Leaving Costa Rica for Points NBA

Our exit from Costa Rica’s tropical paradise ultimately needed to get us back to where the bus was patiently waiting,  in South Texas.  Since we RARELY do anything according to the most direct route, this included a detour to New Jersey.  We had noticed that the Thunder played the Brooklyn Nets in mid-March, and decided we’d visit Liz’s sister,  who lives in New Jersey “on the way back” from CR, and take in a game.  Chet was kind enough to get us 7 seats,  so Anne/Sal’s Niece and their 7-year old son were invited along.  This turned into a real, fabulous event. 

First, Anne made arrangements for a limo to take us from her house to the Stadium,  and then return us to NJ after the game.  To be clear,  it took more time getting TO Brooklyn from New Jersey thru rush hour traffic than it took for the Thunder to spank the Nets.  Despite the duration, It was really relaxing and quite interesting, as the limo driver knew lots of shortcuts along  surface streets teeming with New York Culture and madness.

At one point,  we stopped at a traffic signal with a Good Humor Truck in the next lane…and almost enough time at a standstill to place an order!

After the game,  Chet had a chance to come out and spend a little time with us in the stands, since the team was spending a rare road-day-off in NY, instead of leaving directly after the game for the airport.    

That was especially enjoyed by Anne’s  grand-nephew, Tim, who got a chance to meet Chet.  Tim only had a Jalen Brunson jersey,  which Chet graciously autographed (#7 on #11!).  Chet also, at Tim’s request, signed his arm!!  (Tim estimated he would next wash this appendage in 40 years time).    Later,  when Tim’s friends did not believe that Chet had actually signed the arm,  we had Chet autograph a picture Anne had taken of said signing (as well as an actual OKC/Chet Jersey). 

After NJ,  we made it back to South Texas, and got the bus and ourselves ready to begin travelling again.   This meant flushing the water system, which I had filled with antifreeze “just in case,” doing some battery maintenance, etc. 

It Also meant a visit to our friend Leo at his Artisanal Agave Spirit Distillery

Then,  the air conditioner on the car failed!   I found a place who would look at the issue, which turned out to be a freon leak –  HOWEVER,  the leak was in the evaporator, and repairing this required REMOVING THE ENTIRE DASH.  This would ultimately require several days in the shop and $1,500 to repair,  but repair we did. 

These kinds of challenges  are not unexpected for a 10 year old vehicle.  At some point,  one might consider cutting one’s losses by acquiring a new vehicle; however we tow this vehicle,  and setup for that is not trivial…thus we decided to bite the bullet and make the repair.

Unfortunately, that was not the last big-ticket repair needed by the car.  It’s starting to feel like death by 1000 cuts!    

We had decided to make a quick trip by Air to Denver for one of the last Thunder games of the season.  The impetus was not so much Basketball as the fact that I have a couple college buddies in Denver, and a visit sounded  like fun.  Our flite left McAllen at 6:30AM,  which meant we were on the road at 4:30 AM.  CHECK ENGINE, sputtering, jerking acceleration/Decceleration.   I then noticed SMOKE coming from the left-front brake.  Pulled over.  Pumped the brake multiple times and it seemed to release.  Decision point:  Continue to airport (10 minutes) or back to bus (10 minutes,  but then needing to get to the airport, still!).  We limped onwards, parked, and made our flite,  knowing we had sh*t to deal with upon our return.

So we made it to Denver, and spent a couple days with Dick and Nora, and then a couple days with Tillman.  In between, we had the Basketball game…  Unfortunately,  OKC had clinched everything it was possible to clinch with regard to playoff picture the game b4,  so NOT A SINGLE STARTER played.  In fact,  they had so many people “injured” we felt there was a very real chance that we might be pressed into action, so we spent some time stretching and warming our hammies. 

OK, we did so by fetching beer from the concourse,  But still…

While visiting Dick and Nora, we were faced with a new revelation:  Gluten-free Matzoh.  Matzoh is already free of any taste or nourishment,  but now gluten also, apparently.  So free that they are not allowed, Rabbinically speaking, to call it “Matzoh,”  but instead “Matzoh-style Squares.”  Also, the warning label on the package:  “Not a replacement for Matzoh at the seder…”   I wonder what would happen if you tried – would the Red Sea un-part?  Another plague?

