diff --git a/src/ball.lua b/src/ball.lua
index 2f9bb74..32852e9 100644
--- a/src/ball.lua
+++ b/src/ball.lua
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function Ball:init(width, height, color, x, y)
 end
 
 function Ball:levelUpTimer()
-   playdate.timer.performAfterDelay(5000,
+   playdate.timer.performAfterDelay(25000,
       function(ball)
          if ball.direction.x > 0 then
             ball.direction.x += 1
diff --git a/src/main.lua b/src/main.lua
index ca66920..d4a971b 100644
--- a/src/main.lua
+++ b/src/main.lua
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ function setup()
    addWallColliders()
    setupBricks()
 
-   timeWidget = TextBox(100, 20, 350, 10, 5, kTextAlignment.center)
+   timeWidget = TextBox("", 100, 20, 350, 10, 5, kTextAlignment.center)
    updateTimeWidget()
    timeWidget:add()
 
-   speedWidget = TextBox(100, 20, 50, 10, 5, kTextAlignment.center)
+   speedWidget = TextBox("", 100, 20, 50, 10, 5, kTextAlignment.center)
    updateSpeedWidget()
    speedWidget:add()
    
@@ -73,9 +73,11 @@ end
 
 function setupBricks()
    for i=1,12 do
-      addBrickRow()
       advanceBricks()
+      addBrickRow()
    end
+
+   addBrickTimer()
 end
 
 function addBrickRow()
@@ -150,15 +152,22 @@ function moveBall()
    end
 end
 
+function addBrickTimer()
+   playdate.timer.performAfterDelay(20000,
+      function()
+         advanceBricks()
+         addBrickRow()
+         addBrickTimer()
+      end
+   )
+end
+
 function endGame()
    endTime = playdate.getElapsedTime()
 
-   local textBox = TextBox(275, 40, 200, 120, 5, kTextAlignment.center)
-   textBox:setText(
-      "Game Over!\nYou survived for " ..
-      string.format("%.2f", endTime) ..
-      " seconds.\n Press 'A' to play again."
-   )
+   local t = string.format("Game Over!\nYou survived for %.2f seconds.\nPress 'A' to play again.", endTime)
+   local textBox = TextBox(t, 275, 40, 200, 120,
+                           5, kTextAlignment.center)
    textBox:add()
 end
 
diff --git a/src/textbox.lua b/src/textbox.lua
index caed2e3..3d32995 100644
--- a/src/textbox.lua
+++ b/src/textbox.lua
@@ -8,25 +8,55 @@ local defaultFont = gfx.font.new("fonts/Mini Mono")
 
 class("TextBox").extends(gfx.sprite)
 
-function TextBox:init(w, h, x, y, vert, align, font)
+-- text - the initial text to display
+-- w, h - width and height of the text box
+-- x, y - initial position for the text box (center)
+-- vert - vertical offset for the text (from the top of the box)
+-- align - text alignment
+-- font - font (defaults to Mini Mono)
+function TextBox:init(text, w, h, x, y, vert, align, font)
    TextBox.super.init(self)
 
+   self.text = text
    self:setSize(w, h)
    self:moveTo(x, y)
-   self:setZIndex(999)
+   self.vert = vert or 0
    self.align = align or kTextAlignment.left
    self.font = font or defaultFont
-   self.vert = vert
-   self.text = ""
+
+   self:setZIndex(999)
+   self:drawStatic()
 end
 
 function TextBox:setText(text)
    self.text = text
+   self:drawStatic()
 end
 
-function TextBox:draw(x, y, w, h)
-   gfx.pushContext()
+function TextBox:drawStatic()
+   local img = gfx.image.new(self:getSize())
+   local x = 0
+   local y = 0
+   local w = self.width
+   local h = self.height
+   gfx.pushContext(img)
+      gfx.setColor(gfx.kColorWhite)
+      gfx.fillRect(x, y, w, h)
+      gfx.setColor(gfx.kColorBlack)
+      gfx.drawRoundRect(x, y, w, h, 2)
 
+      gfx.setFont(self.font)
+      gfx.drawTextInRect(
+         self.text,
+         x, y+self.vert, w, h, nil, nil, self.align
+      )
+   gfx.popContext()
+   self:setImage(img)
+end
+
+-- draw the textbox. This is in a sub-function so we can change the context
+-- depending on static-ness
+function TextBox:subDraw(x, y, w, h)
    gfx.setColor(gfx.kColorWhite)
    gfx.fillRect(x, y, w, h)
    gfx.setColor(gfx.kColorBlack)
@@ -37,7 +67,4 @@ function TextBox:draw(x, y, w, h)
       self.text,
       x, y+self.vert, w, h, nil, nil, self.align
    )
-
-   gfx.popContext()
 end
-