Lake1, welcome aboard!
Earlier in this thread is a reference and link to the "unoficial guide to AA". Is the advice good and reliable? It certainly is, and I recently completed a challenge based on information I learned there.
Click on the link. It's great stuff. At least twice a month someone new comes on ansd starts a new thread asking questions similar to yours. Most of those questions can be answered at fewmiles site.
If you still have any questions, post 'em. the people here are great and eager to share.
Thumper