 
     _update_change: (change) =>
         #console.log("_update_change", change)
+        if not @_value_local?
+            console.warn("BUG: tried to call _update_change even though local not yet defined")
+            return
         changed_keys = []
         conflict = false
         if change.new_val?

    # initialization, and also if we disconnect and reconnect.
    _update_all: (v) =>
        #console.log("_update_all(#{@_table})", v)

        # Restructure the array of records in v as a mapping from the primary key
        # to the corresponding record.

                #console.log("query #{@_table}: -- got result of doing query", resp)
                if first
                    first = false
                    if not resp.query[@_table]?
                        console.warn("query on #{@_table} returned undefined")
                        cb?("got not data")
                    else if err
                        console.warn("query #{@_table}: _run: first error ", err)
                        cb?(err)
                    else
