diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index bc51d91..834c228 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 proto = userinput.proto transportinstruction.proto
-source = parse.cpp parserstate.cpp parser.cpp templates.cpp terminal.cpp termemu.cpp parseraction.cpp terminalfunctions.cpp swrite.cpp terminalframebuffer.cpp terminaldispatcher.cpp terminaluserinput.cpp terminaldisplay.cpp network.cpp ntester.cpp ocb.cpp base64.cpp encrypt.cpp decrypt.cpp crypto.cpp networktransport.cpp transportfragment.cpp user.cpp userinput.pb.cc completeterminal.cpp stm-server.cpp stm.cpp transportinstruction.pb.cc transportsender.cpp stmclient.cpp
-objects = parserstate.o parser.o templates.o terminal.o parseraction.o terminalfunctions.o swrite.o terminalframebuffer.o terminaldispatcher.o terminaluserinput.o terminaldisplay.o network.o ocb.o base64.o crypto.o networktransport.o transportfragment.o user.o userinput.pb.o completeterminal.o transportinstruction.pb.o transportsender.o stmclient.o
+source = parse.cpp parserstate.cpp parser.cpp templates.cpp terminal.cpp termemu.cpp parseraction.cpp terminalfunctions.cpp swrite.cpp terminalframebuffer.cpp terminaldispatcher.cpp terminaluserinput.cpp terminaldisplay.cpp network.cpp ntester.cpp ocb.cpp base64.cpp encrypt.cpp decrypt.cpp crypto.cpp networktransport.cpp transportfragment.cpp user.cpp userinput.pb.cc completeterminal.cpp stm-server.cpp stm.cpp transportinstruction.pb.cc transportsender.cpp stmclient.cpp terminaloverlay.cpp
+objects = parserstate.o parser.o templates.o terminal.o parseraction.o terminalfunctions.o swrite.o terminalframebuffer.o terminaldispatcher.o terminaluserinput.o terminaldisplay.o network.o ocb.o base64.o crypto.o networktransport.o transportfragment.o user.o userinput.pb.o completeterminal.o transportinstruction.pb.o transportsender.o stmclient.o terminaloverlay.o
 repos = templates.rpo
 executables = parse termemu ntester encrypt decrypt stm-server stm
 
diff --git a/completeterminal.hpp b/completeterminal.hpp
index 9af689c..44f5330 100644
--- a/completeterminal.hpp
+++ b/completeterminal.hpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ namespace Terminal {
     std::string act( const Parser::Action *act );
 
     const Framebuffer & get_fb( void ) const { return terminal.get_fb(); }
+    bool parser_grounded( void ) const { return parser.is_grounded(); }
 
     /* interface for Network::Transport */
     void subtract( const Complete * ) {}
diff --git a/parser.hpp b/parser.hpp
index 4103f62..d70f83c 100644
--- a/parser.hpp
+++ b/parser.hpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #endif
 
 namespace Parser {
-  static StateFamily family;
+  static const StateFamily family;
 
   class Parser {
   private:
@@ -37,6 +37,8 @@ namespace Parser {
     {
       return state == x.state;
     }
+
+    bool is_grounded( void ) const { return state == &family.s_Ground; }
   };
 
   static const size_t BUF_SIZE = 8;
@@ -57,6 +59,8 @@ namespace Parser {
     {
       return parser == x.parser;
     }
+
+    bool is_grounded( void ) const { return parser.is_grounded(); }
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/stmclient.cpp b/stmclient.cpp
index 9c0cdc0..afd2a4f 100644
--- a/stmclient.cpp
+++ b/stmclient.cpp
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@
 #include <pwd.h>
 #include <signal.h>
 #include <sys/signalfd.h>
+#include <time.h>
 
 #include "stmclient.hpp"
 #include "swrite.hpp"
 #include "networktransport.hpp"
 #include "completeterminal.hpp"
 #include "user.hpp"
+#include "network.hpp"
 
 void STMClient::init( void )
 {
@@ -100,33 +102,44 @@ void STMClient::main_init( void )
   }  
 
   /* local state */
-  local_terminal = new Terminal::Complete( window_size.ws_col, window_size.ws_row );
+  local_framebuffer = new Terminal::Framebuffer( window_size.ws_col, window_size.ws_row );
 
   /* initialize screen */
-  string init = Terminal::Display::new_frame( false, local_terminal->get_fb(), local_terminal->get_fb() );
+  string init = Terminal::Display::new_frame( false, *local_framebuffer, *local_framebuffer );
   swrite( STDOUT_FILENO, init.data(), init.size() );
 
