mods,
is there anyway that i can see older threads from this past fall/winter without searching or having to look at the archives?
Not searching, but browsing you mean?
In this forum, read Have pages been archived? -the thread.
Basically, go to a forum, and view the text only version (located at the bottom of all threads, near the new thread button at the bottom not top). You only get to see titles, but you get to pick and choose.
HTH