While with Dick and Nora,  we also had a lesson in modern, teen-age dialect (barely English,  so maybe not actually a dialect?).  Whitne, Dick’s grand daughter, asked how long Liz and I had been married.  I said 35 years!!!   She contemplated that,  and said something like,  “Bro, locked up your Huzz…” 

Now,  I thot she meant “Husband,” but it was not addressed to Liz, instead to me,  so that made no sense.  Noting our confusion,  Whitne said it again,  more slowly, then said another word might be “Hoe.”  This did not sound especially good – that I had locked up my “Hoe” early, but we were very certain she meant that as a good thing, so, not offended!!!!

For the record,  Liz does NOT allow me this new term of endearment:  “Huzz” (Hoe).  Even though we were assured (by Dr. Google) it had an alternate meaning of “Romantic Partner or Crush.”

Arriving back in Texas,  we now had to deal with the car issues.  Our hope was to be able to limp back to the bus from the airport,  and subsequently to connect the car as we normally do and tow it to OKC.  As we were planning to be over a month in OKC,  it seemed prudent to chase those trouble there.  This, in fact, worked out as planned,  and once in OKC,  someone from the Thunder recommended a mechanic who was willing to diagnose and the repair the things necessitated by the plethora of error codes (more on that in a minute).

Obviously,  our visit to OKC was in order to experience Year 2 of the OKC NBA Championship Dynasty. Our plan was to sit down in  OKC for the first 2 rounds of the NBA playoffs, which commenced in late April.  We have Doc appointments in Chicago in late May,  so we’d have to leave after round two.   Our space was booked,  and we started on the way…3 days en route, only to experience a bit of mechanical difficulty on day 1…quite an inauspicious start!!  The bus was suddenly leaning drastically to the right!   This was a suspension problem that needed immediate resolutions. 

This turned into a Roadside Bus Repair for a MIRACULOUS $0.    It turned out, one of the Air Ride Level valves lost a set screw, allowing the rod that determines the correct height of the suspension on one side to plunge to the stop, and the suspension on that side followed suit.   Once I realized this,  I was able to use Zip-ties to affix the rod at the correct level.  While down there,  I affixed all the other rods with zip-ties as well,  in case a set screw backed off!    As it turns out,  the set screws are an unusual size,  so not readily available … fortunately the “temporary” repairs will last until I am able to source the correct ones. 

One of the things that happened while we were hunkered down in OKC is diesel prices shot up.  That’s a BIG factor for us, obviously, but We are NOT going to stop moving.  However,  the idea of NOT purchasing diesel for awhile allowed us to consider some other, really fun options. 

We were at the first playoff game in OKC when Liz suddenly looked at me and said, “Why are we NOT going to Phoenix  for Games 3 and 4?”    I looked back and could  not come up with a reason!!  Frankly, it was easy to justify a Quick-hit plane trip to Phoenix because it costs less than moving the bus!

I spent a day or so figuring out the logistics…including buying air tickets with miles… and found an AirBNB very near the stadium for a very reasonable cost.  It turns out the Hotel San Carlos is very well known in Phoenix…it was formerly the home to Hollywood Stars like Marilyn Monroe when they were shooting pictures in Arizona.  It has not really been renovated much since the 40s. And,  it is ostensibly haunted.  But it was quite inexpensive AND its location was fabulous!!!   

We also discovered that the rooftop pool deck and patio (replete with comfy sofas and tables)  was open, even though the pool itself had been closed for remodeling for at least 2 years.  This became our private terrace…we never saw anyone else out there!

After I had booked all of this,  my sister mentioned that we could stay at the team’s family hotel if we wanted,  and there were team dinners we could join after each road game.  We declined on the hotel (it was 2x more expensive that the San Carlos and was literally ½ block away), but we definitely DID join in for team dinners and the bus transport available to and from (though the family hotel was downtown, The team stayed out away from downtown).  This was all a BLAST. 

And,  we had a chance to see a couple of Liz’s cousins, who live in the area; choosing a restaurant called “Breakfast Bitch” for an al fresco Lunch.   

One of the best Birthday Celebrations ever, should your Natalday fall appropriately!

One thing we did in Phoenix…we traveled by Waymo!  Strangely weird…actually almost serene.  The vehicle progressed like a little old lady on the way to the grocery store…very sedate…not one MPH over the speed limit.  And ABSOLUTELY NO ANGST over the appropriate tip!