   /* open network */
   Network::UserStream blank;
-  network = new Network::Transport< Network::UserStream, Terminal::Complete >( blank, *local_terminal,
+  Terminal::Complete local_terminal( window_size.ws_col, window_size.ws_row );
+  network = new Network::Transport< Network::UserStream, Terminal::Complete >( blank, local_terminal,
 									       key.c_str(), ip.c_str(), port );
 
   /* tell server the size of the terminal */
   network->get_current_state().push_back( Parser::Resize( window_size.ws_col, window_size.ws_row ) );
 }
 
+void STMClient::output_new_frame( void )
+{
+  /* fetch target state */
+  Terminal::Framebuffer new_state( network->get_latest_remote_state().state.get_fb() );
+
+  /* apply local overlays */
+  overlays.get_notification_engine().render_notification();
+  overlays.apply( new_state );
+
+  /* calculate minimal difference from where we are */
+  string diff = Terminal::Display::new_frame( true,
+					      *local_framebuffer,
+					      new_state );
+  swrite( STDOUT_FILENO, diff.data(), diff.size() );
+  *local_framebuffer = new_state;  
+}
+
 bool STMClient::process_network_input( void )
 {
   network->recv();
   
-  /* is a new frame available from the terminal? */
-  if ( network->get_remote_state_num() != last_remote_num ) {
-    string diff = Terminal::Display::new_frame( true,
-						local_terminal->get_fb(),
-						network->get_latest_remote_state().state.get_fb() );
-    swrite( STDOUT_FILENO, diff.data(), diff.size() );
-    *local_terminal = network->get_latest_remote_state().state;
-  }
+  overlays.get_notification_engine().server_ping( network->get_latest_remote_state().timestamp );
 
   return true;
 }
@@ -147,7 +160,8 @@ bool STMClient::process_user_input( int fd )
 
   if ( !network->shutdown_in_progress() ) {
     for ( int i = 0; i < bytes_read; i++ ) {
-      network->get_current_state().push_back( Parser::UserByte( buf[ i ] ) );
+      char the_byte = buf[ i ];
+      network->get_current_state().push_back( Parser::UserByte( the_byte ) );
     }
   }
 
@@ -207,6 +221,8 @@ void STMClient::main( void )
 
   while ( 1 ) {
     try {
+      output_new_frame();
+
       int active_fds = poll( pollfds, 4, network->wait_time() );
       if ( active_fds < 0 ) {
 	perror( "poll" );
@@ -240,6 +256,7 @@ void STMClient::main( void )
 	}
 
 	if ( network->attached() && (!network->shutdown_in_progress()) ) {
+	  overlays.get_notification_engine().set_notification_string( wstring( L"Signal received, shutting down..." ) );
 	  network->start_shutdown();
 	} else {
 	  break;
@@ -256,6 +273,7 @@ void STMClient::main( void )
 	   & (POLLERR | POLLHUP | POLLNVAL) ) {
 	/* user problem */
 	if ( network->attached() && (!network->shutdown_in_progress()) ) {
+	  overlays.get_notification_engine().set_notification_string( wstring( L"Exiting..." ) );
 	  network->start_shutdown();
 	} else {
 	  break;
@@ -279,8 +297,14 @@ void STMClient::main( void )
 
       network->tick();
     } catch ( Network::NetworkException e ) {
-      fprintf( stderr, "%s: %s\r\n", e.function.c_str(), strerror( e.the_errno ) );
-      sleep( 1 );
+      wchar_t tmp[ 128 ];
+      swprintf( tmp, 128, L"%s: %s\r\n", e.function.c_str(), strerror( e.the_errno ) );
+      overlays.get_notification_engine().set_notification_string( wstring( tmp ) );
+      struct timespec req;
+      req.tv_sec = 0;
+      req.tv_nsec = 200000000; /* 0.2 sec */
+      nanosleep( &req, NULL );
     }
   }
 }
+
diff --git a/stmclient.hpp b/stmclient.hpp
index b96b22e..741f183 100644
--- a/stmclient.hpp
+++ b/stmclient.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include "completeterminal.hpp"
 #include "networktransport.hpp"
 #include "user.hpp"
+#include "terminaloverlay.hpp"
 
 class STMClient {
 private:
@@ -20,7 +21,8 @@ private:
   int winch_fd, shutdown_signal_fd;
   struct winsize window_size;
 
-  Terminal::Complete *local_terminal;
+  Terminal::Framebuffer *local_framebuffer;
+  Overlay::OverlayManager overlays;
   Network::Transport< Network::UserStream, Terminal::Complete > *network;
   uint64_t last_remote_num;
 
