Not every towing or roadside service company is going to be equipped to deal with an RV.

It only makes sense that, if you're going to go for assistance coverage, you want to choose someone who can do the job. Not to mention, someone who isn't going to tack on a ton of mileage charges and hidden fees.

When you find a company that offers 24-hour help, unlimited mileage, and coverage throughout North America - jump on it. Or, as they say in the commercials, don't leave home without it; without making sure you can get back safely.

No matter how famous a father is, he is still, at the end of the day, a child's dad. This Father's Day, children of famous writers discuss special memories of their dads. Funny, quirky, and inspirational, these videos illustrate that the special bond between parent and child exists forever.

As we prepare to celebrate the 45th official  Father's Day, I share with you these touching rememberances** of men who may be more famous than all of my fathers. Yet, they are no less loved, cherished, and celebrated than the men I was lucky enough to call Dad - if only for a season.

* The correct (and original) spelling is Fathers' Day, plural possessive; however, the 1913 bill that first attempted to establish the holiday spelled it Father's Day. Right or wrong, it stuck.

** My sincere thanks to Laura DeSilva at Open Road Media for sharing these amazing videos with me, and allowing me to share them with my readers.

Historians and theologians have, historically, assumed that all of the timelines in the Gospels were based on the same calendar. However, if (as this article explains) there are 2 calendars at play - things get a little clearer.

It also indicates, if I'm understanding the information, that (like Christmas) Easter could now have a fixed date - the first Sunday in April.

On the other hand, the crucifixion took place on the eve of Passover (Yom Shishi, that year) and the resurrection on the following Sunday (Yom Rishon) - making it logical (okay, stay with me) that Easter would be the second full day of Passover. Given the nature of the Hebrew calendar, Easter would frequently fall on a day other than Sunday.

Then, we have the Christian Church calendar, based on a formula from the Nicaean Council of 325AD. "In this system, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox," which corresponds to the timing of the first Easter.

I'm beginning to get a serious headache and regret having read that first article. Just tell me when we're dying eggs and donning our bonnets. K?

My resolutions were, in hindsight, backwards.

Priorities

Organization

The last item on my list for 2009 was getting organized; scheduling my time. It should have been at the top of the list. Without a workable schedule, nothing else was going to happen.

Virtually every other resolution flowed from creating a schedule; setting up a way for these goals to become a habit. This, to my mind, is the only way that making resolutions will ever work - if they become second-nature, an automatic part of daily life. So, setting up a routine should have been my first priority.

Reasonable Goals

• Sure, quitting smoking - at the top of my previous list - is a great, healthy goal. But without a foundation of alternate choices and activities, it (obviously) isn't going to happen. I can 'resolve' and 'decide' to quit all I want; it won't (and can't) happen.
  
  Not to mention it's really, when you think about it, just a little vague.
  
  More to the point would be a specific plan for tapering off. Ten cigarettes a day for two months would be reduced by 2 for the next two months. After ten months, it would be down to zero per day for the last two months of the year - and the rest of my life.
  
  A workable plan.
• Hand-in-glove with quitting smoking was getting more exercise, according to those 2009 goals. Great idea. Also seriously vague.
  
  But, what if I were to decide to get up, put on the coffee, and spend that time stretching and doing simple push-offs (a modified push-up, done upright off a wall or counter)? Several benefits come to mind: 1) I'm not killing time with a cigarette, and 2) I'm developing an exercise habit - every morning.
  
  It's a small addition, doesn't take a lot of time or equipment, and I'm bringing something positive to the start of my day.
• Another 2009 resolution was to do more baking. Another healthy, great idea that needs to be scheduled in to each week.
  
  With a kitchen the size of a postage stamp, cooking and baking are ... challenging. There is simply no way that trying to do a little something every day would work. But, designating a baking day -- now that's within the realm of possibility. One day, with no other goal than filling the bread box, cookie jar, and freezer.
  
  Even making and freezing bread dough or cookie dough is an option. It's the 'making' - as in dough and a huge mess in a tiny kitchen - that would be overwhelming for me on a daily basis. Not the baking.
  
  Putting on the coffee, pulling out dough to defrost, and getting in some exercise every morning is doable.

As you can see, resolutions aren't a bad idea. Poorly thought out and difficult to incorporate resolutions are.

If you have an urge to make positive changes for 2011, that's great. Just take an extra minute or two to really think about how you're going to add (or subtract) those goals from your daily life. Resolve to have a workable plan - the simpler, the better; not just for today, but for the rest of your life.

