diff --git a/src/dexorder/base/account.py b/src/dexorder/base/account.py
index 2620a8b..96c2e4d 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/base/account.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/base/account.py
@@ -13,9 +13,14 @@ from dexorder import NARG, config, current_w3
 # call but must instead use a factory :(
 class Account (LocalAccount):
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def get_named(account_name: str) -> Optional['Account']:
+        account = config.accounts.get(account_name)
+        return Account.get(account) if account else Account.get()
+
     @staticmethod
     # noinspection PyInitNewSignature
-    def get(account:[Union,str]=NARG) -> Optional[LocalAccount]:
+    def get(account:[Union,str]=NARG) -> Optional['Account']:
         if account is NARG:
             account = config.account
         if type(account) is not str:
diff --git a/src/dexorder/bin/mirror.py b/src/dexorder/bin/mirror.py
index 196a242..07d00ab 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/bin/mirror.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/bin/mirror.py
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ from datetime import timedelta
 from dexorder import config, blockchain, current_w3, now, ADDRESS_0
 from dexorder.bin.executable import execute
 from dexorder.blockchain.connection import create_w3
-from dexorder.blockstate import current_blockstate
-from dexorder.blockstate.state import FinalizedBlockState
 from dexorder.contract import get_deployment_address, ContractProxy, ERC20
 from dexorder.metadata import generate_metadata, init_generating_metadata
 from dexorder.pools import get_pool
@@ -148,14 +146,14 @@ async def main():
     log.debug(f'Mirroring tokens')
     txs = []
     for t in tokens:
-        info = await get_token_info(t)
         try:
+            info = await get_token_info(t)
             # anvil had trouble estimating the gas, so we hardcode it.
             tx = await mirrorenv.transact.mirrorToken(info, gas=1_000_000)
+            txs.append(tx.wait())
         except Exception:
             log.exception(f'Failed to mirror token {t}')
             exit(1)
-        txs.append(tx.wait())
     results = await asyncio.gather(*txs)
     if any(result['status'] != 1 for result in results):
         log.error('Mirroring a token reverted.')
@@ -196,17 +194,17 @@ async def main():
     while True:
         wake_up = now() + delay
         # log.debug(f'querying {pool}')
-        price = await get_pool_price(pool)
-        if price != last_prices.get(pool):
-            try:
+        try:
+            price = await get_pool_price(pool)
+            if price != last_prices.get(pool):
                 # anvil had trouble estimating the gas, so we hardcode it.
                 tx = await mirrorenv.transact.updatePool(pool, price, gas=1_000_000)  # this is a B.S. gas number
                 await tx.wait()
                 last_prices[pool] = price
                 log.debug(f'Mirrored {pool} {price}')
-            except Exception:
-                log.debug(f'Could not update {pool}')
-                continue
+        except Exception:
+            log.debug(f'Could not update {pool}')
+            continue
         try:
             pool = next(pool_iter)
         except StopIteration:
diff --git a/src/dexorder/blocks.py b/src/dexorder/blocks.py
index f8377da..e788ce5 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/blocks.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/blocks.py
@@ -7,14 +7,13 @@ Use `await fetch_block()` to force an RPC query for the Block, adding that block
 """
 import logging
 from contextvars import ContextVar
-from typing import Union, Optional
+from typing import Union, Optional, Awaitable
 
 from cachetools import LRUCache
 
-from dexorder import current_w3, NARG, config
+from dexorder import current_w3, config
 from dexorder.base.block import Block, BlockInfo
 from dexorder.base.chain import current_chain
-from dexorder.util.async_dict import AsyncDict
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -29,28 +28,17 @@ async def get_block_timestamp(blockid: Union[bytes,int], block_number: int = Non
     return block.timestamp
 
 
-async def _cache_fetch(key: tuple[int, Union[int,bytes]], default: Union[Block, NARG]) -> Optional[Block]:
-    assert default is NARG
-    # try LRU cache first
-    try:
-        return _lru[key]
-    except KeyError:
-        pass
+async def _fetch(key: tuple[int, Union[int,bytes]]) -> Optional[Block]:
     # fetch from RPC
     chain_id, blockid = key
     # log.debug(f'block cache miss; fetching {chain_id} {blockid}')
     if type(blockid) is int:
-        result = await fetch_block_by_number(blockid, chain_id=chain_id)
+        return await fetch_block_by_number(blockid, chain_id=chain_id)
     else:
-        result = await fetch_block(blockid, chain_id=chain_id)
-    if result is None:
-        # log.debug(f'Could not lookup block {blockid}')
-        return None # do not cache
-    _lru[key] = result
-    return result
+        return await fetch_block(blockid, chain_id=chain_id)
 
