I spoke too loudly. I got the job! That's true, I start in a bit more than a week. My truck heard me. It dies. Ah, well.

   I get a call from my sister today around 2pm, asking if I would do her a favor, and pick her up today from the dealership, so she can drop her car off for it's routing servicing - and by the way, where are you? So I say "Sure, I'll pick you up - I'm in the area anyway. I'm sitting in a lab (which turned out to be over an hour) to pee in a cup for my pre-employment screening - I got the job!" "Congrats!" So, I go ahead and pick her up, after taking the scrap aluminum from the kitchen to the recycling trailer. On the way sometime, Beth (my sister), got a call that her wedding photo album had (finally) been completed and was ready to pick up. It figures, the one day in months that she dosen't have her car, and her husband is out of town. So, I volunteer to take her over there to get it. Well, we never made it. The truck started acting funny on University Drive heading towards Griffin Road. It was pulling hard to the left. Wierd. Feels like the brakes. So, I pump the brakes a bit at a red light. Seemed to help a bit. But it starts up again. White smoke pouring out of the wheel now. Not good. Pull over, inspect. It looks like the rotor is gouged. I find and use a stick to poke at it and see if those are in fact grooves, or just coloring. The stick caught fire. Ugh! I only re-did the back brakes so far! So, I try and get sis to the place and get her wedding album. I feel the brakes getting lighter and lighter. Not good. I plan to stop at K-Mart after the I-595 interchange. A little bit later, I decide it is best not to try for it, and opt for the next gas station to get some brake fluid, thinking I am leaking brake fluid. Pull into gas station. Notice the complete lack of response from brake pedal when doing so. Re-inspect. Find bearing grease on the rim. Really not good. Tell sister to call photographer, we're not going anywhere. So, I call and ask my friend Sean to pick us up. He agrees, but he's about 20 miles away. A bit later, he calls back and says that Phil works right around the corner, and can pick us up as he lives right down the street from my parents'. So, Phil drives us home - leaving my car in shame. Then my sis, mother, and Nana all go over to my sister's place for dinner. (Mom has no kitchen at the moment). It was good. The cats drove me nuts in about 5 minutes. Then, Mom took Nana and I home. Mark met me at my house, and we decided to head out to the truck to take a peek (equiped with tools). Jacked up truck, popped the tire, those brakes are BURNT! And there is bearing grease everywhere! Dosen't look good. Sean calls, and says he can join us, and bring parts. We could not get the dust shield off for a while, but finally, we got it off. We then removed the first bearing. Looks good. Hrm... What was the problem? Sean shows up, and we decide to clean and repack the bearing with new grease he brought. Put all that back together. It appears as if the brakes were the culprit the whole time. I had no breaking power at the end, but there was fluid in the master cylinder. Sean things I may have ended up boiling the brake fluid. So, we bleed the brake. Crappy red nasty brake fluid pours out. Then, after a few tried, a bunch of air comes out. Glad that's gone now. Had to jack the truck up higher with another jack, because the hydraulic I brought was just too short where I put it to allow the fully inflated tire back on. So, I drove it home with my friends behind and next to me for safety, while in constant contact via a 3-way hands-free cell phone link. Got it home. Whew. Now, the task lies ahead that the bearing should be properly repacked (and 2nd bearing be checked), as well as a full front brake job including new calipers. Can't wait. Perhaps I'll have some pictures when that comes. What a pain... But Thank You very much, Mark and Sean for all the help tonight! You guys are great friends! Time to rest...