diff --git a/botany.py b/botany.py
index 16d9537..6e2b8ee 100644
--- a/botany.py
+++ b/botany.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import time
 import pickle
 import json
 import math
-import os.path
+import sys
+import os
 import random
 import getpass
 import threading
@@ -15,16 +16,11 @@ from menu_screen import *
 # development plan
 
 # build plant lifecycle just stepping through
-#   - What else should it do during life? growth alone is not all that
-#   interesting.
 #   - how long should each stage last ? thinking realistic lmao
 #   seed -> seedling -> sprout -> young plant -> mature plant -> flower ->
 #   pollination -> fruit -> seeds
 #   - TODO: pollination and end of life
 #
-# interaction
-#   - look at plant, how do you feel? (also gets rid of pests)
-#
 # events
 # - heatwave
 # - rain
@@ -39,11 +35,11 @@ from menu_screen import *
 #   - create rarer species by diff gens
 # - if neighbor plant dies, node will be removed from list
 #
-# garden system
-# - can plant your plant in the garden to start a new plant
-
 # build ascii trees
 
+# Make it fun to keep growing after seed level (what is reward for continuing
+# instead of starting over?
+# Reward for bringing plant to full life - second gen plant w/ more variety
 
 class Plant(object):
     # This is your plant!
@@ -140,6 +136,9 @@ class Plant(object):
     def __init__(self, this_filename):
         # Constructor
         self.plant_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        # TODO: change from debug
+        self.life_stages = (10, 20, 30, 40, 50)
+        # self.life_stages = (3600, (3600*24)*3, (3600*24)*10, (3600*24)*20, (3600*24)*30)
         self.stage = 0
         self.mutation = 0
         self.species = random.randint(0,len(self.species_dict)-1)
@@ -148,6 +147,7 @@ class Plant(object):
         self.ticks = 0
         self.age_formatted = "0"
         self.dead = False
+        self.write_lock = False
         self.owner = getpass.getuser()
         self.file_name = this_filename
         self.start_time = int(time.time())
@@ -157,9 +157,20 @@ class Plant(object):
         # self.watered_timestamp = int(time.time()) # debug
         self.watered_24h = False
 
-    def new_seed(self,this_filename):
-        # Creates life after death
-        self.__init__(this_filename)
+    def parse_plant(self):
+        # reads plant info (maybe want to reorg this into a different class
+        # with the reader dicts...)
+        output = ""
+        if self.stage >= 3:
+            output += self.rarity_dict[self.rarity] + " "
+        if self.mutation != 0:
+            output += self.mutation_dict[self.mutation] + " "
+        if self.stage >= 4:
+            output += self.color_dict[self.color] + " "
+        output += self.stage_dict[self.stage] + " "
+        if self.stage >= 2:
+            output += self.species_dict[self.species] + " "
+        return output.strip()
 
     def rarity_check(self):
         # Generate plant rarity
@@ -189,23 +200,6 @@ class Plant(object):
             rarity = 4
         return rarity
 
-    def growth(self):
-        # Increase plant growth stage
-        if self.stage < (len(self.stage_dict)-1):
-            self.stage += 1
-            # do stage growth stuff
-        else:
-            # do stage 5 stuff (after fruiting)
-            1==1
-
-    def water(self):
-        # Increase plant growth stage
-        # TODO: overwatering? if more than once a day it dies?
-        if not self.dead:
-            self.watered_timestamp = int(time.time())
-            self.watered_24h = True
-
-
     def dead_check(self):
         time_delta_watered = int(time.time()) - self.watered_timestamp
         # if it has been >5 days since watering, sorry plant is dead :(
@@ -213,9 +207,6 @@ class Plant(object):
             self.dead = True
         return self.dead
 