 _lru = LRUCache[tuple[int, bytes], Block](maxsize=128)
-_cache = AsyncDict[tuple[int, bytes], Block](fetch=_cache_fetch)
+_fetches:dict[tuple[int, bytes], Awaitable[Block]] = {}
 
 
 def cache_block(block: Block):
@@ -60,7 +48,21 @@ def cache_block(block: Block):
 async def get_block(blockhash, *, chain_id=None) -> Block:
     if chain_id is None:
         chain_id = current_chain.get().id
-    return await _cache.get((chain_id, blockhash))
+    key = chain_id, blockhash
+    # try LRU cache first
+    try:
+        return _lru[key]
+    except KeyError:
+        pass
+    # check if another thread is already fetching
+    fetch = _fetches.get(key)
+    if fetch is not None:
+        return await fetch
+    # otherwise initiate our own fetch
+    fetch = _fetches[key] = _fetch(key)
+    result = await fetch
+    del _fetches[key]
+    return result
 
 
 async def fetch_block_by_number(height: int, *, chain_id=None) -> Block:
diff --git a/src/dexorder/contract/contract_proxy.py b/src/dexorder/contract/contract_proxy.py
index acf817e..0513eca 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/contract/contract_proxy.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/contract/contract_proxy.py
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@ from typing import Optional
 
 import eth_account
 from web3.exceptions import Web3Exception
-from web3.types import TxReceipt
+from web3.types import TxReceipt, TxData
 
-from dexorder import current_w3
+from dexorder import current_w3, Account
 from dexorder.base.account import current_account
 from dexorder.blockstate.fork import current_fork
 from dexorder.util import hexstr
@@ -15,11 +15,17 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class ContractTransaction:
-    def __init__(self, id_bytes: bytes, rawtx: Optional[bytes] = None):
-        self.id_bytes = id_bytes
-        self.id = hexstr(self.id_bytes)
-        self.data = rawtx
-        self.receipt: Optional[TxReceipt] = None
+    def __init__(self, tx: TxData):
+        # This is the standard RPC transaction dictionary
+        self.tx = tx
+
+        # These three fields are populated only after signing
+        self.id_bytes: Optional[bytes] = None
+        self.id: Optional[str] = None
+        self.data: Optional[bytes] = None
+
+        # This field is populated only after the transaction has been mined
+        self.receipt: Optional[TxReceipt] = None  # todo could be multiple receipts for different branches!
 
     def __repr__(self):
         # todo this is from an old status system
@@ -31,6 +37,14 @@ class ContractTransaction:
             self.receipt = await current_w3.get().eth.wait_for_transaction_receipt(self.id)
         return self.receipt
 
+    async def sign(self, account: Account):
+        self.tx['from'] = account.address
+        self.tx['nonce'] = await account.next_nonce()
+        signed = eth_account.Account.sign_transaction(self.tx, private_key=account.key)
+        self.data = signed['rawTransaction']
+        self.id_bytes = signed['hash']
+        self.id = hexstr(self.id_bytes)
+
 
 class DeployTransaction (ContractTransaction):
     def __init__(self, contract: 'ContractProxy', id_bytes: bytes):
@@ -62,27 +76,25 @@ def call_wrapper(addr, name, func):
 def transact_wrapper(addr, name, func):
     async def f(*args, **kwargs):
         try:
-            tx_id = await func(*args).transact(kwargs)
+            tx = await func(*args).build_transaction(kwargs)
+            ct = ContractTransaction(tx)
+            account = Account.get()
+            if account is None:
+                raise ValueError(f'No account to sign transaction {addr}.{name}()')
+            await ct.sign(account)
+            tx_id = await current_w3.get().eth.send_raw_transaction(ct.data)
+            assert tx_id == ct.id_bytes
+            return ct
         except Web3Exception as e:
             e.args += addr, name
             raise e
-        return ContractTransaction(tx_id)
     return f
 
