Okay, I cannot resist....
- "Is a real pain in the ass when you're power steering is shot."
- Get it fixed???
- "I loved the lunch break I did not have today because I had to go to La Plata for something someone else was very capable of doing."
- Did you try maybe talking the 'solution' through over the phone before venturing out with a possibly dangerous vehicle? (Like those folks from Verizon do with me when I forget to plug in my power strip for my computer.
)
- Aren't there any drive-through joints open en route to La Plata?

I apologize if I am appearing sarcastic, I'm really not trying to be....It just seems like you are making life harder for yourself than needs to be.
JMHO