@@ -29,13 +31,16 @@ private:
   bool process_user_input( int fd );
   bool process_resize( void );
 
+  void output_new_frame( void );
+
 public:
   STMClient( const char *s_ip, int s_port, const char *s_key )
     : ip( s_ip ), port( s_port ), key( s_key ),
       saved_termios(), raw_termios(),
       winch_fd(), shutdown_signal_fd(),
       window_size(),
-      local_terminal( NULL ),
+      local_framebuffer( NULL ),
+      overlays(),
       network( NULL ),
       last_remote_num( -1 )
   {}
@@ -46,8 +51,8 @@ public:
 
   ~STMClient()
   {
-    if ( local_terminal != NULL ) {
-      delete local_terminal;
+    if ( local_framebuffer != NULL ) {
+      delete local_framebuffer;
     }
 
     if ( network != NULL ) {
diff --git a/templates.cpp b/templates.cpp
index 69aa83c..ef45af2 100644
--- a/templates.cpp
+++ b/templates.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 #include "terminal.hpp"
 #include "completeterminal.hpp"
+#include "terminaloverlay.hpp"
 
 #include "user.hpp"
 #include "networktransport.cpp"
@@ -19,6 +20,7 @@ namespace Parser {
 using namespace std;
 using namespace Terminal;
 using namespace Network;
+using namespace Overlay;
 
 template class list<Parser::Action *>;
 template class vector<Cell>;
@@ -38,3 +40,4 @@ template class TransportSender<UserStream>;
 template class TransportSender<Complete>;
 
 template class deque<UserEvent>;
+template class list<OverlayElement *>;
diff --git a/terminaldisplay.cpp b/terminaldisplay.cpp
index 08d980b..0cea4fe 100644
--- a/terminaldisplay.cpp
+++ b/terminaldisplay.cpp
@@ -84,11 +84,7 @@ std::string Display::new_frame( bool initialized, const Framebuffer &last, const
 
       if ( lines_scrolled ) {
 	if ( frame.cursor_y != f.ds.get_height() - 1 ) {
-	  snprintf( tmp, 64, "\033[%d;%dH", f.ds.get_height(), 1 );
-	  frame.append( tmp );
-
-	  frame.cursor_y = f.ds.get_height() - 1;
-	  frame.cursor_x = 0;
+	  frame.append_silent_move( f.ds.get_height() - 1, 0 );
 	}
 
 	if ( frame.current_rendition_string != "\033[0m" ) {
@@ -194,10 +190,7 @@ void Display::put_cell( bool initialized, FrameState &frame, const Framebuffer &
   }
 
   if ( (frame.x != frame.cursor_x) || (frame.y != frame.cursor_y) ) {
-    snprintf( tmp, 64, "\033[%d;%dH", frame.y + 1, frame.x + 1 );
-    frame.append( tmp );
-    frame.cursor_x = frame.x;
-    frame.cursor_y = frame.y;
+    frame.append_silent_move( frame.y, frame.x );
   }
 
   std::string rendition_str = cell->renditions.sgr();
@@ -243,3 +236,19 @@ void Display::put_cell( bool initialized, FrameState &frame, const Framebuffer &
   frame.x += cell->width;
   frame.cursor_x += cell->width;
 }
+
+void FrameState::append_silent_move( int y, int x )
+{
+  char tmp[ 64 ];
+
+  /* turn off cursor if necessary before moving cursor */
+  if ( last_frame.ds.cursor_visible ) {
+    append( "\033[?25l" );
+    last_frame.ds.cursor_visible = false;
+  }
+
+  snprintf( tmp, 64, "\033[%d;%dH", y + 1, x + 1 );
+  append( tmp );
+  cursor_x = x;
+  cursor_y = y;
+}
diff --git a/terminaldisplay.hpp b/terminaldisplay.hpp
index 97417aa..bb73c26 100644
--- a/terminaldisplay.hpp
+++ b/terminaldisplay.hpp
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ namespace Terminal {
 
     FrameState( const Framebuffer &s_last ) : x(0), y(0), str(), cursor_x(0), cursor_y(0), current_rendition_string(), last_frame( s_last ) {}
     void append( std::string s ) { str.append( s ); }
+
+    void append_silent_move( int y, int x );
   };
 