 
 def build_wrapper(addr, name, func):
     async def f(*args, **kwargs):
-        try:
-            account = current_account.get()
-        except LookupError:
-            account = None
-        if account is None:
-            raise RuntimeError(f'Cannot invoke transaction {addr}.{name}() without setting an Account.')
         tx = await func(*args).build_transaction(kwargs)
-        tx['from'] = account.address
-        tx['nonce'] = await account.next_nonce()
-        signed = eth_account.Account.sign_transaction(tx, private_key=account.key)
-        return ContractTransaction(signed['hash'], signed['rawTransaction'])
+        return ContractTransaction(tx)
     return f
 
 
diff --git a/src/dexorder/transaction.py b/src/dexorder/transaction.py
index b88e7ee..1c2f006 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/transaction.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/transaction.py
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import logging
 from abc import abstractmethod
+from typing import Optional
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from sqlalchemy import select
 from web3.exceptions import TransactionNotFound
 
-from dexorder import db, current_w3
+from dexorder import db, current_w3, Account
 from dexorder.base import TransactionReceiptDict
 from dexorder.base.chain import current_chain
 from dexorder.base.order import TransactionRequest
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ from dexorder.blockstate.diff import DiffEntryItem
 from dexorder.blockstate.fork import current_fork, Fork
 from dexorder.contract.contract_proxy import ContractTransaction
 from dexorder.database.model.transaction import TransactionJob, TransactionJobState
+from dexorder.util.shutdown import fatal
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -26,6 +28,7 @@ class TransactionHandler:
         return TransactionHandler.instances[tag]
 
     def __init__(self, tag):
+        self.tag = tag
         TransactionHandler.instances[tag] = self
 
     @abstractmethod
@@ -44,50 +47,45 @@ def submit_transaction_request(tr: TransactionRequest):
 
 async def create_and_send_transactions():
     """ called by the Runner after the events have all been processed and the db committed """
-    await create_transactions()
-    await send_transactions()
-
-
-async def create_transactions():
     for job in db.session.query(TransactionJob).filter(
             TransactionJob.chain == current_chain.get(),
             TransactionJob.state == TransactionJobState.Requested
     ):
-        await create_transaction(job)
-
-
-async def create_transaction(job: TransactionJob):
-    log.info(f'building transaction request for {job.request.__class__.__name__} {job.id}')
-    try:
-        handler = TransactionHandler.of(job.request.type)
-    except KeyError:
-        # todo remove bad request?
-        log.warning(f'ignoring transaction request with bad type "{job.request.type}": {",".join(TransactionHandler.instances.keys())}')
-    else:
-        ctx: ContractTransaction = await handler.build_transaction(job.id, job.request)
-        if ctx is None:
-            log.warning(f'unable to send transaction for job {job.id}')
-            return
-        job.state = TransactionJobState.Signed  # todo lazy signing
-        job.tx_id = ctx.id_bytes
-        job.tx_data = ctx.data
-        db.session.add(job)
-        log.info(f'servicing transaction request {job.request.__class__.__name__} {job.id} with tx {ctx.id}')
-
-# todo sign-and-send should be a single phase.  if the send fails due to lack of wallet gas, or because gas price went up suddenly,
-#  we need to re-sign a new message with updated gas.  so do not store signed messages but keep the unsigned state around until it
-#  is signed and sent
-async def send_transactions():
-    w3 = current_w3.get()
-    for job in db.session.query(TransactionJob).filter(
-            TransactionJob.chain == current_chain.get(),
-            TransactionJob.state == TransactionJobState.Signed
-    ):
-        log.debug(f'sending transaction for job {job.id}')
-        sent = await w3.eth.send_raw_transaction(job.tx_data)
-        assert sent == job.tx_id
-        job.state = TransactionJobState.Sent
-        db.session.add(job)
+        log.info(f'building transaction request for {job.request.__class__.__name__} {job.id}')
+        try:
+            handler = TransactionHandler.of(job.request.type)
+        except KeyError:
+            # todo remove bad request?
+            log.warning('ignoring transaction request with bad type '
+                        f'"{job.request.type}": ' + ",".join(TransactionHandler.instances.keys()))
+        else:
+            ctx: ContractTransaction = await handler.build_transaction(job.id, job.request)
+            if ctx is None:
+                log.warning(f'unable to send transaction for job {job.id}')
+                return
+            w3 = current_w3.get()
+            account = Account.get_named(handler.tag)
+            if account is None:
+                account = Account.get()
+            if account is None:
+                log.error(f'No account available for transaction request type "{handler.tag}"')
+                continue
+            await ctx.sign(account)
+            job.state = TransactionJobState.Signed
+            job.tx_id = ctx.id_bytes
+            job.tx_data = ctx.data
+            db.session.add(job)
+            log.info(f'servicing transaction request {job.request.__class__.__name__} {job.id} with tx {ctx.id}')
+            try:
+                sent = await w3.eth.send_raw_transaction(job.tx_data)
+            except:
+                log.exception(f'Failure sending transaction for job {job.id}')
+                # todo pager
+                # todo send state unknown!
+            else:
+                assert sent == job.tx_id
+                job.state = TransactionJobState.Sent
+                db.session.add(job)
 
