i'm sooo stupid, thanks for the thread
 

so i browse the threads and see one titled "heater problems" about how the heater doesn't blow warm at idle, and then i think "hey, MY heater does that too!" as i read the replies it dawns on me that this is not normal and that gee, it's logical that the amount of coolant may be connected to the condition. i run out, pop the hood and loosen the radiator cap. sure enough, the coolant's low. the car is now at the shop. BTW. carparts.com sells water pumps. about $140.00 BUT they also have remanufactured ones for about $45.00, asssuming that turns out to be the problem.