Hello all,

Happy end of summer. I cannot describe the recent local weather any other way except “perfect.” Warmish to hot days, cool evenings and nights, which means plenty hot to hit the beach during the day and then cool enough to sleep at night afterwards. I usually have a moment when I realize summer is on its way out and go into a slightly melancholic reverie before embracing the approaching fall and winter. I thoroughly enjoy the other seasons as well, but only the end of summer brings the feeling that it went by too quickly.

I did pretty well this year, actually, and I’m fortunate enough to be spending this week oceanside on Cape Cod, which after Labor Day is not only quiet, but also affordable for normal human beings. So that scratches “go to the ocean” off the list. Ocean visits are a new summer activity for me — the seaside is a must-do for my wife and after a few years, I am an enthusiastic convert. The only thing I really have left to do is a trip to the local drive-in! Maybe I can squeeze it in next weekend after climbing Mount Mansfield on rollerblades while riding a windsurfer, which will take care of several things on my bucket list for the year.

Anyway, there are big doings in the South Burlington Service department. We have expanded our service area and built a 12-foot checkin counter with three machines for check-ins. Summer’s end has always been busy for us here in service, and for the last few years, there has been no drop-off in business after the summer rush. August has set the trend for the following year. (Obviously this is a great problem to have.) But we have outgrown the space, so it was time to expand to make it a better experience for our customers. There’s lots of work (and fun) to do as we reorganize and think about how to utilize our new space.

Take a look at the before and after here.

Thanks for reading!

Liam
liam@smalldog.com