diff --git a/css/TCS_components.css b/css/TCS_components.css
index d25c931..17cf59a 100644
--- a/css/TCS_components.css
+++ b/css/TCS_components.css
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 
 /* simple tags styles */
 #TCS_main {
-    width:100%;
+    width: 100%;
     max-width: 1200px;
 
     display: flex;
-    flex-wrap:wrap !important;
-    
+    flex-wrap: wrap !important;
+
     padding: 0.5em 0.5em;
-   
+
     color: var(--SEARCH_COLOR);
     background-color: var(--PRIMARY_BKG);
     border: 2px solid var(--TIER_COLOR);
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
 */
 @media screen and (max-width: 799px) {
     #TCS_main {
- 
+
         font-size: var(--MOBILE_FONT-SIZE);
         font-weight: var(--MOBILE_FONT-WEIGHT);
     }
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 
 #TCS_bricksWrapper {
 
-    display:flex;
+    display: flex;
     padding-bottom: 0px;
     overflow: hidden;
     white-space: nowrap;
@@ -58,19 +58,19 @@
 
 #TCS_backArrow {
 
-    width:60%;
-    height:60%;
+    width: 60%;
+    height: 60%;
 
-    padding:0px;
-    margin:auto 0px auto 0px;
-    background-color:var(--BRICK_ACTIVE);
-    -webkit-mask:  url(../img/arrow.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
+    padding: 0px;
+    margin: auto 0px auto 0px;
+    background-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE);
+    -webkit-mask: url(../img/arrow.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
     mask: url(../img/arrow.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
 }
 
 
 #TCS_searchInput {
-    
+
     align-self: flex-end;
 
     padding: 10px 0px 0px 1px;
@@ -78,12 +78,13 @@
     box-sizing: border-box;
     border: none;
     outline: none;
-
+   
     cursor: text;
+
     opacity: 1;
 
     color: var(--SEARCH_COLOR);
-    background-color: var(--SEARCH_BKG);    
+    background-color: var(--SEARCH_BKG);
 }
 
 .input {
@@ -110,10 +111,10 @@ button.TCS_searchButton {
     display: inline-flex;
 
     margin: auto 0px auto auto;
-    padding:0px;
-    border:0;
+    padding: 0px;
+    border: 0;
 
-    opacity:0.5;
+    opacity: 0.5;
 
     background-image: url("../img/search.svg");
     background-repeat: no-repeat;
@@ -122,14 +123,20 @@ button.TCS_searchButton {
     background-color: transparent;
 
     cursor: pointer;
-    height:25px;
-    width:25px;
-    max-width:25px;
+
+    height: 25px;
+    width: 25px;
+    max-width: 25px;
 }
 
 button.TCS_searchButton:hover {
     opacity: 1;
-  }
+}
+
+
+
+
+
 
 
 
@@ -143,9 +150,9 @@ ul.TCS_bricks {
     padding: 0px 0px 7px 0px;
     margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
 
-    
+
     text-align: center;
-    
+
     text-decoration: none;
     color: var(--BRICK_TEXT);
     font-family: var(--PRIMARY_FONT-FAMILY);
@@ -153,7 +160,6 @@ ul.TCS_bricks {
     font-weight: var(--PRIMARY_FONT-WEIGHT);
 
     cursor: pointer;
-
 }
 
 
@@ -165,11 +171,11 @@ ul.TCS_bricks li {
     box-sizing: border-box;
     flex-wrap: nowrap;
 
-    
+
     margin: 10px 6px 0px 0px;
     padding: 0.5em 0.5em 0.6em 0.5em;
     border-radius: 3px;
-    
+
 
 }
 
@@ -189,14 +195,14 @@ ul.TCS_bricks li {
     font-size: var(--SMALL_FONT-SIZE);
     font-weight: var(--SMALL_FONT-WEIGHT);
 
-    height:min-content;
+    height: min-content;
 
     padding: 6px 5px 5px 5px !important;
     margin: 0px 6px 0px 0px;
     letter-spacing: 0.07em;
 
 }
-    
+
 
 
 .TCS_inactive {
@@ -211,14 +217,16 @@ ul.TCS_bricks li {
 hr.TCS_hr {
 
     margin: auto 0px 0px 2px;
+       
     cursor: pointer;
+        
     border-bottom: 7px dashed var(--BRICK_BASE);
-    
+
     transform: translateY(-45%);
     border-top: none;
     border-left: none;
     border-right: none;
-    
+
 
 }
 
@@ -228,23 +236,24 @@ hr.TCS_hr {
     overflow: visible;
 
