I Scream-U Scream-WeScream!

Welcome back, my disciples. From the everlasting tune sung by children the world over (in their own languages of course), "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM!!!", we have once again entered into the season of ice cream. As the annual effects of Global Warming raise the temperatures of the Northern Hemisphere, ice cream shops from Anchorage, Alaska, to Zinalrothorn, Switzerland are opening up for business to sell their icy cool treats.
We all have memories of chasing the ice cream trucks through the neighborhood as its mind-numbing, ever-repeating tunes echo between the homes, pulling us on like the Pied Piper's flute to spend mom and dad's hard earned dollars for an over-priced Popsicle, ice cream sandwich, or frosty malted. Then the ensuing race to eat it all up before the heat of the day robbed us of that final cool mouthful, leaving us sticky from fists to forehead. Aahhh, good times.
As we've all grown older, our tastes for the cool creamy delights has grown, also. We all have our favorite flavors of ice cream. Some have more favorites than others. For many of us, the old standards of Vanilla, Chocolate, and Strawberry, just do not do it for us any more.
Not surprisingly topping the list of "non-traditional" flavors is Butter Pecan. At work, it was picked most as a favorite. It is also my mother's favorite. Go figure. It also slides in third nationally, behind Vanilla and Chocolate, and just ahead of Strawberry, in popularity. Other top flavors include Neapolitan, Chocolate Chip, French Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Fudge Ripple, and Praline. I was surprised to find that Rocky Road and Cookie Dough didn't top the list, nor did they show up on any of the poles I took.
Among some of the favorites of co-workers, friends, and family, Moose Tracks and Mint Chocolate Chip topped the list. More specialized flavors, such as Blue Moon (my personal favorite), Mayan Chocolate, Black Walnut, Cherry Vanilla (my late father's favorite), Rum Raisin, and Coffee getting one-off votes.
I sat back and took a look around our Big Blue Marble and found a few interesting facts. Did you know that "What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?" is the most common question asked when two people first start dating? Ice cream is the most popular desert the world over, by far, and Vanilla is by far and away the most popular flavor, at 29%!
Here is a little something I came across: Astrological dictates of ice cream preferences!
Aries - Chocolate Mousse Royale is your passion.
Taurus - Amaretto Chocolate
Gemini - Chocolate Chip
Cancer - Dulce de Leche
Leo - Bailey's Irish Ice Cream (go figure! I should have guessed!)
Virgo - Butter Pecan
Libra - Black Raspberry Chip
Scorpio - Mocha Almond Fudge
Sagittarius - Super Fudge Chunk
Capricorn - Strawberries & Cream
Aquarius - Cherry Garcia
Take it as you wish, if you are into that sort of thing, but you never know. Maybe good fortune, fate, or whatever blesses those who treat themselves by the dictates of their stars.
Did you know that Dr. McCoy, Mr. Spock, and Cpt. Kirk all had their favorites of ice cream? McCoy's was Mint Julep Swirl, Spock "enjoyed" Pistachio, and Kirk went for Double Saurian Brandy Cream. At least that is what I heard.
We all get excited when the temperatures climb and thoughts of cold scoops of our favorites begin bouncing through our heads. Be they atop a waffle cone or in a cup, plain or smothered with fudge, caramel, nuts and chopped fruits, or floating in soda pop, we love stopping in for that soul-cooling, throat-freezing dairy treat at the local mom-and-pop ice cream shop. We never fail to dive down the frozen foods aisle and snatch a frosty box, tub, or cup of ice cream, even when we know we really shouldn't.
And just think, minions of mine, should Al Gore and his Enviro-Nazis be right about all this "Global Warming" hubabaloonacy, we will just have that much more reason to eat as much ice cream as the great cows of the world can produce! The Dairy Queen, Ben & Jerry, and Hagen-Daas are grinning and wringing their hands at the prospect, of that I can assure you.
I almost can't wait myself!!
Until next time, dear travellers, have a scoop of cool love and chilly joy on me, no matter the flavor you lust for!!!
(Hey, could someone send a quart of Bailey's Irish Ice Cream my way? Thanx!)