diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 78f073c..c93a51e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,34 +1,69 @@
-# dotGit - 🐚 shell aliases + 🪄 dotfiles +  🧸 bare git repo 
+# dotGit ::: 🪄 dotfiles +  🧸 bare git repo + 🐚 shell aliases
 
-There are a lot of ways to manage your dotfiles. dotGit implements an idea that has been floating around on the internet for a while: a bare git repo for storing your dotfiles. A quick search finds [this post](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11070797), but there may be older sources.
+There are a lot of ways to manage your dotfiles. dotGit implements an idea that has been floating around on the internet for a while: a bare git repo for storing your dotfiles. A quick search finds [this post](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11070797), but there may be older sources. dotGit combines this with some convenient shell aliases, a couple of functions, and FZF's matching magic to track your dotfiles files with ease.
 
 dotGit has modest aims:
-- 🏡 keep config files where tools expect them in `$HOME`
+- 🏡 keep configuration files where tools expect them in `$HOME`
 - 🐚 stay as light and close to git and the shell as possible
-- 🚀 reduce friction and make config changes quick and convenient
+- 🚀 reduce friction and make configuration changes quick and convenient
 
-dotGit gives you a handful of shell aliases (tested with `zsh`🐚 and `bash`) to make dotfile management quick and easy. The shortcuts mimic a subset of those found in the [oh-my-zsh](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh) [git](https://github.com/ohmyzsh/ohmyzsh/tree/master/plugins/git) plugin.
 
-- `.g` is the alias for running `git` with correct `--git-dir` and `--work-tree`
-- `.ga` runs `git add`
-- `.gc` runs `git commmit`
-- `.gco` runs `git checkout`
-- `.gd` runs `git diff`
-- `.gss` shows the `git status --short`
-- `.gp` will `git push` the changes to the origin
-- `.gl` will `git pull` changes from the origin
-- `.glo` runs `git log --oneline --decorate `
-- `.glg` runs `git log --stat`
-- `.glgp` runs `git log --stat --patch`
-- `.gg` runs `git grep` on your dotfiles. If [FZF](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf) is installed it will be used to present the matches, and make it easy open your `$EDITOR` on the right line (works with vi, emacs, nano, micro, and any editor that accepts the `+<number>` syntax to indicate the line number).
-- `.ge` (requires [FZF](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf)) lists all files using FZF and opens the selected file in your  `$EDITOR`
-- `.lazygit` (requires [lazygit](https://github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit)) will run `lazygit` with the correct `-g` and `-w`
-- `.gitui` (requires [gitui](https://github.com/extrawurst/gitui)) will run `gitui` with the correct `-d` and `-w`
+## usage
 
