I really want to thank EVERYONE who replied to this thread and gave me tips, and put up with me and my noobish questions. I bought my first bike today! I'm so freaking excited to get the gear I need and finally start commuting to work! I bought a 2009 Giant FCR 3, with Pannier already installed, for only 220 bucks. The guy said I might wanna take it in to a shop to have the gears and stuff looked at, cause there's some adjustment he said he didn't know how to make, but I got on it and rode it around the block a few times, and man it was pretty comfy, and rode really smooth! I'm sure it'll feel different after a 15 mile ride, but hey, thems the breaks huh?

Again, thanks to everyone for your help and support!