hmmnnnnn.....looking at your image more closely, tjohn, I can see that you're not doing the same thing as I describe. you've moved the object out on the X axis, and pulled the origin handle along the X axis of the object. The size of the object wasn't messed with along the X axis, but along the Z axis. Doing it your way works OK (see attached image) but not doing it if you pull the origin handle across the axis that's been transformed. I'm not explaining it very well, but I can sort of see what's happening now, just wish it wasn't happening.