diff --git a/init.go b/init.go
index 3a63c0a..4546b72 100644
--- a/init.go
+++ b/init.go
@@ -208,6 +208,17 @@ func waitOK() {
 	}
 }
 
+// this hack is to wait for the application to send something
+// before trying to do anything. todo: rethink this someday
+func waitFirstWindow() {
+	for {
+		if me.firstWindowOk {
+			return
+		}
+		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+}
+
 // empty function. this triggers gocui to refresh the screen
 func testRefresh(*gocui.Gui) error {
 	// log.Info("in testRefresh")
@@ -279,10 +290,15 @@ func newWindowTrigger() {
 			waitOK()
 			time.Sleep(200 * time.Millisecond)
 			redoWindows(3, 3)
+			me.firstWindowOk = true
 			if !me.stdout.init {
 				me.stdout.init = true
 				relocateStdoutOffscreen()
 			}
+			if me.textbox.tk == nil {
+				initTextbox()
+				me.textbox.tk.prepTextbox()
+			}
 			tk.makeWindowActive()
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/structs.go b/structs.go
index af5fb41..9df35aa 100644
--- a/structs.go
+++ b/structs.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ type config struct {
 	myTree           *tree.TreeInfo  // ?
 	currentWindow    *guiWidget      // this is the current tab or window to show
 	ok               bool            // if the user doesn't hit a key or move the mouse, gocui doesn't really start
+	firstWindowOk    bool            // allows the init to wait for the first window from the application
 	ctrlDown         *tree.Node      // shown if you click the mouse when the ctrl key is pressed
 	helpLabel        *gocui.View     // ?
 	showHelp         bool            // toggle boolean for the help menu (deprecate?)
diff --git a/table.go b/table.go
index 9e971de..429b4ca 100644
--- a/table.go
+++ b/table.go
@@ -6,8 +6,19 @@ package main
 import (
 	"go.wit.com/lib/protobuf/guipb"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
+	"go.wit.com/toolkits/tree"
 )
 
 func showTable(t *guipb.Table) {
 	log.Info("should show table here")
 }
+
+func enableWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.Enable()
+}
+
+func disableWidget(n *tree.Node) {
+	tk := n.TK.(*guiWidget)
+	tk.Disable()
+}
diff --git a/treeInit.go b/treeInit.go
index c51a9fe..78ff4fb 100644
--- a/treeInit.go
+++ b/treeInit.go
@@ -60,6 +60,10 @@ func initTree() *tree.TreeInfo {
 	t.SetLabel = setLabel
 	t.SetText = setText
 	t.AddText = addText
+
+	t.Enable = enableWidget
+	t.Disable = disableWidget
+
 	t.SetChecked = setChecked
 	t.ToolkitClose = toolkitClose
 	t.ShowTable = showTable