diff --git a/hugvey/speech/google.py b/hugvey/speech/google.py
index 79bf177..09995e2 100644
--- a/hugvey/speech/google.py
+++ b/hugvey/speech/google.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import threading
 import queue
 import uuid
 from hugvey.communication import LOG_BS
+import audioop
 
 mainLogger = logging.getLogger("hugvey")
 logger = mainLogger.getChild("speech")
@@ -44,6 +45,9 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
         self.task = threading.Thread(target=self.run, name=f"hugvey#{self.hugvey.id}v")
         self.task.setDaemon(True)
         self.task.start()
+        self.subsequentMutedFrames = 0
+        
+        self.lastNonFinalTranscript = None
     
     def pause(self):
         self.isRunning.clear()
@@ -55,7 +59,12 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
         
     def generator(self):
         while not self.toBeShutdown and self.isRunning.is_set():
-            yield self.buffer.get()
+            try:
+                # set a timeout, as not to wait infinitely for the buffer when
+                # we actually want to restart 
+                yield self.buffer.get(timeout=.2)
+            except queue.Empty as e:
+                self.logger.debug('empty mic buffer - restart?')
             
     def setLanguage(self, language_code):
         if self.language_code == language_code:
@@ -68,9 +77,9 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
     def run(self):
         self.isRunning.set()
         
-        
         while not self.toBeShutdown:
             try:
+                self.logger.info("wait for Google Voice")
                 self.isRunning.wait()
                 self.logger.info("Starting Google Voice")
                 
@@ -92,6 +101,7 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
                 self.logger.info("Starting voice loop")
                 for response in responses:
                     if not response.results:
+                        self.logger.debug('...')
                         continue
                     """Iterates through server responses and prints them.
         
@@ -122,8 +132,10 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
             
                     if not result.is_final:
                         self.logger.debug(f"Text: {transcript}")
+                        self.lastNonFinalTranscript = transcript
                     else:
                         self.logger.info(f"Text: {transcript}")
+                        self.lastNonFinalTranscript = None
                     
                     msg = {
                         "event": "speech",
@@ -144,12 +156,37 @@ class GoogleVoiceClient(object):
                 self.logger.warn("Restart Google Voice. Language: {}".format(self.language_code))
             except Exception as e:
                 self.logger.critical(f"Crashed Google Voice: {e}")
+                
+                # make sure we always send a 'final' transcript.
+                if self.lastNonFinalTranscript is not None:
+                    msg = {
+                        "event": "speech",
+                        "is_final": True,
+                        "transcript": self.lastNonFinalTranscript.strip(),
+                    }
+                    self.hugvey.queueEvent(msg)
         
             
     def receive(self, chunk):
         if not self.task.isAlive():
             raise Exception("Voice thread died")
         
+        
+        if audioop.max(chunk, 2) == 0:
+            # mic is muted on client side.
+            self.subsequentMutedFrames += 1
+#             self.logger.debug("Muted")
+            if self.subsequentMutedFrames > 4 and self.isRunning.is_set():
+                self.logger.warn("Pause muted stream!")
+                self.pause()
+            return
+
+#         self.logger.debug("We have mic!")
+        if not self.isRunning.is_set():
+            self.logger.warn("Resume voice")
+            self.resume()
+        
+        
         if not self.isRunning.is_set():
 #             logger.log(LOG_BS, "Don't put to queue if google is paused")
             return
diff --git a/hugvey/story.py b/hugvey/story.py
index 1570248..bbafac1 100644
--- a/hugvey/story.py
+++ b/hugvey/story.py
@@ -593,8 +593,8 @@ class Story(object):
             obj = className.initFromJson(el, self)
             self.add(obj)
 
-        self.logger.debug(self.elements)
-        self.logger.debug(self.directionsPerMsg)
+#         self.logger.debug(self.elements)
+#         self.logger.debug(self.directionsPerMsg)
         
         self.diversions = [el for el in self.elements.values() if type(el) == Diversion]