-There are two additional aliases used to (re)set up the bare git setup.
-- `.ginit` creates the bare git repository in `$DOT_FILES` directory.
-- `.gclone` will clone the repository set in `$DOT_ORIGIN` into the `$DOT_FILES` directory
-Both of these aliases also set git's `status.showUntrackedFiles` to `no`. This prevents every file in `$DOT_HOME` from showing as "untracked" by git.
+Most of dotGit is just some aliases that point to the `--git-dir` and `--work-tree`.
+
+The real daily winners for me are the "edit" (`.ge`) and "grep" (`.gg`) aliases. They get me to where I need to be fast.
+
+### a normal workflow for making configuration changes 
+
+1. `.gl` - pull changes from origin
+2. make some changes. Try:
+    - `.ge zshrc` - presents all files with `zshrc` in the name
+    - `.gg PATH` - runs `git grep` across your dotfiles and presents the results
+4. `.gc -m 'commit comment' .zshrc` - will commit the changes
+5. `.gp` - pushes the changes to the origin
+
+### a list of all aliases defined
+
+
+| alias | action | note |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| .git | `git --git-dir=${DOT_REPO} --work-tree=${DOT_HOME}` | |
+| .g | `.git` | |
+| .ga | `.git add` | |
+| .gc | `.git commit`  | |
+| .gco | `.git checkout`  | |
+| .gd | `.git diff` | |
+| .ge | calls the `_dotgit_ge` helper function | the dotGit edit feature [^fzf] |
+| .gg | calls the `_dotgit_gg` helper function | grep your dotfiles, and jump to correct line [^line] |
+| .gss | `.git status --short` | |
+| .glo | `.git log --oneline --decorate`  | |
+| .glg | `.git log --stat`  | |
+| .glgp | `.git log --stat --patch` | |
+| .gbl | `.git blame -w` | |
+| .gb | `.git branch` | |
+| .gba | `.git branch --all` | |
+| .gbd | `.git branch --delete` | |
+| .gbD | `.git branch --delete --force` | |
+| .gm | `.git merge` | |
+| .gma | `.git merge --abort` | |
+| .gmc | `.git merge --continue` | |
+| .gc! | `.git commit --verbose --amend` | 
+| .gcm | `.git commit --message` | |
+| .gcp | `.git cherry-pick` | |
+| .gcpa | `.git cherry-pick --abort` | |
+| .gcpc | `.git cherry-pick --continue` | |
+| .gclean | `.git clean --interactive -d` | |
+| .ginit | `git init --bare "${DOT_REPO}"; .git config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no` | [^untracked] |
+| .gp | `.git push` | requires `DOT_ORIGIN` be set |
+| .gl | `.git pull` | requires `DOT_ORIGIN` be set 
+| .gclone | `git clone --bare "${DOT_ORIGIN}" "${DOT_REPO}"; .git config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no` | |
+| .lazygit | `lazygit -g ${DOT_REPO}/ -w ${DOT_HOME}` | requires `lazygit` be installed |
+| .gitui | `gitui -d ${DOT_REPO}/ -w ${DOT_HOME}` | requires gitui to be installed |
+
+[^line]: This works with vi, emacs, nano, micro, and any editor that accepts the line number to open the file to.
+[^untracked]: Also set git's `status.showUntrackedFiles` to `no`. This prevents every file in `$DOT_HOME` from showing as "untracked" by git.
+[^fzf]: requires [FZF](https://github.com/junegunn/fzf)
 
 ## requirements
 
@@ -41,12 +76,12 @@ Both of these aliases also set git's `status.showUntrackedFiles` to `no`. This p
 
 ## installation
 
-1. clone this repository or simply copy the [dotGit.sh](./dotGit.sh)
-2. add some config sauce to your shell initialization (.i.e. `.zshrc` or `.bashrc`). The `DOT_FILES` and `DOT_HOME` variables **must be set** for the dotGit.sh to load!
+1. clone this repository or simply copy the [dotgit.sh](./dotgit.sh)
+2. add some configuration sauce to your shell initialization (.i.e. `.zshrc` or `.bashrc`). The `DOT_REPO` and `DOT_HOME` variables **must be set** for the dotgit.sh to load!
   ```bash
-  export DOT_FILES="${HOME}/.dotfiles"
-  export DOT_HOME="${HOME}"
-  export DOT_ORIGIN="git@github.com:user/your-dotfiles-repo.git" # optional
+  export DOT_REPO="${HOME}/.dotfiles"   # this is where the repo will live
+  export DOT_HOME="${HOME}"             # this is generally the same as `$HOME`
+  export DOT_ORIGIN="git@github.com:user/your-dotfiles-repo.git"   # optional
   source <path to dotGit.sh>`
   ```
 3. restart your shell or `source ~/.zshrc` or `source ~/.bashrc`
@@ -56,7 +91,7 @@ Both of these aliases also set git's `status.showUntrackedFiles` to `no`. This p
 