   class Display {
diff --git a/terminaloverlay.cpp b/terminaloverlay.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..029c191
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terminaloverlay.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,234 @@
+#include <algorithm>
+#include <wchar.h>
+#include <list>
+
+#include "terminaloverlay.hpp"
+
+using namespace Overlay;
+
+Validity OverlayElement::get_validity( const Framebuffer & ) const
+{
+  return (timestamp() < expiration_time) ? Pending : IncorrectOrExpired;
+}
+
+void OverlayCell::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  if ( (row >= fb.ds.get_height())
+       || (col >= fb.ds.get_width()) ) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  *(fb.get_mutable_cell( row, col )) = replacement;
+}
+
+Validity ConditionalOverlayCell::get_validity( const Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  if ( (row >= fb.ds.get_height())
+       || (col >= fb.ds.get_width()) ) {
+    return IncorrectOrExpired;
+  }
+
+  const Cell &current = *( fb.get_cell( row, col ) );
+  
+  if ( (timestamp() < expiration_time) && (current == original_contents) ) {
+    return Pending;
+  }
+
+  if ( current == replacement ) {
+    return Correct;
+  } else {
+    return IncorrectOrExpired;
+  }
+}
+
+void CursorMove::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  assert( new_row < fb.ds.get_height() );
+  assert( new_col < fb.ds.get_width() );
+  assert( !fb.ds.origin_mode );
+
+  fb.ds.move_row( new_row, false );
+  fb.ds.move_col( new_col, false, false );
+}
+
+Validity ConditionalCursorMove::get_validity( const Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  if ( timestamp() < expiration_time ) {
+    return Pending;
+  }
+
+  if ( (fb.ds.get_cursor_col() == new_col)
+       && (fb.ds.get_cursor_row() == new_row) ) {
+    return Correct;
+  } else {
+    return IncorrectOrExpired;
+  }
+}
+
+void OverlayEngine::clear( void )
+{
+  for_each( elements.begin(), elements.end(), []( OverlayElement *x ){ delete x; } );
+  elements.clear();
+}
+
+OverlayEngine::~OverlayEngine()
+{
+  clear();
+}
+
+void OverlayEngine::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  for_each( elements.begin(), elements.end(),
+	    [&fb]( OverlayElement *x ) { x->apply( fb ); } );
+}
+
+void OverlayEngine::cull( const Framebuffer &fb )
+{
+  elements.remove_if( [fb]( OverlayElement *x ) { return IncorrectOrExpired == x->get_validity( fb ); } );
+}
+
+OverlayCell::OverlayCell( uint64_t expiration_time, int s_row, int s_col, int background_color )
+  : OverlayElement( expiration_time ), row( s_row ), col( s_col ), replacement( background_color )
+{}
+
+NotificationEngine::NotificationEngine()
+  : needs_render( true ),
+    last_word( timestamp() ),
+    last_render( 0 ),
+    message(),
+    message_expiration( 0 )
+{}
+
+void NotificationEngine::server_ping( uint64_t s_last_word )
+{
+  if ( s_last_word - last_word > 4000 ) {
+    needs_render = true;
+  }
+
+  last_word = s_last_word;
+}
+
+void NotificationEngine::set_notification_string( const wstring s_message )
+{
+  message = s_message;
+  message_expiration = timestamp() + 1100;
+  needs_render = true;
+}
+
+void NotificationEngine::render_notification( void )
+{
+  uint64_t now = timestamp();
+
+  if ( (now - last_render < 250) && (!needs_render) ) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  needs_render = false;
+  last_render = now;
+
+  clear();
+
+  /* determine string to draw */
+  if ( now >= message_expiration ) {
+    message.clear();
+  }
+
+  bool time_expired = now - last_word > 5000;
+
+  wchar_t tmp[ 128 ];
+
+  if ( message.empty() && (!time_expired) ) {
+    return;
+  } else if ( message.empty() && time_expired ) {
+    swprintf( tmp, 128, L"[stm] No contact for %.0f seconds.", (double)(now - last_word) / 1000.0 );
+  } else if ( (!message.empty()) && (!time_expired) ) {
+    swprintf( tmp, 128, L"[stm] %ls", message.c_str() );
+  } else {
+    swprintf( tmp, 128, L"[stm] %ls (No contact for %.0f seconds.)", message.c_str(),
+	      (double)(now - last_word) / 1000.0 );
+  }
+
+  wstring string_to_draw( tmp );
+
+  int overlay_col = 0;
+  bool dirty = false;
+  OverlayCell template_cell( now + 1100, 0 /* row */, -1 /* col */, 0 /* background_color */ );
+
+  template_cell.replacement.renditions.inverse = true;
+
+  OverlayCell current( template_cell );
+
+  for ( wstring::const_iterator i = string_to_draw.begin(); i != string_to_draw.end(); i++ ) {
+    wchar_t ch = *i;
+    int chwidth = ch == L'\0' ? -1 : wcwidth( ch );
+
+    switch ( chwidth ) {
+    case 1: /* normal character */
+    case 2: /* wide character */
+      /* finish current cell */
+      if ( dirty ) {
+	elements.push_back( new OverlayCell( current ) );
