The Scandinavian Defense- what's the big picture?

I like the look of this Scandinavian.  I'd like to adopt it as my 1.e4 black response.  Where is it heading kindside or Queenside attack?  What's it goal?  What square is essential to its survival?  etc etc.

http://www.chess.com/forum/search?keyword=scandinavian

Which of the Scandinavians do you want to play? Qa5, Qd6, Qd8 or that one where you get your knight out?

I've played the Qa5 several times & first Qd6 matches are in progress.  It appeals.  Seem a nice fluid feel to it.  I hate cramped traffic jams.  Yet when I put my head up for air I seem to often be a piece down.  I like fiveofswords comments.  That's what I'm looking for in an opening.  Maybe I'll need to put some viking horns on my rice-paddy hat in my avatar.

Who developed this opening/revived it? I heard it was considered dubious until proved otherwise in the 80's/90's but I don't recall any names associated with it in particular. I dont play it but I find it difficult to face as white. I like to play ambitious/aggressive moves as white and tend to overextend. Plans/moves I find difficult to face are Bg4 pinning the f3 knight (usually early) and fianchetto the kings bishop to g7 pressuring d4. If black plays 3. Qa5 I usually play 4.b4 (I forget the name of this gambit) which is probably very questionable against accurate play but lets white try to build a quick attack following 4.Qxb4, 5.Rb1.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthias_Wahls

http://www.chessgames.com/player/matthias_wahls.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Rogers_(chess_player)

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=15797

More recently:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Bauer

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=65385

and Nakamura.