Vacation

Adam Jones said what we all expected him to say after he homered on Tuesday night. It was his first homer since July 27. That's a span of 110 at-bats, which is the longest such homerless drought in his career. The homer in the seventh, against Philip Humber, was more than a slump-buster. It was the 100th home run of his big league career, which began in 2006. It also was the 27-year-old's 25th homer of the season, which ties his career high set last year. So what does all that mean to Jones?

Now what would vacation be without a few trinkets to remember the trip? There is a multitude of gimmicky t-shirts, cups and other pieces of beach memorabilia, but very few of the gimmicky trinkets allow for a personal touch. If you want that, grabbing telescope photos or "scopes" with your friends and family is the way to go. I know what you might be thinking. "Those things? The ones with the annoying people that run up to you on the beach and try to sell you pictures?" Yes, you might be right to a point, but stay with me. You are on vacation.

Charles McCool, the Virginia-based author of Winning the Airfare Game (Hawk Ridge Press, $14), offers these suggestions for nabbing a low airfare: Be flexible -- Using alternate airports, carriers and travel dates expands your options. Buy early -- Most discounted fares must be bought well in advance, two to three weeks early for the better fares. The best fares, however, are available during fare wars (which you can recognize by regularly checking prices and watching for reductions).

Dorothy Marie Arnold, a homemaker who earlier had worked in the credit department of Sears Roebuck & Co., died March 18 of dementia at a nursing home in Oldsmar, Fla. The former longtime Joppa resident was 89. Dorothy Marie Rohleder was born in Baltimore and raised on Wolfe Street. She graduated from Eastern High School in 1937. When she was 16, she married Joshua E. Arrington Sr., whom she later divorced. During World War II, she worked as a riveter at the old Glenn L. Martin Co. plant in Middle River.

Yes, the price of gasoline is high. Yes, planes are crowded. And, yes, various travel providers are adding fuel surcharges to their prices. But so what? There are only so many summers in a lifetime and travelers should let nothing stop them, while still keeping an eye peeled for discounts. If you haven't made any plans yet, here are some intriguing possibilities: Hit the trail --In Alberta, Canada, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is offering a Trail Mix package that has nothing to do with snacks.

Even if you're not yet ready to retire, San Miguel de Allende is perfect for a vacation or long weekend getaway. Getting there United and American airlines offer connecting flights (via Texas) to San Miguel's two closest airports, Leon/Guanajuato (BJX), 90 minutes away, and Queretaro (QRO), one hour away. Round-trip airfares start around $600. Multiple airlines offer flights to Mexico City, which is three hours from San Miguel. When to go January may be the sole inclement month to travel, and even then it's nothing compared to a typical Baltimore winter.

No Triple Crown winner this year, no first-female-jockey-to-win, no sunshine? No problem, said those who flocked to Pimlico Race Course on Saturday and waited out a midafternoon downpour to watch Oxbow leave behind Kentucky Derby winner Orb to capture the 138th Preakness Stakes. "This is always an exciting race," said Tom Meek, 59, of Phoenixville, Pa., smoking a postrace cigar. "As much as I love Orb and as much as I want a Triple Crown, this is great for Oxbow. That horse rocked.

In 2010, a blond-haired girl with a sweet smile stood before the "America's Got Talent" studio audience and millions of TV viewers. The 10-year-old proceeded to sing about asking her daddy to grant her request. So far, so normal. But if the words had an appropriately childlike nature, the music was anything but juvenile - it was the aria "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi," ordinarily sung by sopranos who have at the very least reached their late teens, and who have gone through years of operatic training.

Low libido can not only ruin a women's sex life but could also cause her to miss out on some key health benefits. Dr. Valerie Omicioli, a certified menopause practitioner and clinical assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said that low sexual desire is something that women should not ignore. What are some of the common causes of low libido in women? The word libido refers not only to the desire for sex, but also sexual thoughts, fantasies, responsiveness and willingness to engage in sexual activity.