ok so I told you all about the voltometer jumping up to max for a few seconds and we all screamed out get a new alternator.....so I did.
I was driving the car today and I noticed it jump up to max again(yes there is a new alternator in there I checked)!
also, something strange, while it jumped up to max the water temp guage dropped to zero for a few seconds, than both returned to normal. anyone have any ideas? if it was failing sensors wouldnt the voltometer go to zero too?

 

Not that anyone cares, but it seems to be working fine now. I guess the system needed to settle now. the new alternator did the trick. the gauges havent been acting screwy since that one time after I picked it up.