 
-    height:25px !important;
+    height: 25px !important;
     width: 25px !important;
 
 
     transform: translate(15px, 5px);
-    background-color:var(--TIER_COLOR);
-    -webkit-mask:  url(../img/icon.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
+    background-color: var(--TIER_COLOR);
+    -webkit-mask: url(../img/icon.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
     mask: url(../img/icon.svg) no-repeat 50% 50%;
-
+      
     cursor: pointer;
+
 }
 
 
 @media screen and (min-width:500px) and (max-width: 699px) {
- 
+
     .TCS_tierIcon {
-        
+
         transform: translate(10px, 5px);
     }
 }
@@ -254,9 +263,9 @@ hr.TCS_hr {
 //
 */
 @media screen and (max-width: 499px) {
- 
+
     .TCS_tierIcon {
-        
+
         transform: translate(5px, 5px);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/css/TCS_globals.css b/css/TCS_globals.css
index 873b904..9555b31 100644
--- a/css/TCS_globals.css
+++ b/css/TCS_globals.css
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 
  /* GLOBAL VARIABLES */
  :root {
-
-     --BRICK_BASE: rgb(1, 102, 255);
+     --BRICK_BASE: blue;
+     --BRICK_POST: rgb(1, 102, 255);
      --BRICK_ACTIVE: green;
      --BRICK_ACTIVE_LIGHT: rgb(6, 158, 6);
      
diff --git a/css/TCS_styles.css b/css/TCS_styles.css
index 5db41c7..4cd7f59 100644
--- a/css/TCS_styles.css
+++ b/css/TCS_styles.css
@@ -7,15 +7,25 @@
 /*
  *
  */
- 
- * {margin:0; padding:0;}
+
+* {
+    margin: 0;
+    padding: 0;
+}
+
+body.searchWaiting * { 
+    
+    cursor: wait !important;
+}
+
+
 
 
 .TCS_blogPost {
 
-    display:block;
+    display: block;
 
-    color:var(--HOVER_COLOR);
+    color: var(--HOVER_COLOR);
 
     width: 100%;
     padding: 20px 0px 0px 0px;
@@ -30,81 +40,82 @@
 
 
 .TCS_blogPost:hover {
-    
+
     background-color: var(--TAB_BEHIND);
-    border-color:var(--BKG_COLOR);
-    
-  }
+    border-color: var(--BKG_COLOR);
+
+}
 
 
 
 
 .TCS_galleryButton {
 
-       
-        border-radius: 22px;
-        border: solid;
-        border-width:5px;
-        background-color:var(--BRICK_ACTIVE);
-        border-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE_LIGHT);
-    
 
-        color:rgb(216, 223, 226);
-        padding: 12px 14px 12px 14px;
-      
-        width:max-content;
-        height:min-content;
-      
-        margin: 0px auto 0px auto;
-      
-        cursor: pointer;
-        font-family: var(--PRIMARY_FONT-FAMILY);
-        font-size: 1em;
+    border-radius: 22px;
+    border: solid;
+    border-width: 5px;
+    background-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE);
+    border-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE_LIGHT);
 
-        line-height:1em;
-        font-weight: 400;
-        text-decoration: none;
-        text-align: center;
+
+    color: rgb(216, 223, 226);
+    padding: 12px 14px 12px 14px;
+
+    width: max-content;
+    height: min-content;
+
+    margin: 0px auto 0px auto;
+
+    cursor: pointer;
+    
+    font-family: var(--PRIMARY_FONT-FAMILY);
+    font-size: 1em;
+
+    line-height: 1em;
+    font-weight: 400;
+    text-decoration: none;
+    text-align: center;
 }
 
 
 .TCS_galleryButton:hover {
-    
-    color:white;
-    padding:12px;
 
-    background-color:var(--BRICK_ACTIVE_LIGHT);
+    color: white;
+    padding: 12px;
+
+    background-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE_LIGHT);
     border-color: var(--BRICK_ACTIVE);
 
     font-weight: 600;
-  }
+}
 
 
 .TCS_galleryButton a {
-    
-    color:white;
+
+    color: white;
     text-decoration: none;
 }
 
 
 .TCS_postUrl {
 
-    display:block;
+    display: block;
 
     margin: 15px auto 0 auto;
     text-align: center;
 
-    width:65%;
+    width: 65%;
 
     border-radius: 5%;
-    background-color:white;
-    padding:10px;
+    background-color: white;
+    padding: 10px;
 }
 
 
 .TCS_table .TCS_postUrl {
-    width:90% !important;
-    padding:0px !important;
+    width: 90% !important;
+    padding: 0px !important;
 }
 
 .TCS_caption {
@@ -112,21 +123,21 @@
     display: block;
 
     overflow-x: hidden;
-    
+
     margin: 0px auto 0px auto;
 
-    width:80%;
+    width: 80%;
     padding: 12px;
 
