diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 688fd9da..da46b168 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 --  Need original init.lua ?   use *.BAK
 --
---  tmux              -- ~/.tmux.conf
+-- 2023-11-08
+-- separate luansip.lua file
+--
 --  main config file
 require 'jim.config'   -- lua/jim/config.lua
 require 'jim.keymaps'  -- lua/jim/keymaps.lua
 require 'jim.settings' -- lua/jim/settings.lua
+require 'jim.luasnip'  -- lua/jim/luasnip.lua
 
+---------------------
+-- other config files
+---------------------
+--  tmux              -- ~/.tmux.conf
 -- ~/.config/kickstart/skeleton/skeleton.qmd
 
---
-
 -- vim: ts=2 sts=2 sw=2 et
diff --git a/lua/jim/config.lua b/lua/jim/config.lua
index 77115c03..8330087c 100644
--- a/lua/jim/config.lua
+++ b/lua/jim/config.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
-print(' this is ./lua/init.lua') --
-
+-- config.lua
 -- Set <space> as the leader key
 -- See `:help mapleader`
 --  NOTE: Must happen before plugins are required (otherwise wrong leader will be used)
@@ -124,7 +123,6 @@ require('lazy').setup({
   },
 
   --        hardtime.nvim (nvim advice?) 2023-09-03
-  --
   {
     'm4xshen/hardtime.nvim',
     dependencies = { 'MunifTanjim/nui.nvim', 'nvim-lua/plenary.nvim' },
@@ -369,8 +367,11 @@ require('lspconfig').lua_ls.setup { -- {{{
   },
 } -- }}}
 
+-----------------
+--      TELESCOPE
 -- [[ Configure Telescope ]]
 -- See `:help telescope` and `:help telescope.setup()`
+-----------------
 require('telescope').setup {
   defaults = {
     mappings = {
@@ -406,9 +407,10 @@ vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>sw', require('telescope.builtin').grep_string, { de
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>sg', require('telescope.builtin').live_grep, { desc = '[S]earch by [G]rep' })
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>sd', require('telescope.builtin').diagnostics, { desc = '[S]earch [D]iagnostics' })
 
+---------------------------------
 -- [[ Configure Treesitter ]]
---
 -- See `:help nvim-treesitter`{{{
+---------------------------------
 --
 -- Defer Treesitter setup after first render to improve startup time of 'nvim {filename}'
 vim.defer_fn(function()
@@ -493,14 +495,10 @@ vim.cmd [[
   highlight StatusLineNC cterm=bold ctermfg=white ctermbg=darkgray
   ]]
 
--- Diagnostic keymaps
-vim.keymap.set('n', '[d', vim.diagnostic.goto_prev, { desc = 'Go to previous diagnostic message' })
-vim.keymap.set('n', ']d', vim.diagnostic.goto_next, { desc = 'Go to next diagnostic message' })
-vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>e', vim.diagnostic.open_float, { desc = 'Open floating diagnostic message' })
-vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>q', vim.diagnostic.setloclist, { desc = 'Open diagnostics list' })
 
+----------------------
 -- [[ Configure LSP ]]
---
+----------------------
 --  This function gets run when an LSP connects to a particular buffer.
 local on_attach = function(_, bufnr)
   -- NOTE: Remember that lua is a real programming language, and as such it is possible
@@ -605,38 +603,6 @@ mason_lspconfig.setup_handlers {
   end,
 }
 
---
---   LUASNIP
-local luasnip = require 'luasnip'
-local ls = require 'luasnip'
-local s = ls.snippet
-local sn = ls.snippet_node
-local isn = ls.indent_snippet_node
-local t = ls.text_node
-local f = ls.function_node
--- HELPER
-local filename = function()
-  return { vim.fn.expand '%:p' }
-end
-
--- SNIPS
-ls.add_snippets('all', { -- `all` all filetypes, `lua` only lua ft
-  s('luaxx', { t 'this is lua file!' }),
-  s('sep', t { '---------------' }),
-
-  -- snip: add file's filename
-  s({
-    trig = "filename",
-    namr = "Filename",
-    dscr = "insert file name",
-  }, {
-    f(filename, {}),
-  }),
-})
----------------
--- next line:  allows use of snippet collection in vscode (??)
-require('luasnip.loaders.from_vscode').lazy_load()
-luasnip.config.setup {}
 
