We interrupt this period of radio silence with...

An old photo of Reagan eating ice cream, courtesy of
the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

It's National Ice Cream Day!


It was Ronald Reagan, in the hot summer days of 1984, that first declared July to be National Ice Cream Month and that the third Sunday in July would be National Ice Cream Day.

 (At the same time, Ollie North was protecting Nicaraugan drug smugglers to prop up Noriega and the Contras, and lie to the American people and congress about it with Reagan's full consent. But I digress.) 

 Let's move on to something more relevant! Ice Cream!

Ice Cream Day Deals and Contests

Here are some places to get deals on ice cream today. Offers can vary and most times are offered while supplies last. Also, please note that some of these deals require you to download an app or be signed up for emails. Because of COVID, please check your local supplier before venturing out, as local franchisees could have modified this information. This list first appeared in USA Today.

7-Eleven: Free Slurpee Day aka 7-Eleven Day 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19, but members of the 7Rewards loyalty program can still get a free medium Slurpee through July 31 at participating locations. Learn more about the offer, which has a limit of one per account, at www.7-eleven.com/7rewards.

Baskin-Robbins: Get a free regular scoop on DoorDash orders $15 or more with promo code BASKINSCOOP. Also pay no delivery fees of orders $15 or more through July 31, no promo code needed.

Blue Bunny: The ice cream brand has launched a Ticket Exchange and says it is "delivering some sweet perks and frozen treats to fans who faced canceled or postponed events, trips and other experiences this summer." Through Sept. 2, enter for a chance to win hundreds of prizes at www.funlightenment.com and all participants will get a coupon for a discounted Blue Bunny Load’d treat.

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream: Get double Sweet Rewards points through Sunday. Register for the Sweet Rewards loyalty program at www.brusterssweetrewards.com.

Burger King: Find several offers on the BK app including two Oreo cookie shakes for $5. Learn more at www.bk.com/offers.

Carvel: Get $1 off any size soft serve cup or cone of Vanilla Bourbon Toffee Sunday. This deal is available "in-shoppe only" and no coupon is needed, the company announced on Twitter.

Casper's Ice Cream: The ice cream company who owns FatBoy, vegan friendly Jolly Llama and Churn Baby says the brands will have their biggest social giveaways through the brand's Instagram accounts. To enter, you'll need to submit a video on Instagram either on your feed or story and tag at least one of the accounts (Churn Baby, Jolly Llama or FatBoy) with a video of them screaming for ice cream. They will also need to use the hashtag #iscream4icecreamCB/FB/JL (the end portion of the hashtag depends on the account). The contest ends July 27 and one winner will be selected per brand and will win a year's worth of free ice cream.

Checkers: Get free fries for joining the chain's text messaging program. Text SNACK to 88001 to sign up or sign up online at www.checkers.com/flavorhood.

Coconut Bliss: The brand is launching its special Insider’s Program in July and will be offering their fans the chance to win a year’s worth of free ice cream in honor of National Ice Cream Day. The company says it will share more information on its Instagram page.

Cold Stone Creamery: Through July 23, get a buy-one-get-one free Creation when you purchase a Creation online with a promo code. To get this deal, place an order online, log into your My Cold Stone Club Rewards account at check out and enter the code ICECREAM. Sign up to be a member at www.coldstonecreamery.com/mycsc.

Coolhaus: Get free Coolhaus ice cream at Publix with a digital coupon, while supplies last. Find Publix digital coupons at www.publix.com/savings/digital-coupons and select the offer. Must have a Club Publix account to activate the coupon, which has a maximum value of $5.99. Only one coupon per Club Publix card account. Coupon expires on August 1.

Cumberland Farms: Text the word SCOOPS to 64827 to receive $1 off any pint of Ultimate Scoops Sunday through Tuesday, July 21. Existing members of the text database will automatically receive the coupon Sunday.

Dairy Queen: Get a $1 off Dipped Cones Sunday through the chain's mobile app Sunday. The deal excludes kids cones.

Dickey's Barbecue Pit: Get a free ice cream cone with purchase of any entrée Sunday.

George Bush getting an ice cream cone and giving an
unfortunately Hitlerian salute.

