Hey jay, congrats on the LDs! I also find that the nose plug RC works the best, I'd stick to that if I were you. Even if they are "Short and dark", it meens you are progressing, and will be having good clear LDs in no time!
Some things I do to increse lucidity are Spinning, rubbing hands, yelling "Clarity Increse Now!", and going to the Lucid Crossroads, I highly recomend the last one.
http://www.lucidcrossroads.co.uk/gettingus.htm
Hope this helps, and if you really want to get adopted, make a thread in the Adoption Zone. Good luck with the dreams!