-    def kill_plant(self):
-        self.dead = True
-
     def water_check(self):
         # if plant has been watered in 24h then it keeps growing
         # time_delta_watered is difference from now to last watered
@@ -230,7 +221,7 @@ class Plant(object):
         # Create plant mutation
         # TODO: when out of debug this needs to be set to high number (1000
         # even maybe)
-        CONST_MUTATION_RARITY = 10 # Increase this # to make mutation rarer (chance 1 out of x)
+        CONST_MUTATION_RARITY = 2000 # Increase this # to make mutation rarer (chance 1 out of x)
         mutation_seed = random.randint(1,CONST_MUTATION_RARITY)
         if mutation_seed == CONST_MUTATION_RARITY:
             # mutation gained!
@@ -241,20 +232,39 @@ class Plant(object):
         else:
             return False
 
-    def parse_plant(self):
-        # reads plant info (maybe want to reorg this into a different class
-        # with the reader dicts...)
-        output = ""
-        if self.stage >= 3:
-            output += self.rarity_dict[self.rarity] + " "
-        if self.mutation != 0:
-            output += self.mutation_dict[self.mutation] + " "
-        if self.stage >= 4:
-            output += self.color_dict[self.color] + " "
-        output += self.stage_dict[self.stage] + " "
-        if self.stage >= 2:
-            output += self.species_dict[self.species] + " "
-        return output.strip()
+    def new_seed(self,this_filename):
+        # Creates life after death
+        self.__init__(this_filename)
+
+    def growth(self):
+        # Increase plant growth stage
+        if self.stage < (len(self.stage_dict)-1):
+            self.stage += 1
+            # do stage growth stuff
+        else:
+            # do stage 5 stuff (after fruiting)
+            1==1
+
+    def water(self):
+        # Increase plant growth stage
+        if not self.dead:
+            self.watered_timestamp = int(time.time())
+            self.watered_24h = True
+
+    def start_over(self):
+        self.write_lock = True
+        self.kill_plant()
+        while self.write_lock:
+            # Wait for garden writer to unlock
+            1==1
+        if not self.write_lock:
+            self.new_seed(self.file_name)
+
+    def kill_plant(self):
+        self.dead = True
+
+    def unlock_new_creation(self):
+        self.write_lock = False
 
     def start_life(self):
        # runs life on a thread
@@ -265,7 +275,7 @@ class Plant(object):
     def life(self):
         # I've created life :)
         # TODO: change out of debug
-        life_stages = (5, 15, 30, 45, 60)
+        # TODO: variable stages of life
         # day = 3600*24
         # life_stages = (1*day, 2*day, 3*day, 4*day, 5*day)
         # leave this untouched bc it works for now
@@ -275,7 +285,7 @@ class Plant(object):
                 if self.watered_24h:
                     self.ticks += 1
                     if self.stage < len(self.stage_dict)-1:
-                        if self.ticks >= life_stages[self.stage]:
+                        if self.ticks >= self.life_stages[self.stage]:
                             self.growth()
                     if self.mutate_check():
                         1==1
@@ -299,6 +309,8 @@ class DataManager(object):
 
     def __init__(self):
         self.this_user = getpass.getuser()
+        # check if instance is already running
+        self.lock_file()
         # check for .botany dir in home
         try:
             os.makedirs(self.botany_dir)
@@ -307,6 +319,19 @@ class DataManager(object):
                 raise
         self.savefile_name = self.this_user + '_plant.dat'
 
+    def lock_file(self):
+        # Only allow one instance of game
+        pid = str(os.getpid())
+        this_filename = "instance.lock"
+        self.pid_file_path = os.path.join(self.botany_dir,this_filename)
+        if os.path.isfile(self.pid_file_path):
+            print "botany already running, exiting. (pid %s)" % pid
+            sys.exit()
+        file(self.pid_file_path, 'w').write(pid)
+
+    def clear_lock(self):
+        os.unlink(self.pid_file_path)
+
     def check_plant(self):
         # check for existing save file
         if os.path.isfile(self.savefile_path):
@@ -333,6 +358,7 @@ class DataManager(object):
                 self.save_plant(this_plant)
                 self.data_write_json(this_plant)
                 self.garden_update(this_plant)
+                this_plant.unlock_new_creation()
             time.sleep(.1)
 