DoorDash: The on-demand delivery company has several deals at convenience retailers through Sunday with code ICECREAM5OFF. Participating retailers include: CVS, Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Wawa, Casey's, Hasty Market, Circle K, Everyday Essentials Corner Store, GetGo, Speedway, Market On Demand, Royal Farms, Holiday Stationstore, Fast Mart, ExtraMile, Fresh Thyme and Smart & Final.

Fresh Market: The grocery store chain has select varieties of Graeter’s Ice Cream on sale for $4.99 and pints of Coolhaus are on sale for two for $8.

Friendly's: In celebration of its 85th birthday and National Ice Cream Day, Friendly's is offering 85 cent cones Saturday and Sunday to members of its BFF club. Sign up for the club at www.friendlysrestaurants.com.

Godiva: All soft serve and sundaes will be buy-one-get-one half off Sunday, the company posted on Twitter.

Good Humor: In honor of Good Humor’s 100th anniversary this year, the brand says it released limited edition anniversary packaging for its Strawberry Shortcake Frozen Dessert Bars. Each package features a coupon valued at $2 that can be redeemed on any one Good Humor six-count or four-count product, the company told USA TODAY.

goPuff: Get two select pints of ice cream for $6 Sunday.

Häagen-Dazs: The ice cream company is launching the “Fantasy Flavor Scoop Off,” an imaginative flavor idea contest. One winner will get 24 coupons for a year's worth of free ice cream. To enter, follow Häagen-Dazs on Instagram and look for its contest announcement post Sunday.

Insomnia Cookies: Get a buy-one-get-one free deal on the chain's new Monster’wiches Sunday. The company said in a tweet that its Cookie'wich is buy-one-get-one free Saturday and Sunday.

McDonald's: Find deals on McDonald's app. Also, each Friday through Sept. 27, get a free medium fries each Friday on mobile orders with a minimum $1 purchase when using an app offer.

My/Mo: To celebrate National Ice Cream Month and National Ice Cream Day, My/Mo is giving away 100,000 mochi balls with its "first ever Chompionship Games – a virtual competition for ice cream lovers everywhere to play for their own free box of My/Mo." Learn more at www.mymomochi.com/chompionship-games.

Pressed Juicery: Get 50% off Freeze and Frozen mini cups Sunday.

Sensodyne: The sensitive toothpaste brand has a giveaway on Twitter noon ET Sunday in select parts of the country. To participate, tweet #SensodyneSundae, plus #giveaway and include the ice cream emoji, for a chance to win one free pint of ice cream, Sensodyne Rapid Relief toothpaste and more, while supplies last. The contest's participating cities include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Philadelphia. See the rules here.

Snickers: Through Monday, July 20, enter for a chance to win a box of Snickers Peanut Brownie from the first batch. Reply to social posts about what you're willing to do for the new candy. Learn more and see the contest rules here.

So Delicious: On Sunday, the company is giving 50 fans the chance to win free customized pints of the dairy-free frozen dessert. The brand will share recipes on its Instagram account and 50 fans who comment on their favorite recipe that day and mention a friend they’d like to share it with will be randomly selected to receive two free personalized pints. Find the contest rules at https://bit.ly/EverydayIsSundae.

Sonic Drive-In: Download the Sonic app for deals at www.sonicdrivein.com/app.

The Ice Cream Shop: Get free delivery through Uber Eats, Postmates, DoorDash and Grubhub Sunday. Promo code ICECREAMNOW is needed on Postmates orders.

Wendy's: The fast food chain has various deals on its app and website. Download the app at www.wendys.com.

White Castle: Find coupons, including a free drink with no required purchase, at www.whitecastle.com/value-offers.

Whole Foods Market: Amazon Prime members get 35% off all ice cream and frozen treats through Tuesday at Whole Foods. Also look for rebates on the Ibotta app from Bubbies for its mochi ice cream and other brands.

Yogurtland: Real Rewards members get double the points Sunday for every takeout order. Sign up at www.yogurt-land.com/realrewards.

More deals: Locally owned businesses and regional chains also may have specials for National Ice Cream Day. One of the easiest ways to find out is to check restaurants' social media channels.