-    background-color:var(--CAPTION_BKG);
-    color:var(--CAPTION_COLOR);
- 
-    font-family:var(--CAPTION_FONT_FAMILY);
+    background-color: var(--CAPTION_BKG);
+    color: var(--CAPTION_COLOR);
+
+    font-family: var(--CAPTION_FONT_FAMILY);
     font-weight: 600;
-    
+
     letter-spacing: 0.015em;
 
-    
+
     border-radius: 10px;
 }
 
@@ -136,7 +147,7 @@
 
     color: var(--DATE_COLOR);
     background-color: var(--DATE_BKG);
-    width:min-content;
+    width: min-content;
 
     margin: 5px 20px 0px auto;
 
@@ -148,44 +159,45 @@
 
 .TCS_table {
 
-    display:table !important;
-    width:65%;
-    margin:0px auto 0px auto;
+    display: table !important;
+    width: 100%;
+    margin: 0px auto 0px auto;
     background-color: white;
-    padding:10px;
-    border-radius:10px;
+    padding: 10px;
+    border-radius: 10px;
 }
 
 .TCS_table table {
 
-    width:100%;
-    margin:0px;
+    width: 100%;
+    margin: 0px;
     text-align: center;
 }
 
 .TCS_table tr {
-    height: 100px!important;
+    height: 100px !important;
 }
+
 .TCS_table td {
 
-    width:50%;
+    width: 50%;
     padding: 4px;
     background-size: contain;
     background-position: center;
- 
+
 }
 
 .TCS_table td img {
-    width:100%;
+    width: 100%;
 }
 
 
 .TCS_blogPost .TCS_bricks {
-  
-    cursor:default;
+ 
+    cursor: pointer;
 
     margin: 0px 0px 20px 20px;
-    
+
     text-decoration: none;
     color: var(--BRICK_TEXT);
 
@@ -200,7 +212,7 @@
 
 
 .TCS_blogPost .TCS_bricks li {
-    
+
     background-color: var(--BRICK_BASE);
     letter-spacing: 0.05em;
     text-decoration: none;
@@ -208,18 +220,18 @@
 
 
 .TCS_hidden {
-    display:none !important;
+    display: none !important;
 }
 
 .TCS_showing {
-    display:block !important;
+    display: block !important;
 }
 
 /* 
  * FLEXBOX styles
  */
 
- .row {
+.row {
     display: inline-flex;
     justify-content: left;
     flex-direction: row;
@@ -249,6 +261,7 @@
 ._15 {
     flex: 1.5;
 }
+
 ._2 {
     flex: 2;
 }
diff --git a/js/TagCloudSearch_HTML.js b/js/TagCloudSearch_HTML.js
index 6ca7e03..b38b0c5 100644
--- a/js/TagCloudSearch_HTML.js
+++ b/js/TagCloudSearch_HTML.js
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@
 import { searchButtonListener_callback,
          resetSearch,
          clickBrick_tier,
-         addSearchText } from "./TagCloudSearch_UI.js"
+         addSearchText,
+      } from "./TagCloudSearch_UI.js"
 
 
 
@@ -113,7 +114,6 @@ import { searchButtonListener_callback,
             searchBar.innerHTML = (message == null) ? "" : message; 
             searchBar.classList.add("welcome");
             searchBar.focus();
-
           }
     }
 
diff --git a/js/TagCloudSearch_INIT.js b/js/TagCloudSearch_INIT.js
index aba0a1e..ac5f2cf 100644
--- a/js/TagCloudSearch_INIT.js
+++ b/js/TagCloudSearch_INIT.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import { validateTAGS } from "./TagCloudSearch_IO.js";
 // GLOBAL DATA STRUCTURES
 //
 */
-export const MAX_TAG_LENGTH = 16; // chars 
+export const MAX_TAG_LENGTH = 15; // chars 
 
 /*
 * TOTAL_TAGS = [][]
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ function initTags(TCS_main) {
 }
 
 /*
+// BUILD THE SEARCH BAR / BUTTON / START BRICKS
+//
 // div -- TCS_main
 //  - div TCS_tier
 //    -- wrapper
@@ -198,6 +200,7 @@ function initSearchBar(TCS_main) {
     searchButton.classList.add("column");
     searchButton.classList.add("_1");
     searchButton.classList.add("TCS_searchButton");
+    searchButton.id = "TCS_searchBarButton";
     newTier.appendChild( searchButton );
 
    
@@ -213,20 +216,23 @@ function initSearchBar(TCS_main) {
     //
     searchBar.addEventListener("keydown", (pressEvent) => {
 
+        // get the specific key
+        let key = pressEvent.keyCode || pressEvent.charCode;    
+
         // is the search text already too long?
         // stop adding new chars and return
         if (searchBar.innerHTML.length >= MAX_TAG_LENGTH) {
 
