diff --git a/side-node/src/websocket/mod.rs b/side-node/src/websocket/mod.rs
index 3dc9f46..b0bd14c 100644
--- a/side-node/src/websocket/mod.rs
+++ b/side-node/src/websocket/mod.rs
@@ -11,29 +11,36 @@ use websockets::WebSocket;
 
 /// Starts a websocket and periodically sends a BFT-CRDT message to the websocket server
 pub(crate) async fn start() -> Result<(), websockets::WebSocketError> {
+    println!("connecting to websocket at ws://localhost:8080/");
     let mut ws = WebSocket::connect("ws://localhost:8080/").await?;
 
-    let mut interval = time::interval(time::Duration::from_secs(2));
-
+    // generate a placeholder transaction
     let json = generate_transaction().unwrap();
+
+    // set up a new BFT-CRDT
     let keys = make_keypair();
     let mut bft_crdt = BaseCrdt::<ListExample>::new(&keys);
 
     // next job is to keep adding to this guy
     let _a = bft_crdt.doc.list.insert(ROOT_ID, 'a').sign(&keys);
 
+    let mut interval = every_two_seconds();
     loop {
         interval.tick().await;
         println!("Sending: {}", json);
         ws.send_text(json.clone()).await?;
 
-        // TODO:  apply changes in here when we receive socket input from other nodes
+        // TODO:  bft_crdt.apply() changes in here when we receive socket input from other nodes
 
         let msg = ws.receive().await?;
         println!("Received: {:?}", msg);
     }
 }
 
+fn every_two_seconds() -> time::Interval {
+    time::interval(time::Duration::from_secs(2))
+}
+
 #[add_crdt_fields]
 #[derive(Clone, CrdtNode)]
 struct ListExample {