 ## initial clone cleanup
 
-Existing config files will prevent checking out the files. To list the files causing the checkout to fail, run the following.
+Existing configuration files will prevent checking out the files. To list the files causing the checkout to fail, run the following.
 
 ```bash
 .g checkout 2>&1|grep -E '^\s'|cut -f2-|xargs -I {} echo "{}"
@@ -64,6 +99,10 @@ Existing config files will prevent checking out the files. To list the files cau
 
 To remove all the conflicting files, simply change the `echo` in the above command to `rm`. **This will delete files, so be sure you want to remove them.** Once the files are removed the checkout will succeed.
 
+## future features
+
+- command line completion
+- manage system configuration files
 
 ## alternatives
 
diff --git a/dotgit.sh b/dotgit.sh
index e409b52..8fe3d11 100644
--- a/dotgit.sh
+++ b/dotgit.sh
@@ -1,48 +1,108 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-[[ ! "${DOT_FILES}" ]] && echo "NOT setting dotGit aliases, since DOT_FILES not set." && return
-[[ ! "${DOT_HOME}" ]] && echo "NOT setting dotGit aliases, since DOT_HOME not set." && return
+[[ ! "$DOT_REPO" ]] && echo "NOT setting dotgit aliases, since DOT_REPO not set." && return
+[[ ! "$DOT_HOME" ]] && echo "NOT setting dotgit aliases, since DOT_HOME not set." && return
 
-alias .g='git --git-dir=${DOT_FILES} --work-tree=${DOT_HOME}'
-alias .ga='.g add'
-alias .gc='.g commit' 
-alias .gco='.g checkout' 
-alias .gd='.g diff'
-alias .gss='.g status --short'
-alias .gp='.g push'
-alias .gl='.g pull'
-alias .glo='.g log --oneline --decorate' 
-alias .glg='.g log --stat' 
-alias .glgp='.g log --stat --patch'
+[[ -n "$DEBUG" ]] && echo loading dotgit aliases
 
-# shellcheck disable=SC2142,SC215
-alias .ge='_dotgit_ge(){
-  cd ${DOT_HOME}
-  FILE=$( Q="$@"; .g ls-files --full-name |
-    fzf --preview "bat -n --color=always {}" -q "${Q}")
-  [[ "$FILE" ]] && $EDITOR "${FILE}"
-  cd ${OLDPWD}
-}; _dotgit_ge'
+[[ -z "$DOTGIT_MULTI_LIMIT" ]] && DOTGIT_MULTI_LIMIT=2
+[[ -z "$DOTGIT_MULTI_ACCEPT" ]] && DOTGIT_MULTI_ACCEPT='{1}'
+[[ -z "$DOTGIT_PREVIEW" ]] && DOTGIT_PREVIEW='bat -p --color=always'
+
+# the master alias
+alias .git='git --git-dir=${DOT_REPO} --work-tree=${DOT_HOME}'
+# the short one
+alias .g='.git'
+
+# and all the shortcuts
+alias .ga='.git add'
+alias .gc='.git commit' 
+alias .gco='.git checkout' 
+alias .gd='.git diff'
+alias .gss='.git status --short'
+alias .glo='.git log --oneline --decorate' 
+alias .glg='.git log --stat' 
+alias .glgp='.git log --stat --patch'
+alias .gbl='.git blame -w'
+alias .gb='.git branch'
+alias .gba='.git branch --all'
+alias .gbd='.git branch --delete'
+alias .gbD='.git branch --delete --force'
+alias .gm='.git merge'
+alias .gma='.git merge --abort'
+alias .gmc='.git merge --continue'
+alias .gc!='.git commit --verbose --amend'
+alias .gcm='.git commit --message'
+alias .gcp='.git cherry-pick'
+alias .gcpa='.git cherry-pick --abort'
+alias .gcpc='.git cherry-pick --continue'
+alias .gclean='.git clean --interactive -d'
+alias .ginit='git init --bare "${DOT_REPO}"; .git config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no'
+# only set up push and pull if DOT_ORIGIN is set
+if [[ -n "$DOT_ORIGIN" ]]; then
+  alias .gp='.git push'
+  alias .gl='.git pull'
