So, here's the scoop. My favorite thing in the world to eat is cake and ice cream, but specifically ice cream. I often wondered if my affinity for the cold dessert referred directly to my birthdays. Christmas is great, but a birthday is just for one person. A celebration of one.

I love ice cream so much that I don't buy it. I don't allow it in the house. If I know there's a Ben & Jerry's at a certain shopping mall, I choose another mall. I have no control over myself where ice cream is concerned. So, I figure it's best just to pretend it doesn't exist. Well, except for one day a year, Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day. And even then, I don't go alone. I take back up. Someone who knows of my extreme weakness, but loves me anyway. Oh, and is physically powerful enough to strong-arm me away after my one free cone. In fact it has to be someone willing to stay with me the entire day as I've been known to make a second visit on free cone day. That cuts the list of possible companions down quite a bit.

Ben & Jerry's free cone day is next Tuesday, April 29 at participating stores around the world. It's just a nice "thank you" the company has been participating in for the last thirty years. Try one of their new flavors, Cake Batter, Cheesecake Brownies, or Imagine Whirled Peace (obviously a tribute to John Lennon). Or ask for your favorite flavor, Cherry Garcia or Chunky Monkey.

Although, a company called Unilever purchased Ben & Jerry's in the year 2000 for 3.26 million, the new owners have honored the annual tradition. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were school friends who took a course in ice cream making together and opened their first store in a Vermont converted gas station. Their first franchise, outside of Vermont, was realized within the first five years.

Stop by the Ben & Jerry's website for a list of participating stores for Free Cone Day. www.benjerry.com.

Banana Split, Bananas on the Rum, Butter Pecan, Cake Batter, Cherry Garcia, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Chocolate Therapy, Chunky Monkey, Cinnamon Buns, Coconut Almond Fudge Chip, Coconut Seven Layer Bar, Coffee, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz, Crème Brulee, Half Baked, Imagine Whirled Peace, Mint Chocolate Chunk, New York Super Fudge Chunk, One Cheesecake Brownie, Phish Food, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Strawberry Cheesecake, Sweet Cream & Cookies, Triple Carmel Chunk, Vanilla, Vanilla Heath Bar Crunch