Chocolate Crinkles

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• sifted confectioners' sugar

Preparation

In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat eggs, sugar, chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla until blended. Beat in as much of the flour with the mixer as possible, then stir in the remaining flour. Cover and chill the cookie dough for 2 hours.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sifted confectioners' sugar, coating well. Place balls of cookie dough about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake in a 375° oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until crackled in appearence. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. (Mom never added this step: Sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar if desired.)

Makes about 48 cookies.

I'm working from a reduce-the-stress starting point. There are a lot of travelers at the end of December. Being with family is something we're expected to do at this time of year. I say "Pffft!"

Stay with me here.

Being with family is great - any time of the year. Every time of the year, truth be told. So why not save a fortune and get together just a little after the holiday insanity?

Do yourself, your wallet, and your blood pressure a favor - plan a get-together for a time when the rest of the universe isn't trying to move everyone they know into the same zip code.

Bird Options

Our current thinking is: Fowl, of some species, would be great; preferably more exotic than chicken. Oh, did I mention that (in addition to turkey) Mark will not, under any circumstances, consider Cornish hens. Or (given the local pigeon infestation) Squab. I can live with that last one.

For years, we have threatened to try making a duck or goose. Now that it's just the two of us again, this may be the year to expand our culinary horizons. But ... which bird? (Hence, the earlier cry for Help!)

Duck

As the smaller cousin, this may be a good choice for two people. Especially two people who have a tendency to make enough 'go-withs' to feed the 12th army. Neither of us are good at cooking small amounts -- of anything.

On the negative side, duck is loaded with fat. Fat that must be dealt with in order to have an edible meal. The prep time for a duck meal may be prohibitive for us newbies.

Anyone have experience; a good recipe; advice?

Goose

A larger bird, this may be more meat than the two of us need.

Again, we're looking at culinary horizons and a -- really, really -- fatty bird. Neither of us, it occurs to me, may have the skills to deal with properly preparing a goose.

That and - oh, wow - my favorite scene from "A Christmas Story" - roasted goose, complete with head -- may keep me from ever eating goose again.

Have I mentioned we need a lot of help?

Thumbprint Cookies Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup of butter (2 sticks or 8 ounces), room temperature
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup of chopped nuts (optional)
• 3/4 cup of your favorite jam
• Parchment paper

METHOD

1. Cream the butter and sugar on high speed for about 3 minutes.
2. Separate the eggs. Add the yolks and vanilla extract to the butter mixture. If using nuts place the egg whites in a shallow dish on the side and whisk them until bubbly and frothy (the egg whites will be used to keep the nuts on the cookies).
3. Add the flour and salt. Mix until just combined. Place the dough in the fridge for 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 350F.
4. Roll the dough into balls about 1 inch in diameter. If using nuts, dip the balls into the egg whites then roll them into the nuts until covered. Place the balls on parchment lined cookie sheets.
5. Press down with your thumb to make a small well in the center of the cookie. Do not press too hard or the cookie will fall apart. Fill with 1/2 teaspoon of jam.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until slightly firm. Allow to cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet to firm up before moving them to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Makes 2 dozen cookies.

I have been reading (voraciously) a great column on creators.com that offers ideas for living below your means. Among other things, this is a lifestyle of paying off debt, using cash not credit, and getting the Best Buy possible - on everything.

This is not learning to live without, but learning to choose wisely. About giving up bad financial habits and, to borrow an overused phrase, thinking outside the box.

Credit: acobox.com

I have always believed you should never pay full price, never buy retail, when there are so many other options. Why do you think Black Friday is such a huge shopping day? Everyone loves a great deal.

Who wants to pay $400.00 for a desktop CPU when it's available for $190.00 - with free shipping? Not me. And, certainly, not you. Right?

What about 3 sets of iPhone earphones for, not $30.00, but less than $7.00? You've now got stocking stuffers for three iPhone users for just over $2.00 each. Brilliant!

Other holiday shopping tricks? Start picking things up as early as possible. You can take advantage of sales, spend a little here and a little there, and avoid paying full price in a panic to get something under (or on) the tree.

Set a budget and stick to it. Look at how much money you can afford to spend - realistically afford. Put aside for food, gifts, and decorations. When the money is gone, you're done. Period. No credit cards allowed.

I can't say it enough: Shop early -- and shop smart! Your bank account will thank you. And you might just find that your stress level is much, much lower this year.

It couldn't be easier. Simply visit http://www.facebook.com/kmart or http://www.facebook.com/sears fan pages. Select the eGift Cards tab and follow the steps.

The beauty is this isn't just for Facebook friends. You can use this application to send a virtual gift card to anyone you know. All you need is their email address.

In denominations from $5.00 to $25.00, it sounds like a great idea to me. What about you?

