This adorable child of mine will soon be going to daycare, provided we can find one. And since we haven’t had much luck with recommendations in the past, I thought to ask the crowds here:

What’s a good daycare in Orange County, specifically in the Santa Ana/Tustin/Orange area?

Our daughter is almost 1, gets along great with other kids, and her only special needs consist of her requiring fairly regular feedings (every 3 hours) to counter a metabolic issue. We need a daycare that allows partial weeks (doesn’t charge a flat fee per 5-day week), but otherwise we’re pretty open. Who do you recommend? Who should we avoid? What’s better – large companies or smaller operations? Thanks for your help!

It is sort of sad when you look at your spouse and say, “Well, it’s supposed to cool down today. You know, only 90 degrees.”

The next meeting of the Orange County Atheists will be held Thursday, May 10 at 7:30PM at the International House of Pancakes at 18542 MacArthur Blvd in Irvine. If you consider yourself an atheist, an agnostic, a freethinker, a humanist, or are just curious, check out this month’s event. If you’re planning on attending please RSVP at our website forums. Hope to see you there!

Today when it was already 80 degrees at 9:30am I had a feeling there was going to be a fire. What with the tinder dry brush around here and the temps and the winds, I had a premonition that I would be seeing/smelling smoke because that has been the drill around here every time it gets unseasonably hot. Which has been quite a bit lately.

Sure enough, as I went to pick up my son from preschool, I saw the wafting billows of brown smoke, which from my vantage, looked to be right past Weir Canyon Blvd., but I knew that it was a bit further than that. So far it hasn’t burned that many acres, but if the winds don’t die down, it could get a bit worse. I have lived here for almost six years, and have never witnessed so many fires in such a short amount of time as in the last couple of years.

What gives? Is it global warming? Is it a bunch of firebugs who rub their hands in delight a la Mr. Burns whenever a “Red Flag Warning” goes into effect?

If you are a train buff, then the Fullerton Railroad Days are for you. They are happening this weekend from 9am to 5pm, go here to get on the official website.

Admission and parking are free, so expect a lot of crowds. There isn’t necessarily a whole lot to DO, but a lot to see, if you understand what I mean.

The search for a better Farmer’s Market has taken me south to Irvine’s acclaimed farmer’s market. It’s produce, produce and more produce as far as the eye can see down there.

The most common complaint I see on this blog is the underwhelming amount of farm products actually being sold at the north county farmer’s markets.

It’s a fair complaint. However, where other markets scramble to fill their small vacant booths, Irvine bustles with a huge quantity of flavorsome veggies and fruits! Yummy yummy indeed.

Y’all should check it out, it’s held on Saturdays at the University Center (by the Edward’s Cinemas) across from UCI from 8 a.m. to noon. Only in California could a healthy, nutritious and plucky little market be located in the parking lot of mall.

For those of you who get the itch about this time of year, the line up for the 2007 Hootenanny is out and includes Social Distortion, Nekromantix, Roger Miret and the Disasters, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Mojo Nixon, the Blasters and others. Tickets go on sale Saturday. See you there.

The Ducks fought and scrapped their way through a tough playoff battle with the Vancouver Canucks at the Honda Center last night.

In double Overtime, Scott Niedermayer snuck the puck past the “wall” that was Roberto Luongo and won it for Anaheim. Luongo turned his head thinking that a penalty was going to be called on Rob Niedermayer, Rob passed the puck to his brother Scott and sent it to the back of the net.

The Ducks now advance to the Western Conference finals for the third time in the past four seasons.

Looks like Vancouver will be raising the Anaheim Duck flag in front of Vancouver City Hall.

All righty then, since so many of you thumb your nose at Pizza Hut, I am just dying to know what pizza meets your exacting standards.

Baskin Robbins is having a 31 cent scoop night tonight from 5pm to 10pm. And not only do you get some ice cream for next to nothing, they will donate part of the proceeds to the National Fallen Firefighters Fouindation. Go here for all the details.

I have no idea where the nearest Baskin Robbins is to me, maybe somewhere on Tustin Ave?

Now is BR too lowbrow for you guys, or is this a Coldstone-only crowd?