Half Birthday, D & D, and The Fatal Texting Flaw

Yesterday was my son's half-birthday.  He's 11.5, and we have typically celebrated the half-birthday milestone with a little something-something.   Last night that was the plan, but something went awry.  Read on to find out what:

THE HALF BIRTHDAY BACKSTORY

One year I got him  a half-donut on his half-birthday. 
I tried to get him to take the inside the
hole half, but he refused to be gulled.

We used to trade half-birthday presents with one set of cousins, with the idea that you get so many presents at your birthday, wouldn't it be nice to spread them out a little.  That worked well when the kids were small, but now they are usually asking for cash for some electronic doohickey that they are saving up for or a game that they want right NOW, and so that tradition has gone the way of the rotary telephone-- a nice memory, but never to be used again.

One year I bought him half a donut (never you mind what happened to the other half... that's classified information) and another year we baked him half a cake.  So we have a precedent.

This year, my wife is out of town, and she had bought him two disneyish tshirts-- one that is Baby Yoda based and one that has Mickey in the middle of Star Wars. She wanted me to give them to him that day.  I thought-- okay, I'll do it when we get home from D & D.

The two birthday shirts that my wife picked out!

HOW D & D FIGURES IN:  AN ASIDE

Yes, last night was Monday night, and he plays D and D at our local fabulous game store Dice Dojo.

In case you don't know about Dice Dojo, check out this vimeo commercial I found online.

Dice Dojo Commercial from Danny O'Sullivan on Vimeo.


 They have D and D games on Monday nights, (Adventurers League)  and about 9 months ago, my wife and I took him to play for the first time.  It was a late-night (started at 7:30 and the game was either 2 or 4 hours depending)  But school was nearly over, and we thought we'll check it out.  He loved it, and I loved sharing it with him.  He was one of the only kids there (most of the players are in the 25-40 range and decidedly tattooed).  He was always the youngest person in the room, and I was approximately the oldest.  We made quite a team. He was very mature and  was acquitting himself well as a player (coming up with ideas on how to slay or trick Non-Player Characters, etc.) I was very proud of how he played.  I think that most of the other players were like "Wow.  If having a kid is like that, maybe it won't be so bad."  #theyhavenoidea

Soon my wife basically dropped out of going, so it was he and I going to play every week.  Then he started inviting his friends, and we'd all play together at the same table.  It was summer, so the other parents were okay with it. I  played with the kids and was kind of their D and D father figure-- and it was okay, but it wasn't quite the same.  When my son had a friend there, he was less mature and more apt to do kid-like things, like just going around murdering stuff and getting really giddy.  Which is fine, but it wasn't the quality father/son time that we had been having.

When school rolled around, lots of parents (including us) did not want D and D to go so late, so I prevailed on the good folks at Dice Dojo to create a family game.  They found a guy who loves to DM and wanted to do it, so he started.   I played for the first campaign, but when it was all kid energy at the table, the joy and fun of playing was not there for me.  And my son was chafing a little under my watchful eye.  So, with the permission of the DM, I dropped out (and now he and another parent are responsible for the chaos of 6-8 monster children getting silly and playing D & D.  More power to them!)

THE FATAL TEXTING FLAW

Here's where you can make fun of my ham-handed thumb
typing.  I can spell Lickety on a keyboard no problem.

At any rate, Monday Night D & D is a thing. And since that was his actual half-birthday, I had the great idea (half-baked idea) to invite the D and D friends to an ice cream joint after playing for an impromptu ice cream session.  I sent an email to the parents, asking them not to tell their kids, so they wouldn't know or tell Aaron, and if they were amenable, bring them to ice cream and I will buy.  Unfortunately one was getting sick, another had homework, and another didn't show up for the game.  But I didn't know that yet.

What we ended up not having.

I then texted my wife telling her that I was planning an impromptu ice cream celebration, and that AA didn't know.  Here's the flaw:  It turns out I texted it to a text message group that included my son.  So now he did know!  He said  "Dad, can't wait to go to Lixkety's for that secret ice cream afterward!"  That's what I get for disclosing my plans to my wife! 

The joke was on him, though, as none of the other kids could make it, so I brought him home,  face-timed with my wife to sing HALF THE HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONG, gave him HALF A BIRTHDAY CARD along with some ice cream, and sent him to bed.

The front of half of a birthday card.

The inside of half a birthday card.  (This was particularly a propo,  as his nickname is The Bear.)