     def autosave(self, this_plant):
@@ -379,7 +405,6 @@ class DataManager(object):
     def garden_update(self, this_plant):
         # garden is a dict of dicts
         # garden contains one entry for each plant id
-
         age_formatted = self.plant_age_convert(this_plant)
         this_plant_id = this_plant.plant_id
         plant_info = {
@@ -408,7 +433,7 @@ class DataManager(object):
         # if plant ticks for id is greater than current ticks of plant id
         else:
             current_plant_ticks = this_garden[this_plant_id]["score"]
-            if this_plant.ticks > current_plant_ticks:
+            if this_plant.ticks >= current_plant_ticks:
                 this_garden[this_plant_id] = plant_info
         with open(self.garden_file_path, 'wb') as f:
             pickle.dump(this_garden, f, protocol=2)
@@ -444,9 +469,6 @@ class DataManager(object):
         with open(json_file, 'w') as outfile:
             json.dump(plant_info, outfile)
 
-        # update leaderboard 'garden' for display in game
-        # also should be a pickle file bc... let's be honest ppl want to cheat
-
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     my_data = DataManager()
     # if plant save file exists
@@ -454,13 +476,13 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         my_plant = my_data.load_plant()
     # otherwise create new plant
     else:
-        #TODO: onboarding, select seed, select whatever else
         my_plant = Plant(my_data.savefile_path)
         my_data.data_write_json(my_plant)
     my_plant.start_life()
     my_data.start_threads(my_plant)
-botany_menu = CursedMenu(my_plant,my_data.garden_file_path)
+    botany_menu = CursedMenu(my_plant,my_data.garden_file_path)
     botany_menu.show(["water","look","garden","instructions"], title=' botany ', subtitle='options')
     my_data.save_plant(my_plant)
     my_data.data_write_json(my_plant)
     my_data.garden_update(my_plant)
+    my_data.clear_lock()
diff --git a/menu_screen.py b/menu_screen.py
index 1e6b34a..f2c45f9 100644
--- a/menu_screen.py
+++ b/menu_screen.py
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
-import curses, os, traceback, threading, time, datetime, pickle
+import curses, os, traceback, threading, time, datetime, pickle, operator, random
 
 class CursedMenu(object):
     #TODO: create a side panel with log of events..?
+    #TODO: name your plant
     '''A class which abstracts the horrors of building a curses-based menu system'''
     def __init__(self, this_plant, this_garden_file_path):
         '''Initialization'''
@@ -18,14 +19,14 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
         self.plant_ticks = str(self.plant.ticks)
         self.exit = False
         self.instructiontoggle = False
-        #TODO: debugging
-        # self.gardenmenutoggle = True
         self.gardenmenutoggle = False
+        self.looktoggle = False
         self.maxy, self.maxx = self.screen.getmaxyx()
         # Highlighted and Normal line definitions
         curses.init_pair(1, curses.COLOR_BLACK, curses.COLOR_WHITE)
         self.highlighted = curses.color_pair(1)
         self.normal = curses.A_NORMAL
+        # Threaded screen update for live changes
         screen_thread = threading.Thread(target=self.update_plant_live, args=())
         screen_thread.daemon = True
         screen_thread.start()
@@ -44,16 +45,18 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
     def update_options(self):
         # Makes sure you can get a new plant if it dies
         if self.plant.dead:
-            if "kill" in self.options:
-                self.options.remove("kill")
-            if "new" not in self.options:
-                self.options.insert(-1,"new")
+            # if "start over" in self.options:
+            #     self.options.remove("start over")
+            if "start over" not in self.options:
+                self.options.insert(-1,"start over")
         else:
             # TODO: remove after debug or bury in settings
-            if "new" in self.options:
-                self.options.remove("new")
-            if "kill" not in self.options:
-                self.options.insert(-1,"kill")
+            if self.plant.stage == 5:
+                if "start over" not in self.options:
+                    self.options.insert(-1,"start over")
+            else:
+                if "start over" in self.options:
+                    self.options.remove("start over")
 
     def set_options(self, options):
         # Validates that the last option is "exit"
@@ -61,6 +64,22 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
             options.append('exit')
         self.options = options
 