 -- nvim-cmp configuration
 -- [[ Configure hrsh7th nvim-cmp ]]
diff --git a/lua/jim/keymaps.lua b/lua/jim/keymaps.lua
index fea8c690..e9ea73c5 100644
--- a/lua/jim/keymaps.lua
+++ b/lua/jim/keymaps.lua
@@ -4,31 +4,60 @@
 -- Keymaps for better default experience
 -- See `:help vim.keymap.set()`
 vim.keymap.set({ 'n', 'v' }, '<Space>', '<Nop>', { silent = true })
-vim.keymap.set({ 'n', 'v' }, 'q', '<Nop>', { silent = true })
+vim.keymap.set({ 'n', 'v' }, 'q', '<Nop>', { desc = "<nop>", silent = true })
+
+
+--------------------------
+-- EXPERIMENTAL
+--------------------------
+local map = vim.keymap.set
+-- not working
+map(
+  "n",
+  "<Leader>cd",
+  "<Cmd>cd! %:h<CR>",
+  { desc = "cd to current buffer path" }
+)
+
+-- works
+map("n", "<Leader>..", "<Cmd>cd! ..<CR>", { desc = "cd up a level" })
+--------------------------
+--------------------------
+
+
 
 -- REF: https://nanotipsforvim.prose.sh/keeping-your-register-clean-from-dd
--- if dd action holds content:  keep it
--- if dd action holds BLANK LINE:  sent to black hole _dd
+-- By default, action dd stores in reg ??
+-- If you then dd on blank line "" replaces content in reg ??
+-- So, if dd action holds content:  keep it (don't replace)
+-- if dd action holds BLANK LINE:  sent to black hole _dd (discard it)
 vim.keymap.set("n", "dd", function()
   if vim.fn.getline(".") == "" then return '"_dd' end
   return "dd"
 end, { expr = true })
 
+
 -- vim.keymap.set( {'n', '<leader>]nc',
 -- Remap for dealing with word wrap
 -- jr 2023-10-07 Not cause of sticky line
-vim.keymap.set('n', 'k', "v:count == 0 ? 'gk' : 'k'", { expr = true, silent = true })
-vim.keymap.set('n', 'j', "v:count == 0 ? 'gj' : 'j'", { expr = true, silent = true })
+--vim.keymap.set('n', 'k', "v:count == 0 ? 'gk' : 'k'", { expr = true, silent = true })
+--vim.keymap.set('n', 'j', "v:count == 0 ? 'gj' : 'j'", { expr = true, silent = true })
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-u>', '<C-u>zz', { desc = 'Move Up, center' })
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<C-d>', '<C-d>zz', { desc = 'Move Down, center' })
 
 --  vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>ck', ':e ~/.config/kickstart/init.lua<CR>', { desc = 'Config Kickstart' })
-vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>tn', ':e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/300_tech_notes.qmd<CR>', { desc = 'Tech Notes' })
-vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mln', ':e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/500_ML_Notes.qmd<CR>', { desc = 'ML Notes' })
 vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>bw', 'i**<esc>Ea**<esc>w', { desc = "[B]old [W]ord" })
 --  insert # --------...
 vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>ic", "yypVr-I# <ESC>", { desc = "[ic]insert comment line" })
 
