially. It all worked out but it was stressful.

Now the children are 18 and healthy, and admitted or enrolled in good colleges. Their college accounts are fully funded, so they will be college-educated. And everything else is icing on the cake, and they have health insurance until 26. We did our duty, and I have finished my mothering of minor children. I told them both they need to get jobs and health coverage by 26. I expect both to go to graduate school.

Now I’ll just try to save the earth, which honestly will be much easier than mothering minor children. Happy Mother’s Day to everyone! Isn’t she cute? And she doesn’t want to be a mother yet – THANK GOODNESS! And it’s her choice. I’ve evolved in my thinking. I LOVED being a mother, but you can have a fulfilling life without being a mother. It’s less stressful and easier, and it’s a choice.

May 9, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot, the feeling of awkwardness. Relationship awkwardness mostly. Doing climate work and really trying to help get things done, has involved me meeting a lot of new people, new personalities and pushing myself to accomplish new things. New projects. New partners. New ideas. And putting the climate and the environment at the center has required personally growing, and redefining myself – and also growing closer to who I was originally in my purest form as a child. Being joyful and productive, this is something that comes naturally to toddlers and children! I’ve gotten to know so many people at different levels and learned how to have productive relationships with them, and also learning how to draw appropriate boundaries. It’s all led to this reoccurring concept in my daily life that it’s all just very AWKWARD.

And I’m okay with this. Sometimes people text you things that make me angry and sad, and I ignore it and things are just left hanging. Sometimes people cross personal boundaries, and it gets incredibly awkward because we aren’t really family.

I think it’s due to change. As one person changes, the others around them have to accommodate or make way for that growth – and there is that awkward stage. Eventually the relationship can continue and you can grow together, or it can remain awkward. Awkward is that in-betweenness in a relationship. It’s that pause that each other is not sure how the other one is going to move. The moment seems so long, but it’s brief. But that mindfulness of that moment and how incredibly long and AWKWARD it feels , is really interesting to me.

So if you are feeling AWKWARD. That’s okay. That’s a completely valid feeling! It means someone is changing and growing in a relationship, and sometimes others have to step back and let it happen. It can feel lonely at times. It can feel awkward.

May 8, 2026

by Dr. Plastic Picker

I appreciate all the time our speakers spent speaking at our H3SD 2025 Summit last year. We are in the midst of planning of H3SD 2026. I got to tell two captivated UCSD students the true origins from my point of view of the original summit at the Starbucks at Price Center and why I’m a Muir Provost Innovation Fellow. LOL. But it’s my take on the last few years, and just my perspective. But like your own children, these are my own students who belong to UCSD Revelle college, and I’m allowed to have my own perspective on events. That was super fun! My two students were so enthralled in my made up drama, but they are also doing real climate work through their UCSD Academic Internship with us.

They are officially interns through the American Academy of Pediatrics and Kaiser Permanente. This years internship has been so fun, and I’ve gotten to know the students better. I met with two separately yesterday and these are young kids struggling through midterms and academic stress. So it was good just to sit and listen to them share their stresses with classes. They are going to do great! I really want to give them a little gift bag after they complete their internships maybe get some free swag from AAP and from Kaiser? I’ll ask! It never hurts to ask!

Otherwise I’m oddly tired today. I did do a lot of walking last night and fell straight to sleep. I’ll try to walk at lunch today. Our 18 year old (OMG I can’t believe she is 18 already!) was up late last night making yummy short bread cookies for her last Library Ambassadors meeting at school. She’s president! She is packing me 6 cookies to split between the 3 nurses that I made gift bags for. It’s nurses week and it’s honestly been fun but nonstop eating in our clinic. I’ve been good and partaking just a bit, because it’s actually not the best-for-your-health food. But I’m present and enjoying everyone’s company mostly while drinking my tea. I did have a yummy KFC biscuit and 1 drumstick that was warmed up in the air fryer by Leilani one of our nurses. It was really yummy! I also had a sausage patty one morning, and there were nachos several times. OMG, nurses week needs to end! LOL. I have to give 3 wonderful nurses their gift bags. Nurses Week was a bit disorganized this year, but it all works out. Everyone gave out of love. I’m trying to show love through bookstore purchases! I think our nurses are going to love our gifts!

That’s it! I just wanted to remind myself to send out the H3SD 2025 video links!