Brabec Bulletin Tidbits on Life

July 16, 2025

The World’s Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors
~ And the Story of Vanilla ~
What’s Your QTR?
Advice from King Solomon
Keep Going, Don’t Quit
Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly in
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

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The World’s Most Popular Ice Cream Flavors,
~ And the Story of Vanilla ~

Several online articles discuss the popularity of ice cream flavors, but what I find fascinating is that Vanilla has been the world’s favorite ice cream flavor since it was first discovered, followed by Neopolitan, Chocolate, and Strawberry. Of course, my curious mind wanted to know what it is about plain vanilla that makes it so appealing to everyone in the world. Sure enough, I found a definitive article that answers this question and delves into the history of vanilla, which dates back to 1602 when an apothecary for Queen Elizabeth I introduced her to vanilla as a flavor, and she loved it.

The article, “The Story of Vanilla and How it Became the Most Prolific Flavor,” explains why the process for producing vanilla is so meticulous, unforgiving, and exhilarating. A little-known fact is that vanilla begins with a single flower that opens for pollination only one day every year, and if you miss it, no vanilla bean. After reading the article, you’ll understand why a bottle of pure Vanilla is expensive and so much better than imitation vanilla extract.

Since I discovered Breyer’s Carb Smart ice cream, that’s the only brand I buy because it’s low in calories and has no added sugar. They have four varieties, including chocolate and a blend of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry, but my favorite is vanilla because I can add so many different toppings to it. I also love the company’s Vanilla bars and Fudge bars. (Scroll to the bottom of the web page for pictures.) 

What’s Your QTR?

Toner Babovac, an accomplished speaker on leadership and technology, posted an interesting question on LinkedIn. She asked, “What’s your QTR?” and then explained a concept many can relate to.

“QTR stands for Quality Time Remaining.” She isn’t talking about how long we have to live (although it’s a good question to ask anyone my age), but something that she says “can apply to life, work, how long your kids are in school, you name it. No one knows how much time we have remaining, but we can plan for it and potentially extend what we have.” Read this article on Babovac's LinkedIn public page.

After pondering this question, I decided that the good health and energy I still have suggest that God isn’t done with me yet and may give me a few more years to live, love, work, and write my heart out. Since I consider all my remaining time to be quality time, I will strive to use it to the best of my ability.

Advice from King Solomon

Are you acquainted with the writings of King Solomon? He was the son of David, King of the Israelites, and was known as the wisest man who ever lived. But he made his share of mistakes, and the Book of Ecclesiastes makes for interesting reading on the meaninglessness of life. I could relate to this advice: “Do not say ‘why were the old days better than these? For it is not wise to ask such questions’” (Ecc. 7:10, NIV).

Earlier, he explained his reasoning: “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account” (Ecc. 3:15, NIV). In short, there is nothing new under the sun.

For more wisdom from King Solomon and his interesting thoughts about food and drink, see my archived blog post, “Eat, Drink and Be Merry.” 

Keep Going, Don’t Quit

You may recall the television commercial where parents attending a concert suddenly realize they don’t know where their little boy is until they see him on the stage, seated at the grand piano. They’re horrified when he starts to play “Chopsticks,” wondering what people will say as the pianist comes on stage in his tuxedo. He sits down next to the boy, whispering something in his ear as he starts to play a countermelody to harmonize and enhance the boy’s playing.

While reading “Finishing the Course” in Chuck Swindoll’s devotional, Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, I learned that this heartwarming commercial was based on a true story. The boy's mother had taken her son to a concert, hoping he would be encouraged to practice the piano if he just heard it played by a famous pianist. As she turned to speak to someone, the boy sneaked away, got on the stage, and sat down to play. The pianist was Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941). “Keep going,” he said. “Don’t quit. Keep on playing … don’t stop … don’t quit.”

At times when I’ve felt overwhelmed by the challenges of life, I might have quit without the encouraging words of a loved one or a friend who spurred me on. And sometimes when there was no one around to give me verbal words of encouragement or the push I needed to keep going, I heard them from within—heard my Lord’s voice saying, “Don’t quit now. You can do it because I’ll help you.”

Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra Tap-Dancing In
Take Me Out to the Ball Game

The 1949 MGM musical comedy, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, features Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra playing two vaudeville performers who also play baseball during the off-season. They join a team owned and managed by a woman (played by Esther Williams). The film was directed by Busby Berkeley. (Watch the movie trailer here.)

Reportedly closer than brothers, Kelly taught Sinatra how to tap dance for his role in the 1945 film Anchors Aweigh. In this movie, Sinatra and Kelly share the screen, with Sinatra holding his own against Kelly’s dazzling footwork. They later appeared together in Take Me Out to the Ball Game and On the Town, further showcasing Sinatra’s improved dance skills.

For the dance scene in Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Kelly tailored the choreography to Sinatra’s skill level and made him rehearse every day for eight weeks. Like the message in the above Tidbit, Sinatra didn’t quit, dedicated himself to the task, and completed the routine, although it took 72 takes to get the final footage.

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Reader Email Comments:

After re-reading Tidbits, I’m still craving ice cream, but it’s Coffee Ice Cream with Fudge Sauce made in-house and shouldn’t be for obvious reasons! That tiny bottle of vanilla extract is so expensive that it’s going to be the first thing a thief will go for.

I think King Solomon and Paderewski had wisdom in common. Such an endearing anecdote about the boy onstage. And, all these years, I thought Frank Sinatra was a natural or self-taught! – Sylvia H.