+    def draw(self):
+        # Draw the menu and lines
+        # TODO: this needs to either display the default menu screen or the
+        # garden/leaderboard thing  based on self.gardenmenutoggle
+        # TODO: display refresh is hacky. Could be more precise
+        self.screen.refresh()
+        self.screen.border(0)
+        try:
+            self.draw_default()
+            self.screen.refresh()
+        except Exception as exception:
+            # Makes sure data is saved in event of a crash due to window resizing
+            self.screen.addstr(0,0,"Enlarge terminal!")
+            self.__exit__()
+            traceback.print_exc()
+
     def draw_menu(self):
         # Actually draws the menu and handles branching
         request = ""
@@ -81,6 +100,9 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
         clear_bar = " " * (int(self.maxx*2/3))
         self.screen.addstr(2,2, self.title, curses.A_STANDOUT) # Title for this menu
         self.screen.addstr(4,2, self.subtitle, curses.A_BOLD) #Subtitle for this menu
+        # Clear menu on screen
+        for index in range(len(self.options)+1):
+            self.screen.addstr(5+index,4, clear_bar, curses.A_NORMAL)
         # Display all the menu items, showing the 'pos' item highlighted
         for index in range(len(self.options)):
             textstyle = self.normal
@@ -104,62 +126,6 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
             self.screen.addstr(5,13, clear_bar, curses.A_NORMAL)
             self.screen.addstr(5,13, " - you can't water a dead plant :(", curses.A_NORMAL)
 
-    def format_garden_data(self,this_garden):
-        plant_table = ""
-        # TODO: include only live plants maybe
-        for plant_id in this_garden:
-            if this_garden[plant_id]:
-                if not this_garden[plant_id]["dead"]:
-                    this_plant = this_garden[plant_id]
-                    plant_table += this_plant["owner"] + " - "
-                    plant_table += this_plant["age"] + " - "
-                    plant_table += this_plant["description"] + " - "
-                    plant_table += str(this_plant["score"]) + "\n"
-        return plant_table
-
-    def draw_garden(self):
-        # Draws neighborhood
-        clear_bar = " " * (self.maxx-2) + "\n"
-        control_keys = [curses.KEY_UP, curses.KEY_DOWN, curses.KEY_LEFT, curses.KEY_RIGHT]
-        # load data
-        with open(self.garden_file_path, 'rb') as f:
-            this_garden = pickle.load(f)
-        # format data
-        if not self.gardenmenutoggle:
-            plant_table_formatted = self.format_garden_data(this_garden)
-            self.gardenmenutoggle = not self.gardenmenutoggle
-        else:
-            plant_table_formatted = ""
-            for plant in this_garden:
-                if not this_garden[plant]["dead"]:
-                    plant_table_formatted += clear_bar
-            self.gardenmenutoggle = not self.gardenmenutoggle
-
-        for y, line in enumerate(plant_table_formatted.splitlines(), 2):
-            self.screen.addstr(y+12, 2, line)
-        self.screen.refresh()
-
-    def draw(self):
-        # Draw the menu and lines
-        # TODO: this needs to either display the default menu screen or the
-        # garden/leaderboard thing  based on self.gardenmenutoggle
-        # TODO: display refresh is hacky. Could be more precise
-        self.screen.refresh()
-        self.screen.border(0)
-        # TODO: separate screen for garden menu, interactive
-        # if self.gardenmenutoggle:
-        #     self.draw_garden()
-        # else:
-        #     self.draw_default()
-        try:
-            self.draw_default()
-            self.screen.refresh()
-        except Exception as exception:
-            # Makes sure data is saved in event of a crash due to window resizing
-            self.screen.addstr(0,0,"Enlarge terminal!")
-            self.__exit__()
-            traceback.print_exc()
-
     def update_plant_live(self):
         # Updates plant data on menu screen, live!
         # Will eventually use this to display ascii art...
@@ -194,6 +160,167 @@ class CursedMenu(object):
         self.selected = self.selected % len(self.options)
         return
 