With an emphasis on "Ohh, yummy!" - Eilenberger Bakery is a great place to start. It's hard to go wrong with a company that has been doing this since 1898. (I'm hiding this page from Mark, who is a died-in-the-wool chocolate and fruitcake junkie.)

And homemade goodies that don't involve destruction of my itty-bitty kitchen? Marvelous!

Okay, I'm a citrus junkie! I confess! Lemons and limes, oranges and grapefruits! Ohh, and tangerines and tangelos! The tart and sweet "Ohh, yummy!" in my life.

The average store sells fruit that was harvested long before it was ripe, in order to (hopefully) have it appear ripe when it hits that store. Wouldn't you love better?!

We're heading into the biggest travel time of the year - Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It's stressful enough, battling crowds and dealing with airport security; why pay more than you have to? The earlier you book, the better. But many great last minute deals are available, too.

Check out the possibilities and take a little of the angst out of your holidays.

With everything more expensive today than it was yesterday, knowing where to turn and what to do can be daunting.

May I suggest turning down the heat and turning up the warmth - with a cozy, comfy, one-of-a-kind Afghan? When going out is too expensive, why not cuddle up on the couch and pop in your favorite DVD? A big bowl of popcorn and you're all set.

Don't wait for Christmas - order now. Remember 15% of every Afghan order goes to help Rachel Hunnicutt-Knight. What better gift to give this year?

If I were to pick one dream vacation spot, given the time of year, I would have to head to Frankenmuth, Michigan. With a year-round Christmas wonderland, amazing crafts shops, fudge and cheese to die for, and the best family-style fried chicken dinner I have ever eaten, this is my perfect pre-holiday destination. A touch of Bavaria - no passport required.

Of course, riding a gondola through the streets of Venice, dining my way through New Orleans, exploring the pyramids of Giza, eating everything and anything in Paris and Rome, connecting with my genetic roots in Sweden and Norway, avoiding haggis in Scotland, and experiencing paella done perfectly in Spain are also on my not-so-short list of dream trips.

Hmmm?! I sense a pattern here.

Apparently, rather than by air or sea or land, I travel by food. Transportation from flavor to flavor to incredible flavor. Scents of amazing herbs, spices, meats, and ... sauces. Oh, my stars! The sauces!

{deep breath}

A new social network, Twitter Travellers, let's me indulge in culinary wanderings - without leaving my recliner - and helps me plan for actual trips. With information from people who've been there, I can learn about places I know (Sydney), as well as those I don't (Ugljan). There are forums, photos, videos, and blogs about travelling - the good and the bad.

Industry experts and seasoned travelers point out the pitfalls of visiting certain areas or certain travel options. Apparently, taking a train in the UK on Sunday is an extremely bad idea; extremely bad. (Although the tweets are amusing, the trips don't seem to be quite as entertaining.)

What caught my interest was the information, what kept it was the flexibility of my personal page. I can choose from dozens and dozens of apps, add my travel photos (naturally), join groups and discussions, and read daily travel news. In fact, there's so much to do, it's going to take a while to explore it all. Just like a great holiday.

I know that there are tons of travel sites, all over the Internet. There are tons of every kind of site, all over the Internet. But, I can't say that I've seen a network dedicated to travelling that was quite this much fun.

* While this post is related to the SheBlogs.org contest, my opinions are my own. No payment was offered or received.

I haven't had a trick-or-treater at my door since 1986. Well, with the exception of our manager who brought her daughter over in 2003. Living in apartment complexes seems to mean that you don't get to know your neighbors and you don't let your kids knock on any of their doors.

It's really sad. And, undoubtedly, we'll not see any little ghosts or goblins or princesses this year, either. Which means - like it or not - we're going to be eating a lot of candy over the next few weeks.

I have to wonder. Can a colon cleanse clear that five pounds of candy corn and caramel candies that are going to be clogging my digestive system? And just how much bubble gum can you chew before your jaws seize up and your teeth fall out?

Maybe I should have bought better candy.

We rented costumes. I styled my wig; he wore a tricorne. My first (and only) adult Halloween party. It felt like Cinderella and the ball - a magical, not me, evening. More than thirty years later and I still just want to ... {sigh}.

Fast forward to the late 80s / early 90s. The company I worked for decided to celebrate Halloween with costumes, food, and general merriment. Never one to participate, I (nonetheless) let my hubby-to-be paint me up like a cat.

I slapped on some extremely long artificial nails and dug out my wig. Despite my reluctance, I actually had fun and even won the costume contest. The only problem with the whole day was ... you guessed it ... the nails.

After 2 hours of trying to two-finger-type my way through a month-end workload, I headed to the cubicle next to mine. With a heavy heart, I handed her the scissors and stretched out my paws. My voice broke as I cried:

"Declaw me!"