+	dirty = false;
+      }
+      
+      /* initialize new cell */
+      current = template_cell;
+      current.col = overlay_col;
+      current.replacement.contents.push_back( ch );
+      current.replacement.width = chwidth;
+      overlay_col += chwidth;
+      dirty = true;
+      break;
+
+    case 0: /* combining character */
+      if ( current.replacement.contents.empty() ) {
+	/* string starts with combining character?? */
+	/* emulate fallback rendering */
+	current = template_cell;
+	current.col = overlay_col;
+	current.replacement.contents.push_back( 0xA0 ); /* no-break space */
+	current.replacement.width = 1;
+	overlay_col++;
+	dirty = true;
+      }
+
+      current.replacement.contents.push_back( ch );
+      break;
+
+    case -1:
+      break;
+      
+    default:
+      assert( false );
+    }
+  }
+
+  if ( dirty ) {
+    elements.push_back( new OverlayCell( current ) );
+  }
+}
+
+void NotificationEngine::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  if ( elements.empty() ) {
+    return;
+  }
+
+  assert( fb.ds.get_width() > 0 );
+  assert( fb.ds.get_height() > 0 );
+
+  Cell notification_bar( 0 );
+  notification_bar.renditions.inverse = true;
+  notification_bar.contents.push_back( 0x20 );
+
+  for ( int i = 0; i < fb.ds.get_width(); i++ ) {
+    *(fb.get_mutable_cell( 0, i )) = notification_bar;
+  }
+
+  OverlayEngine::apply( fb );
+}
+
+void OverlayManager::apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const
+{
+  notifications.apply( fb );
+}
diff --git a/terminaloverlay.hpp b/terminaloverlay.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13e2169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/terminaloverlay.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+#ifndef TERMINAL_OVERLAY_HPP
+#define TERMINAL_OVERLAY_HPP
+
+#include "terminalframebuffer.hpp"
+#include "network.hpp"
+
+#include <list>
+
+namespace Overlay {
+  using namespace Terminal;
+  using namespace Network;
+  using namespace std;
+
+  enum Validity {
+    Pending,
+    Correct,
+    IncorrectOrExpired
+  };
+
+  /* The individual elements of an overlay -- cursor movements and replaced cells */
+  class OverlayElement {
+  public:
+    uint64_t expiration_time;
+
+    virtual void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const = 0;
+    virtual Validity get_validity( const Framebuffer & ) const;
+
+    OverlayElement( uint64_t s_expiration_time ) : expiration_time( s_expiration_time ) {}
+    virtual ~OverlayElement() {}
+  };
+
+  class OverlayCell : public OverlayElement {
+  public:
+    int row, col;
+    Cell replacement;
+
+    OverlayCell( uint64_t expiration_time, int s_row, int s_col, int background_color );
+    void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+  };
+
+  class ConditionalOverlayCell : public OverlayCell {
+  public:
+    Cell original_contents;
+
+    Validity get_validity( const Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+  };
+
+  class CursorMove : public OverlayElement {
+  public:
+    int new_row, new_col;
+
+    void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+  };
+
+  class ConditionalCursorMove : public CursorMove {
+  public:
+    Validity get_validity( const Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+  };
+
+  /* the various overlays -- some predictive and some for local notifications */
+  class OverlayEngine {
+  protected:
+    list<OverlayElement *> elements;
+
+  public:
+    void cull( const Framebuffer &fb );
+    virtual void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+    void clear( void );
+
+    OverlayEngine() : elements() {}
+    virtual ~OverlayEngine();
+  };
+
+  class NotificationEngine : public OverlayEngine {
+  private:
+    bool needs_render;
+
+    uint64_t last_word;
+    uint64_t last_render;
+
+    wstring message;
+    uint64_t message_expiration;
+
+  public:
+    void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+    void set_notification_string( const wstring s_message );
+    void server_ping( uint64_t s_last_word );
+    void render_notification( void );
+
+    NotificationEngine();
+  };
+
+  /* the overlay manager */
+  class OverlayManager {
+  private:
+    NotificationEngine notifications;
+
+  public:
+    void apply( Framebuffer &fb ) const;
+
+    NotificationEngine & get_notification_engine( void ) { return notifications; }
+
+    OverlayManager() : notifications() {} 
+  };
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/transportsender.cpp b/transportsender.cpp
index 3fb9612..5b45d14 100644
--- a/transportsender.cpp
+++ b/transportsender.cpp
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <list>
 
 #include "transportsender.hpp"
 #include "transportfragment.hpp"