             if @_opening
                 console.log "W3C already opening... wait."
                 # we're already trying to open.  return an error so we queue the message
-                cb?(true)
-                return true
+                return false
                 
             console.log "W3C opening log file."
             
-            # otherwise, open the file
-            @_opening = true
-                        
+            # note that we're opening, and also set a timeout to make sure 
+            # we don't get stuck
+            @_opening = setTimeout =>
+                console.log "Failed to open w3c log within one second."
+                @_opening = false
+                @open(cb)
+            , 1000
+            
+            # is this a new file or one that we're just re-opening?
             initFile = true
             if fs.existsSync(@options.filename)
                 # file exists...  see if there's anything in it

            super(options)
            
            @options = options
            @_opening = false
            
            @queued = []
            
            process.addListener "SIGHUP", =>
                # re-open our log file

                    # start appending
                    initFile = false
            
            @_file = fs.createWriteStream @options.filename, flags:(if initFile then "w" else "r+")
            
            @_file.once "open", (err) =>
                console.log "w3c log open with ", err
                
                _clear = =>
                    console.log "w3c open complete"
                    clearTimeout @_opening if @_opening
                    @_opening = null
                    cb?()
                
                if initFile
                    # write our initial w3c lines before we return
                    @_file.write "#Software: StreamMachine\n#Version: 0.2.9\n#Fields: c-ip date time cs-uri-stem c-status cs(User-Agent) sc-bytes x-duration\n", "utf8", =>
                        _clear()
                    
                else
                    _clear()
                            
        #----------
            
        close: (cb) ->
            @_file?.end null, null, =>
              console.log "W3C log file closed."
            @_file = null
            
        #----------
        
        flush: ->
            @_runQueue()
            
    #----------
    
