1999 Toyota Solara Car Overheating

Hello,
I noticed my Engine light came on today, and the temperature guage was registering hot, but the car didn't appear or smell like it was overheating.

After I got home; I waited for it to cool; then I checked my oil. It was a little low, so I put in a quart. But I noticed my coolant tank was empty. There had been no leak on the ground that I noticed. So I filled the tank about 1/4 inch past the full line with 50/50 coolant (it was dark so I misjudged it a little bit).

I started the car and let it run for a few minutes. The guage still moved back up to hot. At this point I thought it was the thermostat because even though the guage was on hot; the engine light did not come on. So I decided to drive it a mile to see if the engine light would come back on and if it would actually get hot.

The guage fluctuated down from hot a brief moment then went back up to hot. By the time I got back to the house after a 1-1/2 mile drive in the neighborhood; I started hearing a bubbling sound like it was running hot, but there was no smoke. I parked the car, turned it off and went to side of the car where the coolant tank was. There was a little fluid on the ground but it was not green like Anti-freeze.
I soaked it with a paper towel and it was a very faint red and not very oily. It didn't leave a oil spot on my shirt when I wiped my hand. I started it and let it run for about 45 seconds and it sounded good.

What do you think it could be? My last oil change at Jiffy lube was done at 91205 miles, the current mileage is 95500+.

I would like to have an opinion of what it might be before I take it to a shop.
Please help!
I have no idea what the average donation is. I will give what I can afford especially not knowing what it is going to cost me to get my car fixed.

Thank you.
Jennifer