Thanks SLAB! I also figured it out tonight -- thanks to Kevin O'Connor at FIRST as well!
Yes - you have to separate the write and the read. Took me a while to figure it out and Kevin sent me a VI with just a Read command wrapped in it (I'll attach).
WPI_I2CReadOnly.vi
Here's my Begin.vi to set up the LidarLite (just a screen shot):
Then I use this in PeriodicTasks.vi (any tips and comments on my coding is greatly appreciated!)
Thanks everyone for your help. I hope this also helps others!
/Greg
Mentor 2478 and 5419