diff --git a/src/discord.rs b/src/discord.rs
index 088fe37..f0dd0ed 100644
--- a/src/discord.rs
+++ b/src/discord.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ use serenity::all::{prelude::*, Color, CreateEmbed, CreateMessage};
 use serenity::model::id::ChannelId;
 use tracing::{info, error};
 
+const COLOR_OPEN: Color = Color::new(0x00FF00);    // Green for open
+const COLOR_CLOSED: Color = Color::new(0xFF0000);  // Red for closed
+const COLOR_STARTUP: Color = Color::new(0xFFA500); // Orange for startup
+
 pub struct DiscordClient {
     client: Client,
     channel_id: ChannelId,
@@ -47,11 +51,11 @@ impl DiscordClient {
                 crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Closed => "We'll see you again soon.",
             })
             .color(match event {
-                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Open => Color::new(0x00FF00),    // Red for open
-                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Closed => Color::new(0xFF0000),  // Green for closed
+                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Open => COLOR_OPEN,
+                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Closed => COLOR_CLOSED,
             }).thumbnail(match event {
-                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Open => "https://www.noisebridge.net/images/7/7f/Open.png", // Image that says "Open"
-                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Closed => "https://www.noisebridge.net/images/c/c9/Closed.png", // Image that says "Closed"
+                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Open => "https://www.noisebridge.net/images/7/7f/Open.png",
+                crate::gpio::CircuitEvent::Closed => "https://www.noisebridge.net/images/c/c9/Closed.png",
             });
 
         if let Err(why) = self.channel_id.send_message(&self.client.http, CreateMessage::default().add_embed(embed)).await {
@@ -71,7 +75,7 @@ impl DiscordClient {
         let embed = CreateEmbed::new()
             .title("Noisebell is starting up!")
             .description("The Noisebell service is initializing and will begin monitoring the space status.")
-            .color(Color::new(0xFFA500))  // Orange for startup
+            .color(COLOR_STARTUP)
             .thumbnail("https://cats.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Beautiful-red-cat-stretches-and-shows-tongue.jpg");
 
         if let Err(why) = self.channel_id.send_message(&self.client.http, CreateMessage::default().add_embed(embed)).await {
diff --git a/src/gpio.rs b/src/gpio.rs
index fba36d4..6bdb95d 100644
--- a/src/gpio.rs
+++ b/src/gpio.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 use std::fmt;
 use serde::{Serialize, Deserialize};
 
-use anyhow::Result;
+use anyhow::{Result, Context};
 use rppal::gpio::{Gpio, InputPin, Level};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -27,8 +27,11 @@ pub struct GpioMonitor {
 
 impl GpioMonitor {
     pub fn new(pin_number: u8, poll_interval: Duration) -> Result<Self> {
-        let gpio = Gpio::new()?;
-        let pin = gpio.get(pin_number)?.into_input_pullup();
+        let gpio = Gpio::new()
+            .context("Failed to initialize GPIO")?;
+        let pin = gpio.get(pin_number)
+            .context(format!("Failed to get GPIO pin {}", pin_number))?
+            .into_input_pullup();
 
         Ok(Self { pin, poll_interval })
     }
@@ -38,6 +41,7 @@ impl GpioMonitor {
         F: FnMut(CircuitEvent) + Send + 'static,
     {
         let mut previous_state = self.get_current_state();
+        callback(previous_state); // Send initial state
 
         loop {
             let current_state = self.get_current_state();
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 0e855ff..bcaf0ff 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -11,18 +11,25 @@ use tracing_appender::rolling::{RollingFileAppender, Rotation};
 use tracing_subscriber::filter::LevelFilter;
 use tracing_subscriber::{fmt, layer::SubscriberExt, util::SubscriberInitExt};
 
+const DEFAULT_GPIO_PIN: u8 = 17;
+const DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS: u64 = 100;
+const LOG_DIR: &str = "logs";
+const LOG_PREFIX: &str = "noisebell";
+const LOG_SUFFIX: &str = "log";
+const MAX_LOG_FILES: usize = 7;
+
 #[tokio::main]
 async fn main() -> Result<()> {
     info!("creating logs directory");
-    fs::create_dir_all("logs")?;
+    fs::create_dir_all(LOG_DIR)?;
 
     info!("initializing logging");
     let file_appender = RollingFileAppender::builder()
         .rotation(Rotation::DAILY)
-        .filename_prefix("noisebell")
-        .filename_suffix("log")
-        .max_log_files(7)
-        .build("logs")?;
+        .filename_prefix(LOG_PREFIX)
+        .filename_suffix(LOG_SUFFIX)
+        .max_log_files(MAX_LOG_FILES)
+        .build(LOG_DIR)?;
 
     let (non_blocking, _guard) = tracing_appender::non_blocking(file_appender);
 
@@ -44,13 +51,11 @@ async fn main() -> Result<()> {
 
     discord_client.send_startup_message().await?;
 
-    const DEFAULT_GPIO_PIN: u8 = 17;
-
     info!("initializing gpio monitor");
-    let mut gpio_monitor = gpio::GpioMonitor::new(DEFAULT_GPIO_PIN, Duration::from_millis(100))?;
-
-    // Send initial state
-    discord_client.clone().send_circuit_event(&gpio_monitor.get_current_state()).await?;
+    let mut gpio_monitor = gpio::GpioMonitor::new(
+        DEFAULT_GPIO_PIN,
+        Duration::from_millis(DEFAULT_POLL_INTERVAL_MS)
+    )?;
 
     // Set up the callback for state changes
     let callback = move |event: gpio::CircuitEvent| {