UPDATE:
Danny - once again I owe you BIG TIME...
I spent last night at work stripping and re-greasing the u-joints, and a fresh coat of grease on the splines...
This morning it slid right in with all the other work I did on Thursday... took a total of 15 minutes, and rides like a million bucks again.
Still gonna order the SYE and Shaft next month... but at least now I have less to worry about til then.
I think at this point I may be up to owing you a beer delivery truck Danny... Can't thank you enough for coming through yet again (lift, control arms, the track bar, and now driveshaft...)
Thanks again guys