thanks for the replies, guys.
sorry i'm only just now getting back to the thread.
since it was doing the same thing the next day, i just decided to assume she's dead
didn't try her on other computers - monitor's not exactly portable, and I spend too much time already hauling computers around ...
didn't block any air holes ... but never vaccuumed them either? maybe there's dust in there i'm unaware of.
she's old enough, i suppose - manufacture date on the back is March, 1998!
so anyways, I found a replacement on ebay.
the trinitron technically belongs to the bf, i was just using it ... and if things break while I use them, i replace them.
(won't be using the new one though, don't want to buy yet another!)
thx for the helps