diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 924d1bb..792cdf5 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,3 +83,5 @@ then in the sphinx-key dir, with the CC variable set as above:
 `cargo build`
 
 and flash using the instructions further above
+
+
diff --git a/broker/src/mqtt.rs b/broker/src/mqtt.rs
index 3762ada..8ad5fce 100644
--- a/broker/src/mqtt.rs
+++ b/broker/src/mqtt.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
-use crate::{ChannelRequest,ChannelReply};
+use crate::{ChannelReply, ChannelRequest};
 use librumqttd::{async_locallink::construct_broker, Config};
 use std::thread;
-use tokio::sync::{oneshot, mpsc};
+use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
 
 const SUB_TOPIC: &str = "sphinx-return";
 const PUB_TOPIC: &str = "sphinx";
 
-pub fn start_broker(wait_for_ready_message: bool, mut receiver: mpsc::Receiver<ChannelRequest>) -> tokio::runtime::Runtime {
-
+pub fn start_broker(
+    wait_for_ready_message: bool,
+    mut receiver: mpsc::Receiver<ChannelRequest>,
+) -> tokio::runtime::Runtime {
     let config: Config = confy::load_path("config/rumqttd.conf").unwrap();
 
     let (mut router, console, servers, builder) = construct_broker(config);
@@ -23,7 +25,8 @@ pub fn start_broker(wait_for_ready_message: bool, mut receiver: mpsc::Receiver<C
         // channel to block until READY received
         let (ready_tx, ready_rx) = oneshot::channel();
         tokio::spawn(async move {
-            let (msg_tx, mut msg_rx): (mpsc::Sender<Vec<u8>>, mpsc::Receiver<Vec<u8>>) = mpsc::channel(1000);
+            let (msg_tx, mut msg_rx): (mpsc::Sender<Vec<u8>>, mpsc::Receiver<Vec<u8>>) =
+                mpsc::channel(1000);
             let (mut tx, mut rx) = builder.connect("localclient", 200).await.unwrap();
             tx.subscribe([SUB_TOPIC]).await.unwrap();
 
@@ -37,6 +40,7 @@ pub fn start_broker(wait_for_ready_message: bool, mut receiver: mpsc::Receiver<C
                         let message = rx.recv().await.unwrap();
                         if let Some(payload) = message.payload.get(0) {
                             let content = String::from_utf8_lossy(&payload[..]);
+                            log::info!("received message content: {}", content);
                             if content == "READY" {
                                 ready_tx.send(true).expect("could not send ready");
                                 break;
@@ -58,7 +62,9 @@ pub fn start_broker(wait_for_ready_message: bool, mut receiver: mpsc::Receiver<C
 
             let relay_task = tokio::spawn(async move {
                 while let Some(msg) = receiver.recv().await {
-                    tx.publish(PUB_TOPIC, false, msg.message).await.expect("could not mqtt pub");
+                    tx.publish(PUB_TOPIC, false, msg.message)
+                        .await
+                        .expect("could not mqtt pub");
                     let reply = msg_rx.recv().await.expect("could not unwrap msg_rx.recv()");
                     if let Err(_) = msg.reply_tx.send(ChannelReply { reply }) {
                         log::warn!("could not send on reply_tx");
diff --git a/signer/src/lib.rs b/signer/src/lib.rs
index 8fd5672..769e4a0 100644
--- a/signer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/signer/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,23 +1,70 @@
-use sphinx_key_parser::MsgDriver;
 use lightning_signer::persist::{DummyPersister, Persist};
 use lightning_signer::Arc;
-use vls_protocol::model::PubKey;
-use vls_protocol::msgs;
+use sphinx_key_parser::MsgDriver;
+use vls_protocol::msgs::{self, read_serial_request_header, write_serial_response_header, Message};
 use vls_protocol::serde_bolt::WireString;
-use vls_protocol_signer::handler::{Handler, RootHandler};
 use vls_protocol_signer::lightning_signer;
 use vls_protocol_signer::vls_protocol;
 
-pub fn parse_ping(msg_bytes: Vec<u8>) -> msgs::Ping {
-    let mut m = MsgDriver::new(msg_bytes);
-    let (sequence, dbid) = msgs::read_serial_request_header(&mut m).expect("read ping header");
-    let ping: msgs::Ping =
-        msgs::read_message(&mut m).expect("failed to read ping message");
-    ping
+pub use vls_protocol_signer::handler::{Handler, RootHandler};
+
+pub struct InitResponse {
+    pub root_handler: RootHandler,
+    pub init_reply: Vec<u8>,
 }
 