 
 async def handle_transaction_receipts():
diff --git a/src/dexorder/util/async_dict.py b/src/dexorder/util/async_dict.py
index 720c4ec..1c43621 100644
--- a/src/dexorder/util/async_dict.py
+++ b/src/dexorder/util/async_dict.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import asyncio
 import logging
 from abc import abstractmethod
 from asyncio import Event
-from typing import TypeVar, Generic, Awaitable, Callable, Optional
+from typing import TypeVar, Generic, Awaitable, Callable, Optional, Any
 
 from dexorder import NARG
 
@@ -12,46 +12,47 @@ K = TypeVar('K')
 V = TypeVar('V')
 
 
-class _Query (Generic[V]):
-    def __init__ (self):
-        self.event = Event()
-        self.result: V = NARG
-        self.exception: Optional[Exception] = None
-
-    def __bool__(self):
-        return self.result is not NARG
-
+###
+###  NOT TESTED AND NOT USED
+###
 
 class AsyncDict (Generic[K,V]):
     """
     Implements per-key locks around accessing dictionary values.
     Either supply fetch and store functions in the constructor, or override those methods in a subclass.
+    fetch(key,default) takes two arguments and when a key is missing, it may either return the default value explicitly
+    or raise KeyError, in which case the call wrapper will return the default value.
     """
     def __init__(self,
                  fetch: Callable[[K,V], Awaitable[V]] = None,
-                 store: Callable[[K,V], Awaitable[V]] = None,
+                 store: Callable[[K,V], Awaitable[Any]] = None,
                  ):
-        self._queries: dict[K,_Query[V]] = {}
+        self._queries: dict[K, tuple[bool,Awaitable]] = {}  # bool indicates if it's a write (True) or a read (False)
         if fetch is not None:
             self.fetch = fetch
         if store is not None:
             self.store = store
 
     async def get(self, key: K, default: V = NARG) -> V:
-        query = self._queries.get(key)
-        if query is None:
-            return await self._query(key, self.fetch(key, default))
-        else:
-            await query.event.wait()
-            if query.exception is not None:
-                raise query.exception
-            return query.result
+        found = self._queries.get(key)
+        if found is not None:
+            write, query = found
+            result = await query
+            if not write:
+                return result
+        # either there was no query or it was a write query that's over
+        query = self.fetch(key, default)
+        self._queries[key] = False, query
+        return await query
 
     async def set(self, key: K, value: V):
-        query = self._queries.get(K)
-        if query is not None:
-            await query.event.wait()
-        await self._query(key, self.store(key, value))
+        found = self._queries.get(key)
+        if found is not None:
+            write, query = found
+            await query
+        query = self.store(key, value)
+        self._queries[key] = True, query
+        await query
 
     # noinspection PyMethodMayBeStatic,PyUnusedLocal
     @abstractmethod
@@ -65,16 +66,3 @@ class AsyncDict (Generic[K,V]):
         Must return the value that was just set.
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
-
-    async def _query(self, key: K, coro: Awaitable[V]) -> V:
-        assert key not in self._queries
-        query = _Query()
-        self._queries[key] = query
-        try:
-            query.result = await coro
-        except Exception as e:
-            query.exception = e
-        finally:
-            del self._queries[key]
-            query.event.set()
-        return query.result