*I have IE 5.5...*

Well, there's your problem right there :)

Seriously though, it's probably time to get a new browser. I have IE4/5/6 purely for testing layout purposes, but for *browsing*, (and without wanting to get all slashdot on you) I find all these new-fangled modern browsers much more stable, useful and user-friendly. They don't have any perlmonks cookie problems either :).