-pub fn say_hi() {
+pub fn init(bytes: Vec<u8>) -> anyhow::Result<InitResponse> {
     let persister: Arc<dyn Persist> = Arc::new(DummyPersister);
-
-    println!("Hello, world!");
+    let mut md = MsgDriver::new(bytes);
+    let (sequence, dbid) = read_serial_request_header(&mut md).expect("read init header");
+    assert_eq!(dbid, 0);
+    assert_eq!(sequence, 0);
+    let init: msgs::HsmdInit2 = msgs::read_message(&mut md).expect("failed to read init message");
+    log::info!("init {:?}", init);
+    let allowlist = init
+        .dev_allowlist
+        .iter()
+        .map(|s| from_wire_string(s))
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let seed = init.dev_seed.as_ref().map(|s| s.0).expect("no seed");
+    let root_handler = RootHandler::new(0, Some(seed), persister, allowlist);
+    let init_reply = root_handler
+        .handle(Message::HsmdInit2(init))
+        .expect("handle init");
+    let mut reply = MsgDriver::new_empty();
+    write_serial_response_header(&mut reply, sequence).expect("write init header");
+    msgs::write_vec(&mut reply, init_reply.as_vec()).expect("write init reply");
+    Ok(InitResponse {
+        root_handler,
+        init_reply: reply.bytes(),
+    })
+}
+
+pub fn handle(_root_handler: &RootHandler, _bytes: Vec<u8>) -> anyhow::Result<Vec<u8>> {
+    Ok(Vec::new())
+}
+
+pub fn parse_ping_and_form_response(msg_bytes: Vec<u8>) -> Vec<u8> {
+    let mut m = MsgDriver::new(msg_bytes);
+    let (sequence, _dbid) = msgs::read_serial_request_header(&mut m).expect("read ping header");
+    let ping: msgs::Ping = msgs::read_message(&mut m).expect("failed to read ping message");
+    let mut md = MsgDriver::new_empty();
+    msgs::write_serial_response_header(&mut md, sequence)
+        .expect("failed to write_serial_request_header");
+    let pong = msgs::Pong {
+        id: ping.id,
+        message: ping.message,
+    };
+    msgs::write(&mut md, pong).expect("failed to serial write");
+    md.bytes()
+}
+
+// pub fn say_hi() {
+//     let persister: Arc<dyn Persist> = Arc::new(DummyPersister);
+
+//     println!("Hello, world!");
+// }
+
+fn from_wire_string(s: &WireString) -> String {
+    String::from_utf8(s.0.to_vec()).expect("malformed string")
 }
diff --git a/sphinx-key/src/conn/mqtt.rs b/sphinx-key/src/conn/mqtt.rs
index 0bca42d..ecc1405 100644
--- a/sphinx-key/src/conn/mqtt.rs
+++ b/sphinx-key/src/conn/mqtt.rs
@@ -1,18 +1,14 @@
-use crate::core::events::Message;
-
-use embedded_svc::event_bus::Postbox;
 use embedded_svc::mqtt::client::utils::ConnState;
 use embedded_svc::mqtt::client::{Client, Connection, MessageImpl, Publish, QoS, Event, Message as MqttMessage};
 use embedded_svc::mqtt::client::utils::Connection as MqttConnection;
 use esp_idf_svc::mqtt::client::*;
 use anyhow::Result;
-use esp_idf_svc::eventloop::EspBackgroundEventLoop;
 use log::*;
 use std::thread;
 use esp_idf_sys::{self};
 use esp_idf_sys::EspError;
 use esp_idf_hal::mutex::Condvar;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::{mpsc};
 
 pub const TOPIC: &str = "sphinx";
 pub const RETURN_TOPIC: &str = "sphinx-return";
@@ -46,10 +42,10 @@ pub fn make_client(broker: &str) -> Result<(
 }
 
 pub fn start_listening(
-    mqtt: Arc<Mutex<EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>>>,
+    mut client: EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>,
     mut connection: MqttConnection<Condvar, MessageImpl, EspError>, 
-    mut eventloop: EspBackgroundEventLoop
-) -> Result<()> {
+    tx: mpsc::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+) -> Result<EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>> {
     
     // must start pumping before subscribe or publish will work
     thread::spawn(move || {
@@ -60,12 +56,7 @@ pub fn start_listening(
                 Err(e) => info!("MQTT Message ERROR: {}", e),
                 Ok(msg) => {
                     if let Event::Received(msg) = msg {
-                        info!("MQTT MESSAGE RECEIVED!");
-                        if let Ok(m) = Message::new_from_slice(&msg.data()) {
-                            if let Err(e) = eventloop.post(&m, None) {
-                                warn!("failed to post to eventloop {:?}", e);
-                            }
-                        }
+                        tx.send(msg.data().to_vec()).expect("could send to TX");
                     }
                 },
             }
@@ -73,16 +64,19 @@ pub fn start_listening(
         info!("MQTT connection loop exit");
     });
 
