I got a call from a former associate who told me the story of how he and his family went away for a 10-day vacation. When they arrived home, one of their vehicles had a dead battery. Being the loyal AAA members that they are, they promptly called for Emergency Road Service. Our Battery Service technician came out, boosted the battery, and checked the battery and charging system. After the battery was recharged for a while, it was determined that the battery was recoverable, the charging system was fine, and there were no electrical draws. Then why did the battery go dead?

Like gazillions of others on the planet, I can't wait for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to open. I stopped by Universal Orlando on Friday to get a sneak peak. You can already see the snow-capped castle and the tippy-tops of some of the other cool buildings in this magical village based on J.K. Rowling's compelling and hugely-popular Harry Potter books and movies.

While details are as closely guarded as Kirstie Allie's actual weight, I was let in on a few surprises...which I'll (shhhhh...no telling!) share with you. By the way, that's me, shamelessly holding up a Going Places cover to win a free t-shirt. Learn how  you can win one too.

I've always been an avid RV enthusiast. My hubby and I have traveled around the southeast to spend time at some wonderful fishing and camping sites. It's been a big part of our family time together. Having AAA's RV roadside assistance protection is a no-brainer. Who wants their RV stuck on the side of the road with no idea how to get it towed? 

As the Vice President of Membership here at AAA, I felt that members who not only have RVs, but pull trailers, should also be covered. We've all got our toys, right? So now, whether you're pulling a boat, ATV, utility trailer, motorcycle-you name it-you'll never be stuck again.

I'm in the market for a new suitcase and not because my old suitcase was damaged by the airlines or through the wear and tear of travel. I knew better than to pull out my suitcase and leave it open and unattended for my cat to get clued in that I was about to depart. Usually, I would wait until she was asleep before I pulled it out and hid it in the garage to be packed there. So at 10pm on a Sunday night, with a departure to South America the next morning...my cat's separation anxiety kicked in, and she brewed up something special, and deposited a veritable lake in my suitcase.

For the last few weeks, I have been attending tour shows around the state and have had a chance to meet a number of AAA travelers and friends. One hot travel destination right now is Ireland. Last week I traveled to the Panhandle with a well-known Irishman, Brian Moore, who represents CIE Irish Tours.

There are people you meet who make you smile just by being themselves and Brian is one of them. He is better known in Ireland than Bono and certainly as much fun...plus he tells great Irish stories.

It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine and I hope that old adage is correct! Most of us have a memory or two of some event that struck us as hilarious at the time and made us laugh until we cried. One such event in my life involved a friend’s travel photo.

As part of my research for my next book, I've been reviewing some old-time cookbooks. This morning, I'm looking at some that belonged to Lisa's grandmother. Vintage cookbooks offer an interesting snapshot of the culinary trends and habits of their time. Consider the "Unusual Holiday Cheese Ball" recipe from the Kenwood Ohio Women's Club Cookbook circa 1968 that combines cream cheese, crushed pineapple, chopped onion, green pepper pecans.