Nobody but me is gonna care about this, that's okay: today, after months months months too many months, the auto service and repair required FINALLY got done, and done right. Sure it was expensive. I paid in full. It was the time more than the money that was an obstacle. Being an inpatient at a clinic, and getting the car serviced ... harder than I planned on.
But here in this part of the US, this week in April, for some reason, is a vacation week; and all my clinicians took their vacation this week, so I said: Fine. I'll take a few days off from the clinic, go back to where I rent an apartment, and make an appointment for the service mechanics I have a history with, to evaluate and repair/replace things on my car. This included a manufacturer recall involving seat belts, that is something one does not leave to chance.
So the work is done, the bill is paid, and in a few days I can drive back to the clinic and get back into the schedule. The weather, thankfully, has been cooperating nicely.