-    let mut client = mqtt.lock().unwrap();
+    // log::info!("lock mqtt mutex guard");
+    // let mut client = mqtt.lock().unwrap();
 
+    log::info!("SUBSCRIBE TO {}", TOPIC);
     client.subscribe(TOPIC, QoS::AtMostOnce)?;
 
+    log::info!("PUBLISH {} to {}", "READY", RETURN_TOPIC);
     client.publish(
         RETURN_TOPIC,
         QoS::AtMostOnce,
         false,
-        format!("Hello from {}!", CLIENT_ID).as_bytes(),
+        format!("READY").as_bytes(),
     )?;
 
-    Ok(())
+    Ok(client)
 }
diff --git a/sphinx-key/src/core/config.rs b/sphinx-key/src/core/config.rs
index 58f7b0f..d554f45 100644
--- a/sphinx-key/src/core/config.rs
+++ b/sphinx-key/src/core/config.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@ pub struct Config {
 arp -a
 
 http://192.168.71.1/?broker=52.91.253.115%3A1883
+
+http://192.168.71.1/?broker=192.168.86.222%3A1883
+
 */
 
 pub fn start_wifi_client(default_nvs: Arc<EspDefaultNvs>, config: &Config)  -> Result<Box<EspWifi>> {
diff --git a/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs b/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
index 6e641c4..e08729f 100644
--- a/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
+++ b/sphinx-key/src/core/events.rs
@@ -1,107 +1,42 @@
 use crate::conn::mqtt::RETURN_TOPIC;
-use crate::periph::led::Led;
-use sphinx_key_signer::parse_ping;
+use sphinx_key_signer::{self, InitResponse, PubKey};
+use std::sync::{mpsc};
 
-use esp_idf_svc::eventloop::*;
+use esp_idf_sys;
 use embedded_svc::httpd::Result;
-use esp_idf_sys::{self, c_types};
 use embedded_svc::mqtt::client::utils::ConnState;
 use embedded_svc::mqtt::client::{MessageImpl, Publish, QoS};
 use esp_idf_svc::mqtt::client::*;
 use esp_idf_sys::EspError;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use log::*;
-use std::cmp::min;
 
-pub const MSG_SIZE: usize = 256;
+pub fn make_event_loop(mut mqtt: EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>, rx: mpsc::Receiver<Vec<u8>>) -> Result<()> {
 
-#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug)]
-pub struct Message([u8; MSG_SIZE]);
+    // initialize the RootHandler
+    let init_msg_bytes = rx.recv().expect("NO INIT MSG");
+    let InitResponse { root_handler, init_reply } = sphinx_key_signer::init(init_msg_bytes).expect("failed to init signer");
+    mqtt.publish(RETURN_TOPIC, QoS::AtMostOnce, false, init_reply).expect("could not publish init response");
 
-impl Message {
-    pub fn _new(bytes: [u8; MSG_SIZE]) -> Self {
-        Self(bytes)
-    }
-    // the first byte is the length of the message
-    pub fn new_from_slice(src: &[u8]) -> Result<Self> {
-        if src.len() > MSG_SIZE - 1 {
-            return Err(anyhow::anyhow!("message too long"));
-        }
-        let mut dest = [0; MSG_SIZE];
-        dest[0] = src.len() as u8; // this would crash if MSG_SIZE>256
-        for i in 0..min(src.len(), MSG_SIZE) {
-            dest[i+1] = src[i];
-        }
-        Ok(Self(dest))
-    }
-    pub fn read_bytes(&self) -> Vec<u8> {
-        let l = self.0[0] as usize;
-        self.0[1..l+1].to_vec()
-    }
-    pub fn read_string(&self) -> String {
-        String::from_utf8_lossy(&self.0).to_string()
-    }
-}
-
-impl EspTypedEventSource for Message {
-    fn source() -> *const c_types::c_char {
-        b"SPHINX\0".as_ptr() as *const _
-    }
-}
-
-impl EspTypedEventSerializer<Message> for Message {
-    fn serialize<R>(
-        event: &Message,
-        f: impl for<'a> FnOnce(&'a EspEventPostData) -> R,
-    ) -> R {
-        f(&unsafe { EspEventPostData::new(Self::source(), Self::event_id(), event) })
-    }
-}
-
-impl EspTypedEventDeserializer<Message> for Message {
-    fn deserialize<R>(
-        data: &EspEventFetchData,
-        f: &mut impl for<'a> FnMut(&'a Message) -> R,
-    ) -> R {
-        f(unsafe { data.as_payload() })
-    }
-}
-
-pub fn make_eventloop(client: Arc<Mutex<EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>>>) -> Result<(EspBackgroundEventLoop, EspBackgroundSubscription)> {
-    use embedded_svc::event_bus::EventBus;
-
-    info!("About to start a background event loop");
-    let mut eventloop = EspBackgroundEventLoop::new(
-        &BackgroundLoopConfiguration {
-            task_stack_size: 8192,
-            .. Default::default()
-        },
-    )?;
-    let mut green = Led::new(0x000100, 10);
-
-    info!("About to subscribe to the background event loop");
-    let subscription = eventloop.subscribe(move |message: &Message| {
-        info!("!!! Got message from the event loop"); //: {:?}", message.0);
-        green.blink();
-        let msg_bytes = message.read_bytes();
-        // let msg_str = String::from_utf8_lossy(&msg[..]);
-        match client.lock() {
-            Ok(mut m_) => {
-                let ping = parse_ping(msg_bytes);
-                if let Err(err) = m_.publish(
-                    RETURN_TOPIC,
-                    QoS::AtMostOnce,
-                    false,
-                    format!("Got and parsed the ping!!!").as_bytes(),
-                ) {
-                    log::warn!("failed to mqtt publish! {:?}", err);
-                };
-            },
-            Err(_) => log::warn!("failed to lock Mutex<Client>")
+    // signing loop
+    let dummy_peer = PubKey([0; 33]);
+    while let Ok(msg_bytes) = rx.recv() {
+        let _ret = match sphinx_key_signer::handle(&root_handler, msg_bytes, dummy_peer.clone()) {
+            Ok(b) =>  mqtt.publish(RETURN_TOPIC, QoS::AtMostOnce, false, b).expect("could not publish init response"),
+            Err(e) => panic!("HANDLE FAILED {:?}", e),
         };
-        
-    })?;
-    // let subscription = eventloop.subscribe(cb)?;
+    }
 
