I'm expecting that it probably is a bent spindle and/or chainring... I actually believe the problem could've started when my chain popped off while mounting and trying to go immediately into a climb w traffic behind me (I work delivering food and the store I deliver for is on one of the steepest hills in New Brunswick). It popped off in the middle of such a momentous downstroke that I toppled straight over, humorously if not perilously.

I thought I had bent my derailleur cage in the fall because that's when I first noticed the chain rubbing it, but it has slowly become more apparent that the problem is probably elsewhere. I kind of thought it had developed over time from simply lightly bumping my chainrings/a crank arm occasionally when I lifting my bike over a curb, but what you are saying makes me think that MOST of the damage was probably done in that fall :/ I'll take it to the shop ASAP I suppose. But honestly this is more motivation to just throw money down on a safer bike for the winter, rather than putting more money into this one right away ^_^

thanks for the info everyone