+---------------------
+-- Diagnostic keymaps
+---------------------
+vim.keymap.set('n', '[d', vim.diagnostic.goto_prev, { desc = 'Go to previous diagnostic message' })
+vim.keymap.set('n', ']d', vim.diagnostic.goto_next, { desc = 'Go to next diagnostic message' })
+vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>e', vim.diagnostic.open_float, { desc = 'Open floating diagnostic message' })
+vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>q', vim.diagnostic.setloclist, { desc = 'Open diagnostics list' })
+
 ------------------------------------------------------
 --             which-key
 ------------------------------------------------------
@@ -52,26 +81,46 @@ wk.setup {
       g = false,
     },
   },
+  show_help = true, -- (default) show a help message in the command line for using WhichKey
+  key_labels = {
+    -- override the label used to display some keys. It doesn't effect WK in any other way.
+    -- For example:
+    ["<space>"] = "SPACE",
+    ["n"] = "notes",
+    -- ["<cr>"] = "RET",
+    -- ["<tab>"] = "TAB",
+  },
 }
 local mappings = {
   -- g is an experiment and duplicates done elsewhere
   g = {
     name = "temp file",
+    -- checkhealth, gb, gc are conflicts
     f = { "<cmd>Telescope find_files<cr>", "Find File" }, -- create a binding with label
     g = { "<cmd>Telescope live_grep<cr>", "Full Text Search" },
     b = { "<cmd>Telescope buffers<cr>", "Buffers" },
     q = { "<cmd>q<cr>", 'Quit - no warn' },
   },
+  n = {
+    name = "my notes",
+    t = { "<cmd>e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/300_tech_notes.qmd<cr>", "[T]ech [Notes]" },
+    m = { "<cmd>e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/500_ML_Notes.qmd<cr>", "[M]L [Notes]" },
+    a = { "<cmd>cd ~/code/docs/ALZ/<cr>", "cd [A]LZ [Notes]" },
+
+    --vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>tn', ':e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/300_tech_notes.qmd<CR>', { desc = 'Tech Notes' })
+    --vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>mln', ':e ~/code/docs/tech_notes/500_ML_Notes.qmd<CR>', { desc = 'ML Notes' })
+  },
   t = {
     name = "telescope",
-    f = { "<cmd>Telescope find_files<cr>", "Find File" },                                          -- create a binding with label
-    z = { "<cmd>Telescope find_files<cr>", "Find File", desc = "Search Home", pwd = '/home/jim' }, -- create a binding with label
+    f = { "<cmd>Telescope find_files<cr>", "Find File" }, -- create a binding with label
+    -- tz is conflict
+    -- z = { "<cmd>Telescope find_files<cr>", "Find File", desc = "Search Home", pwd = '/home/jim' }, -- create a binding with label
   },
 
-  q = { ':q<cr>', 'Quit - no warn' },
-  Q = { ':wq<cr>', 'Save & Quit' },
-  w = { ':w<cr>', 'Save' },
-  x = { ':bdelete<cr>', 'Close' },
+  q = { ":q<cr>", "Quit - no warn" },
+  Q = { ":wq<cr>", "Save & Quit" },
+  w = { ":w<cr>", "Save" },
+  x = { ":bdelete<cr>", "Close" },
   -- use :RKill to stop R, close terminal (not guaranteed)
   z1 = { '<C-W>p', 'other window' },
   z2 = { '<C-W>pAjunk<esc>', 'other window junk' },
@@ -81,6 +130,7 @@ local mappings = {
   --  f = { ":Telescope find_files<cr>", "Telescope Find Files" },
   --   r = { ":Telescope live_grep<cr>", "Telescope Live Grep" },
 }
+
 local opts = { prefix = '<leader>' }
 wk.register(mappings, opts)
 -- }}}
diff --git a/lua/jim/luasnip.lua b/lua/jim/luasnip.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d3baf6e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/jim/luasnip.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+--
+--   LUASNIP
+local luasnip = require 'luasnip'
+local ls = require 'luasnip'
+local s = ls.snippet
+local sn = ls.snippet_node
+local isn = ls.indent_snippet_node
+local t = ls.text_node
+local f = ls.function_node
+-- HELPER
+local filename = function()
+  return { vim.fn.expand '%:p' }
+end
+
+-- SNIPS
+ls.add_snippets('all', { -- `all` all filetypes, `lua` only lua ft
+  s('luaxx', { t 'this is lua file!' }),
+  s('sep', t { '---------------' }),
+
+  -- snip: add file's filename
+  s({
+    trig = "filename",
+    namr = "Filename",
+    dscr = "insert file name",
+  }, {
+    f(filename, {}),
+  }),
+})
+---------------
+-- next line:  allows use of snippet collection in vscode (??)
+require('luasnip.loaders.from_vscode').lazy_load()
+luasnip.config.setup {}
diff --git a/lua/jim/settings.lua b/lua/jim/settings.lua
index 45a483d0..e4911807 100644
--- a/lua/jim/settings.lua
+++ b/lua/jim/settings.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 --	settings.lua
 --
-print('this is settings.lua')
+-- print('this is settings.lua')