That'* wat I get for not going back and re-reading previous posts. Duh!
I think being contorted in my car in this heat has me pooped.
I will go get a MAF tonight.

Well, I replaced the MAF sensor with a brand new one and also the O2 sensor. My car ran great! The gas mileage was much improved too. 4th of July weekend I made a 550 mile round trip without any problems.
Until now. I talked to a friend of mine before I left for my trip, she'* a mechanic. She asked how the O2 sensor looked when I pulled it out - it was black, and I mean black! She told me that the cat may have gone bad due to the condtion that the O2 sensor was in. I didn't notice any odd smells, or sluggish power on my trip. However, when I got home my car started acted funny. It hangs in first gear until 3000 rpms and then shifts. It'* not a hard shift but that first gear is sluggish. Going up hills and passing is a chore as well. When I step on the gas the boost guage goes way up, but the car doesn't go any faster. If I take my foot off the gas then step on it again, it'll downshift. But even then, there is a lack of power. Is the cat dead?

The cat being bad would cause an exhaust restriction.

You mention shifting issues that could be a result, however..does the car feel exhaust restricted?

Yeah, it does feel restricted. Ugh, jegs here I come.