-    Ok((eventloop, subscription))
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+pub fn make_test_event_loop(mut mqtt: EspMqttClient<ConnState<MessageImpl, EspError>>, rx: mpsc::Receiver<Vec<u8>>) -> Result<()> {
+
+    info!("About to subscribe to the mpsc channel");
+    while let Ok(msg_bytes) = rx.recv() {
+        let b = sphinx_key_signer::parse_ping_and_form_response(msg_bytes);
+        log::info!("GOT A PING MESSAGE! returning pong now...");
+        mqtt.publish(RETURN_TOPIC, QoS::AtMostOnce, false, b).expect("could not publish init response");
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/sphinx-key/src/main.rs b/sphinx-key/src/main.rs
index ae7140c..b850335 100644
--- a/sphinx-key/src/main.rs
+++ b/sphinx-key/src/main.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,9 @@ mod periph;
 use crate::core::{events::*, config::*};
 use crate::periph::led::Led;
 
-use sphinx_key_signer;
 use esp_idf_sys as _; // If using the `binstart` feature of `esp-idf-sys`, always keep this module imported
 use std::thread;
-use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+use std::sync::{Arc, mpsc};
 use std::time::Duration;
 use anyhow::Result;
 
@@ -25,8 +24,6 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     esp_idf_svc::log::EspLogger::initialize_default();
 
-    sphinx_key_signer::say_hi();
-
     thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1));
 
     let default_nvs = Arc::new(EspDefaultNvs::new()?);
@@ -37,22 +34,23 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
         // store.remove("config").expect("couldnt remove config");
         let wifi = start_wifi_client(default_nvs.clone(), &exist)?;
 
-        let mqtt_and_conn = conn::mqtt::make_client(&exist.broker)?;
-
-        let mqtt = Arc::new(Mutex::new(mqtt_and_conn.0));
-        // if the subscription goes out of scope its dropped
-        // the sub needs to publish back to mqtt???
-        let (eventloop, _sub) = make_eventloop(mqtt.clone())?;
-        let _mqtt_client = conn::mqtt::start_listening(mqtt, mqtt_and_conn.1, eventloop)?;
+        let (tx, rx) = mpsc::channel();
+        // _conn needs to stay in scope or its dropped
+        let (mqtt, connection) = conn::mqtt::make_client(&exist.broker)?;
+        let mqtt_client = conn::mqtt::start_listening(mqtt, connection, tx)?;
+        
+        // this blocks forever... the "main thread"
+        log::info!(">>>>>>>>>>> blocking forever...");
+        make_test_event_loop(mqtt_client, rx)?;
+        
         let mut blue = Led::new(0x000001, 100);
-       
         println!("{:?}", wifi.get_status());
         loop {
             log::info!("Listening...");
             blue.blink();
             thread::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1));
         }
-        drop(wifi);
+        // drop(wifi);
     } else {
         println!("=============> START SERVER NOW AND WAIT <==============");
         if let Ok((wifi, config)) = start_config_server_and_wait(default_nvs.clone()) {