I'm hesitant to tell you all that the problem is solved.

I'm embarrassed. I'm stupid. I'm an idiot. I was in a hurry. I AM LUCKY.

I didn't tighten the lugs on the drivers side when finished with the brake pads.

I figured this out when the car started shaking so bad that I had to pull off onto a side street. I thought the tire had bubbled. When I got out of the car, the drives wheel was being held on by ONE lug nut, one was hanging out and one more revolution would have found it flying. I was lucky enough to find a third on the road about 15 feet behind my car at the stop.

I took one off the back wheel so each had four. When I got home I took two off the parts car so I have a full set on all wheels and I checked all lugs.

The really funny (but not really) thing is 3 miles before I pulled off I was going 70 on the hwy. I'm shakin my head now and it'll never happen again.
I'm lucky.

__________________
Ginny in Denver-ish
78 300SD, 265K (mine)