diff --git a/colorNew.go b/colorNew.go
index 7a218b6..2290ddb 100644
--- a/colorNew.go
+++ b/colorNew.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setColorLabel() {
 	tk.color.fg = gocui.ColorBlack
 	tk.color.bg = gocui.AttrNone
 	tk.color.selFg = gocui.AttrNone
-	tk.color.selBg = gocui.AttrNone
+	tk.color.selBg = gocui.ColorWhite
 }
 
 func (tk *guiWidget) setColorButtonDense() {
@@ -159,5 +159,5 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) setColorModal() {
 	tk.color.fg = gocui.AttrNone
 	tk.color.bg = gocui.AttrNone
 	tk.color.selFg = gocui.AttrNone
-	tk.color.selBg = gocui.ColorRed
+	tk.color.selBg = gocui.ColorWhite
 }
diff --git a/dropdown.go b/dropdown.go
index 875e567..85f2894 100644
--- a/dropdown.go
+++ b/dropdown.go
@@ -144,7 +144,6 @@ func (tk *guiWidget) showTextbox() {
 		return
 	}
 	startW, startH := tk.Position()
-	// log.Log(GOCUI, "showTextbox() SHOWING AT W,H=", startW, startH)
 	me.textbox.tk.MoveToOffset(startW+3, startH+2)
 	me.textbox.tk.labelN = "holy cow"
 	me.textbox.tk.setColorModal()
diff --git a/eventMouseDrag.go b/eventMouseDrag.go
index 40f608d..4e2312d 100644
--- a/eventMouseDrag.go
+++ b/eventMouseDrag.go
@@ -24,6 +24,27 @@ import (
 // this is run every time the user moves the mouse over the terminal window
 func mouseMove(g *gocui.Gui) {
 	me.ok = true // this tells init() it's okay to work with gocui
+
+	// this runs while the user moves the mouse. this highlights text
+	// toggle off all highlight views except for whatever is under the mouse
+	for _, view := range g.Views() {
+		view.Highlight = false
+	}
+	w, h := g.MousePosition()
+	if v, err := g.ViewByPosition(w, h); err == nil {
+		// todo: identify and highlight grid rows here
+		if me.dropdown.active || me.textbox.active {
+			if me.dropdown.tk != nil && me.dropdown.tk.v == v {
+				v.Highlight = true
+			}
+			if me.textbox.tk != nil && me.textbox.tk.v == v {
+				v.Highlight = true
+			}
+		} else {
+			v.Highlight = true
+		}
+	}
+
 	// very useful for debugging in the past. also, just fun
 	if me.supermouse {
 		w, h := g.MousePosition()
@@ -45,16 +66,6 @@ func mouseMove(g *gocui.Gui) {
 	// okay, the mouse is down and it has been long enough
 	// the user is trying to drag something. let's figure out what
 
-	w, h := g.MousePosition()
-	// toggle off all highlight vies except for whatever is under the mouse
-	for _, view := range g.Views() {
-		view.Highlight = false
-	}
-
-	if v, err := g.ViewByPosition(w, h); err == nil {
-		v.Highlight = true
-	}
-
 	// create the 'msg' view if it does not yet exist // TODO: put this somewhere more correct
 	if widgetView, _ := g.View("msg"); widgetView == nil {
 		if createStdout(g) {