Just call me the Energizer Bunny.

While I may have enough body hair to resemble that furry little creature, I’m not making the connection in that sense. Rather, after a week off from the rigors of work, I feel as energized as the drum-pounding bunny on the TV commercials.

It has become somewhat of a tradition for the wife and I to take the week of our daughter’s birthday as our vacation. Last Monday (July 21) was Danielle’s 23rd observance of her birth, so mom and dad, in celebration of that event, took the week off. Meanwhile, poor Danielle had to work, but it wasn’t like she missed out on an exotic vacation.

With gas at four bucks a gallon and other costs spiraling upwards, our vacation was spent right at home. (At this point, please don’t consider holding a pity party for Deborah and I because we didn’t spend a week at some plush resort.)

Actually, spending a week at home isn’t such a bad thing. Due to my work schedule, there are a lot of chores on the home front that I neglect. Having a week to catch up earned me a few much-needed brownie points with the woman of the house.

If you shift your mind into the imagination mode, it could lead one to link everyday chores with the “spills, chills and thrills” of a vacation.

For example, last Monday I enjoyed a thrill ride onboard a motorized, four-wheeled contraption that expelled tiny pieces of green matter from its side. I rode it ‘round and ‘round my expansive half-acre of property, a little more than 60-minute thrill ride (try to find one of them at a theme park) until there was no more green matter exiting from underneath the contraption.

Tuesday was a chilling day. It was so darn hot outside (heat index of 109 degrees) that the air condition inside our vacation home beckoned me to remain indoors.

Wednesday was a bit better from a temperature standpoint. I ventured outside to find our storage barn spilling over with items that were not particularly in any given place. (That’s another way of saying that I had done a poor job of keeping the barn neat and organized). Three hours later the barn floor was free of clutter, so much to the point that I now have room to place inside that green matter-expelling machine.

The thrills continued on Thursday. I actually ventured away from our vacation home that day for a road trip to Murfreesboro. There, I was thrilled to finally have a chance to have my hair cut and Luther Barnes was equally as thrilled to take my money. It was a win-win situation for all involved.

Friday was another road trip day. This time, I paid a visit to my sister who resides in the twin-cities of Ashley’s Grove/Pinetops. En route I crossed two breathtaking bodies of water, Liverman’s Mill and Vinson’s Mill.

I enjoyed my thrilling ride onboard that green matter munching machine so much on Monday, I hopped (there’s another bunny connection) on it again Saturday. I made history in the process….cutting my grass twice in the same week. I hope the neighbors aren’t thinking that’s the norm.

And speaking of the neighbors, I learned you don’t have to venture from home and spends loads of your hard-earned money for entertainment. Several times during the vacation week, I found myself relaxing on my back porch. From that vantage point I observed Shea (I’m guessing 2-3 years old) chasing her cats and singing at the top of her little lungs on one adjoining side of the back yard while Alden (6) and Noah (2) were splashing around in the pool on the other side.

It all proves that Dorothy (she of Wizard of Oz fame) was right….there’s no place like home….even on vacation week.

Cal Bryant is the Editor of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald and Gates County Index. He can be reached at 252-332-7207 or cal.bryant@r-cnews.com.