diff --git a/add.go b/add.go
index de58295..96f3fcb 100644
--- a/add.go
+++ b/add.go
@@ -128,3 +128,28 @@ func (c *Cluster) BlankFields() {
 func (epb *Events) AppendEvent(e *Event) {
 	epb.Events = append(epb.Events, e)
 }
+
+// check the cluster and droplet to make sure it's ready to start
+func (c *Cluster) DropletReady(d *Droplet) (bool, string) {
+	if c == nil {
+		return false, "cluster == nil"
+	}
+	if d == nil {
+		return false, "droplet == nil"
+	}
+	if d.Current == nil {
+		return false, "droplet.Current == nil"
+	}
+	// can't start already started droplet
+	if d.Current.State == DropletState_ON {
+		return false, "EVENT start droplet is already ON"
+	}
+	if d.Current.State != DropletState_OFF {
+		return false, "EVENT start droplet is not OFF state = " + string(d.Current.State)
+	}
+	if d.Current.StartAttempts > 2 {
+		// reason := "EVENT start droplet has already been started " + d.starts + " times"
+		return false, fmt.Sprintln("EVENT start droplet has already been started ", d.Current.StartAttempts, " times")
+	}
+	return true, ""
+}
diff --git a/droplet.proto b/droplet.proto
index 2c30829..bed3e48 100644
--- a/droplet.proto
+++ b/droplet.proto
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ message Droplet {
 	string  custom_xml              = 15;      // if needed,
 }
 
-// current settings for things.
+// volatile data. the current settings and values of things.
 // These are passed around while the cluster to monitor and control the systems
 // but they are not saved to the config file
 message Current {