+    def format_garden_data(self,this_garden):
+
+        plant_table = ""
+        for plant_id in this_garden:
+            if this_garden[plant_id]:
+                if not this_garden[plant_id]["dead"]:
+                    this_plant = this_garden[plant_id]
+                    plant_table += this_plant["owner"] + " - "
+                    plant_table += this_plant["age"] + " - "
+                    plant_table += str(this_plant["score"]) + " points - "
+                    plant_table += this_plant["description"] + "\n"
+        return plant_table
+
+    def draw_garden(self):
+        # Draws neighborhood
+        clear_bar = " " * (self.maxx-2) + "\n"
+        control_keys = [curses.KEY_UP, curses.KEY_DOWN, curses.KEY_LEFT, curses.KEY_RIGHT]
+        # load data
+        with open(self.garden_file_path, 'rb') as f:
+            this_garden = pickle.load(f)
+        # format data
+        if not self.gardenmenutoggle:
+            plant_table_formatted = self.format_garden_data(this_garden)
+            self.gardenmenutoggle = not self.gardenmenutoggle
+        else:
+            plant_table_formatted = clear_bar
+            for plant in this_garden:
+                if not this_garden[plant]["dead"]:
+                    plant_table_formatted += clear_bar
+            self.gardenmenutoggle = not self.gardenmenutoggle
+
+        for y, line in enumerate(plant_table_formatted.splitlines(), 2):
+            self.screen.addstr(y+17, 2, line)
+        self.screen.refresh()
+
+    def get_plant_description(self, this_plant):
+        1==1
+        output_text = ""
+        this_species = this_plant.species_dict[this_plant.species]
+        this_color = this_plant.color_dict[this_plant.color]
+        this_stage = this_plant.stage
+
+        stage_descriptions = {
+                0:[
+            "You're excited about your new seed.",
+            "You wonder what kind of plant your seed will grow into.",
+            "You're ready for a new start with this plant.",
+            "You're tired of waiting for your seed to grow.",
+            "You wish your seed could tell you what it needs.",
+            ],
+                1:[
+            "The seedling fills you with hope.",
+            "You can make out a tiny leaf - or is that a thorn?",
+            "You can feel the seedling looking back at you.",
+            "You kiss your seedling good night.",
+            "You think about all the seedlings who came before it.",
+            "You and your seedling make a great team.",
+            ],
+                2:[
+            "The " + this_species + " makes you feel relaxed.",
+            "You sing a song to your " + this_species + ".",
+            "You quietly sit with your " + this_species + " for a few minutes.",
+            "Your " + this_species + " looks pretty good.",
+            "You play loud techno to your " + this_species + ".",
+            ],
+                3:[
+            "Your " + this_species + " is growing nicely!",
+            "You're proud of the dedication it took to grow your " + this_species + ".",
+            "The " + this_species + " looks good.",
+            "You think how good this " + this_species + " would look on steroids.",
+            "The buds of your " + this_species + " are about to bloom.",
+            ],
+                4:[
+            "The " + this_color + " flowers look nice on your " + this_species +"!",
+            "The " + this_color + " flowers have bloomed and fill you with desire.",
+            "The " + this_color + " flowers of your " + this_species + " remind you of your childhood.",
+            "The " + this_species + " has grown beautiful " + this_color + " flowers.",
+            "The " + this_color + " petals remind you of your favorite shirt.",
+            ],
+                5:[
+            "You fondly remember all of the time you spent caring for your " + this_species + ".",
+            "Your " + this_species + " looks old and wise.",
+            "Seed pods have grown on your " + this_species + ".",
+            "The " + this_species + " fills you with love.",
+            "The " + this_species + " reminds you of your first crush.",
+            ],
+                99:[
+            "You wish you had taken better care of your plant.",
+            "If only you had watered your plant more often..",
+            "Your plant is dead, there's always next time.",