+  alias .gclone='git clone --bare "${DOT_ORIGIN}" "${DOT_REPO}"; .git config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no'
+else
+  alias .gp='echo "error: must first configure DOT_ORIGIN"'
+  alias .gl='echo "error: must first configure DOT_ORIGIN"'
+  alias .gclone='echo "error: must first configure DOT_ORIGIN"'
+fi
+# if lazygit or gitui are available, we set up a .lazygit and .gitui
+[[ $(command -v lazygit) ]] &&
+  alias .lazygit='lazygit -g ${DOT_REPO}/ -w ${DOT_HOME}'
+[[ $(command -v gitui) ]] &&
+  alias .gitui='gitui -d ${DOT_REPO}/ -w ${DOT_HOME}'
+
+# if fzf is installed we can have nice things
+# https://github.com/junegunn/fzf
+read -r -d '' FZF_HEADER<<EOF
+[enter] open/edit   [ctrl-/] toggle preview   [ctrl-w] toggle wrap
+EOF
 
 if [[ $(command -v fzf) ]]; then
-  # shellcheck disable=SC2142
-  alias .gg='_dotgit_gg(){
-  cd ${DOT_HOME}
-  .g grep --full-name --color=always -n "$@" |
-    fzf -0 --ansi -d ":" --bind "enter:execute($EDITOR +{2} {1})" \
-    --preview "bat -n -H {2} --color=always {1}" \
+  fzf_opts=(--multi="$DOTGIT_MULTI_LIMIT" --ansi -0 
     --preview-window "right,60%,<60(down,75%),+{2}/2"
-      cd ${OLDPWD}
-    }; _dotgit_gg'
+    --header "$FZF_HEADER"
+    --bind 'ctrl-z:ignore'
+    --bind 'ctrl-/:toggle-preview'
+    --bind 'ctrl-w:toggle-preview-wrap'
+  )
+  _dotgit_ge() {
+    local gitdir
+    local files
+    gitdir=$(.git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+    files=$(cd "$gitdir" && .git ls-files --full-name |
+      fzf "${fzf_opts[@]}" \
+        --preview "$DOTGIT_PREVIEW {1}" \
+        --bind "enter:accept-non-empty" \
+        -q "${@:-}" | paste -sd' ')
+    [[ -n "$files" ]] && sh -c "cd \"$gitdir\" && \"$EDITOR\" $files"
+  }
+  alias .ge='_dotgit_ge'
+ 
+  _dotgit_gg() {
+    local gitdir
+    local files
+    gitdir=$(.git rev-parse --show-toplevel)
+    files=$(cd "$gitdir" && .git grep --full-name --color=always -n "$@" |
+      fzf "${fzf_opts[@]}" -d ":" \
+        --preview "$DOTGIT_PREVIEW -H{2} {1}" \
+        --accept-nth "$DOTGIT_MULTI_ACCEPT" | paste -sd' ')
+    [[ -n "$files" ]] && sh -c "cd \"$gitdir\" && \"$EDITOR\" $files"
+  }
+  alias .gg='_dotgit_gg'
 else
-  alias .gg='.g grep'
+  # simplified grep but no "interactive file select"
+  alias .gg='.git grep'
 fi
 
-alias .ginit='git init --bare "${DOT_FILES}"; .g config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no'
-[[ -n "$DOT_ORIGIN" ]] && alias .gclone='git clone --bare "${DOT_ORIGIN}" "${DOT_FILES}"; .g config --local status.showUntrackedFiles no'
+[[ -n "$DEBUG" ]] && echo dotgit aliases loaded
 
-# if lazygit or gitui are avaiable, we set up a .lazygit and .gitui
-[[ $(command -v lazygit) ]] &&
-  alias .lazygit='lazygit -g ${DOT_FILES}/.dotfiles/ -w ${DOT_HOME}'
-[[ $(command -v gitui) ]] &&
-  alias .gitui='gitui -d ${DOT_FILES}/.dotfiles/ -w ${DOT_HOME}'
+# and to make general aliases available, we source this file again, but set
+# the aliases by removing the leading `.` and changing all instances of the
+# string 'dotgit' to 'anygit'
+# shellcheck source=/dev/null
+# the line above makes the source below not complain
+[[ "$DOTGIT_ANYGIT" == 'yes' ]] && \
+  sed '/alias \.g.*DOT_REPO/d; s/\.g/g/g; s/dotgit/anygit/g' < "$0" | source /dev/stdin