-            // get the specific key
-            let key = pressEvent.keyCode || pressEvent.charCode;    
             if (( key == 8 ) || ( key == 46 )) {  // backspace / delete
                     return true;
-            
+
             } else {
                 pressEvent.preventDefault();
                 return false;
             }
+       
         }
+
         return true;
     });
 
@@ -280,6 +286,11 @@ function setSearchWelcome(searchBar) {
 }
 
 
+
+
+
+
+
 /*
  *
  */
diff --git a/js/TagCloudSearch_IO.js b/js/TagCloudSearch_IO.js
index ea162a7..a3f7251 100644
--- a/js/TagCloudSearch_IO.js
+++ b/js/TagCloudSearch_IO.js
@@ -92,11 +92,11 @@ export async function sendSearchToServer() {
 
         if (fetchError == null) {
             console.log("TCS ERROR in sendSearchToServer: fetchError == null");
-            console.log("RESPONSE=" + response.body);
+            if (response != null) console.log("RESPONSE=" + response.body);
 
         } else {
             console.log("TCS ERROR in sendSearchToServer: " + SEARCH_URL);
-            console.log("RESPONSE=" + response.body);
+            if (response!= null) console.log("RESPONSE=" + response.tcs_message);
             console.error( fetchError );
         }
         return;
diff --git a/js/TagCloudSearch_UI.js b/js/TagCloudSearch_UI.js
index 2f7b470..e7236d0 100644
--- a/js/TagCloudSearch_UI.js
+++ b/js/TagCloudSearch_UI.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import { sendSearchToServer } from "./TagCloudSearch_IO.js"
  * clear the SEARCH_TAGS
  * clear the search bricks
  * reset the search bar
+ * reset the cursor to default pointer
  */
 export function resetSearch() {
    
@@ -38,10 +39,8 @@ export function resetSearch() {
 
         clearTierBricks();
     }
-  
-    // change the cursor back
-    document.body.style.cursor = "default";
 
+    normalCursor();
 }
  
 
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ export function removeTierBricks() {
  * [1][second tier of tags added, tag, tag...]  
  */
 export const newTagsListener_callback = (rawTags) => {
-  
+
     // did the search come up empty?
     if (rawTags == null || rawTags.length == 0) {
         return;
@@ -105,6 +104,7 @@ export const newTagsListener_callback = (rawTags) => {
 
     newTier = createBricksTier(index + 1, newTags)
     TCS_main.appendChild(newTier)
+    
 }
 
 
@@ -321,8 +321,24 @@ export function searchBarListener_callback( wrapper, theUL, searchBar, pressEven
         
     }
 
-    if (trimText != "") { 
+
+    if (trimText != "") { // trimText contains search bar input from user
+  
         
+// 11/2022
+// trying to catch invalid input into search bar
+// one step towards preventing SQL injection attack
+// be careful not to reject tags containing a space ' '
+// 
+
+    if (! (isAlphaNum(trimText))) {
+            searchBar.innerHTML = "";
+            pressEvent.preventDefault();
+            alert("Only letters and numbers allowed in TCS search");
+            return false;
+        }
+
+
         // WE GOT ONE!
 
         if ( addBrickToSearch( theUL, trimText) ) {
@@ -403,7 +419,7 @@ export function searchButtonListener_callback(searchBar, event) {
     }
 
     // change the cursor
-    document.body.style.cursor = "wait";
+    waitCursor();
     
     // SEND THE SEARCH!
     // search for everything in SEARCH_TAGS
@@ -420,10 +436,6 @@ export function searchButtonListener_callback(searchBar, event) {
 
 
 
-
-
-
-
 /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 
 // add a new tag to SEARCH_TAGS if it doesn't exist already
@@ -446,6 +458,49 @@ export function addSearchText(theText) {
 }
 
 
+
+
+
+
+/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+// CHANGE THE CURSOR TO WAIT DURING SEARCH AND BACK AGAIN
+// 
+// 1/2023 -- this is still a work in progress
+//
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+
+function waitCursor() {
+
+    document.body.classList.add('searchWaiting');
+
+    // have to force the button
+    let searchButton = document.getElementById("TCS_searchBarButton");
+    searchButton.style.cursor = "wait";
+}
+
+
+function normalCursor() {
+
+    document.body.classList.remove('searchWaiting');
+    
+    // have to force the button
+    let searchButton = document.getElementById("TCS_searchBarButton");
+    searchButton.style.cursor = "pointer";
+}
+
+
+
+
+/*
+ * does the search bar input contain only valid alphanumeric chars 
+ */
+function isAlphaNum( text ) {
+
+    const letterNumber = /^[0-9a-zA-Z\s]+$/;
+    return (text.match( letterNumber ));
+}
+    
+
 /*
  *
  */