+            "You cry over the withered leaves of your plant.",
+            "Your plant died. Maybe you need a fresh start.",
+            ],
+        }
+        # self.life_stages is tuple containing length of each stage
+        # (seed, seedling, young, mature, flowering)
+        # if stage == 0 == seed
+        if this_plant.dead:
+            this_stage = 99
+
+        this_stage_descriptions = stage_descriptions[this_stage]
+        description_num = random.randint(0,len(this_stage_descriptions) - 1)
+        if this_stage <= 4:
+            # Growth hint
+            if this_stage >= 1:
+                last_growth_at = this_plant.life_stages[this_stage - 1]
+            else:
+                last_growth_at = 0
+            ticks_since_last = this_plant.ticks - last_growth_at
+            ticks_between_stage = this_plant.life_stages[this_stage] - last_growth_at
+            if ticks_since_last >= ticks_between_stage * 0.8:
+                output_text += "You notice your plant looks different.\n"
+
+        output_text += this_stage_descriptions[description_num] + "\n"
+
+        # issue 1 - referencing anything past 4 on life stages breaks
+        # issue 2 - 80% using plant ticks doesn't really work since it shifts
+        # each time. need to use the difference between 2 stages, and then
+        # plant ticks minus last stage
+
+        if this_stage == 1:
+            species_options = [this_plant.species_dict[this_plant.species],
+                    this_plant.species_dict[(this_plant.species+3) % len(this_plant.species_dict)],
+                    this_plant.species_dict[(this_plant.species-3) % len(this_plant.species_dict)]]
+            random.shuffle(species_options)
+            plant_hint = "It could be a(n) " + species_options[0] + ", " + species_options[1] + ", or " + species_options[2]
+            output_text += plant_hint + ".\n"
+
+        if this_stage == 2:
+            # TODO: more descriptive rarity
+            if this_plant.rarity >= 2:
+                rarity_hint = "You feel like your plant is special."
+                output_text += rarity_hint + ".\n"
+
+        if this_stage == 3:
+            color_options = [this_plant.color_dict[this_plant.color],
+                    this_plant.color_dict[(this_plant.color+3) % len(this_plant.color_dict)],
+                    this_plant.color_dict[(this_plant.color-3) % len(this_plant.color_dict)]]
+            random.shuffle(color_options)
+            plant_hint = "You can see the first hints of " + color_options[0] + ", " + color_options[1] + ", or " + color_options[2]
+            output_text += plant_hint + ".\n"
+
+        return output_text
+
+    def draw_plant_description(self, this_plant):
+        clear_bar = " " * (self.maxx-2) + "\n"
+        control_keys = [curses.KEY_UP, curses.KEY_DOWN, curses.KEY_LEFT, curses.KEY_RIGHT]
+        # load data
+        # format data
+        if not self.looktoggle:
+            output_string = self.get_plant_description(this_plant)
+            self.looktoggle = not self.looktoggle
+        else:
+            output_string = clear_bar
+            output_string += clear_bar*3
+            self.looktoggle = not self.looktoggle
+
+        for y, line in enumerate(output_string.splitlines(), 2):
+            self.screen.addstr(y+12, 2, line)
+        self.screen.refresh()
+
     def draw_instructions(self):
         if not self.instructiontoggle:
             instructions_txt = """welcome to botany. you've been given a seed
@@ -222,12 +349,17 @@ available in the readme :)
     def handle_request(self, request):
         '''This is where you do things with the request'''
         if request == None: return
-        if request == "kill":
-            self.plant.kill_plant()
-        if request == "new":
-            self.plant.new_seed(self.plant.file_name)
+        if request == "start over":
+            self.plant.start_over()
         if request == "water":
             self.plant.water()
+        if request == "look":
+            # try:
+            self.draw_plant_description(self.plant)
+           #  except Exception as exception:
+           #      self.screen.addstr(0,0,"Enlarge terminal!")
+           #      self.__exit__()
+           #      traceback.print_exc()
         if request == "instructions":
             try:
                 self.draw_instructions()