changed Throttle position sensor at the front.
the CEL never came back after i reset the code, so i'm not sure if this will do anything, but the car's old, so it's probably about time. online forums say that the one in the front is a lot more prone to failure, so i'm hoping it's this one.
(by the way, KD, my blutooth OBD2 reader is some knock off i got from amazon for $20 or so many many years ago. can't remember exactly. first time i actually got to use it)
and put on new rear emergency brake shoes.
it seems the old ones were fine as well, i just misread the amount of wear on them....
freakin pain in the a$$ to adjust. put it all back together and it has NO bite, so i have to take the wheels off and re-adjust.